Nurse Referral Adviser

The Nurse Referral Adviser plays a pivotal clinical role within the Single Point of Access, acting as the senior clinical decision-maker at the entry point to services. The post holder is responsible for the safe, timely and appropriate clinical triage of referrals, ensuring patients are directed to the right service, at the right time, and with the correct level of priority.

Working alongside non-clinical referral teams and system partners, the Nurse Referral Adviser provides expert clinical oversight, risk assessment, and escalation, particularly for referrals involving complex needs, deterioration, safeguarding concerns, or urgent clinical risk. The role ensures that SPA operates as a safe, efficient and clinically governed gateway into services.

The post holder will use professional judgement to assess referral information, liaise with referrers, provide clinical advice, and coordinate onward pathways in line with agreed protocols, policies, and service eligibility criteria. They will also contribute to service improvement by identifying trends, supporting consistent decision-making, and reducing inappropriate referrals, duplication, and delays.

By embedding nursing expertise at the front door, the Nurse Referral Adviser is central to patient safety, flow management, staff support, and system efficiency, while ensuring compliance with clinical governance, safeguarding, and regulatory requirements., Clinically triage and validate referrals to ensure patients are directed to the correct service and priority level first time. Assess clinical risk, including deterioration, complexity, safeguarding, and urgent need, and take appropriate action. Provide clinical advice and decision-making support to referrers and SPA non-clinical staff. Escalate high-risk cases promptly in line with clinical governance and safeguarding policies. Apply pathway criteria consistently, ensuring referrals meet eligibility and quality standards. Reduce delays, duplication, and inappropriate referrals through accurate, timely clinical oversight. Support patient flow and demand management across services within the system. Contribute to quality improvement, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities to improve referral processes.

Working for the Single Point of Access (SPA) at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust is fast-paced, collaborative, and clinically focused. The team sits at the centre of patient flow, acting as the front door to multiple services, which makes the work highly impactful and varied. Staff are involved in real-time decision-making, balancing clinical risk, service capacity, and patient need, often working closely with clinicians, community services, and system partners.

The environment values teamwork, clear communication, and shared responsibility for patient safety. Roles within SPA offer strong learning and development opportunities, exposure to a wide range of pathways and patient presentations, and the satisfaction of knowing your work directly improves access to care, reduces delays, and supports the wider NHS system.