Neurology Nurse Specialist- Headache

Job summary

As part of The Walton Centre's ongoing commitment to advancing nursing practice a Headache Neurology Nurse Specialist post is becoming available within our Specialist Headache team. This post provides an excellent opportunity to join an existing team of headache nurse specialists working closely with senior clinicians within this field.

You will be responsible for working autonomously and should be clinically capable and competent.

The successful candidate needs to possess excellent theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of Neurosciences, be clinically competent to undertake clinical examination and should be a non-medical prescriber.

The successful postholder should also have excellent communication skills, a 'can do' attitude and a passion for driving services forward.

The Trust has an excellent reputation for advancing nursing practice with a large number of specialist and advanced roles. Educational opportunities are significant and well-resourced, ensuring that nurses who are working at the cutting edge of their specialty continuously develop their skills, and they are encouraged to participate in regional and national forums to network and promote professional development.

If you would like to find out more about the post please contact Pippa Evans, Deputy Divisional Nurse Director for Neurology & Rehabilitation on email P

Informal enquiries or visits are welcomed.

*Interview Date - 28th May 2024*

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for delivering high quality and safe services topatients throughout the Cheshire and Merseyside region.

The Neurology Nurse Specialist will provide expert professional advice,guidance and support to patients, carers and relevant professionals.

You will also be a point of contact to provide expert medicationmanagement for patients with long term neurological conditions.

You will contribute towards the continuity of patient care in theoutpatient department at The Walton Centre,

You will work autonomously by utilising advanced health assessment andexamination, decision making and diagnostic reasoning.

The Neurology Nurse Specialist will undertake telephone advice clinics.

The Neurology Nurse specialist will work as part of themulti-disciplinary team, integrating with all relevant specialities andpersonnel.

The Nurse Specialist will be responsible for establishing patient andcarer interventions and developing services to meet their needs in closeconjunction with the Lead Consultant.

You will be accountable foryour own professional actions, not directly supervised.

There are opportunities forrole development including relevant training and competency assessmentprogrammes. The Neurology Nurse Specialist is at all times expected to developand enhance their knowledge base and competency framework.

About us

The Walton CentreNHS Foundation Trust is the only NHS trust to hold dual accreditation for theInvestors in People we invest in people and we invest in wellbeingstandards and has been awarded Gold status for both. TheWalton Centre is a leader in the treatment and care of neurology andneurosurgery, placing the patient and their family at the heart of everythingwe do. As the only specialist hospital trust in the UK dedicated to providingcomprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services weare proud to be rated as an Outstanding Trust by the Care Quality Commission(CQC), and champion change throughout the field of neuroscience. Originallyformed in 1992, the Trust received Foundation Trust status in 2009.

Witharound 1,450 staff, The Walton Centre treats more than 127,000 outpatients and18,000 inpatients each year. We have leading specialists and incrediblydedicated staff delivering excellent clinical outcomes for brain, spinal andneurological care nationally and internationally. Teams across our site inFazakerley, Liverpool, offer a world-class service in diagnosing and treatinginjuries and illnesses affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nerves andmuscles, and in supporting people suffering from a wide range of long-termneurological conditions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Role Summary

The Headache Neurology Nurse Specialist will providing expertise in identification and management of patients within the headache service.

You will be responsible for delivering high quality and safe services to patients throughout the Cheshire and Merseyside region.

The Neurology Nurse Specialist will provide expert professional advice, guidance and support to patients, carers and relevant professionals.

You will also be a point of contact to provide expert medication management for patients with long term neurological conditions.

You will contribute towards the continuity of patient care in the outpatient department at The Walton Centre,

You will work autonomously by utilising advanced health assessment and examination, decision making and diagnostic reasoning.

The Neurology Nurse Specialist will undertake telephone advice clinics.

The Neurology Nurse specialist will work as part of the multi-disciplinary team, integrating with all relevant specialities and personnel.

The Nurse Specialist will be responsible for establishing patient and carer interventions and developing services to meet their needs in close conjunction with the Lead Consultant.

You will be accountable for your own professional actions, not directly supervised.

There are opportunities for role development including relevant training and competency assessment programmes. The Neurology Nurse Specialist is at all times expected to develop and enhance their knowledge base and competency framework.

The Neurology Nurse Specialist will work with the divisional team to develop and enhance the Neurology Nurse Service, utilising clinical and professional judgement.

Key responsibilities

Clinical

Provide expert advice and clinical practice by varying methods of communication.

Provide support to the relevant specialities where required..

Provide in-depth assessment of people with Long term neurological conditions considering other co-morbidities that may be present, and provide a comprehensive nursing assessment, plan care and evaluate interventions according to the changing health needs of the patient.

Utilise nursing expertise to develop innovative approaches to meeting the specific needs of people with long term neurological conditions and related conditions.

Modify and advise on the individual medication regime in consultation with the Lead Consultant and the General Practitioner.

Work within agreed service management protocols in order to modify treatment appropriately with patients.

Work within agreed service and Trust clinical governance and risk management protocols.

Apply an in-depth knowledge of treatment strategies to monitor individual responses.

Agree care plans when appropriate, thus supporting individual and complex needs of people with long term neurological conditions across boundaries of care.

Work with current systems to conduct telephone advice clinics.

Utilise Advanced Clinical Skills in assessing and treating patients, and promote practice as an autonomous practitioner within the field under the direction of the Lead Consultant.

Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure patients needs are met.

Develop Nurse-Led clinics to provide people with information and support regarding their condition.

Discuss and agree with colleagues the assessment and care delivery process incorporating current practice, evidence base, future trends and developments in care, timeliness of interventions and their related risks

To undertake and evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions which are consistent with evidence based practice, whilst transferring and applying knowledge and skills to meet the patients needs

To monitor the effectiveness of the patients programme and renegotiate where indicated to meet the patients need

To obtain peoples informed consent and discuss with them the implications of the programme of care

To refer people to other specialists when needs and risks are beyond ones own scope of practice or require longer term support

To liaise with the multidisciplinary team, co-ordinating and participating in case discussions recommending best course of action as necessary

To utilise specialist knowledge to enable colleagues to develop their competence in using different interventions

To maintain accurate and legible patient notes in accordance with Trust and national professional policies and guidelines

To challenge others to take an active part in developing knowledge, ideas and work practice

To challenge tradition and take risks accepting joint responsibility for any arising problems and tensions and using these to inform future practice

Personal and people development

To assess, identify and evaluate own specialist knowledge and practice needs in relation to knowledge and skills required to meet the demands of the regional neurology services

To understand their own role and scope, identify own development needs and take responsibility for their continuing professional development and performance whilst maintaining a personal development plan

To work with others to develop, identify and implement appropriate learning opportunities and apply learning to practice and any future developments

To reflect on overall learning and development opportunities in order to improve learning strategies and opportunities and how this can contribute to the development of services and the organisation

To undertake annual mandatory training updates and other relevant courses in line with Trust and local policies

To act as a role model providing mentorship and/or clinical supervision to other staff/learners supporting them in applying theory to practice

Support the development of a learning organisation alerting managers to resource issues which may affect this

To provide specialist education and training programmes to other staff and learners medical and nursing students, newly appointed neurology nurses, members of MDT in trust and other regional trusts and specialist nurses in UK and internationally as required

To provide specialist advice at a strategic level to develop specialist practice across professional and organisational boundaries national benchmarking group

Planning and organisational tasks / duties

Liaise closely with multi-disciplinary staff to develop evidence based clinical standards, policies and guidelines to support the efficient and effective service delivery

Patient / service user related tasks /duties

To explain clearly to patients/carers the benefits and risks of different interventions, the alternative approaches available and the role of individual members of the team

To discuss and agree short, medium or long term goals, prioritise care and develop plans with the patient, family carer and health care team

To support patients/carers encouraging them to promote their own health and wellbeing and to express their interests and concerns

To provide support and care for the patient and his/her family respecting their need for privacy and dignity

To provide highly specialist advice to effectively communicate with a wide range of people in a manner consistent with their level of understanding, culture and background to explore complex issues and to make complex decisions

To be empathetic and reassuring when communicating highly sensitive condition related information and advice to patients, carers and relatives

To agree the arrangements for communication with the patient/family/carer, and to document these in accordance with Trust policy and the patients right to confidentiality

To influence and prioritise the development of knowledge, ideas and work practice in self and others

To encourage others to seek advice and solutions to problems

To competently receive sensitive information concerning patients medical condition

To use a range of skills to adapt the delivery of information through changing the environment, methods of communication or delivery of content using persuasive, reassuring skills as required... Breaking bad news, special needs, living with chronic disease, dealing with anxious relatives

To identify and manage challenging behaviours

To ensure that essential information on the patients condition and progress is recorded by self and team members appropriately according to NMC guidelines.

Complete national Department of Health monitoring data as required

Liaise and communicate across the wider primary care/secondary care interface to establish home therapy packages where indicated

To identify the wider benefits, and influence and prioritise the development of knowledge, ideas and work practice in self and others

To inspire others and encourage them to seek advice and solutions to problems

HR Responsibilities

Contribute to the implementation of key performance indicators for the Trust Attendance Management Policy, feeding back, at Divisional level, information relating to own areas of responsibility.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Current NMC Registration 1st level Degree relevant to clinical specialty Portfolio to show evidence and experience in Long Term Neurological Conditions Demonstrable experience within a minimum of one specialty area, Parkinsons, epilepsy, MS or MND Willingness and ability to work towards masters level qualification and Non medical prescribing Successful completion of Neuroscience Module.

Desirable

Post basic qualification in leadership and / or management Teaching qualification Experience of working within the headache service.

Experience

Essential

Significant and demonstrable advanced clinical experience within Neurology Ability to demonstrate experience in leading and developing patient pathways Evidence line management experience of ward/ specialist nursing teams. Experience of successfully managing the implementation of change Experience in clinical audit / benchmarking Evidence of Independent clinical decision making Demonstrates specialist expertise in relation to long term neurological conditions underpinned by theory in a minimum of 1 specialist area. Knowledge of Key Performance Indicators relevant to specialty Ability to deliver educational programs relevant to specialty incorporating a varied audience Ability to write reports demonstrating alignment of the relevant service to the trust strategic objectives. Ability to initiate, undertake and participate in audit and research relevant to service needs. Extensive skills in history taking and clinical examination Ability to collaborate and work with other clinicians. Evidence of effective people management and leadership skills Demonstrate high standards of communication / negotiation skills Is able to make operational judgments involving complex facts/situations Can demonstrate assertiveness, tact and diplomacy appropriately Strong analytical skills and ability to consider the wider picture Computer literacy Honest, open minded, treat colleagues with dignity and respect Capacity to work with clinicians and staff at all levels Inspires others and leads by example Commitment to adopt the Walton way values and act as role model for nursing. Flexible in approach.

Desirable

Evidence of proactive involvement in the development of nurses and nursing practice Evidence of demonstrating advancements in relevant clinical via presentations at conferences.

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