Clinical Nurse Specialist Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) service

About NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC)

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the UK employing around 40,000 staff in a wide range of clinical and non‑clinical professions and job roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health care services to a population of over 1.15 million and a wider population of 2.2 million when our regional and national services are included.

Shift pattern and coverage

This post will cover the service across seven days and involves city‑wide working. The shift pattern is Monday – Sunday, 8 am – 4 pm. The service operates Monday to Sunday as required.

Job opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join the OPAT service as an independent practitioner in the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist. The Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) service provides appropriate admission avoidance and early and supported discharge to patients who require intravenous antibiotics. Target areas are: Accident and Emergency, General Practitioners, various wards and outpatient clinics.

You will be based in South/South‑West Glasgow with the post spanning across Greater Glasgow & Clyde. You will be working across GG & C as service requires.

Role overview

A Clinical Nurse Specialist is a registered nurse who has acquired additional specialist knowledge and experience. Not only have you completed, or demonstrated the ability to complete, a primary degree, you will have the skills and competencies required to manage a caseload within agreed boundaries and protocols in line with clinical governance. Entwined around this clinical core are ties of consultancy, teaching, management and research and its application. As a member of the OPAT Team you will be working as an autonomous practitioner and as part of a team, responsible for ensuring a high standard of care to patients with complex infections is delivered.

The nurse provides clinical care within a specialised, designated clinical service with a complex caseload incorporating patient assessment, treatment and discharge from care. The nurse carries continuing responsibility for the assessment or care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care and the setting of standards.

Technical and clinical skills

You are able to competently perform the necessary technical/physical aspects of care for this defined patient group to include complex IV administration therapies, venipuncture, cannulation and phlebotomy skills. As a nurse specialist, you will provide patient/family education in both hospital and outpatient settings to maintain the condition and prevent the need for hospital admission.

Key competencies

You must have the ability to work independently and possess a high level of interpersonal and confident communication skills to support this specific client group whilst managing telephone consultations, patient referrals, liaising with hospital clinicians and general practitioners to maintain excellent clinical links between the services, whilst upholding confidentiality at all times. You will independently assess and treat patients in the OPAT clinics and as inpatients prior to their discharge.

Additional responsibilities

You will be responsible for consultancy, teaching, audit, research, participate in service development in conjunction with the team lead and maintain service objectives to meet the changing demands of delivering specialised care to patients with complex infection. You will be expected to contribute professionally within groups which may cross‑traditional or service boundaries and possess a high level of ITC skills including e‑forms, Trakcare and portal.

All Statutory / Mandatory Learnpro training modules must be compliant and include educational modules relevant to this specialty.

Logistics and requirements

The successful candidate may be based across any of the OPAT departments within Greater Glasgow & Clyde and will be expected to travel and consult patients across GG & C to support the service where required. A car driver with a driving licence is essential. It is essential that you are currently an NMC Registered Adult Nurse. This post requires membership of Disclosure Scotland's PVG.

Contact information

For further information please contact CSN Team Lead. Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates.

Working timetable change

As from 1st April 2026, the Agenda for Change full‑time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part‑time hours will be reduced pro‑rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

Diversity and inclusion

NHSGGC‑NHS Scotland encourages applications from all sections of the community. We promote a culture of inclusion across the organisation and are proud of the diverse workforce we have. By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We support applications from across the Armed Forces Community, recognising military skills, experience and qualifications during the recruitment and selection process.

Flexible working and work‑life balance

NHSGGC recognise the importance of work‑life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full‑time hours can be accommodated, and the tenure is listed as various, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements and this will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process. Relevant HR policies on our HR connect site.

Application honesty

Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third‑party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.

Support for application portal

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