Clinical Advisor

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.
We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. Agile and Flexible Working
However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.
The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.
Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.
Car Parking
The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.
An exciting opportunity to become the Nurse manager of the Dermatology Unit at SWFT, the post holder will be responsible for overseeing the running of the unit and management of nursing team whilst also supporting the service clinically.
We have recently located to a new premises in the centre of Warwick, this a newly refurbished unit which houses our dermatology team including consultants and secretaries.
In partnership with the Dermatology team the post holder will lead on and develop, implement and evaluate a seamless specialist service for dermatology patients who are being treated with systemic agents, phototherapy, minor procedures and biologic agents.
The role requires close collaboration with all staff within the department, to ensure that a comprehensive dermatology service is delivered and further developed within the OPD and outreach services covering the South Warwickshire locations in Stratford and Warwick.
Please note experience in dermatology is essential.
Be a clinically based practitioner who will provide managerial and clinical leadership to Dermatology staff in the delivery of evidence-based client centred care in both the dermatology unit and outpatient environment.
In partnership with the Dermatology team, lead on and develop, implement and evaluate a seamless specialist service for dermatology patients who are being treated with systemic agents, phototherapy and biologic agents.
The role requires close collaboration with all staff within the department, to ensure that a comprehensive dermatology service is delivered and further developed within the OPD and outreach services covering the South Warwickshire locations in Stratford and Warwick.
Have responsibility for operational line management of the clinical area responsibility and the provision of nursing leadership ensuring the effective use of resources and the development & maintenance of the highest standards of care and efficient service delivery.
Be responsible for the delivery of RTT and cancer targets within the Dermatology remit.
Manage departmental staff including appraisal, rostering, recruitment and selection and the supervision of learners.
Be responsible for ensuring all care is delivered according to Trust Policies and Procedures maintaining contemporaneous and accurate records. By utilising clinical audit, research, supervision of practice and teaching they will monitor and improve standards of care by efficient and effective use of resources/ funding.
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care’. Provide sound clinical leadership and develop standards and support mechanisms for sharing high quality practice within the department and Trust wide.
Ensure that staffing levels are appropriate to patient and departmental need by adjusting duty rotas and developing proposals for changes to skill mix and staff establishments accordingly to run an effective quality service.
Prioritise and delegate workload appropriately whilst monitoring and assessing performance, as well as the work of individuals and teams.
Support the clinical governance leads within the Division by contributing to the development and maintenance of governance processes i.e. investigation of clinical incidents, risk management, policies and procedures.
To have a thorough understanding of immunosuppressive, biological and systemic therapies used within dermatology disease management, including psoriasis, eczema, acne and urticaria.
To provide biologic and systemic therapy monitoring by undertaking clinical assessments of disease activity in dermatology patients, including PASI, EASI, UAS, DLQI and PEST scoring, ensuring timely recording in patient care records and ensuring ongoing monitoring or patients’ eligibility criteria is met.
To respond to queries from patients in regard to biologic and systemic therapies, including delivery of repeat injections and issues relating to efficacy and safety, such as interruptions of treatment at times of inter current illness or prior to planned surgery.
To provide holistic care to all patients, assessing the wider implications of their disease and therapies and supporting patients accordingly.
To liaise and refer patients to other members of the multidisciplinary team, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, dietician and the quit smoking team.
Be competent in assessing patients’ pre biologic therapy. Be responsible for educating and teaching patients to safely self-administer injection therapies when necessary.
Participate in the development of patient focused education including training to support self-management and health promotion activities.
Ensure a smooth transition through the systemic therapies to biologics (according to NICE guidelines).
To keep up to date with newly licensed therapies through continuing professional development, including research. Undertake clinical competencies relevant to this specialist service and demonstrate expertise through NMC revalidation and at yearly appraisal.
Support the Head of Nursing and General Manager in the management and investigation of complaints and concerns identified in their area of responsibility supporting changes in practice as required.
To act as a role model and work within legislation and Trust procedures, ensuring the compliance of all staff working within the unit.
Secure effective resource allocation for departments activities and quality initiatives, including the updating of departmental capital and revenue equipment replacement plans at regular intervals to maintain continuity of service.
Contribute to the creation, implementation and evaluation of the Divisional service plans by reviewing performance against organisational objectives, identifying cost pressures and exceptions and proposing service developments to the Divisional Management Team.
Contribute to the implementation and evaluation of Divisional service strategies and contracts by establishing systems to monitor performance at departmental level.
Work at all times within the NMC Professional Code of Conduct for nurses taking accountability for professional action and ensure that other nurses within Dermatology do the same.
Ensure nurse practice in the dermatology service is in line with trust requirements.
Lead, negotiate, supervise, participate in, and manage nurse-led clinic services in relation to the specialty.
Participate in the training and assessment of dermatology nursing staff, ensuring competency in line with agreed trust documentation.
Assess and monitor risk in own and others practice and challenge practice where appropriate.
Exercise sound leadership and inspire colleagues, to improve standards and quality and to develop professional practice.
Be aware of and keep up to date with current dermatology research and nursing practice issues in general.
Recruit and select staff by defining future personnel requirements, determining specifications to secure quality people, and assessing and selecting candidates against Trust Values and organisational requirements.
Develop and implement accessible clinical supervision for all staff.
Monitor and evaluate sickness/absence trends and act accordingly in line with Trust policies and procedures.
Work collaboratively with the Human Resources Department to proactively manage poor attendance, lateness, capability and performance issues in line with Trust policies and procedures.
Develop individuals and self to enhance performance to achieve organisational objectives and divisional service strategies.
Develop and implement a performance appraisal system supported by a dynamic development programme to meet staff training needs.
Create maintain and enhance effective working relationships by involving and informing staff of service developments, performance against actual plans, and future plans – honestly, timely and sensitively.
Ensure staff comply with Trust policies and procedures at all times and take appropriate disciplinary action to deal with staff who disregard these obligations in the course of their employment.
Develop and maintain a robust system for checking professional registration of nursing staff on appointment and annually thereafter comply with Trust policy.
Maintain records of patient information ensuring they are written in an accurate, legible and timely manner according to Trust policies, procedures and guidelines ensuring relevant clinical findings, decisions made, information given to the patient and any treatment, drugs or dressing prescribed are documented.
Update patient information leaflets effectively involving the public and users of the service.
Co-ordinate the review, development and audit of research-based policies within area of responsibility working with the relevant professional colleagues.
Seek, evaluate and organise information for action by analysing data relating to utilisation of resources, identifying work flow patterns and making recommendations to effect changes to meet service demands within existing constraints.
Exchange information to solve problems and make decisions by networking with wards / departments within and outside the Division and the Trust.
Evidence of continued professional development through relevant accredited Dermatology courses
At least 2 years Band 6 experience
Experience of managing staff, including recruitment, sickness absence, capability/performance issues
Flexibility to work within all areas of Dermatology
Managing Projects
Significant clinical experience within dermatology
Experience of systemic, biologic therapies and phototherapy used to treat dermatological conditions
Proven listening and counselling skills with the ability to manage complex situations and appropriately deliver sensitive and difficult outcomes
Managing a caseload and able to use skills of history taking and physical assessment to direct patient care and experience of nurse led clinics
Knowledge of quality standards and relevant NICE guidelines, NSF CQUINs etc
Undertaken clinical and nursing research
Ability to write reports, guidelines, protocols and policies
Personal Qualities
Flexibility to work at outreach settings
Up to date with current NHS priorities and nursing issues
Passes Occupational Health Clearance
Flexible and adaptable in meeting changing service demand
The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).
Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.
We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.
Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it’s a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.
The Trust is part of a ‘Foundation Group’ through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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