Tissue Viability Support Nurse

Livewell Southwest

The closing date is 14 April 2025

Job summary

37.5 hours per week.

Interviews held on 22.04.24

An opportunity has a risen, for you to increase and develop your knowledge in the arena of wound management, working with our dedicated, highly skilled Tissue Viability Team (TV)

Previous experience & competence within wound management will be an advantage, additionally training will be provided, mentoring & nurturing to support you to develop your knowledge & practice

The Tissue Viability Team aims to provide a service for adults aged 18-65 who are experiencing chronic, complex wounds that are proving difficult to heal

This service is primarily provided to patients who are registered with Plymouth, SH&WD GPs. This post provides many opportunities to work collaboratively with people in their homes, care/nursing homes & in a clinic or ward environment To provide people with safe, evidence based practice to achieve the best possible outcomes

The advisory TV Service work in partnership with the wider health care professionals, statutory & non-statutory agencies

There is the opportunity to become involved & develop your personal skills linked with our training programmes relating to the risk of infection and preventative strategies in wound care, raising awareness of Sepsis

If your professional curiosity involves involves improving your performance & development in TV, have a genuine interest to adhere to National Practice guidance, ambitious & motivated to further develop you skills please do get in touch

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for assessing, triaging, planning, implementing, evaluating care which may be complex, sensitive and unpredictable with the support of senior nurse / nurse specialist / caseload holder

To support the Co-ordination and delivery of care, application of clinical judgement in day-to-day changes in patients' needs and circumstances external to the individual.

To undertake and to develop all nursing skills and competencies, updating as required for their role to enhance the skill mix of the nursing team.

To maintain accurate records, which are confidential, contemporaneous, legible, and all care given to be documented. These records may be paper or IT based system and must be maintained as specified in the LWSW Policies, the relevant professional body guidelines and Government directives.

To provide clinical supervision.

Promoting and supporting people in their care and treatment to help them manage their own health and wellbeing.

Depending on role you will be required to work within a defined geographical area undertaking specific clinical nursing duties to patients in a variety of settings such as their own homes, care homes, other community locations or clinic settings.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Date posted

27 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year pa, pro-rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

B9832-2025-NM-9739

Job locations

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY


Job description

Job responsibilities

SCOPE AND RANGE

To work within the scope of the NMC professional code of practice. Moving across the organisation should the need arise, for example, in a pandemic situation.

To work within Livewell Southwest policies

Promoting and supporting people in their care and treatment to help them manage their own health and wellbeing, maximising independence and facilitating health promotion.

To undertake and to develop all nursing skills and competencies, updating as required for the role to enhance the skill mix of the nursing team, ensuring that the ever-changing health needs of the patients are met

Share knowledge and skills and empower others.

Some services you may require additional training to deliver intravenous medication or additional specialist nursing skills for your role.

The role may require co-ordination of caseloads.

To work collaboratively and maintain key working relationships with managers and service / practice leads.

Provide holistic evidence based / best practice care to patients in accordance with national and organisational approved policies / procedures and individual care plans.

To act as a clinical advisor on health promotions within their areas of expertise and act as a Link Nurse.

To undertake all required training to develop competencies required for the role.

If relevant to role, to be or work towards a nurse prescriber, (NMC V150)

You may be required to undertake 7 days working, including bank holidays, this is subject to the terms and conditions set out in your contract of employment.

Responsibility for People Management

To be responsible in the absence of the Clinical Nurse Specialist / Caseload Holder to manage own workload and delegate nursing care to appropriately skilled staff and ensure that these are supported.

To assume responsibility as delegated by a senior member of staff.

To act as a role model for all staff and students demonstrating specialist clinical skills and high standards of practice and professional conduct.

To share knowledge and information to promote a cohesive team.

To take responsibility for your own personal and professional development, maintain competence, knowledge and skills commensurate with the role.

To assess, teach, support, and supervise colleagues including Pre-registration students and medical students.

To participate in team activities to develop and consolidate a cohesive and supportive team ensuring openness within the team.

To facilitate and participate in the development of team members, monitoring of sickness, line management, appraisals, mandatory training, competencies, clinical supervision and staff performance as directed by the Service Lead.

To participate in the recruitment and selection of new staff.

To participate in coordinator/duty rota as required.

Responsibility for administration

To maintain accurate records, which are confidential, contemporaneous, legible, and all care given to be documented. These records may be paper or IT based system and must be maintained as specified in the LWSW Policies, the relevant professional body guidelines and Government directives.

To oversee the standard of patients records by audit or peer review and have a regular open discussion with team members.

To complete on time and submit all necessary forms, documentation, including IT data and forward as required by the manager/organisation.

To support in the triage process accepting appropriate referrals directly from other disciplines, patients, carers and members of the public and/or refer to other agencies where appropriate.

To be responsible for organising own time management on a daily basis in line with caseload demands balancing patient needs with the administrative aspect of the role.

To be involved in all aspects of clinical governance including audits and research.

To preserve confidentiality and be aware of GDPR, Access to Health Records and consent to treatment.

Responsibility for people who use our services

Be responsible for contributing to the holistic assessment, planning delivery and evaluation of care to patients within their own homes. Implement, monitor and maintain high standards of care delivery at all times.

To act as a patient advocate as required ensuring individual needs, preferences and choices are delivered by the service.

Support CHC assessment and case management as part of the MDT for people at home where the community nurse is identified as the most appropriate community team member.

To be involved in all steps of a patient's journey from referral to discharge.

To undertake health promotion as requested to all age groups and contribute to planned health promotion activities e.g. NSFs, smoking cessation and long-term conditions. To act as a resource in providing advice and support for patients, relatives, carers, and other agencies.

To have a flexible approach to the working day in order to meet the needs of the patient/service.

To support the monitoring of patient satisfaction and promote appropriate service developments.

To signpost to appropriate services, statutory and voluntary bodies.

To have good communication skills which enable you to effectively communicate with patients, their relatives and carers about sensitive and accurate information about their condition.

To support the prevention of hospital admissions.

To undertake comprehensive risk assessments of all situations associated with the care of patients in order to ensure nurses and the carers safety. This might include the assessment and provision of equipment ensuring it is used safely.

To provide holistic evidence based / best practice care to patients in accordance with National and LWSW approved policies/procedures and individual care plans.

Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

To be aware of and abide by Livewell Southwest approved policies, patient group directives, standards and quality assurance initiatives.

To support development and review of policies, protocols, clinical guidelines, documentation systems and education materials to direct own and others practice in line with best practice, professional forums, ensuring the clinical practice reflects national and local drivers.

To Preserve confidentiality and be aware of the GDPR, Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment.

To report and record all incidents and near misses relating to health, safety, security, fire, physical violence, aggression, and verbal abuse.

To monitor and maintain the health, safety and security of self, others in the team and patients.

To integrate theory into practice by bringing new knowledge a from training into the practice environment.

Evaluate the impact of these training programmes, for patients and carers, to ensure that they provide the necessary knowledge and skills to gain independence, safely manage changing circumstances and plan for unavoidable progression of conditions.

To act as a change agent, Organisation wide, initiating, facilitating, and supporting change initiatives, across professional boundaries.

Monitor the emergence of new evidence and implement and evaluate research-based recommendations that are expected to improve care.

Identify and undertake areas for research and evaluations within own specialty, facilitating the involvement of appropriate staff.

Other Responsibilities

To work within the scope of the NMC professional code of practice.

Ability to use a computer, being responsible for timely recording of patient activities for IT, data collection, dealing with e-mail queries, stock and equipment ordering.

To have an up-to-date personal development plan and professional portfolio.

To participate in an annual appraisal of their work in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) where the job description will be reviewed and objectives set. In line with the annual development plan the postholder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfill their role.

To monitor own performance against agreed objectives through personal development plans, NMC regulations and maintain professional expertise by arranging and attending meetings, study days and in service training to support their own role and that of others.

To complete specific clinical competencies relevant to role and ensure these are updated.

Problem-solve and liaise as soon as possible with the Clinical Nurse / Caseload Holder issues that may arise.

Continually re-prioritising workload due to the unpredictability and demands for urgent visits.

Job description

Job responsibilities

SCOPE AND RANGE

To work within the scope of the NMC professional code of practice. Moving across the organisation should the need arise, for example, in a pandemic situation.

To work within Livewell Southwest policies

Promoting and supporting people in their care and treatment to help them manage their own health and wellbeing, maximising independence and facilitating health promotion.

To undertake and to develop all nursing skills and competencies, updating as required for the role to enhance the skill mix of the nursing team, ensuring that the ever-changing health needs of the patients are met

Share knowledge and skills and empower others.

Some services you may require additional training to deliver intravenous medication or additional specialist nursing skills for your role.

The role may require co-ordination of caseloads.

To work collaboratively and maintain key working relationships with managers and service / practice leads.

Provide holistic evidence based / best practice care to patients in accordance with national and organisational approved policies / procedures and individual care plans.

To act as a clinical advisor on health promotions within their areas of expertise and act as a Link Nurse.

To undertake all required training to develop competencies required for the role.

If relevant to role, to be or work towards a nurse prescriber, (NMC V150)

You may be required to undertake 7 days working, including bank holidays, this is subject to the terms and conditions set out in your contract of employment.

Responsibility for People Management

To be responsible in the absence of the Clinical Nurse Specialist / Caseload Holder to manage own workload and delegate nursing care to appropriately skilled staff and ensure that these are supported.

To assume responsibility as delegated by a senior member of staff.

To act as a role model for all staff and students demonstrating specialist clinical skills and high standards of practice and professional conduct.

To share knowledge and information to promote a cohesive team.

To take responsibility for your own personal and professional development, maintain competence, knowledge and skills commensurate with the role.

To assess, teach, support, and supervise colleagues including Pre-registration students and medical students.

To participate in team activities to develop and consolidate a cohesive and supportive team ensuring openness within the team.

To facilitate and participate in the development of team members, monitoring of sickness, line management, appraisals, mandatory training, competencies, clinical supervision and staff performance as directed by the Service Lead.

To participate in the recruitment and selection of new staff.

To participate in coordinator/duty rota as required.

Responsibility for administration

To maintain accurate records, which are confidential, contemporaneous, legible, and all care given to be documented. These records may be paper or IT based system and must be maintained as specified in the LWSW Policies, the relevant professional body guidelines and Government directives.

To oversee the standard of patients records by audit or peer review and have a regular open discussion with team members.

To complete on time and submit all necessary forms, documentation, including IT data and forward as required by the manager/organisation.

To support in the triage process accepting appropriate referrals directly from other disciplines, patients, carers and members of the public and/or refer to other agencies where appropriate.

To be responsible for organising own time management on a daily basis in line with caseload demands balancing patient needs with the administrative aspect of the role.

To be involved in all aspects of clinical governance including audits and research.

To preserve confidentiality and be aware of GDPR, Access to Health Records and consent to treatment.

Responsibility for people who use our services

Be responsible for contributing to the holistic assessment, planning delivery and evaluation of care to patients within their own homes. Implement, monitor and maintain high standards of care delivery at all times.

To act as a patient advocate as required ensuring individual needs, preferences and choices are delivered by the service.

Support CHC assessment and case management as part of the MDT for people at home where the community nurse is identified as the most appropriate community team member.

To be involved in all steps of a patient's journey from referral to discharge.

To undertake health promotion as requested to all age groups and contribute to planned health promotion activities e.g. NSFs, smoking cessation and long-term conditions. To act as a resource in providing advice and support for patients, relatives, carers, and other agencies.

To have a flexible approach to the working day in order to meet the needs of the patient/service.

To support the monitoring of patient satisfaction and promote appropriate service developments.

To signpost to appropriate services, statutory and voluntary bodies.

To have good communication skills which enable you to effectively communicate with patients, their relatives and carers about sensitive and accurate information about their condition.

To support the prevention of hospital admissions.

To undertake comprehensive risk assessments of all situations associated with the care of patients in order to ensure nurses and the carers safety. This might include the assessment and provision of equipment ensuring it is used safely.

To provide holistic evidence based / best practice care to patients in accordance with National and LWSW approved policies/procedures and individual care plans.

Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

To be aware of and abide by Livewell Southwest approved policies, patient group directives, standards and quality assurance initiatives.

To support development and review of policies, protocols, clinical guidelines, documentation systems and education materials to direct own and others practice in line with best practice, professional forums, ensuring the clinical practice reflects national and local drivers.

To Preserve confidentiality and be aware of the GDPR, Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment.

To report and record all incidents and near misses relating to health, safety, security, fire, physical violence, aggression, and verbal abuse.

To monitor and maintain the health, safety and security of self, others in the team and patients.

To integrate theory into practice by bringing new knowledge a from training into the practice environment.

Evaluate the impact of these training programmes, for patients and carers, to ensure that they provide the necessary knowledge and skills to gain independence, safely manage changing circumstances and plan for unavoidable progression of conditions.

To act as a change agent, Organisation wide, initiating, facilitating, and supporting change initiatives, across professional boundaries.

Monitor the emergence of new evidence and implement and evaluate research-based recommendations that are expected to improve care.

Identify and undertake areas for research and evaluations within own specialty, facilitating the involvement of appropriate staff.

Other Responsibilities

To work within the scope of the NMC professional code of practice.

Ability to use a computer, being responsible for timely recording of patient activities for IT, data collection, dealing with e-mail queries, stock and equipment ordering.

To have an up-to-date personal development plan and professional portfolio.

To participate in an annual appraisal of their work in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) where the job description will be reviewed and objectives set. In line with the annual development plan the postholder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfill their role.

To monitor own performance against agreed objectives through personal development plans, NMC regulations and maintain professional expertise by arranging and attending meetings, study days and in service training to support their own role and that of others.

To complete specific clinical competencies relevant to role and ensure these are updated.

Problem-solve and liaise as soon as possible with the Clinical Nurse / Caseload Holder issues that may arise.

Continually re-prioritising workload due to the unpredictability and demands for urgent visits.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 1st Level Nurse
  • Registration (degree or diploma)
  • NMC Registration
  • Willingness to undertake further education around management of longterm conditions.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Previous community nursing experience.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to access / travel to patient homes across the locality.
  • The role may require a variety of shift patterns and ability to work flexibly.
  • Creates and fosters a culture of openness, honesty, integrity and inclusiveness.
  • Demonstrate commitment to and focus on quality, promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes.
  • Dexterity to enable clinical skills to be performed, i.e., removal of sutures, venepuncture & IV therapy

Knowledge

Essential

  • Team worker and ability to work alone
  • Ability to listen to and communicate with patients and carers in a compassionate and
  • caring manner
  • Presentation skills or teaching to individuals e.g., patients and to small groups for example students
  • Up to date knowledge of current practice within the area specified in job purpose.
  • Understanding of Clinical Supervision and continued professional development.

Desirable

  • Relevant post
  • registration courses/knowledge base relevant to post.
  • Evidence of up to date mandatory training and completion of competency frameworks.
  • Understanding of
  • Community Nursing service and local issue

Specific skills

Essential

  • Ability to use initiative
  • and work autonomously.
  • Ability to decision make and problem solve.
  • Good time management and delegation skills.
  • Ability to assess patients and make appropriate referrals and recommendations using evidence-based practice.
  • Strong analytical and judgement skills, with
  • the ability to interpret complex situations and make appropriate decisions.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build
  • and maintain relationships with other health and social care professionals, patients, carers and the public.
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • and work under pressure.
  • Ability to adapt to the demands of a constantly changing environment
  • Ability to undertake nursing skills and to prioritise visits in accordance with patient need.
  • Ability to organise own workload without direct supervision.
  • Ability to input data manually and electronically according to organisational policies.
  • Work within agreed Policies and procedures.
  • Effective communication and interactive skills including oral, written and IT
  • Ability to act as a champion for patients/carers and their interests, ensuring the patients voice has an
  • impact on service developments.

Desirable

  • Advanced knowledge and competence with specialised skills required in everyday community nursing, such as;
  • Tissue Viability
  • Bladder & Bowel
  • End Of Life
  • IV drug administration
  • Diagnostic skills
  • (list not exhaustive)
  • Experience of managing a caseload.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of a variety of healthcare settings
  • Knowledge of recent developments within health and social care.
  • Keeps up to date with evidence - based practice and research related to nursing and
  • health care in the community
  • Ability to operate community equipment
  • Ability to identify and pass on urgent client information to the senior staff

Desirable

  • Experience of working in field as described in job purpose.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 1st Level Nurse
  • Registration (degree or diploma)
  • NMC Registration
  • Willingness to undertake further education around management of longterm conditions.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Previous community nursing experience.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to access / travel to patient homes across the locality.
  • The role may require a variety of shift patterns and ability to work flexibly.
  • Creates and fosters a culture of openness, honesty, integrity and inclusiveness.
  • Demonstrate commitment to and focus on quality, promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes.
  • Dexterity to enable clinical skills to be performed, i.e., removal of sutures, venepuncture & IV therapy

Knowledge

Essential

  • Team worker and ability to work alone
  • Ability to listen to and communicate with patients and carers in a compassionate and
  • caring manner
  • Presentation skills or teaching to individuals e.g., patients and to small groups for example students
  • Up to date knowledge of current practice within the area specified in job purpose.
  • Understanding of Clinical Supervision and continued professional development.

Desirable

  • Relevant post
  • registration courses/knowledge base relevant to post.
  • Evidence of up to date mandatory training and completion of competency frameworks.
  • Understanding of
  • Community Nursing service and local issue

Specific skills

Essential

  • Ability to use initiative
  • and work autonomously.
  • Ability to decision make and problem solve.
  • Good time management and delegation skills.
  • Ability to assess patients and make appropriate referrals and recommendations using evidence-based practice.
  • Strong analytical and judgement skills, with
  • the ability to interpret complex situations and make appropriate decisions.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build
  • and maintain relationships with other health and social care professionals, patients, carers and the public.
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • and work under pressure.
  • Ability to adapt to the demands of a constantly changing environment
  • Ability to undertake nursing skills and to prioritise visits in accordance with patient need.
  • Ability to organise own workload without direct supervision.
  • Ability to input data manually and electronically according to organisational policies.
  • Work within agreed Policies and procedures.
  • Effective communication and interactive skills including oral, written and IT
  • Ability to act as a champion for patients/carers and their interests, ensuring the patients voice has an
  • impact on service developments.

Desirable

  • Advanced knowledge and competence with specialised skills required in everyday community nursing, such as;
  • Tissue Viability
  • Bladder & Bowel
  • End Of Life
  • IV drug administration
  • Diagnostic skills
  • (list not exhaustive)
  • Experience of managing a caseload.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of a variety of healthcare settings
  • Knowledge of recent developments within health and social care.
  • Keeps up to date with evidence - based practice and research related to nursing and
  • health care in the community
  • Ability to operate community equipment
  • Ability to identify and pass on urgent client information to the senior staff

Desirable

  • Experience of working in field as described in job purpose.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Livewell Southwest

Address

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY


Employer's website

https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Livewell Southwest

Address

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY


Employer's website

https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

DN Operational Manager

Nicola Stidever

nstidever@nhs.net

07717530239

Date posted

27 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year pa, pro-rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

B9832-2025-NM-9739

Job locations

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Livewell Southwest's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)