Senior Nurse Endoscopist - Lower GI in Chorley

We want talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds to join #TeamMWL, with us you can learn, grow and develop your career, realising your true ambitions and aspirations. Whatever you’re looking for in your career, you’ll find it here at MWL.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Nurse Endoscopist to join our team! You will work as an autonomous practitioner undertaking diagnostic & therapeutic investigations including triaging Lower GI referrals for patients requiring GI endoscopy procedures including diagnostic and therapeutic gastroscopy (Variceal banding, PEG insertion, APC, dilatation etc.), flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy.

Main duties of the job

• Contribute to National Bowel Cancer Screening programme including screening colonoscopy once accredited.
• To be a Non‑medical Prescriber.
• To ensure lists run efficiently and effectively.
• To act as an excellent role model and develop own clinical expertise keeping abreast of changing developments in endoscopy practice.
• To provide quality patient standards in accordance with those identified in the GRS and JAG.
• To ensure that families and carers are involved in the planning and provision of care where this is appropriate.
• To develop mechanisms to monitor user’s perceptions of the service.

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites. We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

• Acute Care – Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
• Primary Care – Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
• Community Services – Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire.
• Specialist Regional Services – We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work as an autonomous practitioner undertaking diagnostic & therapeutic investigations for patients requiring GI endoscopy procedures including diagnostic and therapeutic gastroscopy (Variceal banding, PEG insertion, APC, dilatation etc.), flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy.
• Contribute to National Bowel Cancer Screening programme including screening colonoscopy once accredited.
• To be a Non‑medical Prescriber.
• To ensure lists run efficiently and effectively.
• To act as an excellent role model and develop own clinical expertise keeping abreast of changing developments in endoscopy practice.
• To provide quality patient standards in accordance with those identified in the GRS and JAG.
• To ensure that families and carers are involved in the planning and provision of care where this is appropriate.
• To develop mechanisms to monitor user’s perceptions of the service.
• To participate in the formulation and development of clinical governance action plans.
• To actively participate in the Endoscopy JAG GRS Meetings.
• To support Consultant Led Gastroenterology clinic activity & work independently in clinic.
• To ensure that nurse led clinics are structured, organised and run effectively.
• To provide appropriate guidance regarding wellness, lifestyle, disease risks and potential changes in health status, including health awareness, screening and prevention.
• To recognise and refer to appropriate primary care services for clients with acute/chronic conditions.
• To demonstrate critical thinking and reasoning skills in diagnostic decision‑making.
• To document all relevant information regarding the patient according to Trust standards.
• Where agreed, prescribe & dispense medication to the patient using agreed protocols.
• Where appropriate, to select, perform and interpret screening and diagnostic laboratory tests, as agreed in protocols.
• To evaluate results of intervention using accepted outcome criteria, revise the plan of care, where appropriate, and consult/refer when needed.
• To arrange ‘follow‑up’ appointments when appropriate to monitor and evaluate client health/illness.
• If the service feels appropriate to develop additional skills e.g. venesection, paracentesis, PillCam interpretation, to support the wider gastroenterology service.
• Support the vetting and validation of the referral & PTL process and communicate decisions and outcomes to referrers.
• Supporting triaging/vetting sessions for both Upper GI and Lower GI patients.
• Critically reflects on own performance through peer/team/network and clinical supervision.
• To work within the NMC code of professional conduct and all Trust Guidelines.
• To keep up to date with professional issues in nursing practice, research and the National Health Service, British Society for Gastroenterology and GRS and JAG.
• Continue with own personal development through the pursuit of relevant professional and academic study.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• To develop and market the role of Nurse Endoscopist to the public and other health care professionals.
• To actively participate in the decisions about expansion plans for the endoscopy service.
• To refer patients to other specialists/resources.
• To participate in legislative and policymaking activities which influence the advancement of nursing practice and endoscopy.
• Develop and review protocols for Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD), flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy.
• Develop and review protocols for Patient Group Directives for administration of Drugs for patients requiring Gastroenterology procedures.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• To be fully involved in national training programme for Endoscopy including being an endoscopy trainer.
• To be actively involved in the orientation and training of new medical and non‑medical Endoscopists.
• To ensure all practice is governed by the GRS and JAG requirements for training.
• To comply with the Quality Standards outlined in the GRS.
• To identify poor practice and take steps to rectify the situation.
• To advise on the training needs analysis which reflects the future needs of the service in collaboration with the Endoscopy Unit Manager and Clinician Director for Gastroenterology and Directorate Manager for Endoscopy.
• To work with the Clinical Educator and Endoscopy Manager, Specialist Nurses, to ensure appropriate educational opportunities for personal, professional and service development.
• To work collaboratively with the senior staff to ensure that all staff have an appraisal and a personal development plan.
• To take an active lead in teaching informally and formally.
• To participate in ensuring all the Direct Observation of Practice forms are completed.
• To play an active role in health education and educating patients about their lifestyles.
• To participate in research activities in conjunction with the Gastroenterology and Endoscopy team.
• To work alongside the Clinical Educator and Endoscopy Nursing team in the development of recognised endoscopy courses and in‑house teaching programmes.
• To promote a seamless service of care through liaison with all relevant Health Care professionals and set up appropriate systems and education across the Trust and with external partners.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• To contribute to the effective management of resources within the Endoscopy Unit in order to provide a high‑quality patient focused service.
• To ensure effective mechanisms for maintaining communication between wards, directorate and wider organisation, i.e. Specialist Nurses Meeting, Gastroenterology Governance Group.
• To provide care for individuals, families and communities within integrating healthcare services and using accepted guidelines and protocols.
• Where necessary, to plan, implement and evaluate healthcare collaboratively with others using approaches that recognise each one’s experience and to meet the need of the client.
• To fully integrate within the Endoscopy Unit, thus ensuring a holistic approach to care of patients.
• To work collaboratively with the Endoscopy Manager, Nurse Endoscopists, Clinical Director for gastroenterology to develop a patient led endoscopy service.
• To actively participate in unit activities and encourage others to do so.
• To provide expert knowledge and clinical leadership.
• To evaluate service delivery, identify areas for improvement and initiate change.
• To take a lead on the management of complaints and clinical incidents, including leading in SIRI meetings relevant to endoscopy.
• To provide line management of a group of staff following HR policies.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• Identify need for, participate and undertake, research, clinical audit, benchmarking and equipment trials, in order to improve effectiveness of patient care.
• Actively lead clinical audit and service improvement projects.
• Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publication.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to own area of work.
• Promote patient and public involvement activities in the specialist area, leading to service improvement.
• Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current registration and revalidation.
• Independent Non‑medical prescriber.
• Clinical Examination Qualification.
• Evidence of Continuous professional development.
• Completion of approved clinical upper & lower Endoscopist courses or willing to work towards.
• Higher Degree or evidence of study at higher level e.g. HEE clinical Endoscopist modules.

Knowledge & Experience

• Evidence of independent reporting & pathology follow up.
• Understands and demonstrates the Trust Values of quality, teamwork, care and compassion, dignity and respect and openness, honesty and responsibility through the application of appropriate behaviours and attitudes.
• Experience of Staff Leadership & Management.
• Good working knowledge of GIN, JAG and GRS.

Skills

• Therapeutic upper & lower GI procedures e.g. IBD dye spray surveillance, complex polypectomy, oesophageal dilatation, Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG).

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward‑thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification.

The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager.

Flexible Working

We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that all employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.

Working for Team MWL

Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts.