Job summary
Band 7 - Full Time
Fixed Term - 12 Months (Maternity Cover)
An exciting and challenging opportunity has become available for a Band 7 Clinical Nurse Practitioner. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring immediate care to the relevant patient group and will work within the pre-operative assessment and admission service. You will work closely with a wide MDT, including other hospitals and GP services to ensure a smooth, safe and positive journey for all our patients. We also support weekly Anaesthetics clinics, for complex patient assessment and planning.
You will be able to provide initial direct patient care. You will utilize your level 7 in clinical examination and diagnostics qualification by assessing and determining fitness for surgery. You will be expected to manage your own caseload of patients and also using a " buddy " system to ensure a cohort of patients daily are fully optimized Pre Operatively whilst high standards of quality of care are delivered and maintained. You will provide first contact assessment, confirm diagnosis and reason for surgery and comprehensively assess patient with complex/advanced conditions and co-morbidities where more specialist assessment is required. You will be expected to escalate and discuss your clinical findings to determine need for preoperative Anaesthetic assessment.
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding this post.
Main duties of the job
To work within a multidisciplinary team and provide high quality specialist nursing expertise, which is relevant to the speciality in which employed. The post holder will be expected to take the lead on advising primary and secondary care clinicians as appropriate about the current health status, and treatment required for patients being clinically assessed for planned surgical procedures. In addition, the post holder will be expected to provide a service in accordance with national, regional, and local guidance, standards, protocols and policies to ensure the most positive outcome for the patients are achieved.
The post holder will abide by legal requirements and statutory rule relating to practice and promote and maintain standards of professional practice in accordance with the NMC guidelines.
About us
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
- CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
- SAFETY that is of the highest standards
- COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
- SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
- PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
Our achievements include:
- Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide first contact assessment, confirm diagnosis and reason for surgery and comprehensively assess patient with complex/advanced conditions and co-morbidities where more specialist assessment is required.
- Order/undertake, interpret and act upon diagnostic tests and investigations.
- Clinically assess patients to determine need for preoperative anaesthetic assessment.
- Liaise with Anaesthetic Leads based on agreed protocols for patients graded high risk for anaesthetic.
- Liaise with other clinical teams regarding abnormal findings within agreed protocols, to offer a differential diagnosis and ensure patient clinical safety.
- Act as advanced practitioner exercising judgement, discretion, and decision making in clinical care.
- Ensure compliance with specific regulations with regard to drugs/omission of drugs prior to surgery, and record keeping within area of work.
- Document patients clinical conditions and action plans in preoperative assessment notes, communicating with relevant medical/nursing staff and ensure all documentation is directed to the appropriate department for electronic scanning, or direct to ward in event of imminent patient admission.
- Take active role in nurse led clinics, developing and advancing service.
- Refer complex cases to Anaesthetist for further discussion, assessment and action as appropriate.
- Liaise with primary and secondary care Clinicians as required.
- Prescribe medication in accordance with current legislation and trust policy.
GOVERNANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Active participation in collection and collation of research and audit data as appropriate, presenting the outcomes to clinical audit.
- Active participation in the reporting of clinical incidents/concerns and take appropriate action to address any safety and quality issues raised.
- Adhere to policies, procedures and protocols relevant to area of work.
- Monitor standards of care and participate in the improvement of care through ad hoc benchmarking/audit/research.
- Maintain clear, concise, legible and contemporaneous records at all times, in line with Trust Policy and the Standard for Record keeping (NMC Act 1993).
- Demonstrate understanding of evidence based care, including where to obtain evidence.
- Provide verbal and written advice to patients/carers about discharge planning, equipment needs, etc.
- Ensure decisions regarding consent and mental capacity are taken in accordance with Trust protocols.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- Impart high level knowledge, advice and support to colleagues, patients, carers and relatives; in relation to planned surgery and recovery.
- Raise awareness of specialist conditions and their specific requirements for surgery/anaesthetics, by development of protocols for practice.
- Assist in the provision of an appropriate learning/practice environment for nursing students allocated to the department
COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITIES
- Establish effective communication with patients, carers and relatives attending the department.
- Provide sensitive, complex information to patients, carers, relatives and professionals across multidisciplinary and multi-agency boundaries, as appropriate to the patients specific needs.
- Support patients, carers and relatives in their understanding and acceptance of their diagnosis and surgical treatments, and provide education and support in their postoperative needs.
- Liaise with consultant surgical/anaesthetic team as appropriate to ensure preoperative needs are met and to ensure effective planning for postoperative care package.
- Liaise with consultant surgical/anaesthetic team as appropriate to ensure preoperative needs are met and to ensure effective planning for postoperative care package.
SERVICE IMPROVEMENT AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT
- Provide leadership support to Department Manager and Pre Op Lead Nurse in the continued development of preoperative assessment department.
- Take lead of development projects as appropriate.
- Continually promote equality and diversity, undertaking equality impact assessments when appropriate.
- Ensure effective uses of physical and financial resources within the service.
- Promote patient and public involvement activities in specialist area to promote service improvement.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Develop and maintain specialist clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis and investigation request/interpretation within the preoperative service.
- Attend annual appraisal to identify and agree training and development needs as part of a Personal Development Plan.
- Participate in clinical supervision sessions and provide leadership to colleagues, arranged by the team Leader/Clinical Supervisor.
- Deputise, if required, for Pre-Op Manager maintaining smooth running of the clinic.
TEAM WORK AND DEVELOPMENT
- Be responsible for own development, including attendance at mandatory training and continually keep up to date with changes to legislation and current best practice.
- Support nursing colleagues in their continuous professional development including peer supervision.
GENERAL DUTIES
- To observe the provisions of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
- To actively participate in the annual performance review to identify personal development needs.
- To attend Trust Statutory and Mandatory training sessions as required and any other training courses relevant to the post.
- To fully comply with the relevant sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act. They must also understand and implement St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Hospitals Trust Statement of Policy on Health and Safety at Work and the Trust corporate Health and Safety Policies and Procedures. You are required to follow all applicable rules and procedures relating to Health and Safety at Work and to take all responsible precautions to avoid actions.
- To keep up to date with the requirements of information governance; undertake mandatory training and follow Trust policies and procedures to ensure that trust information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently and effectively. You must maintain the confidentiality of information about service user staff and organisational business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Caldicott principles.
- To ensure that when creating, managing and sharing information records it is done in an appropriate way, subject to statutory requirements and agreed security and confidentiality policies, procedures and guidelines. All employees are responsible for implementing and maintaining data quality, ensuring that records are legible and attributable and that the record keeping is contemporaneous.
- To be aware of the confidential aspects of the post. Breaches of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action that may involve dismissal. The post holder should also be aware that, regardless of any action taken by the employing authority, breaches of confidentiality could result in civil action for damages.
- All employees will be treated with respect by management, colleagues, patients and visitors and equally staff will treat management, colleagues, patients and visitors with the same level of respect. Staff will be supported to challenge any discriminatory behaviour that may be based on differences in race, disability, language, culture, religion, sexuality, age, and gender or employment status.
- To fully comply with the relevant sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act. They must also understand and implement St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Hospitals Trust Statement of Policy on Health and Safety at Work and the Trust corporate Health and Safety Policies and Procedures. You are required to follow all applicable rules and procedures relating to Health and Safety at Work and to take all responsible precautions to avoid actions.
- You will be expected to undertake the Trusts commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
- To adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body (if appropriate).
- The duties contained in this job description are not intended to be exhaustive. The duties and responsibilities of this post are likely to evolve in line with the Trusts continued organisational development
- The post holder must be flexible in the duties performed and it is expected that similar duties, not specifically listed above, will be carried out as required and may be cross site.
- The Trust is a non-smoking site. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide first contact assessment, confirm diagnosis and reason for surgery and comprehensively assess patient with complex/advanced conditions and co-morbidities where more specialist assessment is required.
- Order/undertake, interpret and act upon diagnostic tests and investigations.
- Clinically assess patients to determine need for preoperative anaesthetic assessment.
- Liaise with Anaesthetic Leads based on agreed protocols for patients graded high risk for anaesthetic.
- Liaise with other clinical teams regarding abnormal findings within agreed protocols, to offer a differential diagnosis and ensure patient clinical safety.
- Act as advanced practitioner exercising judgement, discretion, and decision making in clinical care.
- Ensure compliance with specific regulations with regard to drugs/omission of drugs prior to surgery, and record keeping within area of work.
- Document patients clinical conditions and action plans in preoperative assessment notes, communicating with relevant medical/nursing staff and ensure all documentation is directed to the appropriate department for electronic scanning, or direct to ward in event of imminent patient admission.
- Take active role in nurse led clinics, developing and advancing service.
- Refer complex cases to Anaesthetist for further discussion, assessment and action as appropriate.
- Liaise with primary and secondary care Clinicians as required.
- Prescribe medication in accordance with current legislation and trust policy.
GOVERNANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Active participation in collection and collation of research and audit data as appropriate, presenting the outcomes to clinical audit.
- Active participation in the reporting of clinical incidents/concerns and take appropriate action to address any safety and quality issues raised.
- Adhere to policies, procedures and protocols relevant to area of work.
- Monitor standards of care and participate in the improvement of care through ad hoc benchmarking/audit/research.
- Maintain clear, concise, legible and contemporaneous records at all times, in line with Trust Policy and the Standard for Record keeping (NMC Act 1993).
- Demonstrate understanding of evidence based care, including where to obtain evidence.
- Provide verbal and written advice to patients/carers about discharge planning, equipment needs, etc.
- Ensure decisions regarding consent and mental capacity are taken in accordance with Trust protocols.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- Impart high level knowledge, advice and support to colleagues, patients, carers and relatives; in relation to planned surgery and recovery.
- Raise awareness of specialist conditions and their specific requirements for surgery/anaesthetics, by development of protocols for practice.
- Assist in the provision of an appropriate learning/practice environment for nursing students allocated to the department
COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITIES
- Establish effective communication with patients, carers and relatives attending the department.
- Provide sensitive, complex information to patients, carers, relatives and professionals across multidisciplinary and multi-agency boundaries, as appropriate to the patients specific needs.
- Support patients, carers and relatives in their understanding and acceptance of their diagnosis and surgical treatments, and provide education and support in their postoperative needs.
- Liaise with consultant surgical/anaesthetic team as appropriate to ensure preoperative needs are met and to ensure effective planning for postoperative care package.
- Liaise with consultant surgical/anaesthetic team as appropriate to ensure preoperative needs are met and to ensure effective planning for postoperative care package.
SERVICE IMPROVEMENT AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT
- Provide leadership support to Department Manager and Pre Op Lead Nurse in the continued development of preoperative assessment department.
- Take lead of development projects as appropriate.
- Continually promote equality and diversity, undertaking equality impact assessments when appropriate.
- Ensure effective uses of physical and financial resources within the service.
- Promote patient and public involvement activities in specialist area to promote service improvement.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Develop and maintain specialist clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis and investigation request/interpretation within the preoperative service.
- Attend annual appraisal to identify and agree training and development needs as part of a Personal Development Plan.
- Participate in clinical supervision sessions and provide leadership to colleagues, arranged by the team Leader/Clinical Supervisor.
- Deputise, if required, for Pre-Op Manager maintaining smooth running of the clinic.
TEAM WORK AND DEVELOPMENT
- Be responsible for own development, including attendance at mandatory training and continually keep up to date with changes to legislation and current best practice.
- Support nursing colleagues in their continuous professional development including peer supervision.
GENERAL DUTIES
- To observe the provisions of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
- To actively participate in the annual performance review to identify personal development needs.
- To attend Trust Statutory and Mandatory training sessions as required and any other training courses relevant to the post.
- To fully comply with the relevant sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act. They must also understand and implement St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Hospitals Trust Statement of Policy on Health and Safety at Work and the Trust corporate Health and Safety Policies and Procedures. You are required to follow all applicable rules and procedures relating to Health and Safety at Work and to take all responsible precautions to avoid actions.
- To keep up to date with the requirements of information governance; undertake mandatory training and follow Trust policies and procedures to ensure that trust information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently and effectively. You must maintain the confidentiality of information about service user staff and organisational business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Caldicott principles.
- To ensure that when creating, managing and sharing information records it is done in an appropriate way, subject to statutory requirements and agreed security and confidentiality policies, procedures and guidelines. All employees are responsible for implementing and maintaining data quality, ensuring that records are legible and attributable and that the record keeping is contemporaneous.
- To be aware of the confidential aspects of the post. Breaches of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action that may involve dismissal. The post holder should also be aware that, regardless of any action taken by the employing authority, breaches of confidentiality could result in civil action for damages.
- All employees will be treated with respect by management, colleagues, patients and visitors and equally staff will treat management, colleagues, patients and visitors with the same level of respect. Staff will be supported to challenge any discriminatory behaviour that may be based on differences in race, disability, language, culture, religion, sexuality, age, and gender or employment status.
- To fully comply with the relevant sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act. They must also understand and implement St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Hospitals Trust Statement of Policy on Health and Safety at Work and the Trust corporate Health and Safety Policies and Procedures. You are required to follow all applicable rules and procedures relating to Health and Safety at Work and to take all responsible precautions to avoid actions.
- You will be expected to undertake the Trusts commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
- To adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body (if appropriate).
- The duties contained in this job description are not intended to be exhaustive. The duties and responsibilities of this post are likely to evolve in line with the Trusts continued organisational development
- The post holder must be flexible in the duties performed and it is expected that similar duties, not specifically listed above, will be carried out as required and may be cross site.
- The Trust is a non-smoking site. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 1st level RN (minimum 4 years post registration)
- Current NMC Registration
- MSC in Clinical Diagnostics, Clinical Skills - Level 7
Desirable
- Context of advanced practice
- Non-Medical prescribing Certificate V300
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Worked in health care setting
- Experience of clinical examination and assessment
- Experience in Surgical Nursing Practice
- Evidence of on-going professional development
- Computer literate
Desirable
- Experience in a Pre-operative setting or relevant field
- Worked in a surgical setting
- Awareness of NICE guidelines for pre-operative assessment
Skills
Essential
- Effective Communicator
- Effective Organisational skills
- Enthusiastic and motivated
- Awareness of how audit may affect quality of patient care
Other
Essential
- Research and Development - Awareness, understanding of and application of current evidence based practices
- Demonstrate commitment to Clinical Governance Agenda
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 1st level RN (minimum 4 years post registration)
- Current NMC Registration
- MSC in Clinical Diagnostics, Clinical Skills - Level 7
Desirable
- Context of advanced practice
- Non-Medical prescribing Certificate V300
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Worked in health care setting
- Experience of clinical examination and assessment
- Experience in Surgical Nursing Practice
- Evidence of on-going professional development
- Computer literate
Desirable
- Experience in a Pre-operative setting or relevant field
- Worked in a surgical setting
- Awareness of NICE guidelines for pre-operative assessment
Skills
Essential
- Effective Communicator
- Effective Organisational skills
- Enthusiastic and motivated
- Awareness of how audit may affect quality of patient care
Other
Essential
- Research and Development - Awareness, understanding of and application of current evidence based practices
- Demonstrate commitment to Clinical Governance Agenda
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Merseyside & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust - St Helens Hospital
Marshalls Cross Road
St Helens
WA9 3DA
Employer's website
https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
