Epilepsy Specialist Nurse Bury, North West England, England
Job description
The aim of the Children’s Epilepsy Nurse Specialist is to work within the community providing information, support and advice about the condition from the time of diagnosis. By enabling a good understanding of the condition and through a holistic, collaborative and coordinated approach to care the specialist nurse can help children and young people and their families to reach their goals of self- management.
The role will also include acting as a clinical expert and researcher and an educational resource for other professionals striving towards improved, evidence-based management of epilepsy in health, social care and educational settings. The specialist nurse will fulfil the role of care coordinator and a single point of contact for the child and family.
Undertake a home visit to all children and young people following an initial diagnosis of epilepsy to provide key education around epilepsy and support to the family, this should include a holistic family health needs assessment, referring to other services if a need is identified.
Educate the child, family, school, respite services etc about the full impact of epilepsy and practical management including emergency medication, seizure first aid and SUDEP.
Work collaboratively with the School nursing service to ensure an appropriate school-based Epilepsy Care Plan and support the delivery of epilepsy care training to staff.
Empower children, families and carers through support and education and enable them to make informed decisions about their health, understand any procedures they may need and confidently manage their own health.
To support the transition for young people with epilepsy and their carers into adult clinical services.
To work as a member of the extended multi-disciplinary team to provide seamless and effective care for the child or young person, including the arrangement of patient management meetings in a variety of settings, preparing and presenting reports as required.
To be knowledgeable and up to date with current literature and research so as to develop services and practices that are child focussed and in line with research.
Keep up-to-date with Safeguarding legislation and training.
We have four core values which are a focus for how our staff and volunteers work with each other to provide care for our patients. We think of our values as a set of guiding principles to refer to when making decisions and interacting with people and they help us to work together to continuously improve the organisation and ourselves.
These core values form part of the Organisations Performance Framework which regularly reviews how staff are performing.
Patient & People Focus
This value enables us to place the patient first with everything we do.
Continuous Improvement
This value ensures that the organisation including individual staff are always moving forwards and improving the ways things are done.
Accountability
This value enables us all to recognise our own part in keeping our organisation ‘safe, clean and personal’ in the way we care for people.
Respect
This value is about respecting patients and colleagues alike, and also the on-going reputation of the organisation.
To be an expert resource for children, young people and parents/carers with a diagnosis of epilepsy.
To be the first point of contact, supporter and advocate for children, young people and their families to enable them to feel confident and competent in understanding and managing their condition in a community setting.
To provide care, support, expert advice and education in primary and community care settings including hospital/community clinics, home and schools for children and young people with a diagnosis of epilepsy.
To take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the epilepsy team caseload in line with the medical advice, effectively time managing and prioritising own workload.
To develop an epilepsy nursing service and implement advanced clinical care pathways for children and young people with epilepsy within primary and secondary care settings, participating in the development of evidence based practice in line with current research and guidelines.
Provide an individualised holistic care plan for each child, young person and family that represents their current needs in relation epilepsy.
To carry out assessments and develop individual care plans and be responsible for monitoring patient condition which will include monitoring seizure control - encouraging the use of seizure diaries, adverse side-effects of antiepileptic drugs, adherence, interactions, anxiety, psychological wellbeing, coping mechanisms and deterioration.
Ensure children, young people and their families obtain appropriate information and optimal treatment taking into account social, cultural, language and spiritual differences.
Develop strategies particularly for young people to promote self care, choice and independence and work towards empowering them to become expert in self-care.
To develop and maintain effective relationships within the multi-disciplinary team and external organisations.
Use specialist knowledge and expertise to provide up to date training, including child care plan specific training, education, awareness raising, expert advice and promoting good practice for other professionals including doctors, nurses, social workers, school staff etc.
Ensure that support for children, young people and families is available from diagnosis, both in hospital and the community.
To give specialist advice, lead and participate in service development including pathways of care and clinical policies reflecting current best practice and evidence-based practice as new evidence emerges in order to optimise service provision within given resources and planned future service changes.
Consult with children, young people and their families and encourage them to be involved in the planning of services and delivery of care.
Ensure good transition for children and young people between the children’s community epilepsy service and adult epilepsy services.
Follow the Trust’s standard, policies and procedures for prescribing. Non-medical prescribers will only prescribe within their role and area of competence and will participate in prescribing supervision, continuing professional development, and audit of prescribing practice.
Report incidents and serious untoward incidents in line with organisation policies.
