Community nursing
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We have opportunities for nurses in our community teams, providing 24 hour care, seven days a week for local people in their homes and at our clinics based in healthy living centres.
As a community nurse you will deliver a wide variety of nursing care from wound therapy to palliative care and nurse prescribing.
This range of care means that our community nurses rarely have two days the same and the variety offered by the role is one of the many reasons that our nurses love the job. Find out more about what it is like to work for us in the short video to the right.
As a result of the diversity of this valuable community based role, the skills set is amongst the most diverse in nursing. At MCH we provide many opportunities for our nurses to train, learn and develop over the course of their careers. Click on the links below to find out a bit more about being a community nurse at MCH
Sounds good? Then we look forward to receiving your application!
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Sarah’s journey from acute to community
What is your role at MCH?
Operational lead for long term condition teams and advanced community practitioners.
Briefly explain your career so far
I qualified with a first class honours BSc from Greenwich University in 2011, my first nursing post was in A&E at Medway Hospital and I then joined MCH as a community staff nurse. Shortly afterwards I was promoted to a team leader and after that clinical nurse manager in community nursing. When I was a student I had my management placement with the Rainham community nurses and although I already had a job in A&E I was very tempted to stay! So when I made the decision to leave the acute setting I applied immediately to re-join MCH and the Rainham team. In January 2018, I started my current post as an operational lead and have been very lucky to be working with both community nursing and the long term condition teams.
Why do you do what you do?
I am very passionate about supporting staff and delivering the most effective, safe and responsive care to our patients. I have held these values both when I was directly clinical and in my post now.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
I get to work with the most amazingly knowledgeable and dedicated staff.
What is your favourite thing about MCH?
MCH is a very proactive organisation; staff are encouraged and supported in generating ideas and changing how we work to give patients the best results. Some ideas are not always popular with everyone but that shows a courageous organisation that is happy to make changes to improve services for our community.
What is your favourite thing about your team?
They go above and beyond; they stay over their shift if they need to support poorly patients and other team members.
How has MCH supported your development and career?
I have been supported and encouraged to put in my vision and ideas which are sometimes out of the box! I have had access to such good training opportunities and encouraged to develop professionally.
If you could give a potential applicant any advice when thinking of joining MCH, what would you say?
I would definitely encourage others to join MCH, you feel part of the organisation and even when times are challenging for health care you are recognised and valued.
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Amanda’s swap from NHS to MCH
What is your role at MCH?
Clinical Nurse Manager, Gillingham Community Nursing TeamWhy do you do what you do?
I have been a nurse forever. It’s the only thing that I ever wanted to do when I was little! I didn’t do particularly well at school with grades, so I really had to fight hard to get into my nurse training, but 23 years on and I’m still going!What is your favourite thing about your job?
Variety. Every day is different, you never know what you will have to deal with.What is your favourite thing about MCH?
MCH as an organisation has been very welcoming and I like the idea that they listen to their employees and take forward ideas and suggestions.What is your favourite thing about your team?
My team have been very supportive to me in my first few weeks here and still are. They have given me the time and understanding to explain policy and practice so that I can undertake my own role.How has MCH supported your development and career?
Moving here in itself was a huge learning curve as I had not previously worked within the community nursing environment, so I’m learning lots at the moment each day. I’m refreshing my clinical skills over the next few months, as I’d previously worked in acute care which is a totally different skill set and then I’m looking to do my mentorship after this. Nurse prescriber is also on my wish list. All of this is very much achievable here at MCH.If you could give a potential applicant any advice when thinking of joining MCH, what would you say?
Coming from an NHS organisation, I heard a lot of people saying that I’d be losing long standing NHS terms and conditions, but having looked closer, there wasn’t really anything significant. Here at MCH we have recieved the national pay uplift, other non-NHS organisations haven’t and won’t be doing this sadly. I personally felt that MCH was an organisation that was going to listen to me not only as a manager but as a nurse too. I saw this as an opportunity to do something completely different withing the nursing arena, with the knowledge that I’d be fully supported. -
Jo’s turn to a specialist area
I joined Medway Community Healthcare in 2004, as a community staff nurse. In the 10 years since then, I have held many different roles and been presented with so many opportunities. I was given the chance to complete a level three course to enhance my knowledge and skills, before beginning my specialised degree in community nursing in 2007.
During this time, I took up an acting team leader position before taking this on permanently in 2009, once I had completed my degree. I found that while my qualifications gave me vast knowledge of clinical skills, I felt that I did not have the leadership skills needed for a team leader role, so MCH sponsored me to study for a management diploma.
In the last year, I have taken another step in my career, taking up a one year secondment with tissue viability, which has given me an insight into this specialist area.
Interested in joining our team?
We have openings for community nurses to join our team at Medway Community Healthcare.
We are looking for people with a passion for caring and an understanding of the importance of treating patients within the community.
After the application stage we will be holding a recruitment day where you will get more information on Medway Community Healthcare and community nursing.
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Susan’s step into being fully qualified
I have been working in the community for about six months now and, I have to say, I absolutely love it.
During my training, I really enjoyed the community placement and felt that was the route for me, however after qualifying, I was told it would not be a good idea to go straight into the community, as I would not progress as a nurse or develop my skills.
With that in mind, I decided to work at the hospital, however, having done that and now worked in the community, I can tell you that this simply isn’t the case.
In the hospital I developed skills in general areas but, in the community, I feel my general nursing skills have vastly improved.
I definitely feel that I have made the correct choice in moving to the community and I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering the same option.
Interested in joining the team?
We have openings for community nurses to join our team at Medway Community Healthcare.
We are looking for people with a passion for caring and an understanding of the importance of treating patients within the community.
After the application stage we will be holding a recruitment day where you will get more information on Medway Community Healthcare and community nursing.
