The post holder, with the support and supervision of the Hepatology Consultant Nurse, will develop and monitor a high-quality hospital alcohol liaison service within Hepatology and the wider University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UPHT).
The post holder will act as an expert resource, leading in the provision of high-quality teaching and training to the wider hospital. Delivering staff education programmes and ongoing advice and clinical supervision to other healthcare professionals.
The post holder will provide excellent communication links between UPHT and the Primary care / Community Services operating within the footprint of UPHT. This will involve provision of links with local addiction treatment, detoxification, abstinence support services, mental health, and other relevant primary care services.
The post holder, with the support of the clinical lead for Alcohol and Hepatology Consultant Nurse, will facilitate and deliver Trust-approved alcohol withdrawal protocols with the appropriate educational support for health professionals, within the inpatient setting.
The post holder will work within the multidisciplinary team and assist in the assessment and clinical management of patients with complex alcohol-related problems, providing appropriate disease-related advice and promoting health education in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team. This will include those related to the admission and discharge of patients.
Main duties of the job
This post will be based within the Southwest Liver Unit at Derriford Hospital and ensure service provision across UPHT clinical services.
The post holder will facilitate and evaluate service delivery and development to ensure that patients with alcohol use disorder receive evidence-based, equitable, and high-quality care. The aim of the post is to reduce re-attendance and bed occupancy for this patient group but with a focus on risk assessment and reducing health-related harms.
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence, and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. Please note that all communication will be electronic; please check your email account regularly. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support, including reasonable adjustments with the application process, please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work-life balance is important for our colleagues, and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full-time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical leadership and management
Act as lead for the development of services for patients presenting with alcohol-related health harms within the trust.
Demonstrate compliance with Trust initiatives - improving care for patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD).
Act as a role model in nursing patients with alcohol-related issues, providing competence, specialist knowledge, developed analytical and decision-making skills towards providing efficient, effective quality care to patients with AUD.
Act as the primary source of expertise to consult all hospital staff in the care and service provision for patients with AUD.
Demonstrate sound understanding of the legal and ethical issues involved in caring for patients with AUD and/or challenging behaviours, including the Mental Health Act (1983, updated 2007), Mental Capacity Act (2005, updated 2019) and its use in an acute hospital setting.
Lead on the implementation of robust systems in the management of patients in alcohol withdrawal, including risk assessment, restraint policy, and deprivation of liberty policy.
To undertake non-medical prescribing and ensure continued professional development and competencies to maintain Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2022) and NMC competency frameworks and standards.
Act as the primary source of expertise for specialist prescribing for alcohol withdrawal management.
Continually reassess the changing needs of patient treatment needs whilst in hospital, adjusting planned care and prescription changes as appropriate.
Provide specialist assessment, consultation, and management for the care of patients with highly complex needs, including the development of individualized risk assessments and care packages.
Provide brief intervention, motivational interview, and relapse prevention to patients with alcohol misuse.
Lead on the implementation of care planning for the patients that frequently attend the trust with alcohol-related psycho-social and health needs.
Represent University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust at multi-professional groups such as Plymouth Creative Solution forum and safeguarding/best interest meetings.
To provide clinical supervision to nursing staff caring for patients that have AUD and are at risk of experiencing withdrawal to ensure high standards of care are maintained.
Maintain strong links with community services for a robust continuity of care for patients with alcohol and complex issues.
Close liaison and strong links with social workers, alcohol workers, risk managers, mental health teams, discharge teams, and families when providing a plan of care for patients that are ready for discharge from hospital.
Provision of information sharing where appropriate in accordance with information governance structures.
To carry out regular audits as required and maintain data collection regarding patient interactions and service provision, in order to provide appropriate clinical activity data as required.
Professional and service development
Deliver care that is evidence-based, reflecting current best practice and research.
To provide identification and brief advice training to hospital staff on a rolling programme and signposting staff to appropriate training packages.
Provide a positive learning environment to meet the needs of pre and post-registration students and multi-agency staff.
To support alcohol champions on all trust wards in relation to alcohol withdrawal, brief advice, and brief interventions.
Continual promotion of the alcohol liaison service within the trust and the wider community setting.
Provide specialist education programmes and advice to community agencies.
Provide a consultation liaison service to clinicians and clinical teams within the general hospital. This will include giving specialist advice on a range of care, treatment, and patient management issues.
Provide ongoing rolling programmes for induction doctors and physicians within the trust.
Maintain ongoing involvement of local alcohol policy and strategies.
Maintain own professional development and clinical skills.
Keep abreast of latest developments/guidance in alcohol, substance misuse, mental health, and dual diagnosis.
Participate in audit, service evaluation, and research projects relating to alcohol-related health problems.
To audit practice in relation to referral patterns, reduction of re-attendance rates, reduced length of stay, reduction in alcohol-related health problems, service provision, assessing outcomes, and identifying improvement to quality.
Demonstrate high-quality record keeping and documentation with adherence to trust policy.
To participate in Quality Assurance and the Clinical Governance strategy across the trust.
Keep up to date with current issues concerning patients/service users with alcohol issues by attending meetings, forums, and working groups as appropriate.
Facilitate and maintain strong links with other hospitals in the south west within the South West Peer Group meetings.
Make appropriate referrals to statutory and non-statutory agencies for longer-term interventions such as counselling, psychological interventions, and family therapies.
Record workload and monitor outcomes using the appropriate Information technology systems: IPMS, Halo, Nerve Centre, SALUS, System one.
To support Hepatology Advanced Care planning and other systems of plans of care.
To provide line management to the Alcohol Liaison Nurses and ensure compliance with training and appraisals.
Possess effective time management and personal organisation skills.
With support from the Consultant Nurse for Hepatology, ensure the ALN team can demonstrate appropriate clinical competencies.
To undertake clinical supervision/peer observation from the Consultant Nurse for Hepatology.
Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Take every opportunity to expand one's practice in line with the principles contained within the NMC's Code of Conduct. Identify personal career development pathway as part of the formal appraisal system.
Ensure that all elements contained within the NMC's Code of Conduct are adhered to and, in particular, those relating to professional accountability and revalidation.
Through supervision and mentorship, identify personal learning needs participating in personal continuing education and other activities to promote one's own personal growth.
Develop and further clinical knowledge and professional skills through relevant training and study.
Adhere to occupational health guidelines at all times.
Work on own initiative, independently and as a team. Read and interpret policy documentation, sometimes of a clinical nature requiring periods of intense concentration.
COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Ensures that privacy, dignity, and confidentiality are maintained in all aspects and levels of communication especially pertaining to patients, carers, and staff.
Demonstrates a sensitive and empathetic communication style to build trusting relationships, ensuring patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
Facilitates communication between patients, their relatives, and the multi-professional team both within the organisation and with external stakeholders that results in clear responsibilities being identified and ensures that care is delivered both effectively and efficiently.
Actively involves patients, their relatives, and carers in their treatment and encourages others to enable individuals to assist in their own recovery.
Communicates highly complex information and subsequently supports patients, relatives, carers, and colleagues as appropriate. Imparts highly sensitive and distressing news to patients/relatives in a considerate and professional manner.
Communicates proactively with all staff on the clinical condition and treatment/discharge plans of patients and ensures accurate records are maintained by self and all other staff. Supports others in coordinating the discharge process and ensures written and verbal advice is available to patients, their relatives, and carers.
For further details please see attached JD& PS.
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
* Demonstrable experience in managing patients with AUD and liver disease.
* Demonstrable knowledge of the needs of patients and key issues relating to AUD.
Desirable
* Involvement with governance processes.
Qualifications
Essential
* NMC registration.
* Non-medical Prescribing qualification / working towards.
Desirable
* Prepared to undertake formal qualifications at advanced level e.g., Degree level, MSc.
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential
* Effective inter-personal skills & demonstrable experience in supervising & mentoring.
* Ability to undertake a comprehensive alcohol assessment.
Desirable
* Budget awareness and priority setting.
Employer details
Employer name
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Address
Derriford Hospital Plymouth
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
216-AM-M6864632 #J-18808-Ljbffr