Practice Nurse in Chippenham

We are preferably looking for an experienced Practice Nurse to join our friendly, dynamic and progressive nursing team who can confidently step into the role, work independently and make an immediate contribution to our existing amazing nurse team. This is a part-time position (20 to 25 hours pw). Wednesdays (as we operate an offsite leg club) and Fridays (to help support existing childhood immunisations) are essential, with some flexibility on other days and hours. We are a large, welcoming GP practice in Chippenham, Wiltshire, caring for around 16,000 patients.

Our nursing team is supportive, well-established and works closely together to deliver high-quality patient care - and we are now looking for someone confident and experienced who can step straight into the role and work independently from day one. Our Practice Nurses provide a wide range of services, including:

• Chronic disease management
• Baby and childhood immunisations
• Routine treatment room work
• Leg club attendance

We are a training practice and love helping people develop, but for this role we are particularly keen to hear from nurses who already have solid practice experience and feel comfortable managing clinics and workload independently. If you would like an informal walk-around or a friendly chat about the role, please email us and mark your email Practice Nurse Vacancy.

Main duties of the job

As an experienced Practice Nurse you will be expected to deliver a wide range of clinical services across the practice, including but not limited to:

• Running routine health screening and health promotion clinics, taking appropriate histories and assessments.
• Providing chronic disease management for conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular health, using evidence-based care plans and supporting patients in self-management.
• Managing wound care and dressings, including minor and complex wound management and suture removal where appropriate.
• Delivering women's health services, including cervical screening and smear tests in line with national guidelines.
• Administering baby and childhood immunisations, as well as adult vaccinations according to NHS schedules.
• Providing health and lifestyle advice, promoting disease prevention, smoking cessation and healthy behaviours.
• Keeping clear, accurate and up-to-date patient records so that care is safe, consistent and meets professional and legal standards.
• Working collaboratively with GPs, healthcare assistants, administration staff and other health professionals to ensure coordinated, high-quality patient care.
• Participating in quality improvement initiatives, audits and clinical governance activities to support ongoing service development.

About us

We are a dynamic and progressive GP surgery based in Chippenham, working closely with other local practices within our Primary Care Network (PCN) to provide joined-up, high-quality care for our patients. We operate a combination of on-the-day urgent appointments and pre-bookable routine clinics, offering consultations via telephone, video and face-to-face to meet the different needs of our patient population. Our practice is based in a large, modern, purpose-built building, which also accommodates dental services and the local out-of-hours service - supporting integrated, accessible care within the community. We are a friendly, supportive and collaborative team, and as a training practice we are committed to supporting ongoing learning, professional development and career progression for our staff.

Job responsibilities

The post holder is a registered experienced nurse who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide general practice nursing services to the whole practice population. As an autonomous practitioner, the nurse is responsible for the care delivered and will demonstrate sound clinical judgement, critical thinking and decision-making skills in the management of patients. The post holder will work collaboratively within the general practice team to meet patient needs and to support the delivery of practice policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate programmes to promote health and wellbeing.
• Proactively identify, assess and manage patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to diagnose, monitor and manage long-term conditions, including non-pharmacological interventions, in line with national and local guidance and practice protocols.
• Support patients to adhere to prescribed treatment and management plans.
• Have a special interest in an area of chronic disease, or be willing to train in a specific area.
• Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including the initiation of effective emergency care.
• Undertake cervical cytology consultations.
• Deliver vaccination and immunisation programmes for adults and children.
• Provide advice and administer travel vaccinations in accordance with current guidance.
• Assess, manage and treat patients presenting with aural conditions using evidence-based care.
• Provide opportunistic wound care and dressings as required.

Communication

• Use sensitive, clear and effective communication to ensure patients are fully informed and able to give valid consent.
• Communicate effectively with patients, carers and colleagues, adapting communication styles to meet individual needs, cultural backgrounds and levels of understanding.
• Anticipate and reduce barriers to effective communication wherever possible.
• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues where appropriate.

Delivering a Quality Service

• Practice within professional competence and the NMC Code of Conduct at all times.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and complete patient records in line with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Manage and prioritise own workload to maintain safe and high-quality care.
• Deliver care in accordance with NSF, NICE and other evidence-based guidelines.
• Participate in audit, peer review, benchmarking and evaluation to improve service quality.
• Contribute to clinical governance, quality improvement and service development activities.
• Participate in the review and learning from complaints, incidents and near-misses using agreed frameworks.
• Support shared learning across the practice and wider organisation.
• Safeguard vulnerable children and adults in line with statutory guidance and local procedures.

Personal and Professional Development

• Take responsibility for own professional development, performance and learning, including participation in supervision and appraisal.
• Act as a positive role model and support the development of colleagues.
• Promote the practice as a learning environment and encourage shared learning.
• Engage with service development, innovation and change within own area of practice.
• Keep up to date with local and national developments relevant to practice nursing.
• Promote awareness of support services (e.g. PALS) and ensure patients can access information in appropriate formats.

Team Working

• Work effectively as part of the multidisciplinary team, contributing positively to team functioning and patient care.
• Understand own role and responsibilities within the organisation and how this may evolve over time.
• Delegate appropriately and safely, ensuring competency of those undertaking delegated tasks.
• Accept delegated duties appropriately and manage workload effectively.
• Use referral pathways appropriately and in line with practice protocols.
• Participate in team meetings, service development activities and agreed local projects.

This job description is not exhaustive and will be reviewed regularly in line with service needs.

Person Specification

• Must hold a current NMC registration
• Chronic Disease qualification for Asthma and COPD.

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.