Critical Care Outreach Nurse | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester

We are pleased to invite applications to join our 24/7 Critical Care Outreach Team. The successful candidate will work within the critical care outreach team to provide clinical expertise, knowledge and skills utilising clinical judgement and decision making in the care and management of acutely ill patients, and will be highly motivated and driven to improve patient care and experience. Excellent interpersonal skills are paramount for this post, together with confidence to engage and work with a range of colleagues at all levels and from all professional groups. The role will include clinical and educational duties and includes working unsocial hours. Experience working within critical care, A&E or with acutely ill oncology patients is essential.

The successful candidate will:

• Provide the highest standard of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of individualized, holistic patient care for acutely ill or deteriorating patients within both inpatient and outpatient settings, in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team.
• Work in a team of band 6 and 7 CCOT nurses but be an autonomous practitioner with the ability to work independently and resourcefully within this team.
• Have the ability to manage a caseload effectively, demonstrating good time management skills.

The CCOT role also includes being part of, and often leading the resuscitation team, and also includes teaching on AIM, and resuscitation courses in the trust and therefore requires ILS as a minimum. The successful candidate will be required to undertake ALS course.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Responsibilities

• To be an expert practitioner and role model in the field of oncology nursing, with specific expertise in acute care at level one (to three), dependency.
• To use advanced clinical assessment skills in the management of patients.
• Review and interpret all information available utilising a systematic process of reasoning to make a working and differential diagnosis.
• Develop and record a treatment plan consistent with the outcome of assessment and most probable diagnosis.
• Order first line diagnostic investigations.
• Part of the primary responder team for acutely unwell patients.
• Follow up of unwell patients, post critical care admission and discharge.
• To accept referrals from other health care professionals and have the ability to refer patients directly to other specialties.
• To be a member of the cardiac arrest/emergency team as an ALS provider.
• Communicate complex clinical and supporting information/findings to patients and significant others according to individual situations.
• Liaise with the multi-disciplinary team with respect to the management of the acutely unwell patient.
• Collaborate with the critical care team in the management and transfer of the acutely unwell patient to a higher level of care.
• Coordinate and plan management of patients requiring clinical interventions throughout the Trust.
• Provide clinical and educational support for staff trust wide, in relation to the assessment and management of the acutely unwell/deteriorating patient, and resuscitation.

Professional Responsibilities

• To have a highly visible presence.
• Maintain medical and nursing records in line with current Trust policy.
• Provide a specialist resource within the Trust to all nursing and medical staff.
• To demonstrate an up to date knowledge of oncology nursing/acute care practice and responsibility for one’s own professional development.
• To maintain a portfolio to fulfil the requirements of the NMC.
• Support equality and value diversity.
• Complete clinical incident reports in accordance with Trust Risk Management policy.
• Provide representation for committees and groups directly involved in patient care.
• To be aware of the policies, procedures and philosophies of the Trust, understanding health and safety requirements and ensure that all duties and responsibilities are carried out within these guidelines.

Education

• To provide clinical support and advice to all staff.
• Deliver essential training to Trust staff, (as part of outreach team teaching faculty BLS (Basic Life Support), AIM, (Acute illness Management, and NTSP (National Tracheostomy Safety Project), and support the ALS (Advanced Life Support), course as an ALS provider.
• Develop and deliver specific and relevant teaching programs for all disciplines.
• Support, supervise and assess clinical competencies of nursing staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Identify training needs and prepare and provide learning materials within clinical areas.
• Promote current developments in evidence based practice.

Quality

• Communicate examples of good practice throughout the Trust.
• Support development of role by meeting with peers giving and receiving reflective feedback.
• Maintain accurate records and provide necessary statistical data.
• Prepare audit results for evaluation of the service.
• Participate in audit/research projects within Trust and coordinate with applicable personnel to initiate change in clinical practice derived from outcomes.
• Actively involved in the development of the Trust’s strategy relating to The Essence of Care and The Patient Experience.