Community Tuberculosis Nurse Specialist

Job responsibilities

Holds own defined caseload.

To contact, assess, monitor, and support patients/clients and their families ensuring holistic health needs assessment as well as TB medication compliance, TB treatment and follow up.

Communicate highly sensitive and complex condition related information to staff, patients and relatives that can have more than one treatment option; the post holder will be required to give expert opinion to inform on the correct treatment. The information is not of a routine nature; it is highly sensitive, frequently contentious, and confidential and needs to be communicated in a manner that is easily understood by patients/clients and their family and staff.

Liaise with the Professional clinical lead for Tuberculosis, East of England Health Protection team, Medical Microbiologists, GPs, and community staff as required.

Attend/participate in Tuberculosis Incident Management Team meetings as directed.

To investigate, support and screen contacts of TB infection in nurse led clinics. Collect laboratory data and clinical information.

To develop individual care plans in partnership with clients based on a shared assessment of need.

To review/update Tuberculosis Service Policies in collaboration with TB Service Head.

To deputise for the Professional clinical lead (tuberculosis) on several committees as required.

To act as the lead Tuberculosis Specialist when a more senior TB team member is not available.

Attend in service training courses and study sessions as appropriate to maintain own competencies.

Plan, implement and evaluate Tuberculosis training to students and other members of ECCH staff.

To act as a source of expert advice regarding Tuberculosis infection prevention control information to patients, contacts, and members of the public.

Maintain contemporaneous and accurate written and electronic records in partnership with clients and in accordance with policies and procedures.

Take responsibility for management of team members as required.

Write reports and participate in audit on service delivery, as required for manager and ECCH Board.

Collaboratively devise local protocols for specialist working and ensure implementation as required.

All roles within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our Values and Signature Behaviours in the care and service they provide to patients, service users, stakeholders, and colleagues. All members of staff should consider these as an essential part of their job role.

Our Values outline the core behaviours that we can all achieve and are summarised as an acronym within the word CARE. These stand for: Compassion, Action, Respect and Everyone.

Underpinning our Values are our Signature Behaviours which highlight by taking the right actions we continue to build a strong culture. Our four Signature Behaviours are: Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to deputise for senior staff
• Able to disseminate complex sensitive information to others
• Able to translate best practice evidence into local policy and practice
• Able to prioritise and manage own time to meet the needs of the service
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity
• Computer literate
• Demonstrate presentation skills
• Able to work to deadlines and under pressure
• Able to sustain frequent intense concentration

Desirable

• Able to collect and interpret data in relation to patient activity and nursing care
• Able to identify gaps in service using data.

Experience

Essential

• Significant post registration experience at senior level Band 6 and above
• Ability to demonstrate leadership knowledge and skills with proven line management experience
• Extensive up to date knowledge of caseload management
• Knowledge of theoretical frameworks underpinning clinical TB practice
• Computer literate
• Experience of planning and implementing care plans and patient pathways

Desirable

• Clinical supervision
• Supervisory skills
• Evidence of audit/research
• Experience of working with challenging client groups
• Working in a multi-ethnic environment

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Able to demonstrate ability to work in sometimes unpredictable community settings, whilst always maintaining both personal and professional integrity
• Able to support staff, patients and carers during times of emotional distress
• Able to adapt positively to change
• Able to work both independently and as an effective, flexible team member
• Creative, innovative, enthusiastic, and self-motivated
• Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel to alternative sites across the community. Current driving licence and access to a car for work purposes
• Ability to embrace our Culture, Values and Signature Behaviours:
• (Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together).

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse with current NMC Registration
• Educated to Degree level in a relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification or significant equivalent previous proven experience
• Evidence of further training or significant post registration experience in TB, Infection Control, Public Health or Community nursing.
• Willingness to undertake further training to enhance professional practice
• Non-medical prescribing course or willing to undertake within 2 years

Desirable

• ENB 998 or equivalent
• Relevant teaching qualification or teaching experience

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).