ACHD Lead Specialist Nurse

Job responsibilities

• Be a visible, accessible, credible and assertive leader to whom patients, relatives and staff can turn for assistance, advice and support.

• Lead the ACHD Nursing team and build successful links between nursing and other professions to support and promote effective multi-disciplinary team working.

• Lead and support the ACHD Nursing team through the process of change, demonstrating tenacity, drive, professional integrity, balance and perspective.

• Develop the role of other team members, supporting them in gaining the appropriate competencies to achieve the required standards of care.

• Motivate all team members and lead innovation and expertise in clinical practice by example.

• Through effective communication, disseminate information across the health care teams and CMGs.

• Communicate and share clinical experiences and good practice within and across CMGs.

• Resolve conflict as speedily as circumstances allow and ensure feedback and planning for the future occurs.

• Maximise use of clinical resources, implementing best practice in patient flow, admission and discharge arrangements.

• Act in a professional manner and ensure self and staff adhere to the UHL Uniform policy at all times.

• Practice clinically by actively participating in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based care for a defined caseload.

• Contribute to the continual improvement in patient care utilising national and local agendas, including Standards for Better Health and UHL Business and Strategy plans (Eight Pillars Strategy) and also peer review.

• Monitor the quality of patient care delivered to ensure that patients and users receive the highest standards of care at all times and participate in the regular audits and evaluation of patient satisfaction.

• Regularly monitor standards of clinical care and documentation, developing and implementing strategies to improve performance.

• Build effective working relationships across Directorates and other departments, referring hospitals and across Primary Care.

• Facilitate communication regarding shared experiences of care that will benefit the needs and experiences of patients and carers.

• Identify opportunities to develop new ways of working and challenge, change and expand roles, working in conjunction with the Education and Practice Development Team/s, Matrons and Head of Nursing.

• Work together with the Matron and Head of Nursing to develop auditable standards of care that actively support national benchmarking.

• Act at all times in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct associated codes of practice.

• Proactively seek feedback on patient and public experience in order to address concerns in a timely manner and build on success.

• Support the Matron to ensure the environment is safe, clean, comfortable and well maintained in line with patient and public expectations.

• Take professional responsibility for liaising with leads in facilities and infection control to ensure that prompt, appropriate and relevant actions are undertaken to properly maintain a clean and healthy environment.

  3.4 To lead and actively participate in Patient and Public Involvement initiatives such as focus groups/citizens councils and act on recommendations as required.

• Maintain professional and patient advocacy at all times.

• Consult with Operational Managers, Matron and relevant others on key developments ensuring the efficient and effective management of ward resources.

• Work collaboratively with the Operational Managers and Matron to implement agreed changes in resource management and achieve efficiency targets.

• Manage and supervise the rostering, allocation, utilisation and prioritisation of workload to ensure the maximum effectiveness for delivery of care within the Specialised team and Outpatients Department.

• Actively engage in the Trusts selection, recruitment and retention strategies.

• Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times and information relating to patient/ users and personnel is used only in connection with authorised duties.

• Use health-related information only for the purposes of what it is intended for and in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

• Ensure that the delivery of care to all patients meet the standards set by you and the Standards for Better Health.

• Responsible for ensuring the highest standards of Infection prevention and control are practised at all times.

• Demonstrate a high level of commitment to and enthusiasm for research, evidence-based practice, audit and education in the clinical area.

• Actively contribute to reconfiguration projects, service redesign developments and CMG business planning as required.

• Be proactive in the risk assessment, management, clinical incident reporting and management of complaints.

• Ensure all staff move and handle patients and goods in ways that promote the health of the patient and care team and are consistent with legislation.

• Contribute to the development of CMG and Trust policies, procedures and clinical guidelines and ensure adherence by self and team.

• Undertake clinical and associated audits as appropriate for the given area.

• Responsible for managing staff performance and competence within area of responsibility following Trust policies and procedures and to identify and manage poor performance.

• Undertake the Trust Corporate and CMG-specific Induction and competency Programmes appropriate to role.

• Take responsibility for ensuring self and all staff comply with mandatory training and NMC professional re-registration requirements.

• Undertake specialist education training as required that will allow health care to be delivered to the user through new ways of working.

• Teach and assist others to develop professionally, reaching their full potential. Encourage professional accountability in others

• Take responsibility for ensuring that all learners in their area are appropriately supported and competently assessed in line with NMC guidelines and other professional bodies.

• Work collaboratively with the Education and Practice Development Team to ensure that education and development opportunities are provided for the workforce to enable staff to be both confident and competent to perform their roles safely.

• Work collaboratively with the Education and Practice Development Team to develop policy, protocols and education that will support new initiatives and quality care delivery.

please see job description/person specification for further details on the role

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

• Current NMC registration with no restrictions to practice
• Degree with relevance to specialism
• Education at Master's degree level ( L7) or above in specialism
• Recognised NMC Teaching and Assessing qualification and a Practice Assessor preparation day

Desirable

• Working towards or qualification in Non-medical prescriber or working towards.
• Participates in formal and informal teaching

Clinical Skills, Knowledge and ability

Essential

• Evidence of change management skills
• Demonstrates a high level of clinical competence and expertise relevant to speciality
• Good understanding of clinical governance and application to quality and safety
• An awareness and understanding of national and local issues that affect Nursing / midwifery and the NHS as a whole
• Up-to-date knowledge and understanding of nursing policy and practice relevant to speciality

Desirable

• Venepuncture and cannulation

Experience

Essential

• Significant post-registration experience at Band 6 or above
• Experience in Adult Cardiology services
• Previous experience in leadership and management at band 6 or above

Desirable

• Demonstrates experience in Adult Congenital Heart Disease Services
• Experience of participation/undertaking clinical trials and research
• Experience in directly undertaking and responding to clinical audit and quality assurance.

Communication and Relationships

Essential

• Effective communicator and negotiator
• Use initiative and has the ability to lead and co-ordinate a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to inspire confidence in others, demonstrating strong leadership qualities and acting as a positive role model to other members of the team
• Flexible and Adaptable in approach
• Acts as a clinical role model
• Ability to provide and receive highly complex information

Desirable

• Computer literacy (Microsoft Word / excel / Virtual teams)

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

• Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
• All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others.

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).