Community Heart Failure Nurse

Job summary

WhaddonHealthcare have two sites - Whaddon Medical Centre and Water Eaton HealthCentre. It is a GP Training practice with 22,000 patients situated inBletchley, Milton Keynes.

WhaddonHealthcare are an inclusive and equal opportunity employer, who celebrate andsupport diversity.

Vision "To provide an unrivalled healthcare service, admired for everything we do"

Our Heart Failure Nursesoffer comprehensive Community Based Multi-Disciplinary Service that encompassesdiagnostic pathway in Primary Care, Community Heart Failure Nursing teamsupported by Heart Failure Consultant Cardiologist with access to Secondary& Tertiary Care MDT as well as Palliative Care. The Service Aims to providePatient Centred Care with early diagnosis & Management in the Community toimprove Patients' Journey, quality of Life and reduce Hospital admissions.

Main duties of the job

Job Purpose

To manage a caseload of patients with complexHeart Failure, using evidence-based practice and patient centred goals toassess, plan, implement and evaluate support the Heart Failure Advanced Nurse Practitioners (HF ANP) with titration clinics, undertaking basic assessments to support clinical decision making for medicines work as part of the multidisciplinary team with the aim of preventing admission, supporting effective discharge, and providing ongoing care for patients with Chronic Heart Failure within the undertake a key worker role, co-ordinating multidisciplinary care as provide expert support, advice, and education to raise awareness of the needs of patients with Chronic Heart undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner with access to advice and support from senior colleaguesThe post holder will be an active team participant and willing to undergo the required training and development to support succession planning within the service.

About us

Whaddon Healthcare have two sites - Whaddon MedicalCentre and Water Eaton Health Centre. It is a GP Training practice with 22,000patients situated in Bletchley, Milton Keynes.

Whaddon Healthcare are an inclusive and equal opportunityemployer, who celebrate and support diversity.

Vision " To provide an unrivalled healthcareservice, admired for everything we do"

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To manage a caseload of patientswith complex Heart Failure, using evidence-based practice and patient centredgoals to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

To support the Heart FailureAdvanced Nurse Practitioners (HF ANP) with titration clinics, undertaking basicassessments to support clinical decision making for medicines optimisation.

To work as part of themultidisciplinary team with the aim of preventing admission, supportingeffective discharge, and providing ongoing care for patients with Chronic HeartFailure within the community.

To undertake a key worker role,co-ordinating multidisciplinary care as appropriate.

To provide expert support, advice,and education to raise awareness of the needs of patients with Chronic HeartFailure.

To undertake all aspects ofclinical duties as an autonomous practitioner with access to advice and supportfrom senior colleagues

The post holder will be an activeteam participant and willing to undergo the required training and developmentto support succession planning within the service.

Clinical/Service Specific Responsibilities

Adhere to the Nursing and MidwiferyCouncil (NMC) code of conduct

It is a condition of youremployment that you are currently registered with the NMC and it is yourresponsibility to maintain your professional registration.

Act as a role model in expertpractice facilitating and supporting the delivery of effective patient careusing innovation and engagement to promote best possible outcomes.

Plan and develop appropriatemanagement care plans for individual patients or client groups, with guidanceand support from the HF ANPs.

Identify and promote areas forpractice development with the HF ANP, including guidelines and procedures tosupport the delivery of care, ensuring that all care is evidenced based.

To be professionally and legallyaccountable for all aspects of own work including management of patients inyour care.

To organise the caseloadefficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

To communicate effectively and workcollaboratively with multidisciplinary team to ensure co-ordinated service.

To maintain patient records in linewith the practice Record Keeping policy.

Provide advice to patients andprofessionals and liaise with the community services for provision ofpalliative care packages.

Promote better understanding ofcardiac conditions for patients, their families and carers, and other agenciesinvolved with the patients through education, support, and counselling.

Provide patients and theirfamilies/carers with information on standards they should expect from the team.

Ensure that standards of care andtreatment are maintained, in line with National Guidance (NICE) EuropeanGuidelines, local guidelines and policies.

Responsible for the effective useof resources.

Responsible for safe use ofequipment.

Deal with complaints in a positiveand sensitive way in accordance with practice policy

Attend Home Visits to help patientswithin the community

HR, Training and Development Responsibilities

Attend training, study days, andshare this learning with the team.

To act as an education resource forstaff of all disciplines within the health community.

Maintain own competencies topractice and ensure current profile folder and registration with appropriateprofessional body is maintained.

Be aware of and adhere to HRpolices.

To participate in clinicalsupervision and understand when it may be necessary to access advice andsupport from senior colleagues, peers, and lead consultants.

To participate in the Practicesannual Appraisal process.

To attend all relevant mandatorytraining as and when required to do so.

Participate in networks with otherheart failure nurses locally and further afield.

Research and Service Evaluation

The post holder must participate inclinical and other audits as required.

Quality and Patient Safety

Protection of Children &Vulnerable Adults To promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people,and vulnerable adults.

Implementation of NICE guidance andother statutory / best practice guidelines.

Infection Control - To beresponsible for the prevention and control of infection.

Incident reporting - To report anyincidents of harm or near miss in line with the Practice incident reportingpolicy, ensuring appropriate actions are taken to reduce the risk ofreoccurrence.

To contribute to theidentification, management, and reduction of risk in the area ofresponsibility.

To ensure day to day practicereflects the highest standards of governance, clinical effectiveness, safety,and patient experience.

To ensure monitoring of quality andcompliance with standards is demonstrable within the service on an ongoingbasis.

To be aware of the responsibilityof all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients/clients, visitors, and staff.

General Responsibilities

To maintain up to date knowledge oflegislation, national and local policies, and issues in relation to both thespecific client group and mental health.

To comply with the ProfessionalCodes of Conduct and to be aware of changes in these. To maintain up to dateknowledge of all relevant legislation and local policies and proceduresimplementing this.

To ensure that all duties arecarried out to the highest standard and in accordance with currently qualityinitiatives within the work area.

To comply with all relevantpolicies, procedures, and guidelines, including those relating to EqualOpportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information and to beaware of any changes in these.

To comply at all times withWhaddon Healthcares Information Governance related policies. Staff arerequired to respect the confidentiality of information about staff, patients,and Trust business and in particular the confidentiality and security ofpersonal identifiable information in line with the Data Protection Act. Allstaff are responsible for ensuring that any data created by them is timely,comprehensive, accurate, and fit for the purposes for which it is intended.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Post registration experience, working either in the community or acute setting Experienced and competent in the management of patients with heart failure Excellent communication and people skills Excellent organisational skills Presentation and report writing Understanding of clinical audit and its uses Basic IT skills Able to problem solve Able to be self-motivated Able to prioritise service workload and maintain quality care in times of pressure Able to use health education and counselling strategy effectively Ability to monitor the effects of drug treatments such that patient safety is maintained Able to develop, set up and implement new working practices, structures to support them, and evaluation processes once implemented Able to demonstrate use of evidence-based practice Knowledge of heart failure pathophysiology, its treatment and patient management Able to demonstrate knowledge of adult protection procedures Car/moped driver with access to a vehicle for work Able to work independently and as part of a team

Desirable

Previous post registration experience Able to manage change Knowledge of community services and benefits of cross organisational working Phlebotomy skills

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Nurse First degree (health related) or equivalent qualification/training and experience Post registration qualification in heart failure Nurse Prescribing (or prepared to undertake training)

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