Job summary To undertake an autonomous specialist nursing role in planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating nurse-led services for rheumatology patients and carers. This includes the advanced nursing assessment and treatment of patients within rheumatology speciality, who may have difficult acute and/or chronic presentations, in order to meet their physical, psychological and social needs throughout their illness within the hospital and community. To take responsibility for education of patients and carers with Rheumatological conditions. To act autonomously in ensuring safe prescribing and monitoring of Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). To act as autonomous first line of contact for rheumatology patients seeking advice or support. To work collaboratively with nurse practitioners, other members of MDT team and consultant rheumatologists to optimise patient care. To give specialist advice and support to other health care professionals including General Practitioners and community nurses regarding Rheumatological issues. Main duties of the job Active participation in the reporting of clinical incidents/concerns and take appropriate action to address any safety and quality issues raised. Adhere to policies, procedures and protocols relevant to area of work. Monitor standards of care and participate in the improvement of care through ad hoc benchmarking/audit/research. Maintain clear, concise, legible and contemporaneous records at all times, in line with Trust Policy and the Standard for Record keeping (NMC Act 1993). Demonstrate understanding of evidence based care, including where to obtain evidence. Provide verbal and written advice to patients/carers about discharge planning, equipment needs, etc. Ensure decisions regarding consent and mental capacity are taken in accordance with Trust protocols. Establish effective communication with patients, carers and relatives attending the department. Provide sensitive, complex information to patients, carers, relatives and professionals across multidisciplinary and multi-agency boundaries, as appropriate to the patient's specific needs. Support patients, carers and relatives in their understanding and acceptance of their diagnosis and treatments, and provide education and support in their needs. About us The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals. From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals. The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales. Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care: CARE that is evidence based, high quality and compassionate SAFETY that is of the highest standards COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients Our achievements include: Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018 Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal) Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme Date posted 14 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 409-7006212 Job locations St Helens Hospital Marshalls Cross Road St Helens WA9 3DA Job description Job responsibilities KEY DUTIES CONTINUED Provide leadership support to Department Manager and Lead Nurse in the continued development of preoperative assessment department. Take lead of development projects as appropriate. Continually promote equality and diversity, undertaking equality impact assessments when appropriate. Ensure effective uses of physical and financial resources within the service. Promote patient and public involvement activities in specialist area to promote service improvement. Develop and maintain specialist clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis and investigation request/interpretation within the Rheumatology service. Attend annual appraisal to identify and agree training and development needs as part of a Personal Development Plan. Participate in clinical supervision sessions and provide leadership to colleagues, arranged by the team Leader/Clinical Supervisor. Deputise, if required for Clinic Manager maintaining smooth running of the clinic CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES Maintain Professional Registration Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body Education of patients and carers To plan, develop, implement and evaluate health education MDT programmes for patients and carers with rheumatological conditions. To empower patients with rheumatological conditions to realise and maintain their potential in relation to health and well being through one-to-one contacts and MDT education programmes by facilitating improved knowledge on disease management, medication and its effects on daily living. To be the first point of referral for patients commencing on disease modifying drug therapy, including education, consent, monitoring requirements. To be responsible for the autonomous prescribing and monitoring of disease modifying drug therapy by acting upon identified haematological and biochemistry abnormalities in accordance with Professional, national and departmental guidelines. To prevent adverse effects on health and well being through education and monitoring of patients on DMARD therapy. To autonomously act as a first point of contact for patients at home who are experiencing difficulties with aspects of their treatment or disease presenting via telephone help line and rapid access clinics. To demonstrate expert skills in rheumatological assessment including performing joint assessment, requesting appropriate investigations and interpreting these including blood test and X-ray reports. To develop a comprehensive nursing management plan to meet the needs of the patient and to liaise with other members of the MDT over patient management. To liaise with more senior rheumatology nurse or medical staff in development of medical management plan. To review care plans to ensure the needs of patient are being met. Assist consultant rheumatologist by reviewing follow-up patients at medical outpatient clinics including taking full history, appropriate rheumatological examination, requesting appropriate investigations, interpreting results of these, instituting appropriate management plan, reviewing progress and re-evaluating plan. Where necessary, done in consultation with rheumatology consultant or specialist registrar. To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients within the rheumatology service, and support all grades of staff and MDT colleagues to do likewise. Assist in the co-ordination and effective delivery of services. To provide a link between hospital and home to ensure a patient centred, integrated service relevant to their need and those of their family. To be clinically responsible for the management of patient caseload within own specialist area. To be available to colleagues, managers and other clinical staff, for the provision of expert advice on nursing matters pertaining to the management of rheumatology patients. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES Ensure patient records are kept up to date and accurate and recording is done in line with Trust policies and procedures. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters To co-ordinate the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use in the review of service delivery TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES To provide expert advice, teaching and training to other members of the MDT regarding the management of patients and service delivery/development. Deliver training to wide range of health professionals including nurses, medical students, community based care workers and other members of MDT. To participate in the in-service training programme, delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions in-house and externally, attending external courses and undertaking reflective practice. Organising local conferences/study days promoting the speciality and nursing services to a wider audience LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Deputise, if required for Clinic Manager maintaining smooth running of the clinic. To represent the Trust externally (locally, regionally and nationally) regarding nursing services provided to patients within speciality To plan, develop, implement and evaluate nurse specialists services within rheumatology To continue involvement in supervision of junior members of nursing staff. To provide expert advice to allied health professionals and students working within other clinical areas RESEARCH & AUDIT To commence and participate in research/special projects as directed by the Ward Manager. Active participation in collection and collation of research and audit data as appropriate, presenting the outcomes to clinical audit. Job description Job responsibilities KEY DUTIES CONTINUED Provide leadership support to Department Manager and Lead Nurse in the continued development of preoperative assessment department. Take lead of development projects as appropriate. Continually promote equality and diversity, undertaking equality impact assessments when appropriate. Ensure effective uses of physical and financial resources within the service. Promote patient and public involvement activities in specialist area to promote service improvement. Develop and maintain specialist clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis and investigation request/interpretation within the Rheumatology service. Attend annual appraisal to identify and agree training and development needs as part of a Personal Development Plan. Participate in clinical supervision sessions and provide leadership to colleagues, arranged by the team Leader/Clinical Supervisor. Deputise, if required for Clinic Manager maintaining smooth running of the clinic CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES Maintain Professional Registration Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body Education of patients and carers To plan, develop, implement and evaluate health education MDT programmes for patients and carers with rheumatological conditions. To empower patients with rheumatological conditions to realise and maintain their potential in relation to health and well being through one-to-one contacts and MDT education programmes by facilitating improved knowledge on disease management, medication and its effects on daily living. To be the first point of referral for patients commencing on disease modifying drug therapy, including education, consent, monitoring requirements. To be responsible for the autonomous prescribing and monitoring of disease modifying drug therapy by acting upon identified haematological and biochemistry abnormalities in accordance with Professional, national and departmental guidelines. To prevent adverse effects on health and well being through education and monitoring of patients on DMARD therapy. To autonomously act as a first point of contact for patients at home who are experiencing difficulties with aspects of their treatment or disease presenting via telephone help line and rapid access clinics. To demonstrate expert skills in rheumatological assessment including performing joint assessment, requesting appropriate investigations and interpreting these including blood test and X-ray reports. To develop a comprehensive nursing management plan to meet the needs of the patient and to liaise with other members of the MDT over patient management. To liaise with more senior rheumatology nurse or medical staff in development of medical management plan. To review care plans to ensure the needs of patient are being met. Assist consultant rheumatologist by reviewing follow-up patients at medical outpatient clinics including taking full history, appropriate rheumatological examination, requesting appropriate investigations, interpreting results of these, instituting appropriate management plan, reviewing progress and re-evaluating plan. Where necessary, done in consultation with rheumatology consultant or specialist registrar. To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients within the rheumatology service, and support all grades of staff and MDT colleagues to do likewise. Assist in the co-ordination and effective delivery of services. To provide a link between hospital and home to ensure a patient centred, integrated service relevant to their need and those of their family. To be clinically responsible for the management of patient caseload within own specialist area. To be available to colleagues, managers and other clinical staff, for the provision of expert advice on nursing matters pertaining to the management of rheumatology patients. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES Ensure patient records are kept up to date and accurate and recording is done in line with Trust policies and procedures. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters To co-ordinate the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use in the review of service delivery TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES To provide expert advice, teaching and training to other members of the MDT regarding the management of patients and service delivery/development. Deliver training to wide range of health professionals including nurses, medical students, community based care workers and other members of MDT. To participate in the in-service training programme, delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions in-house and externally, attending external courses and undertaking reflective practice. Organising local conferences/study days promoting the speciality and nursing services to a wider audience LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Deputise, if required for Clinic Manager maintaining smooth running of the clinic. To represent the Trust externally (locally, regionally and nationally) regarding nursing services provided to patients within speciality To plan, develop, implement and evaluate nurse specialists services within rheumatology To continue involvement in supervision of junior members of nursing staff. To provide expert advice to allied health professionals and students working within other clinical areas RESEARCH & AUDIT To commence and participate in research/special projects as directed by the Ward Manager. Active participation in collection and collation of research and audit data as appropriate, presenting the outcomes to clinical audit. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registered Nurse, with current NMC Registration Teaching and Assessing Qualification, or equivalent experience Specialist post registration qualification training and appropriate implement of new learning Non-Medical Independent Prescribing, or willing to work towards Clinical Examination Course, or willing to work towards Desirable Educated to Masters Degree Level Knowledge & Experience Essential Substantial post registration experience Experience of teaching within the clinical area Knowledge of clinical skills required to undertake the role Knowledge of current professional & clinical issues Knowledge of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults procedures Rheumatology Nursing experience Evidence of advanced standard of performance in specialist clinical area Excellent record of extensive experience in training, teaching and supervising others Knowledge of and participation of research and audit Desirable Management experience Skills Essential Excellent communication skills Excellent time management and prioritising skills Effective record management Able to demonstrate the application of research findings to practice Able to demonstrate the ability to apply evidence based practice to patient care Other Essential Flexible and adaptable approach Car Owner/Supported Driver/Ability to travel across sites as required Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registered Nurse, with current NMC Registration Teaching and Assessing Qualification, or equivalent experience Specialist post registration qualification training and appropriate implement of new learning Non-Medical Independent Prescribing, or willing to work towards Clinical Examination Course, or willing to work towards Desirable Educated to Masters Degree Level Knowledge & Experience Essential Substantial post registration experience Experience of teaching within the clinical area Knowledge of clinical skills required to undertake the role Knowledge of current professional & clinical issues Knowledge of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults procedures Rheumatology Nursing experience Evidence of advanced standard of performance in specialist clinical area Excellent record of extensive experience in training, teaching and supervising others Knowledge of and participation of research and audit Desirable Management experience Skills Essential Excellent communication skills Excellent time management and prioritising skills Effective record management Able to demonstrate the application of research findings to practice Able to demonstrate the ability to apply evidence based practice to patient care Other Essential Flexible and adaptable approach Car Owner/Supported Driver/Ability to travel across sites as required 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. Employer details Employer name Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Address St Helens Hospital Marshalls Cross Road St Helens WA9 3DA Employer's website https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)