Practice Nurse

Join a team that puts people first. At Village Medical Centre, the wellbeing of our team is at the heart of everything we do. We are a traditional general practice and we pride ourselves on being inclusive and genuinely supportive.

We are looking for a Practice Nurse to join our team on a full time basis who:

• Is enthusiastic and self‐motivated
• Can use their initiative
• Is an excellent communicator
• Can listen and empathise
• Is keen to develop and lead
• Demonstrates attention to detail
• Can be flexible and adaptable

We place great emphasis on training and development and our nurses are encouraged to progress with training and skills to benefit their personal skills and that of the Practice.

Main duties of the job:

In the role of Practice Nurse, you will be responsible for the provision of skilled nursing care to our Practice population. You will deliver care within the boundaries of your role, focusing on supporting patients to be healthy, monitoring of long‐term conditions, health education and screening. You will work collaboratively to meet the needs of patients, ensuring the highest standards of care and supporting the delivery of Practice policy and procedures.

Experience in the following is essential:

• Chronic disease management to include but not limited to: Asthma, Diabetes, COPD including spirometry, CHD and LD
• Cervical cytology
• Sexual health and contraception
• Routine treatment room procedures including wound care and dressings
• Vaccination and immunisation for adults and children including travel health

About us:

We are situated on the outskirts of Middlesbrough Town Centre in the Linthorpe Village area. Our Practice list size is 8000. Our multidisciplinary team consists of 1 GP Partner, a Non‐clinical Partner, 2 salaried GPs, 3 Practice Nurses, 1 Healthcare Assistant, 1 pharmacist along with an experienced and supportive administrative team.

We are also part of a forward thinking and dynamic Primary Care Network and benefit from a wide group of ARRS roles including GPs, Clinical Practitioners, Pharmacists, Nurse Associates, Social Prescribers, Mental Health Practitioners (adult and child), Physiotherapists supported by a team of Care Coordinators.

We are a medical student teaching practice, teaching all years from 1 to 5 at various times throughout the year. We maintain high QOF/LES/DES achievers and we all try to get the extra mile for our patients. A strong work ethic and a sense of humour are essential.

Job responsibilities:

The Practice Nurse will provide high quality, evidence‐based nursing care to patients within the general practice, with a key focus on the assessment, monitoring and management of patients with chronic diseases. The role involves working collaboratively with GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team to promote health, prevent illness and improve long‐term patient outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver comprehensive chronic disease management, including (but not limited to): Diabetes, Asthma and COPD, CHD, Stroke and cardiovascular risk management
• Undertake patient assessments, care planning and regular reviews in line with national and local guidelines.
• Monitor, interpret and act upon clinical observations and test results.
• Provide patient education and self‐management support in accordance with national schedules.
• Perform wound care, dressings and management of minor injuries.
• Carry out cervical screening and sexual health services.
• Manage long‐term condition templates and recalls using clinical systems.
• Support patients with smoking cessation, weight management and healthy lifestyle advice.
• Participate in screening programmes and preventative health initiatives.
• Identify safeguarding concerns and elevate appropriately.

Administrative and quality responsibilities:

• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential patient records.
• Contribute to QOF targets and audits.
• Participate in clinical audits, service development and quality improvement activities.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention and control policies.

Professional responsibilities:

• Work autonomously within professional scope of practice.
• Maintain up‐to‐date knowledge and skills through continuous professional development.
• Adhere to NMC Code of Professional Conduct at all times.
• Participate in practice meetings, training and appraisal processes.
• Support and mentor junior staff or healthcare assistants where appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse (Adult) with current NMC registration.
• Recognised qualification in diabetes care or equivalent demonstrable experience in diabetes management.
• Up to date knowledge of national and local diabetes guidelines.
• Strong clinical assessment, decision‐making and care planning skills.
• Ability to educate and support patients in self‐management and lifestyle change.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to use clinical IT system effectively.
• Recognised post‐registration qualification.
• Recognised cervical screening qualification.

Qualifications / Knowledge / Skills:

• Substantial experience working as a Practice Nurse in a primary care/general practice setting.
• Proven experience managing patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
• Demonstrable experience of initiating, titrating and monitoring insulin therapy.
• Experience working autonomously and managing own clinical workload.
• Experience of managing additional long‐term conditions (e.g. hypertension, asthma, COPD).
• Experience working within a PCN or multidisciplinary team environment.
• Experience using QOF and chronic disease management templates.
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies.
• Experience using SystmOne.
• Knowledge of population health and proactive care approaches.

Personal Attributes:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Organised, reliable and able to prioritise workload effectively.
• Patient‐focused approach with a commitment to high‐quality care.
• Flexible and adaptable to service needs.
• Gets on well with people at all levels.
• Demonstrable commitment to professional development.
• Willingness to contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives.
• Interest in developing diabetes services within primary care.

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.