Clinical Nurse Specialist

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Haemoglobinopathy Clinical Nursing Specialist team for a new band 7 post to support the expanding apheresis service. Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust was granted Specialist Haemoglobinopathy Team (SHT) status in April 2019 and services an adult and paediatric haemoglobinopathy patient population of approximately 1000 patients - one of the largest cohorts in the country.

This post will join an established Clinical Nurse Specialist team at LGT and will develop clinical links with teams of the tertiary centres of KCH and GSTT when joint management of complex patients is required. The apheresis service is currently provided at the University Hospital Lewisham, however, with expansion of the service the successful candidates will be expected to travel to the Queen Elizabeth site to deliver the care.

Whilst there will be an element of cross-site work (approximately 20% of worktime), the majority of time (approximately 80% of worktime) for this post will be spent on delivery of apheresis at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

To provide high-quality specialist nursing support to the haemoglobinopathies services at both University Hospital Lewisham, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Successful candidates will be responsible for all aspects of clinical care for patients undergoing apheresis including line management as well as daily coordination of the service to ensure service efficiency through managing patient allocation and new referrals.

To work collaboratively with haematology multidisciplinary team, providing support, advice and formal education in caring for patients. To act in an advisory capacity and as a point of contact for patients with haemoglobinopathy conditions.

To contribute to the service development of haemoglobinopathies including clinical governance and audit, in alignment with NHSE Commissioning standards for SHTs and the Quality Standards for Health Services for People with Haemoglobin Disorders , 2018.

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development

Widening access (anchor institution) and employability

Improving the experience of staff with disability

Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development

Making equalities mainstream

In line with the Trust's Annual Business Plan, you will be working as part of a Specialist Team providing expert nursing/midwifery practice and cost-effective service to patients requiring routine and emergency care, from outpatients, pre-admission through to discharge and review at home across primary and secondary care. The Division aims to provide an environment conducive to the on-going development of all staff and advancements in the quality of the service by ensuring provision of a high standard of training, teaching and clinical care within the acute/community setting. Under the support and guidance of the Clinical Nurse Specialist make clinical judgements, which will require assessment, planning and implementation of treatment, ensuring that all specialist patients and their carers have access to appropriate advice and support.

Expectations:

• To work with the multidisciplinary team across an integrated pathway of care to deliver quality standards in line with NICE guidance.
• To work with the nurse specialist team to ensure that all patients have equitable access to investigations, treatment and follow-up care.
• To work with the nurse/midwifery specialist team to develop best practice in line with NICE guidance.
• To work with the team to develop guidelines to enhance optimal management of patients.
  • To collect appropriate data against NICE guidance. To use audit as a tool to improve practice and evaluate services. To work with the team to implement recommendations from National audits and benchmarking.
• To identify objectives for own professional development which reflect local and national service needs, accessing advice, guidance and support as appropriate. Interviewer information pack Performance
• To demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills and share this with others to positively influence patient care.
• To develop own specialist clinical knowledge and skills and participate in the development of other staff
• To reflect on own practice through clinical supervision/mentorship
• To provide a comprehensive nursing service for patients with conditions within the specialty.
• To work in close liaison with the multi-disciplinary team across the pathway in order to meet the needs of patients and their families and to aim for seamless care.
• To use clinical judgement and skills in decision making to manage this caseload of patients.
  •To develop skills of history taking and physical assessment to direct appropriate intervention.
• To assist in the development of the service
• To vigorously promote the patient's participation in decision-making, enabling informed choice of treatment.
• To contribute to any audits requested by the Trust, Commissioners or Nationally.
• To identify deteriorating patients and take the appropriate action to manage the situation, liaising with interdisciplinary team as appropriate.
• To obtain valid and effective consent from patients prior to any investigations and treatment.

Work force

• To attend meetings relevant to the role and represent views of others in formal surroundings
• To contribute both formally and informally to the education, training and development of clinical staff across the integrated pathway of care.
• To contribute to the implementation of NICE guidance to ensure the continuous education of staff in appropriate clinical areas in relation to their understanding and utilisation of evidence-based practice.
• To establish effective working relationships with other health care professionals whose role impinges on the services.

Financial

• As part of the team, take responsibility for the effective and efficient use of resources, being aware of resource requirements and limitations.
• Ensure all equipment and supplies in the clinical area are maintained to enable delivery of efficient and safe care.
• As part of the team, evaluate equipment and make recommendations relevant to purchasing policies in conjunction with Procurement.

Partnerships

• To work with patients and carers to assess their specific educational needs to ensure that they receive full information about their condition.
• To provide patient education and appropriate information leaflets.
• To provide a seamless service for patients across an integrated pathway of care.
• To refer patients to other appropriate specialists to ensure the needs of the patients are met.
• To involve patients/carers views in developing a vision for the future of the service by undertaking patient questionnaire reflecting their experiences and outcomes.

General

To identify areas of research/audit with the aim to improve evidence-based care.

To keep accurate and complete records of activities and communications consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.

To contribute to the development of local and Trust policies in relation to the implementation of NICE guidance.

To be contactable via a bleep / mobile phone

To access clinical supervision within the Trust

To keep up-to-date with new innovations/research within the specialty.

To undertake research projects where appropriate, with other members of the team.

To maintain and input data as appropriate on relevant databases.

To develop and maintain own clinical skills, academic knowledge and expertise as appropriate.

To act in accordance with the NMC code of professional practice for nurses/midwives.

To review and maintain standards of documentation in accordance with NMC and Trust standards for records and record keeping.

To comply with all policies and procedures e.g., Health and Safety at Work Act and the Data Protection Act.

To exercise sensitivity and diplomacy regarding role boundaries with other healthcare professionals across the Trust