Community Cardiology Specialist Nurse in Lancaster

''Creating a great place to be cared for and a great place to work''

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay has a firm commitment to strengthening the diversity of our workforce, and therefore welcome and encourage applications from likeminded people who can support our ambition to become effortlessly inclusive. We are particularly keen to hear from protected groups – including BAME, LGBT+ and people with a disability.

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Heart Failure Specialist Nurse to join the Community Heart Failure service at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

You will practise autonomously, managing a caseload of patients with heart failure referred by GPs, consultant colleagues and other healthcare professionals. As a V300 independent prescriber you will assess, investigate and optimise treatment, working closely with primary care, cardiology, palliative care and community services.

The role blends higher-level clinical care with education, day-to-day service management and governance, and includes deputising for the Clinical Lead when required.

You will be a registered nurse with significant heart failure experience, willing to or prepared to gain a V300 prescribing qualification and a postgraduate qualification in the management of heart failure.

Main duties of the job

• Manage a caseload of patients with heart failure, exercising a high degree of specialist professional judgement
• Lead nurse-led heart failure clinics in primary care, including GP-based clinics for patients with complex comorbidities
• Carry out independent assessments, order and interpret diagnostic tests (including renal bloods, ECG and echo) and make clinical decisions on treatment
• Independently prescribe and optimise heart failure medication as a V300 prescriber, in line with NICE guidance and Trust policy
• Write individualised management plans that account for comorbidities and support GPs to prescribe appropriately
• Work with palliative care services to improve end-of-life experience for patients and carers
• Educate patients, carers and staff; act as mentor/preceptor
• Contribute to audit and service evaluation, and support the Clinical Lead to develop an integrated, patient-centred service

Working for our organisation

We operatefrom three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, andUlverstonCommunity Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies,daycase and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Our Community Service for adults are provided in people's homes ,community centres, clinics, GP Practices, community hospitals. Our aim is to work with people to help them remain independent , improve their health and manage their conditions through high quality care , advice and support.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• Provide expert practice through management of a caseload of heart failure patients referred by GPs, consultants and other healthcare professionals
• Provide pharmacological and non-pharmacological management within scope of practice and Trust protocols
• As a V300 Non-Medical Prescriber, independently prescribe heart failure medications in line with NICE guidance and Trust policy
• Work autonomously across a variety of clinical settings, optimising medication and giving education, support and advice to patients and carers
• Undertake independent assessment, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and make critical judgements to inform diagnosis and treatment
• Order cardiac investigations as required and refer to or discuss with cardiologists and GPs
• Use complex equipment and interpret results to support diagnosis and treatment
• Undertake cardiac risk and prevention assessments and give individualised lifestyle advice
• Lead nurse-led heart failure clinics in primary care, including GP-based clinics for complex comorbidity patients on the heart failure register
• Develop and apply robust referral criteria so patients receive prompt, appropriate investigation and treatment in the right setting
• Develop pathways with other disciplines and write individualised management plans that account for comorbidities
• Work with palliative care services to improve end-of-life experience for patients and carers
• Ensure effective communication between primary and secondary care
• Maintain standards of cleanliness and infection prevention in the clinical environment

Research and audit

• Contribute to local audits, evaluate service delivery, identify areas for improvement and share findings with professional groups

Education

• Develop educational and information materials for patients and staff on heart failure, investigations, treatment and the patient pathway
• Implement heart failure guidelines and standards with colleagues, including developing training packages
• Act as mentor, preceptor and resource for nursing and support staff
• Identify own development needs through appraisal and a Personal Development Plan, and ensure clinical supervision needs are met

Managerial and governance

• Support the Clinical Lead to develop a patient-centred heart failure service that is integrated across professional and organisational boundaries
• Deputise for the Clinical Lead in their absence where necessary
• Identify gaps in service provision and work with the MDT to implement the changes required
• Apply local incident reporting and complaints procedures effectively

Working conditions and policies

Internal only posts are only open to employees of UHMBT and this does not include employees of OneLSC working in our hospitals.

The Trust promotes flexible working opportunities where ever possible to enable staff to balance their work and home life. We are committed to Equal Opportunities and aim to be EffortlesslyInclusive.

The trust operates a No Smoking Policy.

Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our Person Specification will be shortlisted for Interview.

We reserve the right to close a job advert early where sufficient applications have been received.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.

If the post is subject to Disclosure & Barring Service checking, there is a charge of £41.00 for Enhanced and £20.00 for Standard & Basic clearance and additional to this a £4.90 administration fee will be made to the successful candidate(s). This currently only applies to roles Band 6 and above and Medical & Dental posts.

Anyone newly appointed to the trust under the Agenda For Change contract, will be subject to the completion of a satisfactory 4 month probationary period. This will give the new staff member an opportunity to become familiar with the role and working environment.

We have introduced a new system called Pre-Onboarding, specifically to support you right the way through to your first few months in your new role with us at UHMB. This bespoke site has lots of useful information to help you settle into your new role including: what to expect from the recruitment clearances process, where to get a uniform, when you'll get paid etc. As well as information on a number of our services i.e. Infection Prevention, Anti-fraud, Inclusion and Diversity, Care Certificates and much more. To access click on this link https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/uhmbt-pre-onboarding.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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