Vascular Assistant

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work with the UHS Vascular Nurse Specialist (VNS) team looking after outpatients with lower limb arterial disease and Aortic Aneurysms.

The role is varied, being both clinical and administrative. The role will involve some travel between sites including, Brighton, Worthing, Princess Royal Hospital and Southlands.
- Support the VNS team
- Take a lead in the administration for the VNS team
- Liaise with patients
- Undertake lower limb arterial assessments
- Support establishing the local surveillance AAA nurse led clinics
- Liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team
- To assist with data collection and audit work

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of theUK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

**Improving lives**: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put ourPatient First. Our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourwellbeing programmefor staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

**Build a career with us**: As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

Role Summary
1. Perform preliminary arterial assessments of patients triaged by Vascular Scientist or Vascular Nurses.
2. Responsible for the booking and administration of these patients. This may entail making minor modifications to the treatment plans within prescribed parameters and reporting back on progress.
3. To be responsible for the booking of all patients to the claudication clinic and informing the patients.
4. Ensuring effective use of clinic capacity, improving patient pathway and maintaining/improving efficient resource management.
5. To undertake preliminary audit work for the Sussex Vascular Networks National Vascular Registry entries.
6. To Maintain the Trusts Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) surveillance database (used to track patient pathways ensuring timely scans and reviews in line with national guidance prior to reaching surgical threshold).
7. Responsible for the collection, recording, reporting and use of data as determined by the Directorate Management Team, ensuring high quality data and timely reporting.
8. Ensure patients are booked according to local protocols, ensuring GP’s and Vascular Consultants are informed of results.

Key Working Relationships

**The post holder’s key relationships will be with**:
**Internal**:
Vascular Scientist, Vascular Nurses and Vascular Consultants. Deputy Directorate Manager and MDT/vascular coordinators

**External**:
Other NHS Trusts, NAAASP, National Vascular Registry coordinators, other network administrators, GPs, community care teams and CCGs

Main

**Responsibilities**:
Communication
- Arrange and book all appointments, (face to face and telemed) for the claudication clinics at the RSCH and PRH. Ensure all patients receive appropriate appointment letters. Cancel and re-book appointments to suit patient needs. Ensure that appointment slots are fully utilised.
- To deal with large volumes of day-to-day enquiries from patients and trust staff in a polite and professional manner.
- Telephone non-attenders to ensure patients are not lost to follow-up.
- Implement clinical and technical services to patients and provide information in relation to the care of those individuals and groups.
- Request specific data from the vascular consultants for the VNS to enter into the NVR for amputee patients requiring interpretation, assessment, tact and persuasive techniques to enhance the patient’s ability in accessing the rehabilitation programme, in a sensitive situation, throughout the hospital and outpatient setting.
- Provide concise, legible and accurate data/records maintaining confidentiality at all times. Ensure all records are uploaded onto the appropriate electronic notes.
- Maintain accurate records for research and audit purposes.
- Use own judgement and initiative to help resolve capacity issues with the Vascular Nurse Specialists

Service Delivery and Improvement
- Maintain doc