Tissue Viability Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post-holder:

- will provide an effective and high quality patient-focused service that is sensitive to the needs of users and providers.

- will provide clinical, social and psychological support to their patients/service-users using excellent communication skills, education and health promotion to enable them to reach their optimum level of independence and health.

- will provide specialist advice, supervision and support to their defined caseload (patients/service-users/staff).

Clinical Quality and Safety

Carries continuous responsibility for a defined caseload including setting standards, assessment of needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of care. Organises, prioritises and evaluates workload based in line with operational protocols. Responsible for ensuring own practice is evidence-based. Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates specialist care for patients requiring tissue viability expertise, taking into consideration individual needs and preferences, making reasonable adjustments to care where appropriate.

Works as part of the MDT fostering effective professional relationships to ensure effective communication and a seamless service for a defined patients.

Works across organisational and professional boundaries.

Promotes health promotion with patients and carers, and involves them in decision making.

Utilises interpersonal and communication skills to convey complex and sensitive information, with empathy and reassurance, overcoming barriers to understanding where necessary. Uses written information to support verbal advice.

Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the different roles in the multi-disciplinary team and liaises with and refers patients/service-users/staff directly to other teams where appropriate.

Practices within the Trust policies and procedures.

Works within national policy frameworks and guidelines relevant to the patient group and specialty area.

Adheres to Trust Health and Safety, Risk Management and Infection Control policy and practices to maintain a safe working environment and minimise risk to patients, self and other staff at all times.

Provides interventions to promote self-care to minimise hospital admissions where possible.

Reviews, interprets and acts upon both laboratory and point of care patient test results which may affect change to individual patient care plans. Liaise with senior staff as necessary.

Responsible for clinical data entry which generates information for use with other healthcare professionals and other specific databases relevant to tissue viability.

Supports the implementation of local / national standards in conjunction with relevant members of the MDT.

Arranges admission of patients/service-users to hospital when required.

Supports nurse-led clinics in the hospital as appropriate.

Service Development / Improvement

Undertakes audits using research and improvement methods to develop and agree action plans to implement improvements to service/care delivery.

Disseminates audit/research results as required.

Works with other colleagues under the clinical leadership of the Medical Consultants/ Nurse Consultant/ Senior Nurses to develop and enhance the clinical service.

Works with the senior management team to deliver services according to the agreed job plan.

Contributes to the development and review of Trust policies and protocols in relation to specialty area of care where appropriate.

Actively contributes to the strategic management of the speciality supporting the development of the service, patient information, care pathways and user involvement.

Actively participates in all aspects of clinical governance.

Management and Leadership

Has clinical autonomy over the management of the needs of patients assessed with tissue viability needs with support from senior tissue viability specialists/ consultants.

Participates in the investigation and response to formal and informal complaints and incidents.

Acts as a role model and when required assists members of the team with planning, priority setting and decision making.

Contributes to the achievement of departmental performance metrics.

Exercises a personal duty of care in relation to equipment, resource and stock control utilising equipment and supplies appropriately.

Responsible for provision and maintenance of accurate department based information systems including patient based processes, record keeping, care documentation and personnel data, in line with the Data Protection Act.

Education and Development

Liaises with Ward/Department Managers to support and develop ward nurses/midwifery skills and competencies in providing holistic care for patients/service-users within their specialist area.

Provides education programmes and clinical support for ward/department, nurses/midwives and patients/service-users. Educates, individually or in groups, including the patient/service-user and their family/carers to understand the nature and management of their needs.

Participates in a system of clinical supervision.

Works within the NMC Code, ensuring continuation of professional development relevant to the role, including mandatory training, through revalidation requirements, and highlighting needs through the annual appraisal.

Provides mentorship to both pre and post registration students.

Acts as a specialist resource for tissue viability and provides a specialist learning environment for other health care professionals..

Supports and participates in the development and delivery of healthcare professional education programmes locally.

Research

Has an understanding of relevant research evidence affecting patients/service-users/staff with tissue viability needs.

Responsible for ensuring own practice is evidence-based.

Be able to undertake relevant literature searches pertinent to patient/service-user care.

Shares good practice, through publication, presentation and other forums such as journal clubs both within and outside the Trust.

Contributes to the R&D agenda and initiatives within their department in collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Maintenance of relevant tissue viability databases to facilitate audit and research in line with Information Governance policy.

Participates in research projects as required, and works with the multi-disciplinary team to raise awareness of research within tissue viability to patients/service-users and staff.

To ensure that continuing professional development is achieved in line with the Registered Bodys requirements ensuring that your registration is maintained.

The jobholder must comply at all times with Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the Trusts Risk Incident Reporting System.

Equality and Diversity

The jobholder is required to abide by the Trust's polices and procedures and to actively support the Trust's commitment to equality and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services. All patients, staff and visitors must be treated equitably, with dignity and respect taking into account their race, gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexuality etc.

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

Environment and Sustainability

All employees have a responsibility to promote sustainability and carbon reduction within the Foundation Trust adhering to our Sustainable Development Strategy and therefore ensuring that all our business is conducted in a sustainable manner

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

The jobholder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

Infection Prevention and Control

All staff have a personal responsibility to comply with Trust and departmental Infection Prevention and Control policies to protect their own health, that of patients, visitors and other employees and to prevent Health care associated infections. This includes a requirement to maintain a safe, clean and tidy work environment and to complete mandatory Infection Prevention and Control training as provided by the Trust. All clinical staff must ensure rigorous and consistent compliance with standard infection control precautions including Hand hygiene, dress code and use of personal protective equipment and other clinical care policies and protocols applicable to infection prevention and control. Employees are required to challenge poor performance or poor practice in relation to infection prevention and report any breaches using relevant Trust procedures such as the Incident reporting system.

Safeguarding children and adults

All staff have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults. The post holder is responsible for ensuring they undertake the appropriate level of training in accordance with the safeguarding policy training strategy and that they are aware of and work within the safeguarding policies of the Trust

All staff will be expected to comply with S.1242 of the NHS Act 2006.

COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

7.1 The jobholder must have excellent communication skills. The role involves communicating with members of the multi-professional team and other agencies. Is able to work across professional boundaries within the Trust and externally.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

A flexible approach to work is required to meet the needs of the service. The job-holder may be required to work across Trust sites and attend external meetings.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant post-registration experience, including experience of working in a Tissue Viability related field
• Experience of assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care for patients/service-users/staff demonstrating knowledge of tissue viability needs
• Experience of participating in clinical audit

Desirable

• Experience in policy development
• Experience of developing innovative practice
• Experience of working in an MDT and across organisational and professional boundaries

Skills

Essential

• Report writing / Presentation skills
• Computer literate - ability to use Word/Excel/PowerPoint, etc.
• Clinical credibility
• Clinical skills relating to tissue viability e.g. application of NPWT, compression therapy
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Organised approach to work with ability to prioritise and delegate
• Mentoring and advanced communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Excellent time management and organisation skills
• Proven skills in teaching individuals and small groups
• Evidence of reflective practice

Desirable

• Proven evidence of change management skills

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of application of relevant National Guidance both general and specialty related e.g. National Service Frameworks, NICE etc.
• Knowledge and understanding of the NHS national targets and priorities
• Knowledge and understanding of the needs of patients with tissue viability issues

Desirable

• Recruitment and Selection, Appraisal and other relevant HR/People management training
• Knowledge of change management processes

Qualifications

Essential

• Appropriate NMC Registration(RN)
• Degree or equivalent qualification (e.g. diploma level specialist training) or experience
• Relevant specialist tissue viability qualification (diploma or degree level) or equivalent experience
• Supporting Learning in Practice (SLIP) or equivalent
• Evidence of current CPD

Desirable

• Leadership or management development qualification
• Advanced communication skills qualification
• Non-medical prescribing qualification

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Bradford

BD9 6RJ

Employer's website

https://www.bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)