Lymphoedema Specialist Practitioner

We have an exciting secondment opportunity for a qualified healthcare professional (Registered Nurse, HCPC Occupational Therapist or HCPC Physiotherapist) to join for our new Lymphoedema service in Greenwich. Training, support and mentorship will be provided to help you to develop skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver high quality Lymphoedema care at a specialist level.

The post holder will be based in Plumstead Health Centre and will be expected to travel within the boroughs of Greenwich. Care is delivered across a range of settings including community clinics, patients own homes and care homes.

This is an exciting time for a dynamic specialist practitioner to join us to support our service users to have greater choice and control. Our vision is for Greenwich residents to receive the highest quality of care in the safest environment and wherever possible this will be their home.

You will need to be a versatile, adaptable team player who has good organisational skills. You will be required to use multiple computer systems therefore a good knowledge of IT is essential.

The Post Holder will work within a small team delivering Lymphoedema treatment/management taking into account Local, Regional and National Policy

To provide a fully comprehensive Lymphoedema service, including initial assessment, intensive treatment packages and follow-up’s

To provide advice and education on all aspects of managing lymphoedema

To deliver an efficient and effective service for patients according to best and evidence-based practice

To raise awareness of Lymphoedema and promote the service

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing, and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils, and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children’s centres, schools, and people’s homes.

We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
We’re Kind

We’re Fair

We Listen

We Care

To provide the highest standard of evidence-based care for people affected by chronic oedema; both primary and secondary Lymphoedema.

To undertake assessment, treatment and management of own caseload

To demonstrate the required skills including assessment of the physical, psychological, psychosocial and environmental needs of the service user and liaising appropriately with the Lead Lymphoedema Specialist Nurse where appropriate.

To demonstrate an enhanced level of knowledge expertise in the planning and implementation of management programmes including intensive treatment programmes and self-management techniques.

To maintain comprehensive and accurate patient records in relation to the legal implications and the organisational requirements.

To evaluate and monitor a service user’s response to treatment and adapt management programmes accordingly.

To monitor clinical effectiveness against best practice and research

To promote the health of service users and assist in the prevention of secondary complications for people with Lymphoedema, through enabling and encouraging independence, provision of support, facilitation of advice and information, provision of equipment, education and training.

To provide prompt assessment and management of Lymphoedema at the end of life.