An exciting opportunity has presented itself within the OPAT/IV service at Lewisham Hospital, under the Lewisham and Greenwich Trust for band 6 healthcare professionals. We are seeking motivated clinical experts in the field of OPAT / Intravenous therapy (IV) and vascular access devices.

We are a small but innovative service who are now expanding our roles to support the hospital at home / virtual ward program and save beds in hospital.

It would be advantageous to have a driver license and access to a car as you will be required to do home visit were essential

The service runs 5 days a week and will involve receiving referrals from various departments within the hospital, visiting patients on the ward for assessments and visiting patients in their own homes. You will be involved in helping with further developments of the service and supporting the service and the team during these changes.

For any further information please contact Naome Mhomwa Lead OPAT Specialist Nurse 007919301386 or email: naome.mhomwa@nhs.net

Main duties of the job

• • • To work within the Intravenous Therapy (IV) OPAT team to establish and provide to ensure the maintenance of clinical excellence, underpinned by evidence-based practice.
    • To facilitate admission avoidance and early supported discharge thus reducing the length of stay in hospital for patients receiving IV antimicrobial therapy with the support of microbiology.
    • To repatriate Lewisham GP based patients safely that are requiring home IV treatment following appropriate governance processes.
    • To support any new developments of service pathways that the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) can provide.
    • To support the service provision of IV monoclonal patient that may be encountered for example COVID positive high-risk patients.
    • To improve the overall knowledge, monitoring and management of vascular access devices.
    • To support each other clinically in achieving competence within the specialist field of IV therapy.
    • To assess and monitor patients requiring Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) line access devices on an inpatient basis.
    • To provide evidence of OPAT referrals / outcomes on a monthly / yearly basis.
    • To support wards with out of borough, advise on inpatients
    • To to visit patient at home for IV therapy and collect blood samples for review
    • To participate in OPAT Virtual Ward Round MDT meeting that is scheduled once a week.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development

Widening access (anchor institution) and employability

Improving the experience of staff with disability

Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development

Making equalities mainstream

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

Carries out diagnostic/therapeutic interventions as an independent practitioner, interprets, writes reports and commences further possible treatment on the basis of the findings.

Become an essential member and point of contact and resource for the multi-disciplinary team and patients and carers.

To demonstrate excellent clinical Knowledge within the specialty and work autonomously, managing jointly allocated clinics and seeking guidance/support when necessary

Carries out therapeutic/investigational procedures under indirect supervision of the OPAT specialist nurse and Consultant. Ensuring that they are carried out using safe practice and under agreed guidelines/protocols to ensure that the highest possible standard is obtained based on competent clinical practice.

To demonstrate the ability to develop new skills, to provide an expert high quality, nurse-led service.

To provide ongoing follow-up care and support (home visits / telephone support / nurse led clinics / outpatient clinics) To develop the service with the OPAT specialist nurse thein a structured interdisciplinary way, initiating on-going change and progression in the expanding role of a Clinical Nurse Specialist/Specialist Midwife.

Autonomously or in collaboration with the OPAT Specialist nurse or the multidisciplinary team, manage the care of patients carrying out relevant interventions, within agreed clinical protocols and in line with current practice/trends.

To offer a supportive service to patients and their carers liaising with other healthcare professionals when necessary.

To maintain accurate and legible records of all clinical and legal documentation with regard to Statutory and Trust policies.

To assess, develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care within the acute and community setting

To control patient admission via direct referral and with consultant guidance and supervision.

Be aware of, understand, and act upon the Divisional Business Plan, with particular reference to nursing/midwifery care, in order to participate in the re-formulation of nursing/midwifery aspects of the plan.

When required, investigate the nursing/midwifery aspects of incidents/complaints and initiate corrective action.

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Person Specification

Band 6 Nurse

Essential

• BSc (Honours) Nursing (Adult)

Desirable

• Band 5

Driving and Access to Car

Essential

• Driving and Access to Car

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

Lewisham Hospital

Lewisham High Street

London

SE13 6LH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

197-AJ6086