Clinical Nurse Specialist- Rheumatology and Lupus

Go back Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 27 April 2026

We are seeking an experienced, motivated, and compassionate Clinical Nurse Specialist to join our dynamic Rheumatology and Lupus service. As a Band 7 CNS, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care to individuals living with complex autoimmune and connective tissue diseases. You will act as an expert resource, leading specialist clinics, supporting acute and long-term disease management, and providing advanced clinical assessment, education, and holistic support to patients and their families.

This role requires a highly autonomous practitioner with strong decision-making skills, exceptional communication, and a commitment to evidence-based practice. Applicants must have completed an Advanced Physical Assessment course and be working towards, or willing to undertake, the Non-Medical/Nurse Prescriber qualification
. You will work collaboratively with consultants, multidisciplinary teams, and wider specialist services to optimise patient pathways and improve health outcomes.

You will contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives, audit, and the education of nursing and medical staff. This is an exciting opportunity for a nurse seeking to develop advanced specialist skills within a supportive and progressive team, helping shape the future of rheumatology and lupus care while ensuring services remain responsive, innovative, and aligned with Trust values and national standards.

Provide specialist nursing care for patients with rheumatological and lupus conditions across inpatient, outpatient, virtual, and community settings. Lead autonomous nurse-led clinics, undertaking advanced assessment, clinical decision-making, interpreting investigations, and developing individualised care plans. Prescribe and manage biologic and other immunosuppressive therapies in line with national guidance and Trust protocols.

Act as a key worker for complex patients, ensuring coordinated care, timely escalation, and effective multidisciplinary team communication. Deliver specialist education and self-management support to patients and carers. Support and monitor immunosuppressive and biologic therapy pathways, including counselling, safety checks, prescribing where appropriate, and adherence to protocols. Provide expert advice to nursing staff, junior doctors, and allied health professionals.

Contribute to service development through audit, research, patient experience initiatives, and quality improvement projects. Develop and deliver education to support staff across rheumatology and lupus services. Maintain accurate documentation in line with Trust and NMC standards, promote holistic patient-centred care, and support leadership through mentorship and development of junior staff.

Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.

We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.

Clinical Responsibilities

Provide expert specialist nursing assessment, care, and advice for patients with rheumatological and lupus conditions across inpatient, outpatient, and virtual platforms.

Lead and manage autonomous nurse-led clinics
, undertaking comprehensive assessment, formulating differential diagnoses, interpreting diagnostic tests, and implementing evidence-based management plans.

Support the initiation, monitoring, and evaluation of immunosuppressive therapies, biologics, and other advanced treatments
, ensuring safe prescribing pathways and adherence to local and national guidelines.

Act as a key worker for patients with complex, fluctuating conditions, ensuring continuity, coordination, and timely escalation of care.

Participate in multidisciplinary case discussions, ward reviews, and rapid-access clinics to support early detection and management of disease flares.

Provide holistic care
, addressing physical, psychosocial, and social factors affecting chronic disease management.

Facilitate safe transition between services,…