We are seeking a compassionate and experienced nurse specialist to join the neurology team at Darent Valley Hospital. The successful candidate will work alongside our established specialist nurses within the MDT and will work across primary, secondary and tertiary care to be the designated contact for patients with MS and MND.

They will be responsible for monitoring and improving patient and family experience within these specialities. They will also offer support and guidance and work closely with the local community based services, including neuro-therapy teams and palliative care, as well as supporting educational development.

Main duties of the job

Clinical responsibilities: to include level of responsibility for:

• To develop and deliver a specialist MS and MND nursing service and give direct expert nursing care in a speciality area.
• To manage a caseload of patients from the point of diagnosis, at regular intervals and during periods when they require complex care and demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills through nursing practice.

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About us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Management responsibilities: to include level of responsibility for:

• To work in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team in order to develop a strategy relating to the care of people with MS and MND at

all stages of the disease process and provide specialist nursing advice to multidisciplinary staff in community, hospital or intermediate care settings.

To liaise effectively with all other disciplines within the Trust and at local level.

To participate in the management of change to improve standards and communication links from Acute Trusts through to Primary Care.

To actively contribute to any relevant initiatives within the care group and provide support to the lead specialist nurse and Heads of Nursing.

To contribute positively to the leadership of nursing within the care group acting as an effective role model.

To comply with measures to actively manage and reduce risk to patients. Ensuring the formal reporting and recording of adverse incidents in line with Trust policy

Network with the team of clinical nurse specialists within the Trust to evaluate, develop and promote the specialist-nursing role

To utilise and maintain information systems and database to aid audit and to provide regular activity analysis reports

Maintain contemporaneous and accurate treatment records, submitting relevant statistics, reports and activity data as requested. To participate in the evaluation of the service in terms of clinical effectiveness, clinical excellence and value for money

To ensure the best use of available resources is used within agreed budget to provide a cost effective service.

To forge effective links within primary, secondary and tertiary care to ensure effective communication

Ensures compliance with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy, supporting the delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to positively promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring services are responsive to the needs of equality groups.

Professional responsibilities: to include level of responsibility for:

• To be guided in all aspects of professional responsibility by the advisory documents issued by the NMC, e.g. Code of Conduct, Confidentiality, Administration of Medicines.

Maintains and develops own professional practices, keeping abreast of new developments and concepts clinical, managerial and professional.

• To attend regular meetings with Modern Matron, General Manager and Director of Nursing, to ensure effective communication and promotion of good working relationships. Contributes actively to Trust wide nursing projects.
• To discuss performance and future development with the Modern Matron and General Manager using IPR (PDR) review and in accordance with the Nursing Strategy.

Education and Research Responsibilities:

• To empower those affected by MS or MND by providing information, support and advise about the condition at diagnosis and throughout the disease spectrum.
• To provide information to people with MS and MND and their carers about the disease, its treatments and symptom management.
• To ensure all patients are fully informed of the risks and benefits of proposed treatments, contributing to the process of securing informed consent
• To produce and provide all patients with relevant and accessible written information regarding their treatment in accordance with Trust standards
• To supervise and participate in the delivery of programmes of education and training according to the identified needs of clients, carers and other involved in their care
• To work with other clinical staff to identify knowledge gaps in relation to specialist patients and ensure staff are appropriately educated
• To contribute to the development of nursing practice within the team. Additionally, where appropriate, to act as a practice supervisor to Trust and honorary contract employees.
• To actively participate in educational events provided by the Trust and primary care sector.
• To attend meetings and conferences as appropriate ensuring that you are fully conversant with current issues both within the Trust and within the specialist services locally and nationally.
• To promote and facilitate evidence based practice and clinical audit within the Trust, raising the profile and enhancing the contribution of nursing to patient care and informing business and service development plans.
• To participate in and assist with any appropriate/relevant Trust approved research projects conducted within the department.
• To promote nursing research and evidenced based practice relevant to the speciality.
• To promote and facilitate research and evidence-based practice in multiple sclerosis nursing.
• To assist in establishing, implementing and monitoring nursing practice guidelines, standards, policies and care pathways.
• To collaborate with others in the development of new policies and protocols for the management/ treatment of people with multiple sclerosis.
• To use research findings critically in order to inform and develop practice.
• To generate questions for research arising out of practice and to collaborate with others in investigating these questions.
• To disseminate research findings to health professional colleagues.

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

• Registered General Nurse or equivalent
• Educated to degree level or working towards
• Recognised mentorship course
• Evidence of continuing clinical & professional development
• Nurse prescriber

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• To have proven experience of service development
• An advanced practitioner either through formal qualification (Degree) and/or extensive clinical experience pertinent to the area
• Knowledge of professional responsibilities

Employer details

Employer name

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Address

Darent Valley Hospital

Darenth wood road

Dartford

DA2 8DA

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

252-6542752