Lead Practice Nurse

Job description

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

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

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

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

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

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

i. Prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice

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

k. 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

l. Work within national and local protocols where these exist

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

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

o. Provide supervision to student nurse associates and nurse associates

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

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

r. 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

s. Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes

t. Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance

u. 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

v. Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics)

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

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

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

z. Maintain chronic disease registers and implement an effective call/recall system

aa. Chaperone patients where necessary

bb. Support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies

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

dd. 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

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (nursing and midwifery Council).
• Holds more that one academic level 6 diploma or postgraduate certification in long-term conditions care/and or public health initiatives.
• Has evidence of working at an enhanced level of practice as described in the Primary Care and General Practice Nursing Career and Core Capabilities Framework.

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification.
• Completed or working towards formal infection prevention and control training.
• Family planning qualification.
• Has demonstrable experience in leading long-term conditions management and quality improvement.

Experience

Essential

• 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.
• Good clinical system IT knowledge (using SystemOne) 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

Desirable

• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients.
• An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners.
• 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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Isca Medical Practice

Address

Isca Medical Practice

38 Polsloe Road

Exeter

Devon

EX1 2DW

Employer's website

https://www.iscamp.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)