Job summary
- Main area
- Neurology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 216-EG-M6728823-A
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Derriford Hospital
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £46,148 - £52,809 Per Annum (Pro Rata if part-time)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 06/01/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 27/01/2025
Employer heading
Clinical Nurse Specialist for Parkinson’s Device Assisted Therapies
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
The job purpose is 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.
Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS at Risk staff throughout Devon who is able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.
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.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main 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 practitioner.
● Work within the Nursing + Midwifery Council (NMC) Code, Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses and Midwives
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.
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- ● Extensive demonstrable experience within Parkinson’s care
- ● Extensive demonstrable post registration experience
- ● 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 practical knowledge of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
- ● Proven knowledge and ability to develop of 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
Desirable criteria
- ● 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
Essential criteria
- First level degree in Adult nursing Teaching qualification or evidence and experience of teaching
- ● Professional (NMC) registration
Desirable criteria
- ● Leadership Course or equivalent
- MSc in clinical nursing, or willing to work towards, or equivalent experience.
- ● Non-medical prescriber qualification or willing to work towards.
Aptitude and abilities
Essential criteria
- ● Advanced interpersonal skills - Facilitation
- ● Negotiation ● Collaboration
- ● Understanding the difference between direct and indirect care
- ● Management of clinical case load
- ● Time management ● Able to prioritise workload ● Ability to deliver on deadlines ● Leadership skills ● Able to work within a rapidly changing environment
- ● Face to face contact, Telephone contact, E-mail. ● Internal and external meetings ● Proficient use of IT systems: word, excel, PowerPoint and access. ● Ability to participate in strategic development meetings ● Able to identify training needs in other health care professionals and formulate detailed teaching plans
Disposition/ attitude / motivation
Essential criteria
- ● Flexible attitude ● Self aware ● Innovative ● Diplomatic ● Assertive ● Ability to work within a team and autonomously ● Independent ● Empathetic
Other factors
Essential criteria
- ● Ability to travel between sites. ● Proficient IT skills ● 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. ● Ability to maintain abnormal postures to perform neurological examination, including crouching, bending and reaching. ● Frequent/unpredicted requirement of prolonged concentration ● Ability to challenge concepts and ● traditional thinking and facilitate this in others ● Ability to work independently with effective time management ● The post holder must be able to identify potential risks of being exposed to physical/verbal aggression ● The post holder must be able to adapt to working in different environments, which may include the patient’s own home. ● Able to take responsibility for imparting bad news to patients or relatives in a sensitive manner including life threatening conditions ● Ability to address complex multi-dimensional issues relating to speciality ● Able to recognise and address areas that cause emotional distress to post holder, and be able to seek support from appropriate individuals and resources available.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Stephen Mullin
- Job title
- Consultant Neurologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 431929
- Additional information
Natasha Webber
Deputy Service Line Manager
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