Senior Clinical Nurse Practitioner

Position Overview

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned Senior Clinical Nurse Practitioner, functioning independently within their professional boundaries, delivering comprehensive care to patients from initial assessment through to diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing evaluation.

Essential Requirements

Possession of a personal vehicle is crucial, as the role necessitates travel across various healthcare facilities and practices within the designated area.

The practitioner will operate within their defined competencies and established practice limits, showcasing safe clinical judgment and expert patient care.

Collaboration with the multi-disciplinary healthcare team is essential to provide professional clinical guidance to patients, caregivers, and colleagues, ensuring clinical safety and excellence while offering nursing leadership as needed.

To fulfill this role, adherence to the latest NMC standards for advanced practice is required.

Additionally, the position includes working towards acquiring the Advanced digital badge.

Main Responsibilities

The successful candidate will deliver high-quality clinical care to patients in residential care settings and those confined to their homes, managing a variety of acute, chronic, and non-acute health conditions through advanced clinical skills and extensive theoretical knowledge. Reliability and flexibility are paramount, with a strong commitment to maintaining effective communication with patients, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals to achieve desired health outcomes.

Education, training, and support may be provided to the care home staff to ensure the highest standards of patient care are upheld. The candidate will conduct nursing, medical, and social care assessments to initiate interventions aimed at enhancing the quality of life within the care environment and will assist with the admission, care planning, and discharge processes for all patients. Confidentiality regarding all aspects of patient care must be strictly maintained.

About the Organization

The East Lancashire Alliance comprises a network of multiple Primary Care Networks (PCNs) encompassing numerous GP practices, serving a population exceeding 390,000 individuals across East Lancashire. Our patients are central to our mission, and we are dedicated to ensuring they feel secure, supported, and respected during vulnerable times. The Alliance is committed to representing our member practices and advocating for our Primary Care Partners by collaborating with local general practices and other system partners to deliver patient-centered, community-based healthcare services. Each practice boasts a cohesive team of professionals striving to enhance the health of their patient populations. East Lancashire is renowned for its innovative spirit and vibrant communities, offering a rich blend of natural beauty and urban amenities.

Job Responsibilities

A. Clinical Duties:

The post-holder will:

• Serve as the primary contact for care homes, providing guidance on medical and nursing issues, utilizing skills in history taking, physical examination, problem-solving, and clinical decision-making to establish diagnoses and management plans.
• Ensure continuity of care for housebound patients, offering advice on medical and nursing conditions, employing similar skills to establish diagnoses and management plans.
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver safe, high-quality care.
• Execute advanced clinical nursing practices using expert skills and critical judgment to provide appropriate and safe care.
• Triage and treat patients, performing specialized assessments of their needs and making referrals to other healthcare team members as necessary.
• Coordinate the planning and delivery of holistic care, ensuring patient and caregiver involvement.
• If qualified as an independent prescriber, prescribe and review medications in accordance with patient needs and established protocols.
• Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating treatment methods into a comprehensive management plan.
• Promote health and well-being through health education, screening, and effective communication.
• Assess, diagnose, and treat patients in practice settings or their homes requiring medical attention, referring to appropriate agencies as needed.
• Refer patients to other members of the multi-disciplinary team and secondary care organizations when necessary.

B. Professional Development:

The post-holder will:

• Work towards obtaining the Advanced digital badge.
• Maintain current skills and knowledge, staying informed on professional issues at an advanced level.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of their clinical practice through self-reflection and peer review.
• Promote evidence-based practice by utilizing the latest research guidelines and engaging in practice-based research.
• Participate in continuing professional development to ensure up-to-date knowledge and competence.
• Develop and maintain a Personal Learning Plan.
• Ensure professional registration is current.
• Adhere to the latest NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
• Document accurate consultation data in patient records in line with NMC guidance and relevant standards.
• Stay informed about pertinent health-related policies and collaborate with the Locality team to assess impacts and implementation strategies.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues within and outside the PCN.
• Engage in multi-disciplinary protocols and clinical pathways.
• Participate in audits and inspections as appropriate.
• Attend PCN meetings and report on progress as required.

C. Teaching and Mentoring:

The post-holder will:

• Foster a learning environment for patients, care home staff, and other healthcare professionals.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of educational initiatives for existing staff, including medical and nursing students, GP registrars, and healthcare assistants within the PCN.

Health and Safety Compliance:

The post-holder must adhere to the organization's Health and Safety policies, particularly by following established safe working procedures and reporting incidents through the appropriate channels.

Confidentiality:

In the course of providing care, patients entrust sensitive information regarding their health and personal matters. It is imperative that all staff respect patient privacy and confidentiality. The post-holder may have access to confidential information related to patients, their families, practice staff, and other healthcare professionals, and must treat all information as strictly confidential.

Commitment to Equality and Diversity:

The post-holder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to promote equality in employment. All individuals, including co-workers, patients, and visitors, must be treated fairly and without discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or any other characteristic.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

This position is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, necessitating a submission for Disclosure.