Neurology Nurse Specialist- Epilepsy

Job summary

Epilepsy Specialist Nurse role based in North Wales.

As part of The Walton Centre's ongoing commitment to advancing nursing practice a Epilepsy Neurology Nurse Specialist post is becoming available within our specialist team based in North Wales. This post provides an excellent opportunity to work closely with a highly skilled and experienced team.

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.

A development post Band 6 to Band 7 will be considered after relevant training and competencies have been achieved.

The successful postholder should have excellent communication skills, a 'can do' attitude, be driven and possess 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 Dr Sheila Shepley, Epilepsy Consultant Nurse on email

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for delivering high quality and safe services topatients throughout the Cheshire and Merseyside region, with involvement inservices delivered in North Wales.

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, inpatient and outpatient settingsin our satellite centres and in the patients home in the community.

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.

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 Neurology Nurse Specialist in Epilepsy will providing expertise in identification and management of long term conditions supporting the WCFT services delivered in North Wales.

You will be responsible for delivering high quality and safe services to patients throughout the Cheshire and Merseyside region, with involvement in services delivered in North Wales.

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, inpatient and outpatient settings in our satellite centres and in the patients home in the community.

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.

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 None medical prescribing Successful completion of Neuroscience Module.

Desirable

Post basic qualification in leadership and / or management Teaching qualification.

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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