Stroke Specialist Nurse

Job summary
Please note, Job Description and Person Specification are pending AfC approval.

We are looking for a highly skilled, motivated nurse to join our Stroke Nurse Specialist Team who are an integral part of the multidisciplinary Stroke Service.

The Stroke Nurse Specialist Team provide 24 hour/365 day a year cover deploying highly specialised evidence-based clinical practice. The Stroke Nurse Specialist Team also initiate diagnostic investigations to either confirm or exclude a stroke and are individually responsible for the patient in the initial phase of the stroke pathway which include radiological imaging and assessment resulting in either thrombolysis, referral to tertiary centres or onward to the Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) based at Whiston Hospital.

The Stroke Nurse Specialists work autonomously and are self-directed in the clinical care they provide. They are also responsible for the review of stroke patients in an outpatient setting at intervals of six and twelve months which involves a review of their holistic needs which may result in a change to their current care, medication or referral to the wider multidisciplinary community team.

This post may be offered under Annex 21 AfC Terms & Conditions, subject to experience, competency and suitability.

Main duties of the job

• Manage and prioritise work load to meet service needs.
• Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationships between clinicians, practitioners and managers within the speciality.
• Effectively and sensitively communicate highly complex and sensitive information to emotionally distressed patients and family/carers at key points in the patient pathway on a frequent basis.
• Use advanced communication skills to provide verbal and written information to patients and their families/carers, in timely manner specific to their individual needs.
• As a core member of the multidisciplinary team you will be expected to provide professional advice to and liaise with medical, therapy, social and nursing staff within the trust and primary care.
• Represent the Trust and provide professional advice and support in order to facilitate patient and public involvement in service delivery and design.
• Facilitate a high quality, cost effective specialist service through monitoring and audit and other quality initiatives.
• Lead on and participate in key developments relating to the speciality so that high quality patient focused services are promoted.
• Attend and participate in multi-professional team meetings.

About us
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.

From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.

The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:

• CARE that is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
• SAFETY that is of the highest standards
• COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
• SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
• PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients

Our achievements include:

• Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.

Details
Date posted
20 August 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£49,387 to £56,515 a year
per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
409-8219590
Job locations
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot
L35 5DR
United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To maintain and enhance professional registration and uphold the NMC code of conduct
• To provide evidence based stroke specialist nursing service, which is responsive to users needs. Care will reflect current local protocols and national guidelines and delivered through face to face consultation on a day to day basis
• Demonstrate advanced practice skills in the holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of stroke patients. This includes history taking, physical examination with specialist knowledge and skill-set in neurological examination and the requesting of diagnostic procedures and investigations.
• Necessitates high levels of autonomy and advocacy using analytical and judgment skills in undertaking differential diagnosis.
• Administration of relevant medication under PGD
• Following specialist assessment facilitate and organise the direct admission of patients to the hyper acute unit ensuring seamless transfer of care
• Assess and effectively manage individual devastating psychological and physical effects of stroke
• Facilitate and co-ordinate the process of informed choice for patients in the provision of treatment and care. This would include acting as a patient advocate to guide to treatment
• Advise on the complex disease and symptom management for patients within the stroke speciality, in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Evaluate response to interventions and advise on the adaptation of management
• Act as a resource for the Medical & Nursing team and other health care professionals working within the Trust and Primary care, providing professional advice and support concerning stroke and TIA.
• In partnership with Consultant Staff, Consultant Nurse, Allied Health Professionals, and Head of Quality, develop robust governance systems by contributing to the development and implementation of evidence-based protocols, documentation processes, standards, policies and clinical guidelines through interpreting and synthesising information from a variety of sources and promoting practice.
• Demonstrate advanced complex communication skills in supporting, informing and advising patients and families through diagnosis and disease progression. This will involve frequently imparting significant news.
• Refer to other health professionals and outside agencies to ensure optimum care and on-going support for individuals patients/carers, and to ensure seamless transfer of care.
• Maintain links with local and national organisations, which support the care of patients within the stroke speciality, represent the Trust at meetings with CCGs and community partners.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records/data on all matters pertaining to the planning, management delivery and evaluation of the service.
• Maintain and input data that support reporting of the Trust CQUIN and performance measures.
• Ensure records are safeguarded and managed as per HSE policy and local guidelines.
• Ensure efficient action in response to complaints as per trust guidelines

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

• Undertake clinical competencies relevant to stroke service to demonstrate expertise in extended nursing roles this includes undertaking and completing the STEP training course.
• Identify and use advanced educational strategies to deliver complex information to patients and carers.
• Contribute to Trust wide education and training of staff within this highly specialist area.
• Deliver formal and informal training and teaching as part of the stroke specific speciality.
• Act as a mentor or clinical supervisor were appropriate.
• Identify own personal development needs to work as an advanced practitioner and be willing to work towards degree or masters to enhance role or any other appropriate training or education.
• Contribute to promoting educational links with local providers of higher education.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as a role model demonstrating high standards of care and provide clinical leadership across the Trust for this specialist area .Ensure when patients are transferred to nursing teams that if appropriate overall supervisory responsibility of patient care
• Contribute to clinical governance
• Participate in operational and strategic planning for the development and delivery of the specialist stroke services locally and across the Mid-Mersey foot print
• Attend Trust senior nursing meetings, deputise for the Stroke lead nurse and / or Directorate Manager
• Represent the Trust by contributing to and participating in meetings locally regionally and nationally relating to the stroke speciality.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• The post holder is expected to collect data that provides evidence within the specialist area of practice. To contribute towards research in area of expertise and critically appraise and evaluate and apply theoretical frameworks.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• NMC Registration on Part 1 or 12 of the Register
• Degree or Masters level qualification (or working towards) or relevant experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Teaching & assessing or Mentorship qualification or experience
• Current ALS/ILS qualification or willing to work towards

Desirable

• Independent Nurse Prescriber
• Post-registration qualification in relevant specialist area

Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Substantial clinical experience post registration
• Substantial management experience in speciality of related area at band 6 (or equivalent) or above
• Proven track record in service development and implementation of change
• Experience of teaching and assessing students and qualified staff in the clinical area
• Experience in developing clinical pathways or protocols
• Demonstrates an understanding of the National agenda for the speciality, knowledge of quality standards, NICE Guidance, CQC, RCP Guidelines and best practice
• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues, and policy relating to specialist area

Skills
Essential

• Able to influence and overcome resistance through application of advanced communication skills. To be able to present information in a professional manner using IT skills and advanced communication
• Intermediate IT skills in word processing and spread-sheets
• Demonstrable change management ability
• Ability to analyse data and provide written reports
• Proven organisational and communication (written and verbal) skills
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients/carers/relatives in a variety of settings
• Able to influence and overcome resistance through application of advanced communication skills

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).

Employer details
Employer name
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot
L35 5DR
United Kingdom
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Stroke Nurse Specialist Service Manager
Karen Attwood
View email address on meeveem.com
View phone number on meeveem.com

Supporting documents
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Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)

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