Band 8a - Lead Nurse Rheumatology Service

Band 8a - Lead Nurse Rheumatology Service

Job description

Job summary

Rheumatology and Scleroderma services at Royal Free London are expanding!

We are elated to be seeking a band 8 a Lead Nurse who will be at the forefront of providing and leading our patient clinical support services.

You will lead and drive the improvement of our Rheumatology services at The Royal Free Hospital.

The Rheumatology service provides nationally recognised services for long term, acute and complex rheumatological conditions inflammatory arthritis, Lupus, Sarcoidosis, vasculitis, Adult Onset Stills diseases and Behet's disease.

We operate a large regional and national biologic therapy service. As well as providing diagnosis,





long-term condition management alongside facilitating and managing an expert clinical advice service for our patient population.

For our nationally recognised services we manage patients with complex, acute and long-term rheumatological conditions.

We are looking for an exceptional candidate who already possess or will be working towards fostering the key attributes of advanced clinical practice and can implement them into every day clinical practice :

Clinical Practice

Education

Leadership & Management

Research

Main duties of the job

The Rheumatology service provides a diagnostic, wide ranging treatments and management advice service for a caseload of patients with a variety of Rheumatological conditions.

The Lead nurse will work closely with the Lead nurse for Scleroderma service, multi-disciplinary team, divisional / Trust leadership and shared care networks to plan and deliver a first-class clinical service. Including :

Act as a visible role model and expert autonomous practitioner

Provide strategic direction for Clinical Nurses Specialist team







Lead on the development, and implementation of programmes of nursing led care for individual patients and the client group as a whole

Lead training and education for nurses and allied health care professionals within the specialist area, internally and externally

Contribute to development of the department's clinical research strategy, and engage at all levels of research process

Responsibility for excellent standards of nursing care to patients through the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating nurse-led services

Lead on review and evaluate the provision of patient information & education sessions, in collaboration with the MDT

Work with the clinical team to create and enable a positive patient experience and promote staff wellbeing







About us

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative Trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated staff care for over million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E;, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17 million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle.

From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top

For more information please follow link

This vacancy has been advertised in accordance with the new NHS pay rate which will take effect from autumn 2024.





Please note if your employment starts before the 24 / 25 pay scales are implemented you will be paid under the 23 / 24 pay scales and any backpay will be adjusted accordingly.

Further information can be found at

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Always maintain professional behaviour and promote a positive image of Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust at all times, in line with World Class Care values

Practice as an expert, autonomous practitioner. Independently assess patients by using advanced clinical assessment skills and clinical judgement to take a detailed history, physically assess, make required differential diagnosis, order tests or investigations (including IRMER) required to confirm diagnosis, evaluate and review treatment plan







Triage refferrals within local protocols to ensure timely clinical review to increase patient access to specialist advice and treatment

Undertake independent and supplementary prescribing in accordance with the trust policies and within the scope of practice agreed by clinical lead, divisional director for nursing and clinical director for the division

Ensure effective communication is maintained both written and verbally, regarding patients, through close liaison with professional colleagues, both in primary and secondary care, and to develop working relationships with consultants, general practitioners and other support services

Act as a clinical resource in primary and secondary care on managing patients with Rheumatology care needs







Act as a first point of contact for patients / allied health care professionals seeking specialist advice via the clinical advice line and service email

Regulary review practice and explore new opportunities for developing and delivering excellence in specialist Rheumatology nursing

Ensure that all requirements for continuing professional development are met and to keep

abreast of new advances in the field of rheumatology as appropriate; to attend seminars,

unit meetings, and conferences as required by the department

Ensure infection control policies and procedures are followed at all times by self and all

members of the team

2. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS

Maintains a consistent, visible presence in clinical areas of responsibility, ensuring accessibility for patients,





family, carers and staff

Review, develop and audit pathways across inpatient and outpatient settings to maximise patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate information to facilitate informed choices of treatment options, promotoing a culture of shared decision making

Provide a high quality clinical advice line service to patients, carers and allied health care professionals and regulary audit service effectiveness

Lead on communications between patients, family / carers and healthcare professionals and to provide relevant support, information, education and counselling as required and within an advocacy role

Colaborate effectively with relevant teams involved in a patients care







Maintain accurate record keeping and documentation, in line with Trust & NMC guidelines

Ensure that any patient complaints are dealt with promptly, sensitively and by following trust procedures and policies

Regulary obtain patient feedback and work collaboratively with patient and carer groups

3. RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

Work closely with clinical teams to conceptualise, design and develop new patient

pathways whilst ensuring continuity of care and that improving the patient experience is a

driving force for change

Adopt an innovative approach to incorporate new / emerging themes within Rheumatology

Actively participate in relevant clinical and managerial groups across the Trust and

nationally relvent groups

Alongside clinical lead and the mutlidisciplanry team; plan for future service devleopments

and buisness plans to support service development strategy

Participate and present at local, national and international conferences on Rheumatology

specialist care to raise the profile of the team speciality

Promote Rheumatology speciality within the Trust

Promote best practice within the team through role modelling and encouraging

reflective practice

Lead in the education, training and development of Rheumatology care at all levels

4. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

Collaborate with pharmancy and clinical team to ensure appropriate funding approvals in place regarding high cost / biological drugs

Actively manage resources including staffing, material and financial (budgetary). This will also include regular review of skill mix and use of temporary staff

Support the divisional team in the development and implementation of the annual cost improvement programme in accordance with the trust targets and timetable

Alongside clinical lead and divisional leadership develop business plans to support service development

5. RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

Ensures all staff have access to, and act within, trust / departmental policies and procedures

Directly line manage the CNS team using trusts HR policies and procedures. Agree / undertake annual objectives, performance appraisals, manage clinical performance and sickness absence

Lead in the future planning of the strategic development of the rheumatology nursing service

Lead in the development of advanced skills and competencies for nurses in specialist practice

Represent the CNSs nursing perspective at appropriate groups / committees both internally and externally.

Resolve complaints as they arise through communication as necessary, and when appropriate, investigate complaints relevant to remit and write responses.

Liaises with the senior Matron / Head of Nursing to bring to their attention any problems identified

Lead the CNS team in the development and dissemination of pertinent written patient information within the rheumatology speciality, working in collaboration with the MDT team and wider national networks

Work closely alongside other lead nurses in specialist practice within the trust to support those in advanced nursing roles within the division and trust

Continually assess and monitor risk in own and others practice and challenge poor practice

Exercise leadership and inspire colleagues, to improve standards and quality and develop professional practice

Demonstrate the ability to manage stressful and conflicting situations professionally, as they arise

6. RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES

Ensures all information is stored and used in accordance with the Data Protection

Act and Caldecott principles

Identifies education and training requirements on Information Governance for all

relevant staff

Oversees high standards of record keeping within areas of responsibility

Processes information electronically and manually

Ensures information is communicated through the appropriate Trust channels as

required

Work with IT and patient systems colleagues to set up and troubleshoot processes

within the Electronic Patient Record that will support the smooth functioning of

the service

Manage and assess a complex range of data, making informed recommendations

which are focussed on outcomes that meet external and internal stakeholders and

patient needs

7 RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Lead audit of nursing work undertaken and to participate in the MDT clinical audit cycle

Initiate, promote and / or participate in appropriate nursing research

Support relevant research being undertaken by members of the MDT, in conjunction with the academic departments and research nursing teams

Ensure the findings of research are embedded into practice and align with the needs of the service

Be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the development of all clinical nurse specialists within the team, by formulating and implementing teaching and learning strategies

Pursue a programme of continuous education to achieve and maintain advanced clinical knowledge and skills necessary to provide clinically effective, evidenced based care

Raise awareness internally and externally regarding issues of diagnosis and treatment of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue diseases through liaison with interested groups

Act as a resource for other professionals, ensure that ongoing personal development and appropriate education takes place in order to underpin specialist advice and promote best practice

Participate in the supervision / training of developmental specialist staff and other junior staff, as appropriate

Person Specification

Values

Essential

Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential

- Registered nurse with live NMC registration
- Educated to degree level
- Evidence of significant continuing professional development
- Relevant post grad Rheumatology qualification
- Physical assessment qualification
- Evidence of leadership training / qualification

Desirable

- Master's degree or working towards
- Independent prescribing qualification / willing to undertake
- Joint injection competency

Experience

Essential

- Demonstrable experience at a senior nursing level
- Experience of leading change, delivering tangible and sustained improvements
- Clinical experience of designing, establishing, or managing services and / or care pathways
- Significant experience of working as an autonomous practitioner and independent prescriber
- Leadership skills that are capable of supporting and developing service / others
- Managing and / or leading a team

Desirable

- Experience in innovative Rheumatology service development
- Evidence of successful delivery of financial and / or quality benefits within agreed timescales

Skills and aptitudes

Essential

- Leadership, motivation and influencing skills
- Proven expertise & ability to clinically assess a patient within speciality
- Teaching experience in clinical practice
- Problem solving and decision making skills
- Presentation skills
- Successful track record in conflict resolution and performance management
- Knowledge of strategic and national issues pertinent to nursing and area of specialty

Desirable

- Ability to travel to shared care partners sites

▶️ Band 8a - Lead Nurse Rheumatology Service
🖊️ Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
📍 London