Clinical Nurse Specialist - Epilepsy

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To work collaboratively and liaise effectively with cross-specialty multi-professional healthcare teams to achieve a co-ordinated specialist service for patients with epilepsy.

• Assess adult patients with new seizures through to those with ongoing seizures

• Work in collaboration with the patient and multidisciplinary team to develop plans of care around all aspects of epilepsy management.

To develop and implement nurse led support, advice, review and drug monitoring services to enhance the clinical review of patients and meet the clinical governance agenda.

Be responsible for developing and working within evidence based specialist pathways of care, guidelines, protocols and patient group directions to support patient and their families, reviewing and updating plans and documentation.

To be involved in the development of the Epilepsy services in line with service demands and directorate policy

To co-ordinate the provision of specialist services to patients, both within hospital and/or in the community setting, effectively liaising with multidisciplinary colleagues

To be conversant with, and work within the recommendations made by the Royal College of Nursing and NICE.

Contribute to the development of Adult Epilepsy services through establishing links with colleagues nationally and internationally.

Ensure continued effective registration with the NMC and be aware of NMC Code of Professional Conduct. They must be accountable for their own practice. Be aware of the NMC Scope of Professional Practice and ensure competency to undertake duties as allocated. Ensure that a professional and updated Portfolio is maintained as per NMC guidance.

To act as the reference point for patient, their families and other carers (e.g. homecare) and assist in all aspects of their care pathway

Provide expert nursing advice to internal and external health/social care agencies on patients with Epilepsy

To develop and provide appropriate, comprehensive, concise and accessible patient / carer information for procedures and therapies.

Ensure that effective communication has been established with all disciplines, for patient and their families.

To uphold safeguarding principles when working with young people or vulnerable adult and their families.

Able to communicate very sensitive and distressing information to patients and families.

Provide specialist clinical advice, training and education to healthcare professionals within and outside the Trust.

Manage own workload / caseload within a defined specialist group.

Safely set up and maintain administration of all medications in accordance within the NMC Guidelines, Directorate and Trust policies. Where appropriate, to organise and undertake diagnostic tests led by the Neurology consultant

To participate in the promotion of the specialist service through dissemination of specialist knowledge, both locally and nationally.

Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in their speciality.

Able to interpret information and take appropriate action and lead others to do so.

To develop assessment tools to support high quality nursing interventions, and ensure the problems and needs of patient and/ or their carers are appropriately channelled.

Develop good networks with patients, their families and support groups. Seek the views of the service users and encourage participation in certain aspects of service development.

To establish collaborative working relationships with other Neurology- Epilepsy Nurse Specialists where relevant (outreach, day-care), and community nurses.

Ensure that effective communication has been established with all disciplines, patients and their relatives.

Communicates very sensitive and distressing information to patients and families. Ability to assess and advise patients and relatives in crisis situations and ensure that their needs are met by the whole team.

Enables and supports colleagues in developing effective communication skills particularly in difficult situations.

To use specialist knowledge to explain and re-assure patients about diagnosis, treatment options and outcomes.

To be an active member of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure smooth transition of care .

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• oRange of training and experience equivalent to a degree level. (Nursing /Neurology/Epilepsy)

Previous experience

Essential

• oExtensive experience of working autonomously in specialty at an advanced level
• oEvidence of multi - agency / disciplinary working

Desirable

• oRelevant experience in the management of patients with chronic illness

Skills / Knowledge / Ability

Essential

• oAdvanced clinical, managerial and leadership skills.
• oKnowledge of quality standards & NICE recommendations/NSF
• oAble to use skills of history taking and physical assessment to direct patient care
• oDemonstrate an understanding of the National agenda for Neurology and Epilepsy

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

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guys & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Great Maze Pond

London

SE1 9DF

Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)