Practice Nurse

Job summary
This vacancy has arisen from a Practice Nurse studying towards a Nurse Practitioner qualification, supported by the practice.

This vacancy is in addition to the current complement of seven Partners, three Salaried GPs, supported by an experienced nursing team of three Nurse Practitioners, one Advanced Paramedic, five Practice Nurses and two Health Care Assistants. We believe in teamwork and we are looking to build a team who believes in future progression.

We are looking for a highly skilled Practice Nurse will help carry out Treatment Room duties, chronic disease care, immunisations, health promotion and family planning. They will work as part of the primary healthcare team providing Personal Medical Services to the Practices patients, using Systmone.

We welcome applications from nurses with a broad practical experience in the management of long-term conditions including COPD, asthma, diabetes etc. in a primary care setting.

If you are an enthusiastic, motivated nurse with a commitment to ongoing service provision to the patients registered with our practice we would very much like to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• Home visits to patients homes to conduct CDM and care management.
• Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by the GPs.
• Wound care/ulcer care/Doppler.
• Removal of sutures.
• Providing health promotion programmes by providing a holistic assessment and lifestyle advice on diet, smoking, alcohol intake and exercise.
• Assessing problems presented opportunistically by patients, dealing with minor illness.
• COPD/Asthma/Peak Flow Readings/Spirometry.
• Diabetes/CHD Management.
• Hypertension Management.
• Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs.
• Able to recognize and manage anaphylaxis according to current UK guidelines.
• Able to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation according to current UK guidelines.
• Ensure infection control guidelines are maintained.
• Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate.
• Ensures awareness of statutory and local clinical protection procedures, including systems of referral. Ability to recognise signs and symptoms of child abuse.
• Cytology.
• Offer advice about childhood and adult vaccinations and ensure vaccines are administered under patient group directions.
• Offer a holistic approach to travel health by providing comprehensive advice to patients prior to travel including; vaccinations and medicines, safe sex, food hygiene, sun protection.

About us
At Hartlepool and Stockton Health GP Federation our guiding aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of local people. Relationships are key to everything we do and by working with our practice members and their Primary Care Networks, as well as other local partners, we strive to provide excellent services that help people to live their best lives.

As part of this support, we are hosting this job advert on behalf one of Woodbridge Practice.

At Woodbridge Practice our approach to delivering healthcare services is innovative, refreshing and above all caring. We are committed to putting patient care first and we are looking for dedicated professionals who share our values and our passion for delivering quality care.

We provide front-line NHS services across Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick to circa 19,000 patients. We aim to make a lasting positive difference to the quality-of-care people receive and to support people to be healthier, happier and in control at every stage of their journey.

Job responsibilities
The role will involve frequent travel around the Practices two base sites of Ingleby Barwick and Thornaby.

Summary - The Practice Nurse will work as part of the primary healthcare team providing Personal Medical Services to the patients of Practice.

Confidentiality - Of the utmost importance and must be observed at all times both inside and outside the working environment.

CLINICAL TASKS AND FUNCTIONS
Clinical responsibilities

• Home visits to patients homes to conduct CDM and care management.
• Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by the GPs.
• Wound care/ulcer care/Doppler.
• Removal of sutures.
• Providing health promotion programmes by providing a holistic assessment and lifestyle advice on diet, smoking, alcohol intake and exercise.
• Assessing problems presented opportunistically by patients, dealing with minor illness.
• COPD/Asthma/Peak Flow Readings/Spirometry.
• Diabetes/CHD Management.
• Hypertension Management.
• Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs.
• Able to recognize and manage anaphylaxis according to current UK guidelines.
• Able to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation according to current UK guidelines.
• Ensure infection control guidelines are maintained.
• Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate.
• Ensures awareness of statutory and local clinical protection procedures, including systems of referral. Ability to recognise signs and symptoms of child abuse.
• Cytology.
• Offer advice about childhood and adult vaccinations and ensure vaccines are administered under patient group directions.
• Offer a holistic approach to travel health by providing comprehensive advice to patients prior to travel including; vaccinations and medicines, safe sex, food hygiene, sun protection.

Other tasks will include

• Chaperoning and assisting patients who are being examined by another clinician.
• Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms.
• Participation in administrative systems in the Practice.
• Able to document consultations according to NMC guidelines.
• Attend and participate in any Practice meetings when required.
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post.

Other responsibilities with the Practice

• Awareness of and compliance with all relevant practice policies/guidelines, e.g. prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, supporting annual Quality and Outcomes Framework - QOF Assessment of the Practice.
• A commitment to life-long learning and audit to ensure evidence-based best practice.
• Contributing to evaluation/audit and clinical standard setting within the organisation.
• Contributing to the development of computer-based patient records.
• Attending training, internal meetings and events organised by the practice or other agencies, where appropriate.
• Meet all tight timescales/deadlines to ensure that the Practice meets quality standards and receives the designated funding - Quarterly Enhanced Services returns, annual QOF audit etc.

Confidentiality
In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Health & Safety
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include -

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines.
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.
• Reporting potential risks identified.

Equality and Diversity
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include -

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.

Personal/Professional Development
In addition to maintaining continued education through attendance at any courses and/or study days necessary to ensure that professional development requirements are met, the post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include -

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, annual GP Appraisal including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will -

• Alert other team members to issues of Clinical Governance issues, quality and risk; participate in Significant Event Analysis reviews.
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources and also contribute to the overall team-working of the Practice putting the needs of the Practice first.

Communication
The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to -

• Communicate effectively with other team members.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
• Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Contribution to the planning and implementation of services
The post-holder will -

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance.
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
• Participate in audit where appropriate.
• Work with the Partners and Management Team to achieve standards of quality, performance standards, budgets and targets without compromising levels of patient healthcare.
• Contribute towards the development and implementation of new standards, policies and procedures that are/will be required of GP Practices now and in the future.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered General Nurse - currently registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council.
• Registered first level nurse.
• Clinical skills including cervical cytology, immunisation and vaccination, wound management, smoking cessation.
• Minimum one years post-registration experience.
• Current registration with the NMC and appropriate representation with a recognised medical defence organisation.

Experience
Essential

• Knowledge of needs of patients with long-term conditions with associated recognised qualifications.
• Experience of home visits to patients homes to conduct CDM and care management.
• Aware of accountability of own role and other roles in a nurse led service.
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies.
• Awareness of clinical governance issues in primary care.
• Knowledge of patient group directions and associated policy.
• Change-management skills and ability to support patients to change lifestyle.
• Communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families.
• Negotiation and conflict management skills.
• IT skills.
• The post holder will need to travel and attend to service users based across Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick. Full and valid driving licence and access to a car for work purposes is required, reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act considered.
• Strong levels of IT proficiency and familiarity with primary care clinical systems - the Practice uses SystemOne. Experience in using the Microsoft suite of programmes.

Desirable

• Ability to identify determinants on health in the local area.
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area.
• Awareness of local and national health policy.
• Awareness of issues within the wider health economy.
• Community/primary care experience.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.