Job summary
The Lead Practice Nurse will be responsible for the management of the practice
nursing team, consisting of nurses and HCAs.
The Lead Practice Nurse will be responsible for several clinical areas such as
infection prevention and control, health promotion, chronic disease management,
health prevention, well women and well man clinics, as well as supporting the
practice management team in the reviewing and delivery of clinical policy and
procedure.
Main duties of the job
The Lead Practice Nurse will be responsible for the implementation of processes for
the effective management of patients with long-term conditions using evidence-based
practice including care for elderly and housebound patients.
Working as a senior member of the practice multidisciplinary team, the post holder
will ensure nursing services are delivered effectively to the entitled patient population.
The post holder will work within their own competence and professional code of
conduct as regulated by the NMC. The post holder is required to be an effective
clinical role model across all practice bases and be an integral part of the clinical
workforce, delivering and promoting high standards of care. They will also make
themselves available to support/assist/develop the other members of the nursing
team.
About us
East Croydon Medical Centre is centrally located in the fast developing town of Croydon
with its many transport links.
The practice care for 25,000 patients from a diverse
population.
We are a large, hardworking General Practice with a
multi-disciplinary Team which includes Pharmacists, Practice Nurses, Healthcare
Assistants, Physician Associates, GPs, along with a supportive and experienced
administrative Team. We enjoy and feel positive about modern General Practice
but also strive to ensure a healthy home/work balance. We are active members of
our Primary Care Network and support the ethos behind this.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the Lead Practice Nurse. There may be,
on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon
factors such as workload and staffing levels:
- To act as the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and to work to the IPC
Policy providing audits, training, support and evidence of compliance to the
practice manager
- To produce the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the practice
manager
- To develop, implement and embed an effective care management
programme for the frail and housebound patients registered at the practice
- To participate in the recruitment of other members of the nursing team
- To assess the needs of patients ensuring the provision of healthcare is
appropriate, incorporating evidence-based practice
- To develop, implement and embed health promotion and wellbeing
programmes
- To implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease
patients that promote health and wellbeing
- To identify, manage and support patients at risk of developing long-term
conditions, preventing adverse effects to patients health
- As required, to provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with
clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF
- As required, to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions
- To prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope
of practice
- To review patient medications to enhance compliance
- To provide guidance to patients on the use of prescribed and over-the counter medications regarding side effects and dosages
- To co-ordinate the provision of travel medicine services
- To request pathology services and process pathology results as required
- To oversee the provision of chronic disease clinics, delivering patient care as
necessary, referring patients to secondary/specialist care as required
- To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation
- To ensure read codes are used effectively by all members of the nursing
team
- To ensure the appropriate maintenance and use of chronic disease registers
- To develop, implement, embed and participate in well woman/man clinics
- To ensure compliance with the practice chaperone policy
- To assist GPs with minor surgery when required
- To prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately
- To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies
- To recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs
- To implement vaccination programmes for adults and children
- To support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over-the counter medicines (within own scope of practice)
- To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported
appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)
- To delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and
the task is within the scope of practice of the individual)
- To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with
local and national policies
- To understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive
behaviour, referring patients appropriately
- To deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate.
Key Tasks
In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Lead Practice Nurse may be requested
to:
- Develop and review audit protocols and process for the practice, effectively
utilising the audit cycle
- Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the
partners
- Support all members of the nursing team, providing guidance when
necessary, conducting appraisals and training needs analyses as required
- Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
- Support and participate in shared learning within the practice in order to
improve patient care
- Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and
initiatives where appropriate
- Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a
structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA)
- Coordinate the nursing team rota, ensuring sufficient staff are available to
meet patient needs
- Lead the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team,
enhancing the provision of services to patients
- Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice
policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation
Confidentiality:
- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to
gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They
do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their
privacy and act appropriately.
- Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers
or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in
accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to
confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be adjusted periodically after review and
consultation. You will also be expected to carry out any reasonable duties which may be
requested from time-to-time
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the Lead Practice Nurse. There may be,
on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon
factors such as workload and staffing levels:
- To act as the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and to work to the IPC
Policy providing audits, training, support and evidence of compliance to the
practice manager
- To produce the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the practice
manager
- To develop, implement and embed an effective care management
programme for the frail and housebound patients registered at the practice
- To participate in the recruitment of other members of the nursing team
- To assess the needs of patients ensuring the provision of healthcare is
appropriate, incorporating evidence-based practice
- To develop, implement and embed health promotion and wellbeing
programmes
- To implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease
patients that promote health and wellbeing
- To identify, manage and support patients at risk of developing long-term
conditions, preventing adverse effects to patients health
- As required, to provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with
clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF
- As required, to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions
- To prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope
of practice
- To review patient medications to enhance compliance
- To provide guidance to patients on the use of prescribed and over-the counter medications regarding side effects and dosages
- To co-ordinate the provision of travel medicine services
- To request pathology services and process pathology results as required
- To oversee the provision of chronic disease clinics, delivering patient care as
necessary, referring patients to secondary/specialist care as required
- To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation
- To ensure read codes are used effectively by all members of the nursing
team
- To ensure the appropriate maintenance and use of chronic disease registers
- To develop, implement, embed and participate in well woman/man clinics
- To ensure compliance with the practice chaperone policy
- To assist GPs with minor surgery when required
- To prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately
- To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies
- To recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs
- To implement vaccination programmes for adults and children
- To support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over-the counter medicines (within own scope of practice)
- To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported
appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)
- To delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and
the task is within the scope of practice of the individual)
- To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with
local and national policies
- To understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive
behaviour, referring patients appropriately
- To deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate.
Key Tasks
In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Lead Practice Nurse may be requested
to:
- Develop and review audit protocols and process for the practice, effectively
utilising the audit cycle
- Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the
partners
- Support all members of the nursing team, providing guidance when
necessary, conducting appraisals and training needs analyses as required
- Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
- Support and participate in shared learning within the practice in order to
improve patient care
- Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and
initiatives where appropriate
- Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a
structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA)
- Coordinate the nursing team rota, ensuring sufficient staff are available to
meet patient needs
- Lead the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team,
enhancing the provision of services to patients
- Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice
policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation
Confidentiality:
- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to
gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They
do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their
privacy and act appropriately.
- Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers
or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in
accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to
confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be adjusted periodically after review and
consultation. You will also be expected to carry out any reasonable duties which may be
requested from time-to-time
Person Specification
Other requirements
Essential
- Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
- Meet the requirements and produce evidence for nurse revalidation
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) commensurate with the role of a Lead Practice Nurse
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)
Desirable
- Mentor or teaching qualification
- Leadership training or qualification
- Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)
- Nurse prescriber
- Completed or working towards formal infection prevention and control training
- Post-registration study in topics allied to general practice
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- Effective time management (planning and organising)
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Problem solving and analytical skills
- Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes
- Experience with clinical risk management
- Strong IT skills and competent in EMIS/ Systmone/ Vision/DOCMAN
- Clear, polite telephone manner
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
- Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
- Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations
Clinical knowledge
Essential
- Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
- Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
- Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
- Ability to record accurate clinical notes
- Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
- Broad knowledge of clinical governance
- Knowledge of health promotion strategies
- Clinical Leadership
Desirable
- Teaching and mentorship within a clinical setting
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a primary care environment, general practice or the NHS
- Experience of leading/management a nursing team in a primary care environment
- Significant post registration experience (minimum of 3 years)
- Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
- Experience on CQC inspection
Desirable
- Experience conducting appraisals
- Experience in leading clinical supervision sessions
Person Specification
Other requirements
Essential
- Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
- Meet the requirements and produce evidence for nurse revalidation
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) commensurate with the role of a Lead Practice Nurse
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)
Desirable
- Mentor or teaching qualification
- Leadership training or qualification
- Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)
- Nurse prescriber
- Completed or working towards formal infection prevention and control training
- Post-registration study in topics allied to general practice
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- Effective time management (planning and organising)
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Problem solving and analytical skills
- Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes
- Experience with clinical risk management
- Strong IT skills and competent in EMIS/ Systmone/ Vision/DOCMAN
- Clear, polite telephone manner
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
- Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
- Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations
Clinical knowledge
Essential
- Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
- Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
- Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
- Ability to record accurate clinical notes
- Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
- Broad knowledge of clinical governance
- Knowledge of health promotion strategies
- Clinical Leadership
Desirable
- Teaching and mentorship within a clinical setting
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a primary care environment, general practice or the NHS
- Experience of leading/management a nursing team in a primary care environment
- Significant post registration experience (minimum of 3 years)
- Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
- Experience on CQC inspection
Desirable
- Experience conducting appraisals
- Experience in leading clinical supervision sessions
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).