Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES

Leadership

To provide leadership to the TV team to ensure that the service is delivered effectively and within budget

To ensure that all advice provided is evidence based and in line with Whittington Health and National policies and guidelines.

To provide clinical and professional leadership to support and inspire colleagues in local nursing homes, hospital wards, community teams and other primary or acute care settings associated with Whittington Health regarding the management of patients with complex wounds.

To promote clear, concise and specific documentation in relation to tissue viability issues in order for positive outcomes and purposes of audit.

To promote communication and inter-professional working across the service by means for face-to-face contact, use of I-pads, teleconferences and virtual wards.

To mentor and support junior members of the team, to aid their development of clinical and theoretical knowledge, as well as student nurses or other health professionals who are seeking to develop their professional skills.

To participate in the tissue viability education training plan developed by the service to education and support the development of clinical and non-clinical employees of Whittington Health

To triage referrals and allocate to team members as requested

To ensure all areas (hospital and community) have clinically support and Tissue Viability cover in the absence of the Lead Nurse.

To act as a role model and lead the service in the absence of the Lead Nurse

To support the Lead nurse in managing the Hospital Pressure relieving equipment and bed contract.

Managing Care

To have overall continuing responsibility for the effective and efficient delivery of care to patients with complex wounds in a manner that at all times reflects the NMC code.

To provide expert level of practice which includes the assessment of patients, initiation of treatment, assessment of care delivered, interpretation of investigations relating to wound care and the implementation of recurrence prevention strategies.

To assess the patients referred to the TVS holistically, using a range of different assessment methods and reach valid, reliable and comprehensive patient centred conclusions, which manage risk and are appropriate to their need, context, culture and ethnicity.

Plan, deliver and evaluate programmes of care for patients referred to the TVS by providing clinical and professional evidence-based advice

Instigate referrals directly to and from healthcare professionals in both primary and secondary care to implement and best holistic treatment plan for the individual

Communicate with patients in ways that empower them to make informed choices about their health and well-being and promote independence where appropriate.

To accept responsibility for own patient caseload, ensuring all patients have an accurate plan of care, which reflects the assessment undertaken and incorporates the issues and recommendations made ensuring clear documentation in the patients computerised records.

To ensure that the trust pressure ulcer prevention policy is followed by the team at all times. This includes a proactive approach to the prevention of pressure ulcers and implementation of service prevention strategies, as well as ensuring that reporting, escalation and investigation procedures are followed.

To take appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of patients, visitors, and staff and reporting incidences, accidents and hazards to appropriate managers

To ensure that infection control best practice is met and maintained by the team at all times.

To have active involvement in the risk management and support of action plans associated with the management of patients with complex wounds and/or complex social situations.

Managing Resources

To teach and supervise the clinical practice of team members and to appraise and identify training needs of all directly managed staff.

To ensure that staff are line managed and supported in line with Whittington Healths Human Resources procedures, including carrying out regular one to one meetings (4-6 weeks) and annual appraisals with all staff.

To manage the service budget ensuring cost effective and evidence-based ordering and use of wound dressings and of temporary staff.

To assess the current treatments and make recommendations for the provision of appropriate resources to improve clinical outcomes whilst monitoring cost effectiveness in care provision

To promote good communication, employment practices and industrial relations within the tissue viability service

To represent the Tissue Viability Service at meetings as designated.

To ensure the successful implementation of appropriate organisational arrangements so that the overall aims and objectives of the tissue viability service are achieved.

To be able to use the computer systems provided to write written reports in Word, access/send emails on the Whittington Health system, access the intranet/internet for relevant information according to Whittington Health policy, present and prepare training programmes.

To ensure the smooth running of the pressure relieving equipment contract on the Hospital site to support the Lead Nurse.

Service Development

To assist in developing and implementing appropriate policies, protocols, and guidelines and care pathways to ensure safe, equitable and consistent practice.

To demonstrate leadership in the implementation of national recommendations and other guidelines e.g., NICE, National Wound care strategy and National Service Frameworks, as they relate to Leg Ulcer Management, best practice of complex wound management and pressure ulcer management and prevention.

To commence and participate in research and audits in order to promote and develop patient care, to co-ordinate and participate in clinical research projects and wound care product evaluation and to facilitate the dissemination of appropriate research findings to the clinicians within Whittington Health and to GP Commissioners.

To organise, co-ordinate and evaluate current practice in the tissue viability service via audit to determine the efficacy of the service.

Quality

To deal with referrals into the tissue viability service in proficient manner and prioritising service provision based upon individual need and referring on if appropriate.

To ensure that the 6Cs are kept at the centre of all care provided by the team.

To participate in policy and standard setting, quality initiatives and clinical audit.

To be fully aware of the clinical governance agenda and ensure that the team follows and upholds this at all times.

To ensure that the care given meets the standards and policies set by Whittington Health. To inform line management of constraints that will prevent these standards from being met.

To respond promptly to any incident where service quality has fallen below an acceptable standard and report to the Service lead and ensure that all team incidents are reported, escalated and investigated in line with trust and service procedures

To attend own regular clinical supervision, ensure that the team attend clinical supervision and act as a clinical supervisor in line with Whittington Health policy.

Professional development and responsibilities

Where the post holder has particular expertise, act as advisor/resource person to other staff.

To participate in training as appropriate of student nurses, NVQ candidates, GP trainees and other trainees.

To participate in resource projects and health promotion programmes as requested.

To undertake duties as delegated by the Service lead

To monitor completion of all mandatory training by the tissue viability team within the prescribed time scales.

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse
• Post registration qualification in Tissue Viability / Leg Ulcer
• Clinical degree or equivalent

Desirable

• Leadership development program
• Non-medical prescriber
• Teaching/Mentorship qualification

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

• A developed knowledge of tissue viability and complex wound care
• Demonstrates a clear vision of the role and service
• Ability to assess, direct and coordinate programme of care/treatment
• Evidence of assessment and management skills for complex wound care

Desirable

• Ability to assess and manage complex leg ulceration including the use of diagnostic assessment tools
• Ability to undertake sharp debridement as a suitably trained practitioner

Experience

Essential

• Sound clinical knowledge and judgement
• Up to date knowledge and understanding on recent research / national initiatives in lymphoedema care
• Experience of applying evidence-based practice to clinical practice
• Evidence of implementing and evaluating, sustain and initiate change, of clinical practice
• Minimum of 3 years post-registration experience with at least 2 years at Band 6 level

Desirable

• Evidence of project management

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential

• High Level Communication skills
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload and patient caseload
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload and patient caseload
• Flexible attitude to work
• Efficient management of resources
• Ability to resolve complex problems
• Excellent team worker, with well-developed interpersonal
• Understanding of equal opportunities/equal access
• Experience in acting as clinical mentor

Desirable

• Experience at networking across partnerships in primary and secondary care

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).