Band 7 Skin Clinical Nurse Specialist - Plastic Surgery, Surgery Directorate

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic individual to join our surgical directorate as the Skin Clinical Nurse Specialist at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital. This is a new role which will contribute to the specialist care and management of patients who are on a skin cancer care pathway, requiring plastics specialist input. This is a great opportunity to be involved in leading a service that is evolving and to demonstrate your leadership.

To apply for this post, we seek individuals who have recent plastics and dermatology specialist knowledge, experience, and training in these areas, although further specialist training, support and mentorship is available.

Our surgery services are situated in the heart of London across 2 sites and with world-renowned consultant-surgeons, we provide an unrivalled breadth and depth of experience within one of the most prestigious and respected teaching hospitals in the UK. We are currently working on our business plan to build the regional plastics strategy and it is an exciting time to join us.

The post holder will work closely with the current team, and the skin consultants responsible for patients undergoing both reconstructive plastic surgery.

If you are interested or would like to arrange an informal visit please contact us.

Closing Date: 09th September 2024 @ Midnight

Interview Date: Week commencing the 16th September 2024

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with the plastic consultants responsible for patients undergoing reconstructive surgery and patients who are being treated for a variety of skin cancers such as malignant and non-malignant melanoma. All skin cancer patients are managed through a multi-disciplinary team to ensure that all aspects of these patients' care are maximized. You will gain a valuable insight into supporting patients at diagnosis and throughout their care pathway, including pre and post treatment and when disease recurs or advances.

The post holder will:

Act as a key worker for a clinical caseload, working to coordinate care and providing easy access for ongoing support for patients when treatment is being managed by the plastic surgery team.

Work closely with the plastic consultants/surgeons and the wider MDT looking after malignant melanomas and skin cancers.

Work as part of the CNS team and provide specialist plastic expertise to colleagues.

Provide nurse-led clinics alongside the consultants, together with telephone support for long term well-controlled patients.

Assess patients' information needs and provide relevant information to meet these needs, ensuring patients are in a position to make informed decision about their care.

Have the ability to carry out holistic needs assessments with patients at specific time points within their journey when required.

Have the ability to work autonomously.

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To work autonomously, managing a caseload of patients within thespecialty whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised and personalised direct patient care
• Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in thespeciality. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.
• Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.
• Ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
• Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.
• Actively engage service users through the facilitation of user groups and open days.
• Co-ordinate the provision of specialist services to patients, both within hospital and/or in the community setting, effectively liaising with multidisciplinary colleagues
• Develop and run nurse led clinics where the post holder will co-ordinate the treatment in conjunction with medical staff, and provide treatment which may include minor surgical procedures for patients.
• Direct, support, encourage and advise clinical teams, by the provision of specialist knowledge and advice in the care of patients within the area.
• Participate in the promotion of patient centred care, and establish and maintain a supportive relationship with the patient and their family during the period of assessment, treatment and after care
• Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decisionsrelating to their treatment and management.
• Promote high quality clinical care, and assist in the development of the specialist service, through the use of evidence based practice and clinical standards
• Provide professional and clinical leadership and expertise in the speciality and to act as a resource for education and clinical expertise in the hospital and community settings.
• Demonstrate appropriate expert practice and highly specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care. This includes history taking, physical examination and the requesting of agreed diagnostic procedures/clinical investigations.
• Responsible for the correct administration of blood products.
• Promote and deliver high standards of care at all times, which utilises research-based evidence, and is audited and improved accordingly.
• Participate in the promotion of the specialist service through dissemination of specialist knowledge, both locally and nationally.
• Act as a role model, demonstrating high standards of care and providing clinical leadership in the specialist areas.
• Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationship between clinicians, practitioners and managers within the specialty, across the Trust and in the community
• Actively participate in local, national and international networking to maintain and develop expert level of knowledge in the specialty.
• Provide a seamless, high quality service from referral through toassessment, diagnosis, treatment and review.
• Develop and evaluate assessment tools that will ensure an appropriate level of nursing intervention so that patients who present with the most complex needs receive the most appropriate specialist care.
• Work in conjunction with a clinical consultant to lead a patient focuses service.
• Act as patient advocate when appropriate, respecting patient confidentiality and privacy with respect for diverse cultural backgrounds and requirements.
• To be designated to take charge of the area in the absence of the person holding continuing responsibility.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registration
• 1st degree or masters
• Evidence of professional development in Plastics/equivalent training
• SSSAP/ Mentorship course
• Experience of working with oncology patients

Desirable

• Working towards a masters degree
• Working towards an advanced assessment course

Previous experience

Essential

• Evidence of management/leadership skills
• Experience of audit, research and evidence based care
• Experience of working autonomously within the speciality

Desirable

• Experience of advocating for patients

Knowledge and skill

Essential

• Up to date with current clinical and professional issues
• Evidence of teaching skills

Desirable

• Ability to actively participate in and develop initiatives
• Ability to interpret and analyse complex data findings

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cross Site - Guys and St Thomas' Hospital

Westminster Bridge Road

London

SE1 7EH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

196-NM12028