WIBSEY & QUEENSBURY MEDICAL PRACTICE JOB TITLE: Senior Practice Nurse REPORTS TO: GP Partners/Practice Manager HOURS: 37.5 hours per week Job Summary Working in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct, the post-holder will lead and develop the practice of the practice nursing team in the provision of assessment, treatment, screening, health education services and advice to patients. The post-holder will develop (and ensure that the nursing team work with reference to) practice-agreed protocols and guidelines to provide nursing treatments to patients both independently and in participation with nurse colleagues and general practitioners. The post-holder will have the required level of training and competence and will work within patient group directions where these are available. A nurse with prescribing qualifications will use them appropriately. Management responsibilities: Enable the nursing team to work effectively and provide a high quality service to patients and to work effectively with other agencies. Identify the workforce that is required to provide services to meet the needs of the patient population and negotiate with the practice management team for this workforce Monitor and advise on the effective use of physical and financial resources by the practice nursing team Enable the practice nursing team to apply and improve clinical governance and risk management systems Lead and monitor the development and implementation of policies, standards and guidelines across the practice nursing team Analyse, interpret and report data on health and well-being, related needs and service use Allocate, co-ordinate, monitor and assess the work of the nursing team and individuals Recruit and select staff to meet the health and well-being needs of the practice population Supervise and assess staff performance and development Offer and provide clinical supervision to other members of the practice nursing team and act as a clinical ''expert'' Develop a working environment that promotes healthy, safe and effective work outcomes Clinical responsibilities: Identify, assess and diagnose patients with complex health needs across the practice population Lead the introduction and use of technical and specialist nursing treatments for patients with complex healthcare needs Prescribe products to meet the needs of patients within the practice population Lead and develop programmes to improve health and well-being and meet the specific needs of communities, groups and individuals Work with others to change policies and improve health and well-being and reduce inequalities Lead the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based practice to improve the services offered by the practice nursing team Lead the team in quality assurance, development and clinical governance. Work with other members of the practice team in the implementation of specific aspects of the NSFs. Management of chronic disease: Diagnosis, monitoring and development of individual management plans; agreeing these as appropriate with the patient and other health professionals Therapeutic monitoring: Checking compliance with and adherence to appropriate treatments, using an holistic patient-centred approach Recognising abnormalities Identifying the impact of treatment and implementing or recommending changes as appropriate. Wound care and management: Assessing routine wounds including trauma Assessing [and prescribing] to support good wound management in complex situations (e.g. use of Doppler technique) Patient health checks: Working with patients to develop a management plan where health problems or potential health problems are identified Identifying health trends and public health issues and working with the team and others to combat these. Risk assessment: Recognising issues and gathering sufficient information to refer (eg drugs; domestic violence; child protection; vulnerable adults; senior patients; social problems) Health screening: Providing in-depth monitoring and advice as appropriate and working with the patient in deciding on management plans Considering the issues in the light of the practice population. Travel health: Provision of specialist and evidence based support to the team Working with public health initiatives, ensuring the work of the team is up to date. Immunisation (adult and child): Working with public health initiatives, ensuring the work of the team is up to date. Leading the team in achieving the immunisation guidelines and targets First contact: Working as an autonomous practitioner on more complex cases. Minor surgical procedures: Leading the development of the nurses role in the delivery of the service. Mental health: Ensuring that appropriate systems are in place for effective patient monitoring.