Inflammatory Bowel Disease Support Nurse
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.
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Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity to join our IBD Specialist nursing team in a support nurse position. This post offers new knowledge, skills and experience within the gastroenterology specialty and is an opportunity for personal and professional development.
We are looking to welcome a highly motivated, confident, and enthusiastic nurse who will be an integral part of our IBD nursing service. You will work closely with the Lead IBD Nurse Specialist, IBD CNS team and MDT to support the team in providing excellent, specialised nursing care and support for patients with IBD in inpatient and outpatient clinical settings.
You will be welcomed into our IBD nurse service where we will support you to develop knowledge and skills to assist the Specialist Nurse team in caring for our patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Duties will include patient education, ensuring relevant screening is performed and assisting in setting up advanced therapies for patients.
You will also assist with triaging and advising patients and providing clinical advice and information via the IBD patient advice service and carrying out in-patient education for patients.
The successful applicant should have Gastroenterology or related experience, with excellent communication and IT skills. You should be confident, enthusiastic, self-motivated and with the ability to work under your own initiative, with the support of the IBD Specialist nursing team and the MDT.
Advert
To provide specialist clinical support, advice and information, to the highest possible standard of evidence-based, patient-centred care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease within North Bristol Trust.
You will be required to participate in nurse-led clinics and the direct-access patient support telephone/email service, multi-disciplinary team meetings and in-patient clinical reviews, supporting and advising patients with inflammatory bowel disease with the support of the lead IBD Nurse, IBD Specialist nurses and Consultant Gastroenterologists.
You will provide education, carry out screening and assist in setting up patients on advanced therapies. You will be required to assist with triaging patients via the IBD advice service and advise patients with support.
You will assist in monitoring clinical results for patients and maintain up to date patient records and ensure completion of necessary clinical admin to support patient care
The post-holder is required to be a source of clinical expertise and professional advice, and act as a specialist resource to the patient, relatives, carers and the multidisciplinary team.
You will participate in departmental audit and research programmes and be actively involved in educating others and disseminating good practice.
Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.
Chaired by Ingrid Barker and led by Maria Kane as Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust aims to transform the way healthcare is delivered locally with a clear focus on making a difference for what we call our Four Ps:
- Better outcomes for our Patients
- More opportunities for our People
- Fairer more consistent care for our Population
- Best Value for Public Purse
Our vision for five years from now:
- Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.
- We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.
- More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.
- Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.
- We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.
- Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.
- We will contribute to system financial balance
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Assisting with and participating in:
Clinical
Nurse-led clinics for IBD patients in the outpatients department and virtual clinics as required
Requesting investigations for monitoring of long-term medications and for surveillance of carcinomas in specific patient group
Providing information and advice to patients newly-diagnosed or coming to terms with their chronic disease diagnosis and offer ongoing support to patient and their relatives/care
Triaging and advising patients via the IBD advice service.
Expediting medical review and requesting investigations as required.
Monitoring patients’ response to medical treatment in relation to their IBD by telephone, at agreed intervals, reducing the need for outpatient follow up. Report and document any adverse events to Lead Nurse, Consultant or GPs and act promptly on their outcomes
Sensitively advising patients of results of investigations and the implications of those results
Reviewing and assessing patients by telephone at intervals agreed with them
Monitoring and recording test results for patients on immunosuppressant therapy, using guidelines and agreed protocols. Analyse and interpret blood test results with support and act on results by informing and advising Lead IBD nurse, Consultant Gastroenterologist, GP and patient
Maintain accurate patient records in patient case notes or electronically in computer databases
To deliver holistic care and improve patient empowerment by addressing the patients’ needs in relation to health promotion and education
Management
Demonstrate ability to plan and manage own workload effectively and independently, but work well within a team
Participate in service evaluation, assist in improving current services, and assist in planning for future service provision for patients with IBD, locally and Trust wide
Provide support to other colleagues within the Gastroenterology team
Actively participate in regular meetings related to the post
Updating documentation for the capture of information and assessment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Manage own sickness, absence and annual leave effectively to ensure service provision is adequately maintained
Education and Professional Developmen
The post holder must keep up to date with professional and clinical developments in IBD nursing and maintain own professional development and clinical competence
Develop specialist skills e.g. patient assessment, IBD disease education, biologic screening and medication
Undertake personal development to meet identified needs.
Research and Audit
Participate in audit and research projects in own area
Assist in collecting data to demonstrate outcomes from nurse led initiatives
Assist in implementing change identified at clinical audit and assist in evaluating clinical and patient outcomes
Service Development
Participate in audit and research projects in own area
Assist in collecting data to demonstrate outcomes from nurse led initiatives
Assist in implementing change identified at clinical audit and assist in evaluating clinical and patient outcomes
We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.
· As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
· The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
· BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
· To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
· If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
· The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
· By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
· Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
IMPORTANT:
Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.
When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.