Lead Practice Nurse

Job 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 practiced. 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 and review patient medications to enhance compliance. Offer and provideguidance to patients on the use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications regarding side effects and dosages

Inclusive of 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. Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with regulations, legislation and best practice

Maintain and review appropriate use of chronic disease registers.

As Lead, develop, implement, embed and participate all NHS lead routine and directed clinics, inclusive of health checks and seasonal or specific directives such asvaccination programmes for adults and children

To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies.

Inclusive of, but not limited to, recognising, assessing and referring patients presenting with mental health needs, which may extend to understanding practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately

To build and liaisewith external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

Delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and the task is within the scope of practice of the individual) andsupport the clinical team with safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies.

To deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Lead Practice Nurse may be requested to:

Develop, enhance and review audit protocols and process for the practice, effectively utilising the audit cycle

Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the partner

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, whilesupporting and participating 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

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)
• Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)
• Nurse prescriber
• Completed formal infection prevention and control training
• Family planning qualification

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of leading a nursing team in a primary care environment
• Experience of chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
• Experience of infection prevention and control measures
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients

Desirable

• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking

Clinical knowledge and skills

Essential

• Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
• ECGs
• New patient medicals
• Requesting and taking 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
• Chaperone procedure
• Womens health (cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Chronic disease management
• Spirometry
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure

Desirable

• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes
• Experience with clinical risk management

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).