Tissue Viability Nurse in Widnes

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust plan to integrate and form a new organisation on 1 April 2026. If your start date is on or after this date, you will be employed by the newly formed organisation. If you join Bridgewater prior to 1 April 2026, your employment will automatically transfer into the new organisation. This transition is expected to provide new opportunities and a continued commitment to excellence in patient care.

The post holder will support the existing Tissue Viability Nurses in developing a research‑based approach to Tissue Viability, exploring the cost effectiveness of current treatments and the introduction of new products for patient care. The post holder will act as an autonomous practitioner within agreed protocols guided by organisational policies and within the Scope of Professional Practice, with in‑depth knowledge and clinical experience in Tissue Viability.

Responsibilities

• To support the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Tissue Viability in delivering an efficient and effective high quality service and maintain a high standard of patient care in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and within the Scope of Professional Practice.
• Maintain own clinical and professional expertise by participating in clinical supervision, professional development planning and within the NMC Code of Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice.
• Promote the clinical effectiveness of the nurse‑led service using a multi‑disciplinary team approach and contribute to the development of the Tissue Viability service.
• Promote a culture that utilizes the latest evidence and best practice. Works autonomously under indirect supervision, liaising with team leaders and coordinators as required.
• Work in a flexible way to support and maintain good team working practices.
• Utilise analytical and judgemental skills in the assessment of patients presenting with undifferentiated and undiagnosed health problems.
• Provide professional advice and leadership in tissue viability.
• Support the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Tissue Viability in the delivery of education programmes and in providing effective clinical advice and assistance in the assessment, management, treatment and prevention of chronic wounds.
• Participate in research activity within the Tissue Viability Service and work autonomously under indirect supervision for product evaluation to support informed choice when reviewing the Trust Dressings Formulary.
• Respect confidential information obtained during the course of work and discuss only as required by law or public interest.
• Assist the Clinical Nurse Specialist in providing accurate data for audit, governance and service development; demonstrate commitment to multi‑disciplinary team working across the local health economy.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of policies, procedures and clinical guidelines as appropriate; act as a role model highlighting and disseminating good practice within the Tissue Viability service.
• Work autonomously under indirect supervision of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in risk assessments for patients in the community setting and in clinical audit recording and reporting data as required by CHS.
• Represent the Clinical Nurse Specialist at multi‑agency and multi‑disciplinary forums within the area of expertise and accept delegated responsibilities within scope of professional practice.
• Manage specialist caseloads and perform specialist assessments, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care needs for individuals and their families/carers.
• Provide a resource to nursing and care homes on the treatment of chronic wounds and the use of pressure‑relieving equipment; ensure practice is evidence based and monitor standards of care for Tissue Viability patients.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients, carers and professionals across health and social services; ensure comprehensive documented assessment and care planning for patients with chronic wounds in conjunction with the named community nurse and patients.
• Raise awareness of ethical/legal issues relating to wound management and reflect this in clinical practice; work to acquire nurse prescribing status.
• Develop knowledge of tissue viability in the wider nursing and allied health workforce to support the development of best practice.
• Participate in the identification of education needs and implement and evaluate programmes involving all qualified and unqualified staff; participate in the delivery of education programmes with the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Tissue Viability.
• Maintain a high level of specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and practice; organise link meetings to update key staff on Tissue Viability developments so they can cascade knowledge to colleagues.
• Assist in addressing specific health targets; contribute to and disseminate best practice through evidence, clinical benchmarking and guidelines.
• Take an active role in research and development following agreed trust protocols; liaise with research departments and institutes; initiate new research projects under supervision.
• Participate in data provision for CHS, clinical audit, benchmarking and pilot projects to improve patient care; critically appraise and disseminate current relevant research and lead in developing research‑based practice in wound care.
• Work autonomously under direct supervision of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Tissue Viability with wound care product assessment and evaluation to facilitate cost‑effective quality care.
• Develop partnerships with other agencies to enhance service delivery; establish and maintain working arrangements with GPs, PHCT members and other services locally; attend multi‑agency case conferences to plan and review care packages.