Specialist Leg Ulcer Nurse

Job summary

JobAdvert

LegUlcer Nurse Band 6 part time or full time welcome

Anexciting opportunity has become available for a full or part time band 6 job (min a week) to join a forward-thinking passionate Leg Ulcer Servicecovering South West Hertfordshire localities.

Anideal role for someone looking to improve work/ life balance Clinics runMon-Fri. No weekends or night shifts, flexible clinic hours available.

Ideally candidates will need to have experience of working with patients who have leg ulcers and have a good knowledge and understanding of all aspects of wound management.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone to develop into a specialist role, if you have a specialist interest in leg ulcer management this could be the role for you

The ideal candidate will be someone who is self motivated, flexible able to work independantly and commited to delivering best practice in leg ulcer management.

Youwill be working in a small supportive dynamic nurse led team responsible for assessing anddelivering care for patients in a clinic setting. You will work closely withother multidisciplinary professionals where effective communication isessential.

A fullUK driving license and vehicle for business use is required for this post;however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in linewith the Equality Act 2010.

Main duties of the job

JOB PURPOSE SUMMARY:

The post carriesresponsibility for providing clinical support to the leg ulcer service,ensuring a high standard of care is given in conjunction with the other leg UlcerSpecialist nurses. The post holder will ensure that a high standard of legulcer care is achieved and maintained. The role incorporates teaching andtraining responsibilities.

MAIN DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational Delivery

Be responsible for your own caseload and clinics within South and West Herts, delivering best practice standard of care and encouraging self care.

Promote a leg ulcer service philosophy which embraces a holisticapproach to patients, relatives, and carers.

Act as a resource to Practicenurses and Community nurses through education to ensure continuation ofappropriate leg ulcer care for patients in other environments home, hospital.

About us

HertsOne Ltd is a GP Federation, we provide services across Primary Care within South and West Hertfordshire.

We are a small dynamic flexible team who share a passion to improve and deliver joined up healthcare at primary carelevel to all our patients across South & West Herts.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post carriesresponsibility for providing clinical support to the leg ulcer service,ensuring a high standard of care is given in conjunction with the leg UlcerSpecialist nurses. The post holder will ensure that a high standard of legulcer care is achieved and maintained. The role incorporates teaching andtraining responsibilities.

MAIN DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational Delivery

Responsibility for own caseloads, providing lower Limb Assessment, diagnosis and formulation of treatment plan for leg ulcer patients following evidence based practice an inline with our pathway. Promoting shared self-care to help reduce recurrence. Working autonomously in a leg ulcer clinic, this includes providing cover in other clinics where necessary.

Promote a leg ulcer service philosophy which embraces a holisticapproach to patients, relatives, and carers.

Act as a resource to Practicenurses and Community nurses through education to ensure continuation ofappropriate leg ulcer care for patients in other environments home, hospital.

Comply at all times with anyregulations issued by HertsOne especiallythose concerning Health & Safety at Work and request/ensure that alldefects, which may affect safety at work, are brought to the attention of theappropriate manager where necessary.

Promote the high standards ofinfection control advocated by the service.

Assess, report and manage anyrisk, clinical and non-clinical, for the benefit of self, colleagues andclients, in line with the Risk Management Policy and Health & Safety atWork Act 1974.

Assist the leg ulcer Specialist nurses in developing innovative programmes to promote good health and participate inpublic health initiatives within the community.

Patient / Customer Care

Use leg ulcer management skillsand knowledge to undertake assessment of leg ulcer patients, including the useof Doppler ultrasound techniques and using interpretation skills to diagnoseand plan specialised care delivery.Liaise with GPs regarding referrals to specialists in secondary care vascular surgeon as necessary.

Deliver planned evidence-basedcare, including advanced compression bandage techniques and other highcompression therapies as required.

Provide safe care in leg ulcer clinics,working within the current commissioning guidelines.

Act as a resource and supportfor the HCAs within the leg ulcer clinics to assist in the delivery of plannedcare.

Empower individuals and theirfamilies to reach their full potential in health promotion and health awareness.

At times act as the patientsadvocate, raising their concerns about services specific to HertsOne or other agencies.

Strategic Management

Participate in identifying the health needs of patients with actual orpotential leg ulcers in South and West Hertfordshire population, assisting indeveloping strategies for prevention, treatment, and aftercare, having regard forlocal and national targets.

Support the service in thepromotion of links with secondary care to maintain a collaborative approachwith specialities such as tissue viability,lymphoedema, vascular and dermatology.

Work with the leg ulcer specialistnurses as necessary to develop innovative programmes to promote good health andparticipate in Public Health initiatives within the community, workingcollaboratively with other agencies as appropriate.

Service Development and Improvement

Positively participate in and promote clinical governance,thus ensuring the highest quality of practice is maintained, within theservice. Demonstrate the use of evidence-basedpractice through active involvement in clinical audit, including monitoring andmeasuring outcomes healing ratesand waiting times.

Ensure the policies and procedures ofHertsOne are implemented and adhered toat all times and that clinic staff are aware of and act upon these.

Support a collaborative approach with CLCH Specialist Services such astissue viability and lymphoedema and colleagues in Primary Care.

Participate in projects as agreed with the ClinicalLead, in line with HertsOne andnational strategies, and personal skills and interests.

Management and Leadership

Ensure that ownclinical practice and that of clinic staff meets the required professionalstandards of nursing practice.

Monitor standardsof infection control within clinics, improve the working environment asnecessary and promote good working practices by clinic staff.

Communication and Relationship Building

Maintain confidentiality and manage information sensitively, acting as arole model for colleagues. Demonstratediscretion and respect when communicating with patients, colleagues and otheragencies.

Assist the Leg ulcer specialistnurses in maintaining close liaison with multi-disciplinary teams within Primary Care and ICBs, promoting jointworking with all other agencies. Extend this approach to involvemulti-disciplinary working within the acute trust (tissue viability, vascularand dermatology), neighbouring community trusts and educational establishments.

Promote a positive learningenvironment within the clinic setting, of benefit to patients, staff, studentsand visitors.

Liaise with secondary careconcerning patients admitted to hospital.

Finance and Resource Management

Ensure that resources are usedas efficiently and effectively as possible.

Manage orders of supplies andequipment within the clinic setting.

Information Management

Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation in line withlegal, professional, and organisational requirements.

Achieve and maintain a level of information technologyrelevant to all areas of work.

Support the implementation of national and local ITinitiatives, ensuring actions and timescales are delivered as required.

Ensure the timely and accuratecollection and provision of data and information as required, adhering toappropriate guidelines.

General

Maintain current registration in line with HertsOnepolicy and follow the code of conduct of the Nursing & MidwiferyCouncil.

Attend regularly and participate actively in clinical supervision inline with HertsOne policy.

Take responsibility for owncontinuous professional development, maintaining a sound level of professionalknowledge and competence in line with the Personal Development Plan agreed atannual appraisal. Ensure attendance atall required (mandatory) training.

Develop specialist skills, sharing knowledge, skillsand expertise with other members of the team, other HertsOne staff andother agencies.

Undertake other duties commensurate with grade as appropriate.

Be prepared to participate in the HertsOne Emergency Plan in response toa major incident as requested.

EFFORT, PHYSICAL SKILLS and WORKING CONDITIONS:

Physical skills

Undertake clinical procedures within own scope of competency utilising a variety of clinical equipment safely and precisely.

Safely travel between clinics adhering to relevant policies and guidelines, mobile phone policy, highway code.

Physical effort

Regularly undertake the moving and positioning of patients and equipment adhering to the HertsOne policy.

Perform compression bandaging and hosiery application as required, in clinic. These tasks require assisting the patients in manoeuvring heavy swollen limbs.

Mental effort

Regularly treating patients on a one to one basis requires concentration in order to focus on complex treatment regimes.

Emotional effort

Communicate difficult or sometimes distressing information effectively as necessary.

Working conditions

The post holder regularly deals with materials heavily contaminated with wound exudate. This exudate often has an extremely offensive odour, making the working environment unpleasant and challenging.

Person Specification

Other

Essential

Willingness to uphold the HertOnes values Eligible to live and work in the UK Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

Qualifications

Essential

Registered nurse Professional Development in the Management of Leg Ulcers qualification (formerly ENB N18) Mentorship and Preceptorship qualification (formerly ENB 998) or equivalent Practice Teaching (CPAD) qualification (or willingness to undertake) Car driver and current driving licence essential or access to a car (unless you have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) Evidence of continuing study in leg ulcer management/ tissue viability

Desirable

Nurse prescriber desirable (or willingness to undertake)

Experience

Essential

3-4 years post qualification Primary care experience desirable Appropriate clinical experience relating to leg ulcer management Health promotion Understanding of leg ulcer management and awareness of current evidence and research

Desirable

Experience of teaching desirable

Skills and Abilities

Essential

Good interpersonal skills Able to use initiative and take responsibility when required Advanced assessment skills Diagnostic skills including Doppler assessment Technical bandaging skills Problem solver Supervisory skills Negotiation skills and diplomacy Good verbal and written communication skills IT skills Good record keeper Clinical audit

Personal Qualities

Essential

Team player Adaptable/flexible Reliable Approachable Role model Caring Respectful Willingness to continue to improve through continuous learning and innovation

---