Lead Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To co-ordinate the practice of the nurse-led Lymphoedema Service covering treatment of referred patients.

  To be responsible for the standard of the service.To lead a nurse led service providing specialist advice and treatment for patients and carers regarding lymphoedema treatment and management

• Provide a specialist outpatient service, including assessment, planning and delivery of specialist nursing care

• Provide specialist knowledge to further a quality service for patients with lymphoedema

• Contribute to specialist nursing advice within the service

• Act as line manager for lymphoedema practitioners.

• To participate and contribute towards related research programmes which have been formally agreed by MBPCC within the limits of time and finance

• Promote and participate in appropriate audit and quality programmes

• Participate in and promote professional development, including updating knowledge and practice in the management of lymphoedema

• To provide specialist advice and treatment for patients and carers regarding lymphoedema treatment and management.

• The post holder is required to deal with the wider healthcare community, external organisations and the public. This will include verbal, written and electronic media.

• Make independent decision on treatment plans for lymphoedema patients.

• Effectively communicate highly sensitive and complex information regarding diagnosis and treatment to cancer patients and their families/carers

• Always maintain confidentiality

• To maintain effective verbal and written communication with the clinical team and to keep staff informed of changes to prescribing intervention or treatment provided to service users

• To develop and implement clinical management plans related to an individuals lymphoedema treatment and prescribing needs.

• To establish and maintain good liaison with GP practices and other services in the area, including sharing treatment plans and rationale.

• Reviews patients and situations independently, and makes independent management decisions including acting on Doppler results

• Manages own patient caseload, providing expert advice, education and support for patients, their families and carers regarding their on-going care and condition.

• Provides highly developed specialist advice to patients and their families/carers, staff of all disciplines.

• Using face to face clinics , telephone , e-mail and letter to communicate highly complex and sensitive information effectively with patient and their carers recognising that individuals have differing needs for information at different phases of their illness, by using active listening, emotional engagement , empathy, tact, openness reassurance counselling, and emotional assessment to overcome patient anxiety, fear, altered perception, any mental health problems or cognitive impairment that may impair understanding and informed decision making and consent.

• Prioritises workload daily review and planning list to accommodate the most urgent patients

• Liaise with the multidisciplinary team to provide specialist knowledge to further a quality service for patients with lymphoedema.

• Produces and presents reports as required.

• Leads on policy development for the Lymphoedema service

• Make line manager aware of any concerns regarding the quality of service provided in a constructive manner.

• Manage the allocation and distribution of staffing to provide efficient labour utilisation within budgetary limits.

• Assess the effectiveness and economy of working practices, make recommendations regarding clinical resources.

• Be aware of budgetary limitations and provide highest quality nursing service within those confines, has a personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources.

• Managing and overseeing the hosiery appliance required to manage lymphoedema patient

• Plans, delivers and evaluates education, study days and training programmes for all relevant disciplines of staff

• Provides specialist training and education in informal and formal settings for nurses and other disciplines

• Acts as a positive role model for other staff and students and provides strong leadership.

• Teaches patients and their families/carers about managing own condition.

• Undertakes recruitment for the Lymphoedema team, manages staff appraisals performance issues and deployment for team members

• Maintains records for lymphoedema patient

• Interprets budgets and service information to align appropriate resources

• To promote the use of research and evidence-based practice.

• Promote and participate in appropriate audit and quality programmes.

• Practical application of compression bandaging, undertaking Dopplers and applying compression stockings (arms and legs)

• Frequent daily manual handing required for heavy limbs, lifting and manoeuvring limbs for compression bandaging

• Undertake any training required to maintain competency including mandatory training, e.g. Manual Handling

• Contribute to and work within a safe working environment

The contents of this job description are not exhaustive and may be amended in accordance with the needs of the service after discussion with the post holder.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of teaching in practice

Desirable

• Relevant post registration experience, including experience as a specialist nurse.
• Experience of undertaking formal teaching and lecturing

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Able to work as a team member
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic
• Takes responsibility for own professional development
• Smart professional appearance

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage own case/workload
• Ability to lead and coordinate and audit activity
• Ability to implement changes to practice successfully
• Computer literacy

Desirable

• Extensive knowledge of Lymphoedema and tissue viability and treatments.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse
• Bachelor's degree in nursing or health related subject or equivalent academic experience
• Teaching and mentoring qualification or equivalent experience
• Leadership qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Masters level or working towards within the next 2 to 4 years
• Independent nurse prescribing qualification or working towards
• Qualification in Oncology Nursing

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

Essential

• This post has been identified as involving access to vulnerable adults and or children and the successful applicants will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service Disclosure Check.

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

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative

Address

Kendal Lymphology

64 Stramongate

Kendal

Cumbria

LA9 4BD

Employer's website

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