Job summary
A new and fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic nurse to join the newly established Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Team at King's College Hospital.
The post holder will work within the OPAT Team to deliver care along agreed clinical pathways supporting both early discharges and preventing hospital admission.
Main duties of the job
The OPAT service consists of a multidisciplinary team which aims to improve the patient treatment experience by providing effective and efficient antimicrobial treatment in their own home, thus reducing length of stay and improving patient flow.
The post holder will play a key role in supporting the Band 7 OPAT Lead CNSs in providing nursing expertise across the organization. The role will also support the Infectious Diseases Clinic.
The post holder will assist the Band 7 Lead OPAT CNSs in enhancing and maintaining the current OPAT service with a view to developing the service further through audit and evidence-based practice.
The post holder will be available to offer advice to staff in all clinical areas of the Trust within the limits of their competence and role. The post holder will be skilled in venepuncture, cannulation, managing and troubleshooting PICCs, Midline, Portacath and Hickman lines. Training for PICC/Midline and ultrasound Guided Vascular Access may be available within the Trust.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Nursing Practice
- To provide specialist nursing advice, clinical assessment and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through
- Use clinical expertise and judgement to respond to clinical areas referrals for OPAT to accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patients condition, instigate appropriate remedial action and promptly report changes.
- Identify patient suitability for inclusion in the OPAT service and manage complex patients, facilitating admission avoidance and (where possible) early discharge, triage and management of community patients
- Liaise with multidisciplinary teams to identify and plan anticipated patient flow through the OPAT service.
- Competent to undertake venipuncture and Mid-line and PICC line insertion competence or willingness to train.
- To act as a clinical resource to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.
- To troubleshoot line related issues and administer IV antibiotics in the community setting as needed following a lone worker policy.
- Support and teach patients to self-manage their condition where possible and empower carers to actively participate in the treatment plan
- To provide support to Infectious Diseases consultants during ID follow-up clinic
Education and Research - To promote and encourage the application of research and evidence based practices and participate in any OPAT research projects conducted in the clinical area, as appropriate.
- Participate in the specialty and the trust wide audits associated with OPAT and antibiotic
- To assist in the delivery of Key Performance Indicators (KPI`s) related to OPAT.
Management - To ensure communication is maintained with Vascular Access Team / OPAT Team and Microbiology regarding patients on or requiring OPAT treatment in partnership with other health care professionals if complications occur.
- To maintain and update any databases required to help monitor patient and service activity/ outcomes.
- Assist in the formulation and review of Patient leaflets, Policies, Standards and Guidelines for IV Therapy/ OPAT.
- Deputise for the OPAT Lead CNSs if required, in leading team meetings including sharing learning and insights with colleague
- Meet service demand by prioritising clinical appointments; applying contingency plans; flexing service resources and escalating to OPAT Lead CNSs in crisis situations.
- To actively promote customer care, assisting in resolving local (informal) complaints and supporting the OPAT Lead CNSs to investigate formal problems.
Personal Professional Development - To work within and accept responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of clinical competence and ensure clinical currency as new technologies are introduced.
- To keep up to date with NMC, Trust and local policies and guidelines, and to adhere to these at all times.
- To be a fully active and committed member of the multidisciplinary team operating in
- To demonstrate an insight into own professional development, contributing to the process of identifying own educational and clinical training needs to meet compliance and competencies in OPAT and IV/vascular access
- Participate in own appraisal and, after suitable training, to be responsible for undertaking timely reviews for allocated junior staff.
- To ensure own educational commitment is at least sufficient to maintain NMC revalidation requirements and to ensure own mandatory training certificates are current, in liaison with Line Manager.
- To keep up-to-date with current literature and research in the specialty
- To undergo and actively participate in own performance appraisals
- To be working towards higher degree or equivalent
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- NMC Registered Level 1 Registered Nurse.
- Educated to Degree level or above
- Relevant post-registration qualification and evidence of professional development
- Teaching and Assessing Qualification (Assessor/Supervisor Course)
- Clinical experience in relation to all types of vascular access devices and IV
Desirable Criteria
- Previous OPAT experience or as a clinical nurse specialist in other services
- Minimum of 3 year clinical experience at Band 5 or 1 year as a band 6 within specific specialist area.
- Experience in placing vascular access devices
Applicant requirement
- You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
- This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Nursing Practice
- To provide specialist nursing advice, clinical assessment and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through
- Use clinical expertise and judgement to respond to clinical areas referrals for OPAT to accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patients condition, instigate appropriate remedial action and promptly report changes.
- Identify patient suitability for inclusion in the OPAT service and manage complex patients, facilitating admission avoidance and (where possible) early discharge, triage and management of community patients
- Liaise with multidisciplinary teams to identify and plan anticipated patient flow through the OPAT service.
- Competent to undertake venipuncture and Mid-line and PICC line insertion competence or willingness to train.
- To act as a clinical resource to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.
- To troubleshoot line related issues and administer IV antibiotics in the community setting as needed following a lone worker policy.
- Support and teach patients to self-manage their condition where possible and empower carers to actively participate in the treatment plan
- To provide support to Infectious Diseases consultants during ID follow-up clinic
Education and Research - To promote and encourage the application of research and evidence based practices and participate in any OPAT research projects conducted in the clinical area, as appropriate.
- Participate in the specialty and the trust wide audits associated with OPAT and antibiotic
- To assist in the delivery of Key Performance Indicators (KPI`s) related to OPAT.
Management - To ensure communication is maintained with Vascular Access Team / OPAT Team and Microbiology regarding patients on or requiring OPAT treatment in partnership with other health care professionals if complications occur.
- To maintain and update any databases required to help monitor patient and service activity/ outcomes.
- Assist in the formulation and review of Patient leaflets, Policies, Standards and Guidelines for IV Therapy/ OPAT.
- Deputise for the OPAT Lead CNSs if required, in leading team meetings including sharing learning and insights with colleague
- Meet service demand by prioritising clinical appointments; applying contingency plans; flexing service resources and escalating to OPAT Lead CNSs in crisis situations.
- To actively promote customer care, assisting in resolving local (informal) complaints and supporting the OPAT Lead CNSs to investigate formal problems.
Personal Professional Development - To work within and accept responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of clinical competence and ensure clinical currency as new technologies are introduced.
- To keep up to date with NMC, Trust and local policies and guidelines, and to adhere to these at all times.
- To be a fully active and committed member of the multidisciplinary team operating in
- To demonstrate an insight into own professional development, contributing to the process of identifying own educational and clinical training needs to meet compliance and competencies in OPAT and IV/vascular access
- Participate in own appraisal and, after suitable training, to be responsible for undertaking timely reviews for allocated junior staff.
- To ensure own educational commitment is at least sufficient to maintain NMC revalidation requirements and to ensure own mandatory training certificates are current, in liaison with Line Manager.
- To keep up-to-date with current literature and research in the specialty
- To undergo and actively participate in own performance appraisals
- To be working towards higher degree or equivalent
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- NMC Registered Level 1 Registered Nurse.
- Educated to Degree level or above
- Relevant post-registration qualification and evidence of professional development
- Teaching and Assessing Qualification (Assessor/Supervisor Course)
- Clinical experience in relation to all types of vascular access devices and IV
Desirable Criteria
- Previous OPAT experience or as a clinical nurse specialist in other services
- Minimum of 3 year clinical experience at Band 5 or 1 year as a band 6 within specific specialist area.
- Experience in placing vascular access devices
Applicant requirement
- You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
- This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- oClinical experience in relation to all types of vascular access devices and IV Therapy
- oNMC Registered Level 1 Registered Nurse
- oRelevant post-registration qualification and evidence of professional development
- oTeaching and Assessing Qualification (Assessor/Supervisor Course)
Desirable
- oPrevious OPAT experience or as a clinical nurse specialist in other services
- oMinimum of 3 year clinical experience at Band 5 or 1 year as a band 6 within specific specialist area
- oExperience in placing vascular access devices
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- oClinical experience in relation to all types of vascular access devices and IV Therapy
- oNMC Registered Level 1 Registered Nurse
- oRelevant post-registration qualification and evidence of professional development
- oTeaching and Assessing Qualification (Assessor/Supervisor Course)
Desirable
- oPrevious OPAT experience or as a clinical nurse specialist in other services
- oMinimum of 3 year clinical experience at Band 5 or 1 year as a band 6 within specific specialist area
- oExperience in placing vascular access devices
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
