Senior Practice Nurse Bedford, England
Job description
Job title: Senior Practice Nurse
Line manager: Kirstin Frost, Joint Practice Manager
Accountable to: Partners and Joint Practice Managers
Hours per week: 37.5
Job summary
The Senior Practice Nurse will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the practice nursing team.
The Senior Practice Nurse will be responsible for several clinical areas such as infection prevention and control, health promotion, chronic disease management, health prevention, well women and well-man clinics, as well as supporting the practice management team in the reviewing and delivery of clinical policy and procedure.
The Senior Practice Nurse will be responsible for the implementation of processes for the effective management of patients with long-term conditions using evidence-based practice including care for elderly and housebound patients.
The Senior Practice Nurse will have a key role in the delivery of QOF, IIF and other targets. The Senior Practice Nurse will be responsible for delivering targeted achievements including audit and monitoring.
Working as a senior member of the practice multidisciplinary team, the post holder will ensure nursing services are delivered effectively to the entitled patient population.
London Road Surgery must ensure that the post holder has access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual in the organisation to provide general advice and support on a day-to-day basis.
Further information on clinical supervision can be sought within the Clinical Supervision Policy.
Mission statement
“We are a dedicated team, committed to continuously improving the service and delivering high-quality comprehensive patient care, patient safety, holistic management and support for our diverse population.”
Primary key responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the Senior Practice Nurse. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:
a. To support the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and to work to the IPC Policy providing audits, training, support and evidence of compliance to the Joint Practice Manager for Quality, Safety & Performance.
b. To produce the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the Joint Practice Manager for Quality, Safety & Performance.
c. To act as the Immunisations Lead. To implement and deliver a vaccination programme to children and adults.
d. To lead the delivery of QOF and other targets for the nursing team. Conducting audits and monitoring and working closely with the practice QOF Lead.
e. To develop, implement and embed an effective care management programme for the frail and housebound patients registered at the practice
f. To assess the needs of patients, ensuring the provision of healthcare is appropriate, incorporating evidence-based practice
g. To develop, implement and embed health promotion and well-being programmes
h. To implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease patients that promote health and wellbeing
i. To identify, manage and support patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on patients’ health
j. As required, to provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical-based evidence, NICE and the NSF
k. As required, to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions
l. To prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice
m. To review patient medications to enhance compliance
n. To provide guidance to patients on the use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications regarding side effects and dosages
o. To coordinate the provision of travel medicine services
p. To request pathology services and process pathology results as required
q. To oversee the provision of chronic disease clinics, delivering patient care as necessary, referring patients to secondary/specialist care as required
r. To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation
s. To ensure read codes are used effectively by all members of the nursing team
t. To ensure the appropriate maintenance and use of chronic disease registers
u. To develop, implement, embed and participate in well-woman clinics
v. To develop, implement, embed and participate in well man clinics
w. To ensure compliance with the practice chaperone policy
x. To assist GPs with minor surgery when required
y. To prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately
z. To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies
aa. To recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs
bb. To support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over-the-counter medicines (within own scope of practice)
cc. To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)
dd. To delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and the task is within the scope of practice of the individual)
ee. To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies
ff. To understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately
gg. To deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate
Secondary responsibilities
In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Senior Practice Nurse may be requested to:
a. Develop and review audit protocols and process for the practice, effectively utilising the audit cycle
b. Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the Joint Practice Manager for Quality, Safety & Performance.
c. Support all members of the nursing team, providing guidance when necessary, conducting appraisals and training needs analyses as required
d. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
e. Support and participate in shared learning within the practice in order to improve patient care
f. Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate
g. Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA)
h. Coordinate the nursing team rota, ensuring sufficient staff are available to meet patient needs
i. Lead the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team, enhancing the provision of services to patients
j. Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation
Person specification – Senior Practice Nurse
Qualifications: Essential
Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)
Qualifications: Desirable
Mentor or teaching qualification
Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)
Nurse prescriber
Completed or working towards formal infection prevention and control training
Family planning qualification
Experience: Essential
Experience of working in a primary care environment
Experience of leading a nursing team in a primary care environment
Experience of chronic disease management
Experience of working autonomously
Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
Experience of infection prevention and control measures
Experience of process development
Experience: Desirable
Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking
Clinical knowledge and skills: Essential
Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
ECGs
Venepuncture
New patient medicals
Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
Ability to record accurate clinical notes
Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
Chaperone procedure
Women’s health (cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
Chronic disease management
Spirometry
Clinical knowledge and skills: Desirable
Travel medicine
Broad knowledge of clinical governance
Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
Awareness of issues within the wider health arena
Knowledge of health promotion strategies
Skills: Essential
Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
Effective time management (planning and organising)
Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
Good interpersonal skills
Problem solving and analytical skills
Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes
Strong IT skills and competent in Systmone including clinical reporting
Clear, polite telephone manner
Skills: Desirable
Experience with clinical risk management
Personal qualities: Essential
Polite and confident
Flexible and co-operative
High levels of integrity and loyalty
Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
Commitment to ongoing professional development
Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
Motivated, forward thinker
Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations
Effectively utilise resources
Other requirements: Essential
Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
Occupational Health clearance
Meet the requirements and produce evidence for nurse revalidation
Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) commensurate with the role of a Senior Practice Nurse
Generic responsibilities
All staff at London Road Surgery have a duty to conform to the following:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: A good attitude and positive action towards Equality Diversity & Inclusion(ED&I) creates an environment where all individuals can achieve their full potential. Creating such an environment is important for three reasons – it improves operational effectiveness, it is morally the right thing to do and it is required by law.
Patients and their families have the right to be treated fairly and be routinely involved in decisions about their treatment and care. They can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Patients have a responsibility to treat other patients and our staff with dignity and respect.
Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued, and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that they treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.
Safety, Health, Environment and Fire (SHEF): This organisation is committed to supporting and promoting opportunities for staff to maintain their health, wellbeing and safety.
The post holder is to manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients and monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
All personnel have a duty to take reasonable care of health and safety at work for themselves, their team and others and to cooperate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements.
All personnel are to comply with the:
· Health and Safety at Work Act 1974,
· Environmental Protection Act 1990,
· Environment Act 1995,
· Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1999
· Coronavirus Act 2020
· Other statutory legislation which may be brought to the post holder’s attention.
Confidentiality: The organisation is committed to maintaining an outstanding confidential service. Patients entrust and permit us to collect and retain sensitive information relating to their health and other matters pertaining to their care. They do so in confidence and have a right to expect all staff will respect their privacy and maintain confidentiality.
It is essential that, if the legal requirements are to be met and the trust of our patients is to be retained, all staff must protect patient information and provide a confidential service.
Quality and Continuous Improvement (CI):To preserve and improve the quality of this organisation’s outputs, all personnel are required to think not only of what they do but how they achieve it. By continually re-examining our processes, we will be able to develop and improve the overall effectiveness of the way we work.
The responsibility for this rests with everyone working within the organisation to look for opportunities to improve quality and share good practice and to discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care.
London Road Surgery continually strives to improve work processes which deliver healthcare with improved results across all areas of our service provision. We promote a culture of continuous improvement where everyone counts, and staff are permitted to make suggestions and contributions to improve our service delivery and enhance patient care.
Staff should interpret national strategies and policies into local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice.
All staff are to contribute to investigations and root cause analyses whilst participating in serious incident investigations and multidisciplinary case reviews.
Induction:At London Road Surgery, you will be required to complete the induction programme and the practice management team will support you throughout the process.
Learning and development: The effective use of training and development is fundamental in ensuring that all staff are equipped with the appropriate skills, knowledge, attitude and competences to perform their role. All staff will be required to partake in and complete mandatory training as directed by Kirstin Frost, Joint Practice Manager. It is an expectation for this post holder to assess their own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate.
The post holder will undertake mentorship for team members and disseminate learning and information gained to other team members to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (e.g., courses and conferences).
The post holder will provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning.
Collaborative working:All staff are to recognise the significance of collaborative working and understand their own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time. Staff are to prioritise their own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team.
Teamwork is essential in multidisciplinary environments and the post holder is to work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working and work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery
Effective communication is essential, and all staff must ensure they communicate in a manner which enables the sharing of information in an appropriate manner.
All staff should delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence.
Plans and outcomes by which to measure success should be agreed.
Managing information: All staff should use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in the planning, implementation and monitoring of care and presenting and communicating information.
Data should be reviewed and processed using accurate SNOMED/read codes to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.
Service delivery: Staff will be given detailed information during the induction process regarding policy and procedure.
The post holder must adhere to the information contained within the organisations policies and regional directives, ensuring protocols are always adhered to.
Security: The security of the organisation is the responsibility of all personnel. The post holder must ensure they always remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately to their line manager.
Under no circumstances are staff to share the codes for the door locks with anyone and are to ensure that restricted areas remain effectively secured. Likewise, password controls are to be maintained and are not to be shared.
Professional conduct: All staff are required to dress appropriately for their role.
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £44,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Schedule:
- 10 hour shift
- 8 hour shift
- Flexitime
- Monday to Friday
- No weekends
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Bedford: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Nursing: 2 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- NMC (required)
- Driving Licence (preferred)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 09/07/2023
Reference ID: SPNKF020623
