Practice Nurse - GP Practice in Hebburn

Victoria Medical Centre is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a registered Practice Nurse to join our friendly and supportive team. We are a well-established practice with a patient population of approximately 3,600 serving the local community with a strong focus on high-quality patient-centred care.

We are looking for an experienced Practice Nurse who can deliver a wide range of primary care nursing services to our practice population. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with our multidisciplinary general practice team to meet the needs of our patients and may also be required to liaise with members of wider community teams where appropriate.

The role includes responsibility for providing core practice nursing services and contributing to the effective delivery of chronic disease management, health promotion, treatment room duties and preventative care.

• Travel health
• Screening
• Health promotion
• Chronic disease reviews, including housebound patients
• Vaccinations (including childhood immunisations)
• Infection control
• Emergency management (including annual CPR and anaphylaxis updates)
• Mental health support
• Contraception and sexual health advice
• Child health
• Adult safeguarding
• Health & safety

The postholder will contribute to implement and lead on a full range of infection control, health and safety and health promotion activities.

As a member of West PCN in South Tyneside, we work closely with partner practices and with South Tyneside Health Collaboration to enhance access, share expertise and deliver integrated care that meets the diverse needs of our population. This collaborative approach enables us to provide coordinated support for long-term conditions, preventative health and wider wellbeing.

At Victoria Medical Centre we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for both patients and staff. We continually strive to improve our services, embrace innovation and maintain the highest standards of clinical excellence and patient experience.

The Practice Nurse will provide high-quality, person-centred nursing care to our patient population, delivering a broad range of services including immunisations, cervical screening, wound management, chronic disease reviews, ear care, health promotion and contraceptive advice. Working as part of the wider multidisciplinary team, the postholder will support coordinated, holistic care for patients and liaise with community and secondary care teams when required.

The role includes responsibility for accurate clinical documentation, use of templates, and appropriate coding. The postholder will contribute to call-and-recall activity and support the practice in achieving QOF, Local Enhanced Services, and other quality and reporting targets. Their work will directly support practice performance and the generation of income that can be reinvested into improving patient services.

The post-holder will also take a significant role in clinical governance, including audit participation, maintaining equipment safety, and supporting infection control processes.

• Travel health
• Screening (including cervical screening)
• Health promotion
• Chronic disease reviews, including housebound patients
• Vaccinations (including childhood immunisations)
• Mental health support
• Contraception and sexual health advice
• Child health
• Adult safeguarding
• Emergency management (including annual CPR/anaphylaxis updates)
• Infection control
• General health & safety

The post-holder will:

• Use clinical templates consistently to ensure accurate, complete records
• Apply correct clinical coding to support safe care and contractual compliance
• Deliver call-and-recall activity for LTC reviews, screening, and immunisations
• Support achievement of QOF, Local Enhanced Services, and other targets
• Assist in identifying gaps in performance and implementing improvements
• Take part in audits, data quality checks, and evidence collection
• Contribute to meeting practice targets that maximise income to reinvest in patient care

The post-holder will act as Infection Control Lead, with responsibilities including:

• Leading and supporting infection prevention processes in line with national guidance
• Coordinating or participating in infection control audits and implementing improvement plans
• Managing and monitoring PPE supplies
• Promoting high standards of hand hygiene
• Monitoring cleanliness and clinical environment standards and escalating issues
• Supporting staff training in infection control practices
• Maintaining oversight of waste management, sharps safety, spillage procedures and decontamination processes
• Updating IPC policies and procedures

They will also be responsible for:

• Routine emergency equipment checks (e.g. defibrillator, grab bags, oxygen)
• Fridge temperature monitoring and vaccine cold-chain maintenance
• Drug cabinet checks, expiry monitoring, and stock rotation
• Ensuring clinical areas remain clean, safe, and hazard-free

The post-holder will promote and uphold the rights, dignity and independence of patients, carers and colleagues by acting respectfully, inclusively and in accordance with legislation, guidance and practice policies.

The post-holder will:

• Engage fully in annual appraisal and maintain a personal CPD record
• Take responsibility for ongoing clinical skill development
• Attend practice meetings, mandatory training, and relevant locality events
• Share learning with colleagues to support good practice
• Contribute to the supervision and support of students or trainees

Qualifications:

• Registered General Nurse NMC-registered
• Formal training and/or experience in primary care Practice Nursing
• A recognised nursing qualification at diploma level or above
• Additional certificates in chronic disease management (e.g. asthma, COPD, diabetes)
• Immunisation and vaccination training
• Cervical cytology training and accreditation
• Full driving licence and access to own transport

Experience:

• Competent in the full range of core general practice nursing duties, including immunisations, cervical screening, wound care, ear care, health promotion and chronic disease reviews
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships with patients, carers and colleagues
• Up-to-date knowledge of long-term condition management (e.g. asthma, COPD, diabetes, hypertension)
• Understanding of NHS screening programmes and ability to deliver these safely and effectively
• Confident in the use of clinical templates, ensuring accurate, complete and structured documentation
• Competent in clinical coding to ensure high-quality records, accurate reporting and compliance with QOF, IIF, LES and contractual requirements
• EMIS Web competence
• Ability to support and deliver call/recall systems for chronic disease, immunisations and screening programmes
• Working knowledge of QOF, Local Enhanced Services, national vaccination requirements and quality-driven targets
• Understanding of infection prevention and control and ability to apply best practice in clinical and non-clinical areas
• Ability to participate in and support clinical audits, data validation, and quality improvement work
• Knowledge of cold-chain management including fridge temperature checks and vaccine storage
• Ability to carry out emergency equipment checks including defibrillator, oxygen and emergency drug bag monitoring
• Aware of safeguarding principles for children and adults and ability to escalate concerns appropriately
• Confident in working with practice policies, clinical protocols and national guidelines
• Previous employment in a general practice or primary care setting
• Experience delivering structured chronic disease clinics
• Knowledge of PCN-level services and MDT working (pharmacists, physio, mental health practitioners, social prescribers, etc.)
• Participation in local or national immunisation programmes

Personal Qualities:

• Highly motivated with a genuine enthusiasm for developing nursing practice and contributing to service improvement
• Consistent professional with a strong commitment to confidentiality and high clinical standards
• Able to prioritise workload effectively balancing routine work with urgent patient needs and unexpected demand
• Adaptable and resilient and comfortable working in a fast-paced and evolving primary care environment
• Willing to take on new responsibilities, adapt to service changes and engage in continuous learning
• Capable of working independently within scope of practice while also being a supportive and proactive team member
• Flexible approach to working patterns with willingness to provide cover for colleagues during sickness or annual leave
• Positive, compassionate and patient-centred approach with respect for equality, diversity and individual needs
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify and escalate concerns appropriately
• Reliable, organised and committed to maintaining high standards in all aspects of clinical and administrative work

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.