Community Parkinson's Disease Nurse Specialist

Job responsibilities

As a community Parkinson's disease nurse specialist the successful candidate will have a keen interest in Parkinson's disease and will be an autonomous, highly skilled qualified nurse responsible for delivering specialist nursing care to our patients and their families living with Parkinson's disease.

The post holder will provide expert assessment, care planning, symptom management, education and support to our patients. You will be supported by the Care of older people Consultants and Nurse Consultant. The role aims to promote self management, maintain independence,prevent avoidable hospital admissions and improve overall quality of life. The PDNS will act as an advocate, educator and key worker under the guidance of the Care of Older consultant team and will work collaboratively across primary, secondary and voluntary care services.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

-Undertake comprehensive holistic assessments of patients with Parkinson's disease, including motor and non motor symptom evaluation.

-Develop, implement and regularly review individual care plans in partnership with patients and carers.

-Monitor disease progression and treatment effectiveness, identifying complications and deterioration early.

-Support medication titration and advanced therapies where appropriate.

-Identify and manage common complications such as falls, dysphagia, cognitive impairment, mood disorders, sleep disturbances and autonomic dysfunction.

-Deliver care in a variety of settings including clinics, patients homes and care homes.

-Support end of life planning and palliative care in collaboration with relevant services.

-Manage and prioritise a defined caseload of patients across the Fylde coast.

-Respond to urgent referrals and provide timely clinical interventions to prevent hospital admissions where possible.

-Provide ongoing emotional, psychological and practical support following diagnosis and throughout disease progression.

-Educate patients and carers on symptom managemnt, medication adherence, lifestyle modifications and available support services.

-Signpost to community resources, support groups, benefits advice and voluntary organisations.

-Participate in MDT meetings and case discussions.

-Maintain up to date knowledge of current research, national guidlines and best practice in Parkinson's disease care.

-Contribute to service evaluation, audit and quality improvement initiatives.

-Promote high standards of care, safeguarding and risk management.

-Identify safeguarding concerns and escalate appropriately.

-Ensure compliance with professional codes of conduct and local policies.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• First level Registered Nurse with current registration with the NMC
• Leadership training (LEO/LPC) or equivalent experience
• Teaching qualification

Desirable

• Prescribing/ability to work within PGDs
• Specialist Diploma level/ specialist practitioner or equivalent
• Evidence of CPD in management of Long Term Conditions
• Non-medical V300 prescribing or willingness to undertake.
• Post graduate qualification in a health related topic
• Specialist qualification in neurological nursing

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Relevant post registration work within acute, mental health or community and primary care nursing fields.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and/or multi agency team.
• Evidence of ability to direct and co-ordinate programmes of care, working autonomously and collaboratively.
• Evidence of being an innovative practitioner.
• A minimum of 2 years at Band 6 or above.
• Experience of self care/ self management.
• Managing cognitive impairment.
• Post registration experience of patients with neurological diagnoses.

Desirable

• Previous case management experience.

SKILLS AND ABILITY

Essential

• Evidence of ability to manage highly complex clinical situations within a defined caseload
• Evidence of ability to work proactively with A&E, GP's and social care colleagues to prevent hospital admission
• Evidence of the ability to teach/disseminate knowledge
• Evidence of ability to assess and plan individual care needs in partnership with patients/their carers
• Experience of providing and receiving highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious information, where there are significant barriers to acceptance using persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or re-assurance skills
• Evidence of ability to work across the multi-disciplinary health & social care team
• Evidence of ability to make decisions autonomously, but liaise closely with other care providers within the sector
• Contribute to collection and evaluation of data from self or others and to ensure accurate recording in relation to performance targets
• Evidence of experience of embracing and implementing change to provide quality health outcomes
• Evidence of using IT systems
• Evidence of being able to communicate both verbally and in writing at all levels in a multidisciplinary forum and with users and carers
• Ability to identify high risk patients
• Proven team working and facilitation skills
• Ability to promote multi professional working
• Understanding of clinical governance/risk management frameworks
• Knowledge of primary/social care systems
• Car owner/driver.

Desirable

• Evidence of advanced clinical assessment skills
• Writing of policy/procedures relating to 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).