Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job summary

We are looking for a passionate candidate to lead the Dermatological nursing services within the Trust. The post holder is responsible for developing a specialist service for patients with dermatology conditions and their carers and families. The post holder is expected to work in partnership with the Consultant Dermatologists and the Dermatology CNS team. You will also work with the SOM/Lead Cancer Nurse, to improve and develop the services and quality of nursing care. The post holder will undertake independent prescribing for their own caseloads within the limits of the post holder's competence and the requirements of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner's role. They will hold nurse led clinics and will have their own area of specialism within dermatological nursing with their own caseload of patients.

For your information interviews have been arranged and will take place on 19th June 2024.

The closing date for this vacancy may change if we receive a strong response. Please ensure that you apply for any post you are interested in as soon as possible.

Main duties of the job

To work with the Senior Operations Manager/Clinical Lead, Specialist Medicine & Lead Nurse, Cancer to ensure the effective delivery of nursing care required by dermatology patients in the the Trust.

To provide clinical leadership and ensure the development of dermatology nursing services, working across services and with both internal and external stakeholders as required

To manage and co-ordinate the dermatology nurses roster, co-ordinating, study leave and annual leave.

Influences patient care through clinical practice, management, leadership, education, research, audit and professional activities.

The post holder is responsible for developing a specialist service for patients with Dermatological conditions their carers and families. This includes the delivery of expert holistic based clinical care to patients with complex care needs and the provision of education for patients' carers and staff. The post holder is expected to work in partnership with the dermatologists, the dermatology CNS's and the SOM to improve and develop the services and quality of nursing care. The post holder will act as an expert resource to health care professionals. The post holder will undertake independent prescribing for their own caseloads within the limits of the post holder's competences. They will hold nurse led clinics and will have their own area of specialism within neurological nursing and will have a caseload of patients.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job responsibilities:

1. Communication:

Establishes effective working relationships with other health care professionals whose role impinges on the service nurses, doctors, GPs, social services, community care teams,

Communicates effectively with patients, family and carer using a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to assess their needs and provide/facilitate relevant support information education advice and counselling where necessary.

Demonstrates advocacy and mediation skills when communicating between patients, carers and professionals.

To actively promote patient self-management where possible through education.

Facilitate, and chair, multi professional meetings relating to dermatology management

Work alongside the Directorate of Nursing and Chief Pharmacist in developing Patient Group Directives relating to dermatology management

Ensures accurate documentation of patient interactions are maintained.

Ensures statistical information is collated on new patient referrals and accrued workloads and any other data that the department requires, if not collected centrally.

Participates in the development of relevant patient & professional documentation within the clinical speciality.

Ensures accurate documentation of patient interactions are maintained.

Ensures statistical information is collated on new patient referrals and accrued workloads and any other data that the department requires, if not collected centrally.

Participates in the development of relevant patient & professional documentation within the clinical speciality.

2. Clinical Duties:

Leads practice development/improvements initiatives related to local/regional nursing agenda.

Controls and manages own caseload accepting referrals from medical & nursing staff and discharges patients as appropriate, ensuring patients complete care pathways appropriately and in accordance with Government guidelines & targets.

Accepts and makes referrals from and to other professionals as necessary.

Demonstrates specialist knowledge and shares this with others to positively influence patient care.

Improve and maintain standards of care with the speciality.

Provides specialist advice and education for patients and relatives/carers.

Develops education programmes for patients/carers to promote their understanding and evolve strategies for self-management.

Acts as an advisor on professional and clinical issues in all matters relating to patient care to health care workers within the Trust and Primary care if required, providing support, where specific medical advice is not required.

Communicate very sensitive condition related information to patients, family and carers, requiring high levels of empathy and reassure, using advanced communication skills.

Acts as patients advocate where relevant.

Acts as a point of contact for the patients and their families for advice and support.

To be a nurse prescriber providing nurse led clinics.

To undertake independent nurse prescribing for own caseload within the limits of the postholders competence and the requirements of the nurse practitioner role.

Undertake supervised referrals to regional and national centres for specialised interventional assessment and pain management programmes.

Challenge poor practice and inappropriate interventions in relation to pain management.

Lead the Dermatology Service nursing team acting as role model, advisor, supervisor and teacher.

3. Governance:

Identifies the need for service developments to improve clinical effectiveness and efficiency.

Participates in the development and implementation of Trust-wide policies, clinical guidelines and protocols necessary to support the delivery of dermatology care.

Leads on departmental audit program and evaluation of practice for nursing.

Uses patient feedback to identify potential improvement in clinical practice and develops measures to address these.

Identify new ways of working to improve patient experience.

Leads on establishing, facilitating and evaluating nurse led initiatives.

4. Leadership and management:

Leads on the co-ordination of the dermatology nursing team roster ensuring the service is maintained.

Leads in the introduction of new products/equipment within the service related to dermatology nursing care.

Ensures that annual appraisals take place.

To work with HR as required on recruitment and staffing issues.

Ensures sickness, capability and grievance for the department is dealt with.

Ensures that policies protocols and guidelines within the department are written/amended as required.

Prioritises own workload and manages time effectively, when working alone or in collaboration with others.

Operates autonomously at an advanced level of clinical practice to provide research based expert care and advice to all colleagues.

Demonstrates professional leadership behaviours acting as a positive role model for other staff.

Identifies risk within the sphere of responsibility and plans, implements and evaluates strategies to reduce and manage the risk.

Identifies and utilises adequate professional and lay resources or facilities at local and national level.

Responsible for identifying and facilitating service development with the Senior Operational Manager and the Dermatologists.

Assesses training and education needs based on feedback from audit, identification of poor practice, complaints, national guidelines etc.

Carries out formal/informal teaching on aspects of dermatological care to all staff groups within the Trust and Community if required.

Provides patient and carer education and health promotion by raising awareness of illness related issues.

Act as an education resource or signpost for all disciplines on neurological issues during working hours.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

1st level NMC Registered Nurse Masters qualification Independent nurse prescribing course ENB 998/equivalent

Desirable

Management leadership qualification Intermediate life support course

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

Minimum of 8 years post registration experience, 3 years within dermatology management at a senior level Expert knowledge of dermatological conditions Evidence of leading policy and practice development Effective multi-professional working at Trust level Research experience Effective multi-professional working at Trust level Record of publications and / or external presentations Evidence of leading the development of educational programmes within clinical practice and teaching under and post graduate staff On going professional development & its relevant application to practice Development & evaluation of evidence-based practice Evidence of initiating and leading clinical audit projects across professional boundaries Evidence of leading the development of service developments Evidence of developing policies & protocols in dermatology management Risk management

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Effective people management and leadership skills Ability to initiate, sustain and evaluate change relating to speciality. Ability to manage a clinical caseload without direct supervision and supervise the clinical caseloads of other CNSs within speciality. Ability to assess, diagnose, recommend and evaluate appropriate treatment for dermatological conditions. Effective communicator - ability to communicate highly complex and sensitive information. Expert written, and verbal, communication and presentation skills across multi professional boundaries. Ability to record, analyse and interpret information and make recommendations. Ability to lead clinical audit projects relating to dermatological management across professional boundaries. Ability to assimilate information & resolve multi-factorial problems. Ability to develop Trust wide training & education programmes at under and post graduate level. Excellent interpersonal skills. Sound negotiation and influencing skills across multi professional boundaries. Ability to think strategically & to participate in service development. Computer literate. Ability to use complex clinical equipment.

Personal qualities

Essential

Ability to act independently and delegate appropriately Expert role model Demonstrate commitment to quality service provision and patient focused care Willingness to learn new skills

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