Clinical Nurse Specialist for Parkinson's Device Assisted Therapies
To form the core of a device assisted therapies (DAT) service at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. This service forms a comprehensive care pathway for those with advanced/complex Parkinson's disease, allowing equitable access to infusion based dopaminergic treatments (apomorphine, foslevodopa-foscarbidopa and levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel) and Deep Brain Stimulation within the catchment area of UHPNT.
The role is initially on a 2 year fixed term basis, however we anticipate that funding may be found to make this a permanent post.
Main duties of the job
UHPNT will be the first centre across the South West Peninsula to run a dedicated DAT clinic, it is anticipated that satellite clinics will in due course open at other acute NHS Trusts across the South West Peninsula. Part of the role of the proposed candidates will be to provide support for Parkinson's nurse specialists to establish and run clinics at these centres. This will entail a strong element of regional education to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing of best practice.
The role is anticipated to be predominately hospital based. Most clinical contact will be in person, either at UHPNT sites or within the community (including where appropriate at the patient home). There may be a limited opportunity for some home working, however this would be anticipated to be largely restricted to administrative or service development tasks.
The role will require a prescribing qualification, however we encourage applications from those who do not currently possess this qualification, as we will provide support and time for the right candidate to obtain this. In this case appointed candidates will commence to role at band 6 level with progression to band 7 upon completion of a prescribing qualification. We will also consider applications on a less than full time basis for this role.
Job responsibilities
Clinical
* Demonstrate advanced empathetic interpersonal and communication skills in dealing with patients and carers through the various patient pathway from the point of diagnosis.
* Demonstrate advanced practice in holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care within their own speciality. This will necessitate high levels of autonomy and advocacy.
* Demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills and innovative practice in relevant specialist area. Promote clinical excellence. Demonstrate continual evaluation of practice, making agreed changes and evaluating their impact.
* Assess and monitor risk in own and others practice acting on the results thereby ensuring safe delivery of care.
* Work as an autonomous expert/advanced CNS.
* Work within the Nursing + Midwifery Council (NMC) Code, Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses and Midwives.
* Medicines Management and Standards of proficiency for nurse and midwife prescribers if appropriate.
* Adhere to UHPT Lone working policy.
Education / Training
* In conjunction with the multidisciplinary team, ensure that information provided to health professionals and patients is representative of research based recommendations and are within the National Standards Frameworks where appropriate.
* To develop appropriate information systems and ensure documentation systems are in place to assist in high-level delivery of care.
* Promote the services provided at the Trust through attendance at conferences, published papers and via patient-facing media.
* Establish and maintain a regional network of contacts.
* Actively demonstrate commitment to clinical supervision.
* Demonstrate pro-active approach to the development of policies, protocols and clinical guidelines necessary to support the developing specialist nursing areas.
* Directly influence decisions regarding service delivery through participation in meetings.
* Ensure practice is research-based across the team.
* Facilitate, develop and monitor quality initiatives in line with local and national requirements or guidelines.
* Ensure all available resources are used efficiently.
Person Specification
Knowledge
* Demonstrable extensive experience within Parkinson's care.
* Demonstrable five years post registration experience.
* Five years demonstrable experience in a relevant field.
* Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality patient care.
* Demonstrable experience of drawing up and administering infusion based therapies.
* Demonstrable experience of administering subcutaneous treatments.
* Demonstrable experience of wound care and management of cutaneous infections such as cellulitis.
* Theoretical and proven practical knowledge of Parkinson's disease and related disorders.
* Proven knowledge and ability to develop educational programmes.
* Demonstrable experience of audit initiatives and other quality initiatives i.e. research.
* Able to set and monitor standards.
* Demonstrate understanding of Clinical Nurse Specialist role.
* Proven knowledge of corporate clinical governance.
* Proven evidence of implementing research based practice.
* Demonstrable experience within Parkinson's care at the advanced/complex disease stage.
* Demonstrable experience of assessment, initiation of management of infusion based device assisted therapies.
* Demonstrable experience of initiating, monitoring and maintaining patients on Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).
* Demonstrable experience of programming/reprogramming DBS stimulators.
* Demonstrable experience of clinical research delivery.
* Demonstrable experience of undertaking the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating scale (MDS UPDRS).
* Approved MDS UPDRS rater.
* Demonstrable experience of undertaking a range of clinical and research assessment scales/tools.
* Demonstrable experience within Parkinson's care, in particular managing and supporting patients with complex PD in out-patient/community settings.
* Proven knowledge and understanding of the use of levodopa, dopamine agonists, COMTI and MAOI.
* Able to undertake a limited neurological examination and interpret the findings appropriately and effectively.
* Proven knowledge and ability to take an accurate, detailed clinical history and willing to undertake a formal qualification in history taking.
* Demonstrable experience in implementing change.
* Demonstrable experience of undertaking clinical research.
* Demonstrable experience of involving patients in service improvement initiatives.
Qualifications
* First level degree in Adult nursing.
* Teaching qualification or proven evidence and demonstrable experience of teaching.
* Professional (NMC) registration.
* Leadership Course or equivalent.
* MSc in clinical nursing, or willing to work towards, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
* Non-medical prescriber qualification or willing to work towards.
Aptitude and abilities
* Management of clinical case load.
* Ability to motivate and lead junior staff.
* Effective skills to be able to produce concise, accurate and consistently legible documentation using comprehendible language.
* Able to deliver formal and informal teaching sessions to other health care professionals.
Disposition
* Ability to work within a team and autonomously.
* Diplomatic.
Other factors
* Ability to travel between various site locations.
* Fine motor skills using specialist equipment such as patella hammer requiring physical manipulation of equipment with one hand and using both hands together to co-ordinate examination.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
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