Paediatric Cardiology - Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical Responsibilities

To lead on and provide a specialist, co-ordinated service utilising nursing skills, knowledge and expertise in the care and management of children with cardiac conditions

As a specialist practitioner, work with high levels of autonomy, providing a co-ordinated specialist service by planning, organising and implementing care in accordance with trust priorities, protocols and guidelines whilst maintaining the highest standards of paediatric cardiology practices

To maintain a knowledge base that reflects contemporary issues in paediatric cardiology. initiate appropriate and timely consultation and /or referral when beyond the level of own expertise/knowledge

Manage own caseload of patients, including non-medical prescribing, working within remit of own professional registration, national legislation and working within Trust policies and guidance

Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual programmes of care for a caseload of patients. This will necessitate working as a specialist practitioner and will include high levels of autonomy

Act as a role model for excellence and expertise in nursing, in all environments, locally, trust-wide, liaising with other providers / external agencies. To be responsible and accountable for ensuring that all staff under your direction comply with Trust Infection Control policies and clinical guidelines.

Liaise with the lead clinician, multidisciplinary teams and tertiary units in assessing the child and familys physical, psychological and social needs, implementing all agreed management plans with the child and family and making appropriate referrals.

Ensure a continuous service to children/young people through hospital and in the community. To provide ongoing and structured education for children, young people and their families and ensure high quality, appropriate oral and written information is provided.

To support the transition of young people from paediatric to adult care, liaising with the adult cardiology teams and in-reach to adult wards as appropriate, for young people in the process of transition

Using analytical and judgment skills to assess children/ young people, select, carry out and interpret the end results of specific tests.

To provide up to date education and expert advice for healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, social workers, school staff and others to ensure they are able to support patients from diagnosis, in hospital and the community.

To maintain high standards of cardiology practice, the post holder will identify gaps in current service provision and contribute to the specialist policy and protocol development and implementation to ensure effective, efficient patient pathways for the cardiology service.

To be accessible to children and parents for advice regarding management of their condition and to support other members of the MDT with challenging or difficult communications whether face to face or through alternative methods of communication.

1. Leadership

Assist on the delivery of a cardiology service implementation plan, which meets national guidance and best practice standards.

To act as a role model for clinical nursing practice, demonstrating advanced knowledge and innovative practice in paediatric cardiology to provide and disseminate specific extended nursing skills demonstrating high standards of holistic care and clinical leadership.

Lead on the review and development of relevant protocols and guidelines to ensure clinically effective, evidence-based practice.

Lead on the development of systems to produce appropriate metrics to monitor improvements of the service and its impact on emergency admissions including:

reduction in length of stay

reduction in emergency admission for children/young people

improved patient satisfaction

To lead on the development and coordination of specialist clinics managing own patients and workload. Manage expertly and confidently with distressing and emotional issues in the knowledge that other support services are available to assist

Apply evidence-based practice to set quality initiatives and identify quality standards; initiate and participate in audit, trials and research in order to maintain and improve care outcomes.

To ensure documentation and all patient records are maintained effectively including the recording and auditing of inpatients, outpatients and other attendance of children maintaining.

Establish and maintain a regional and national network of contacts. Network with the team of clinical nurse specialists within the Trust, tertiary units and externally to evaluate, develop and promote the specialist-nursing role. Forge effective links within primary, secondary and tertiary care to ensure effective communication.

To demonstrate excellent interpersonal /communication skills with children and their families, and other health professionals, sharing knowledge and experience to identify, assess and meet the educational needs of children and their families and to promote child and family independence through the provision of relevant teaching and support.

Lead in identifying and developing clinical protocols and strategies to enhance both the continuity and standard of specialist care whilst ensuring equity of access to the service.

To ensure documentation and all patient records are maintained effectively including the recording and auditing of inpatients, outpatients and other attendance of children maintaining accurate records, reports and statistics whilst being aware of the needs for patient confidentiality and the Data Protection Act.

To actively involve service users in providing feedback of their experience of the current service and suggestions for improvements

To support hosting the monthly joint clinic with the visiting specialist teams.

To be responsible for complying with Trust and local Safeguarding policies and procedures.

1. Managerial Responsibility

To lead and participate in multidisciplinary development of service, co-ordinating all aspects of patient care in the best interest of the child and family.

Lead in the development of specialist services by contributing to regular review of childrens cardiology service to determine the workload and make plans for service development.

To lead clinical governance developments in line with the strategic direction of the Directorate and the Trust. Introduce measures to actively manage and reduce risk to patients. Ensure the formal reporting and recording of adverse incidents in line with Trust policy.

To give specialist advice, drive and participate in service development including pathways of care and clinical policies in order to optimise service provision within given resources and planned future service changes.

To identify new nursing roles and skills that may be required to provide an effective paediatric cardiology service and lead in their development.

To ensure evidence-based service through regular review and updating Trust guidelines in conjunction with lead consultant.

Maintain contemporaneous and accurate treatment records, submitting relevant statistics, reports and activity data as requested. Continually monitor the service provided and produce outcomes in an annual report. To be responsible for the quality of data recorded. The data should be accurate, legible (if hand written), recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately filed.

To develop transitional care services for young people to adult services in conjunction with Transition Sister and adult cardiology nurse specialists/ primary treatment centres.

To monitor the safe and effective use of all equipment and supplies.

Continually monitor the service provided and produce outcomes when requested.

1. Educational Responsibilities

To provide expert guidance and ongoing support to the healthcare providers involved in the care of children /young people with cardiology conditions to identify areas where changes in practice are required, also where opportunities exist for improving treatment and support of children and their families.

Identify own education and development needs, access appropriate learning opportunities to ensure clinical knowledge is continuously updated.

Participate in clinical supervision / preceptorship / mentorship as required.

The post holder will develop and deliver training /education programmes to healthcare professionals.

To assess and evaluate the health education needs of the children and their carers about their condition including medication and treatment and to provide verbal and written information about the conditions which is age appropriate and culturally appropriate.

Provide a key role in the training of doctors, nurses, teachers and other healthcare and external agencies in both formal and informal settings. This includes the organisation and participation in study days and conferences.

Link with educational providers to establish learning opportunities and to promote paediatric cardiology to facilitate the planning and provision of educational programs throughout the trust.

Establish links with other specialist nurses and voluntary organisations to promote development of the cardiology service.

Assist with any appropriate/ relevant trust / tertiary centre approved research projects conducted within the department, liaising with relevant clinical research nursing and medical staff.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• RGN/RSCN RN Child Branch - with current NMC registration.
• BSc or equivalent experience.
• Masters degree or Equivalent experience and prepared to work towards a masters degree.
• Non-medical prescribing - or prepared to achieve this qualification.
• Related course /recognised qualification (must have proven experience in Specialty).
• Mentorship / teaching equivalent.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Extensive post basic experience of working within field of paediatric cardiology.
• Articulates understanding of NMC Code of Professional Conduct, Scope of Professional Practice and its application to clinical practice.
• Sound clinical knowledge of current issues affecting children with cardiac conditions.
• Clear understanding of and a commitment to clinical governance.
• Articulates understanding of relevant nursing research/evidence-based practice and can apply findings to practice.
• Articulates understanding of National guidelines, including the safety agenda, relating to children and current legislation /guidance.
• Articulates understanding of managing clinical risk.

Desirable

• Proven management experience.
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Mentoring / supervision of other professionals.
• Evidence of change management to improve the patient experience.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Able to work independently and seek advice when necessary.
• Good communication skills, is able to make presentations to colleagues, other professionals and agencies,
• Able to work across professional team and organisational boundaries.
• Skills to recognise clinical need, take action and respond appropriately.
• Provide support to all team members/ parents/ carers and families.
• Good organisational skills.
• Good people skills.
• Time management and prioritisation skills.
• Computer skills.
• Expert clinical skills.
• Ability to communicate complex concerns effectively - verbal /written.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Act as a professional role model.
• Evidence of empowering others.
• Approachable, sensitive to the needs of children /parents/carers/colleagues.
• Confident to act as patient advocate/take responsibility.
• Adapt to working environment changes depending upon many health and social issues.

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).