Lead Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Prescott Surgery

Lead Practice Nurse

Job Description and Person Specification

Job title Lead Practice Nurse

Line manager Practice Business Manager

Accountable to Senior GP Partner

Hours per week24 to 30

The Lead Practice Nurse will be responsible for the management of the practice nursing team, consisting of nurses and HCAs. The role is to support, mentor, and supervise new-to-practice nurses and HCAs.

The post-holder supports public health and screening programmes, including infection prevention and control, chronic disease management, immunisations, health promotion and prevention, well man/woman clinics and cervical screening. Furthermore, they embed population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access.

The post-holder will be an integral part of the practice team and a senior member of the practice team; the post-holder will ensure nursing services are delivered effectively to the entitled patient population. They are to participate in formal training events and to promote best practice in their area of expertise as well as supporting the practice management team in the reviewing and delivery of clinical policy and procedure.

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. Ideally, the successful candidate will hold a PgDip or MSc qualification in Diabetes Care.

This organisation must ensure that the post-holder has access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual in the organisation to provide general advice and support on a day-to-day basis. Further information on clinical supervision can be sought within the organisations Clinical Supervision Policy.

Primary key responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Lead Practice Nurse in delivering health services:

a. Act as the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and to work to the IPC Policy providing audits, training, support and evidence of compliance. To produce the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the Practice Manager

b. Consult with patients and their families to undertake assessments of patient need

c. Provide practice nursing services to patients such as ECGs, wound care, ear care, venepuncture, urinalysis, suture removal.

d. Support public health and screening programmes, including immunisations, vaccinations, and cervical screening.

e. Support the promotion and management of travel vaccinations

f. Lead long-term condition management within the organisation, supporting quality improvement and assurance initiatives.

g. Administer prescribed medications such as testosterone; prostap etc

h. Embed population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access

i As required, provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF

j. Support, mentor, and supervise new-to-practice nurses and other healthcare professionals within the organisation

k. Be an integral part of the general practice team as well as supporting the wider practice nurse network and multi-disciplinary team

l. Hold regular nursing team meetings and feedback to wider multidisciplinary team

m. Administer medication to patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice

n. Teach and advise patients and their families on how to manage their condition

o. Participate in clinical audits and research projects and implements changes as required, including supporting with the development, and updating of practice protocols/guidelines and procedures locally

p. Work within national and local protocols where these exist

q. Recognise the boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom patients should be referred

r. Demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems

s. Provide supervision to student nurse associates and nurse associates as and when required

t. Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements

u. Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children

v. Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events

w. Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes

x. Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance

y. Attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed

z. Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., flu and Covid vaccination clinics)

aa. Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times

bb. Contribute to practice targets (QOF, etc.), complying with relevant guidance

cc. Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation ensuring that SNOMED codes are used effectively

dd. Maintain chronic disease registers and support the oversight of an effective call/recall system

ee. Chaperone patients where necessary

ff. Support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies

gg. Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients, etc.)

hh. Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels

Wider responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Lead Practice Nurse has the following wider responsibilities:

a. Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the partners

b. Support all members of the nursing team, providing guidance when necessary, conducting appraisals and training needs analyses as required

c. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

d. Support and participate in shared learning within the practice in order to improve patient care

e. Coordinate the nursing team rota, ensuring sufficient staff are available to meet patient needs

f. Lead the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team, enhancing the provision of services to patients

g. Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation

Qualifications

Essential

• - Registered Nurse (NMC)
• - Holds more than one academic Level 6 diploma or postgraduate certification in long-term conditions care and/or public health initiatives
• - Has demonstrable experience in leading long-term conditions management and quality improvement
• - Broad knowledge of general practice
• - Experience of chronic disease management
• - Experience of working autonomously
• - Experience of infection prevention and control measures
• - Experience of Practice Nurse skills including wound care, ECG, venepuncture and new patient medicals
• - Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• - Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• - Ability to promote best practice regarding nursing matters
• - Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• - Good clinical system IT knowledge and has an ability to record accurate clinical notes
• - Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• - Excellent interpersonal, influencing, negotiation and organisation skills with the ability to constructively challenge the view and practices of managers and clinicians
• - Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
• - Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP surgeries, QOF and enhanced service
• - Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• - Effective time management (planning and organising)
• - Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• - Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/local policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• - Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet
• - Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• - Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
• - Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• - Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• - Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• - Good interpersonal and organisational skills
• - Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• - Commitment to ongoing professional development
• - Knowledge of and ability to work to key policies and procedures
• - Clear, polite telephone manner
• - Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• - Occupational Health clearance
• - Meet the requirements and produce evidence for professional revalidation
• - Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role

Desirable

• - Has experience in leading diabetes care
• - Has evidence of successful completion of a prescribing programme (e.g. V300)
• - Mentor or teaching qualification
• - Completed or working towards formal infection prevention and control training
• - Family planning qualification
• - Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking
• - Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
• - An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners
• - Knowledge and experience of the EMiS web clinical system
• - Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• - Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• - Awareness of issues within the wider health arena and knowledge of health promotion strategies
• - Knowledge of national standards that inform general practice (NSF NICE guidelines)
• - Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• - Effectively utilise resources
• - Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality

Qualifications

Essential

• - Registered Nurse (NMC)
• - Holds more than one academic Level 6 diploma or postgraduate certification in long-term conditions care and/or public health initiatives
• - Has demonstrable experience in leading long-term conditions management and quality improvement
• - Broad knowledge of general practice
• - Experience of chronic disease management
• - Experience of working autonomously
• - Experience of infection prevention and control measures
• - Experience of Practice Nurse skills including wound care, ECG, venepuncture and new patient medicals
• - Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• - Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• - Ability to promote best practice regarding nursing matters
• - Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• - Good clinical system IT knowledge and has an ability to record accurate clinical notes
• - Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• - Excellent interpersonal, influencing, negotiation and organisation skills with the ability to constructively challenge the view and practices of managers and clinicians
• - Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
• - Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP surgeries, QOF and enhanced service
• - Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• - Effective time management (planning and organising)
• - Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• - Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/local policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• - Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet
• - Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• - Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
• - Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• - Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• - Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• - Good interpersonal and organisational skills
• - Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• - Commitment to ongoing professional development
• - Knowledge of and ability to work to key policies and procedures
• - Clear, polite telephone manner
• - Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• - Occupational Health clearance
• - Meet the requirements and produce evidence for professional revalidation
• - Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role

Desirable

• - Has experience in leading diabetes care
• - Has evidence of successful completion of a prescribing programme (e.g. V300)
• - Mentor or teaching qualification
• - Completed or working towards formal infection prevention and control training
• - Family planning qualification
• - Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking
• - Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
• - An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners
• - Knowledge and experience of the EMiS web clinical system
• - Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• - Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• - Awareness of issues within the wider health arena and knowledge of health promotion strategies
• - Knowledge of national standards that inform general practice (NSF NICE guidelines)
• - Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• - Effectively utilise resources
• - Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality

Qualifications

Essential

• - Registered Nurse (NMC)
• - Holds more than one academic Level 6 diploma or postgraduate certification in long-term conditions care and/or public health initiatives
• - Has demonstrable experience in leading long-term conditions management and quality improvement
• - Broad knowledge of general practice
• - Experience of chronic disease management
• - Experience of working autonomously
• - Experience of infection prevention and control measures
• - Experience of Practice Nurse skills including wound care, ECG, venepuncture and new patient medicals
• - Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• - Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• - Ability to promote best practice regarding nursing matters
• - Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• - Good clinical system IT knowledge and has an ability to record accurate clinical notes
• - Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• - Excellent interpersonal, influencing, negotiation and organisation skills with the ability to constructively challenge the view and practices of managers and clinicians
• - Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
• - Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP surgeries, QOF and enhanced service
• - Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• - Effective time management (planning and organising)
• - Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• - Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/local policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• - Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet
• - Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• - Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
• - Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• - Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• - Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• - Good interpersonal and organisational skills
• - Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• - Commitment to ongoing professional development
• - Knowledge of and ability to work to key policies and procedures
• - Clear, polite telephone manner
• - Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• - Occupational Health clearance
• - Meet the requirements and produce evidence for professional revalidation
• - Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role

Desirable

• - Has experience in leading diabetes care
• - Has evidence of successful completion of a prescribing programme (e.g. V300)
• - Mentor or teaching qualification
• - Completed or working towards formal infection prevention and control training
• - Family planning qualification
• - Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking
• - Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
• - An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners
• - Knowledge and experience of the EMiS web clinical system
• - Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• - Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• - Awareness of issues within the wider health arena and knowledge of health promotion strategies
• - Knowledge of national standards that inform general practice (NSF NICE guidelines)
• - Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• - Effectively utilise resources
• - Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).