Bhsct_Tissue Viability Nurse

Advertised role location: ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL

Official document: Band 6_Tissue Viability Nurse (doc)

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST: Tissue Viability Nurse

LOCATION: Trust wide post (Hospital and Community)

BAND: 6

REPORTS TO: Senior Manager, Nursing Safety and Quality

RESPONSIBLE TO: Lead Nurse - Tissue Viability

Job Summary / Main Purpose

The post holder will:

Support the aims of the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust and the Tissue Viability Nurse Advisory Service by providing specialist tissue viability nursing advice, based on acquired knowledge and skills, to improve patient- and client-centred care and support the development of others. Work under the direction of the Lead Nurse - Tissue Viability to develop and review service and professional standards. Promote and implement clinical practice in line with service frameworks to ensure high-quality, evidence-based care. The post holder will be enthusiastic and motivated. They will support the Tissue Viability Nurse Advisory Team and contribute to the continued development and modernisation of the service.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

For each of the following, the postholder will;

Clinical Care

• Respond to patient referrals in an effective and timely manner.
• Triage referrals, prioritise the caseload according to clinical need and escalates concerns appropriately.
• Demonstrate specialist knowledge and evidence-based nursing skills in the care and management of patients who have wounds or are at risk of developing wounds.
• Undertake holistic assessment of patients with complex wounds or skin integrity concerns, identify factors affecting healing, and recommend an evidence-based plan of care within the scope of practice.
• Support the prevention, assessment and management of pressure ulcers, skin tears, moisture-associated skin damage and other complex wound-care needs.
• Develop, implement, coordinate and evaluate evidence-based, person-centred care for patients who have wounds or are at risk of developing wounds in hospital and community settings. Use flexible approaches to meet the needs of patients and, where appropriate, their carers.
• Provide guidance and ongoing support to all professionals involved in the care of patients with wounds or other tissue viability issues.
• Provide an integrated, high-quality service through effective communication with patients, carers and the multidisciplinary team across all sectors of care.
• Provide appropriate information, education, advice and support to patients who experience difficulties in managing their condition. Advice should take account of social, cultural, linguistic and spiritual differences.
• Plan and coordinate continuity of care following a patient's admission to and discharge from hospital, ensuring that appropriate review arrangements are in place.
• Facilitate Tissue Viability Clinics in hospital and community settings.
• Provide a telephone point of contact for service users and other healthcare professionals.
• Maintain contemporaneous records of care.
• Act as a resource by providing input to patient, client and carer groups locally and nationally, as appropriate.

Management

• Contribute to the day-to-day running and co-ordination of the Tissue Viability Nurse Advisory Service.
• Work with senior managers and other disciplines to maintain an effective operational response to daily events.
• Independently manage the care of patients delegated to you.
• Advise on the resources available to optimise patient care, including dressings, specialist beds and mattresses.
• Monitor the safe and effective use of all equipment and supplies.
• Travel to other sites within the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust when required.
• Support Nurse Leads to agree service standards and audit performance against those standards.
• Contribute to the review of pressure ulcer and wound-related incidents, identify learning, and support agreed quality-improvement actions.
• Participate in clinical audit, data collection and evaluation of patient outcomes to support service improvement.
• Ensure that information relating to the Tissue Viability Nurse Advisory Service is maintained in accordance with the team's standard operating procedures.
• Support the development of Tissue Viability Link Nurses.
• Demonstrate effective, patient-centred decision-making that is consistent with Belfast Trust policies.
• Deputise for the Lead Nurse - Tissue Viability, as required.
• In conjunction with the Lead Nurse – Tissue Viability and the wider multidisciplinary team, review, develop and implement policies and guidelines to support clinically effective, evidence-based practice.

Practice Development

• Participate in education programmes for nursing staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team, for example, nursing induction.
• Support the implementation of local and national policies on health and safety, risk management, workforce matters and professional practice.
• Provide evidence-based tissue viability teaching sessions for nurses, nursing assistants and other healthcare professionals, enabling them to support patients and carers.
• Participate in service development by providing specialist knowledge and advice in relation to pathways of care and clinical policies.
• Remain aware of new products and protocols, including dressings and therapeutic mattresses and cushions, and disseminate relevant information and research findings, as appropriate.
• Help identify and develop new nursing roles and skills needed to provide an effective Tissue Viability Nurse Service.

Professional

• Work as part of the Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist team and the wider multidisciplinary team to achieve the best possible care outcomes.
• Lead by example in promoting high standards of evidence-based clinical treatment and nursing care to ensure a high-quality service.
• Maintain a professional attitude and practise in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code (2018).
• Make decisions based on research evidence as well as professional knowledge and experience.
• Keep professional knowledge and practice up to date in line with NMC and Belfast Trust requirements.
• Undertake further education, as deemed appropriate, to develop knowledge and skills or meet professional requirements.
• Recognise personal learning needs and professional limitations, and maintain expertise through lifelong learning.
• Engage in clinical supervision, preceptorship and mentorship as required.
• Remain aware of national developments that may affect local care provision.

General Responsibilities

Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:

• At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
• The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with Belfast Trust’s Whistleblowing Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.
• Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.
• Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.
• Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.
• Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment.
• Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.
• Maintain high standards of personal accountability.
• Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.

Information Governance

All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

For further information on how we use your personal data within HR, please refer to the Privacy Notice available on the HUB or Your HR

Environmental Cleaning Strategy

The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognises the key principle that “Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners” Whilst there are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients, residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.

Infection Prevention and Control

The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with ongoing reduction strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

This includes:

• Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’);
• Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique;
• Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment;
• Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found on intranet);
• Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
• Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps) and laundry;
• Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately i.e. cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised;
• Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.

Personal Public Involvement

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined below at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications

Registration

Experience

Registered Nurse on Part 1 of the live NMC Register.

Have a Nursing Degree AND 3 years’ post-registration experience.

OR

Have 5 years’ post-registration experience.

Provide evidence of continuous personal and professional development.

Have recent experience in wound assessment and management, pressure ulcer prevention and skin integrity care.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other (e.g. Driving etc.)

Have a current full driving license, valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment.

‘Where disability prohibits driving, this criteria will be waived if the applicant is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements.’

Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge

Skills

Abilities

Demonstrate knowledge of the Tissue Viability Nurse role, including complex wound assessment and management, pressure ulcer prevention, skin integrity, pressure redistribution and evidence-based use of wound-care products.

Demonstrate knowledge of clinical governance, incident review, audit and quality improvement relevant to tissue viability practice.

Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.

Demonstrate the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Desirable criteria will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these. Failure to produce evidence will result in a non-appointment.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications

Registration

Experience

Have completed at least one recognised post-registration, degree-level module in a tissue viability specialism, or have at least six months' experience working within a Tissue Viability Nurse Service.

Provide evidence that you have maintained and monitored standards that enhanced the patient or client experience of care.

Shortlisting by Application Form

NOTE: Where educational/professional qualifications form part of the criteria you will be required, if shortlisted for interview, to produce original certificates and one photocopy of same issued by the appropriate authority. Only those certificates relevant to the shortlisting criteria should be produced. If educational certificates are not available an original letter and photocopy of same detailing examination results from your school or college will be accepted as an alternative.

If successful you will be required to produce documentary evidence that you are legally entitled to live and work in the United Kingdom. This documentation can be a P45, Payslip, National Insurance Card or a Birth Certificate confirming birth in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Failure to produce evidence will result in a non-appointment.

Where a post involves working in regulated activity with vulnerable groups, post holders will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

HSC Values

Whilst employees will be expected to portray all the values, particular attention is drawn to the following values for this role

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