Job summary
Year on year DSAA contributes to the life journeys of thousands of Dorset and Somerset people. Many of these patients are so severely injured or ill that they do not recall the events or clinical care provided on scene. Many patients suffer life changing injuries and effects from their experiences. As a result of their injuries or illness our patients have to endure enormous physical and mental challenges and require highly specialised support to bridge the gap between pre-hospital critical illness, rehabilitation and recovery. We attend a large number of patients who die and their families previously did not understand the Critical Care that was provided to their loved one in the pre-hospital domain.
The DSAA Patient and Family Liaison Specialist Nurses (PFLSN) will support patients and their families to understand their complex critical illness or injuries, including their pathway of pre-hospital critical care and anaesthesia. They will facilitate communication links with other similarly injured patients to enable peer support from individuals who have experienced similar life events.
Main duties of the job
A detailed working knowledge and experience in advanced Critical Care practice is required for this role. Specifically, the ability to analyse and interpret complex clinical and non-clinical facts in a range of settings in order to meet the ongoing needs of patients and families is crucial.
The PFLSN will provide complex emotional support and guidance for our patients andfamilies following their pre-hospital critical care experience. As well as explaining the Critical Care provided on scene, they will provide ongoing signposting and referrals within the regional networks, the wider NHS and relevant charitable organisations. The PFLSN will be required to utilise skills in psychological assessment and clinical judgement to assess and refer patients or families to further specialist services eg: Pain clinics or Psychology services.
The role requires knowledge of Critical Care pathways within hospitals and throughout the region. The PFLSN will need to work autonomously and create networks within hospital clinical teams and throughout the regional clinical networks. While working autonomously, the PFLSN will practice within the governance structure of SWAST, the wider NHS and DSAA.
The PFLSN are required to regularly visit patients in hospital in addition to ongoing contact in person with patients and families in a residential setting following their injuries or illness. This will require driving to visit patients throughout the region.
About us
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) provided Prehospital Critical Care for 1258 patients in 2020. The destination hospitals for these patients include those in the south (University Hospital Southampton, Southampton Children's Hospital, Poole General Hospital, Bournemouth Hospital, Dorset County Hospital, Salisbury Hospital) and those in the north (Yeovil Hospital, Musgrove Park Hospital, Royal Bath Hospital, Southmead Hospital, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol Children's Hospital).
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registered paramedic or NMC registered nurse
- Evidence of post graduate study or role specific further trining in critical care
- Full UK driving license
Previous Experience (paid/unpaid relevant to job)
Essential
- Must have extensive post qualification experience within critical care
- Extensive experience of in-hospital pathways of care for emergency and critical care patients (including major trauma and cardiac patients) through emergency department, emergency surgery, intensive care, rehabilitation and reenablement
- Knowledge of exposure to pre-hospital critical care pathways
- Documentaed evidence of engagement with a HEMS provider such as familiarisation days, training days and clinical governance
- Experience of challenging managing conversations requiring highly complex communication skills and dealing with sensitive information including families receiving life changing news
- Experience of managing the care of bereaved relatives and providing bereavement support
- Experience of working in the third sector (voluntary or paid)
- Evidence of experience with leading service improvement and developing clinical practise
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registered paramedic or NMC registered nurse
- Evidence of post graduate study or role specific further trining in critical care
- Full UK driving license
Previous Experience (paid/unpaid relevant to job)
Essential
- Must have extensive post qualification experience within critical care
- Extensive experience of in-hospital pathways of care for emergency and critical care patients (including major trauma and cardiac patients) through emergency department, emergency surgery, intensive care, rehabilitation and reenablement
- Knowledge of exposure to pre-hospital critical care pathways
- Documentaed evidence of engagement with a HEMS provider such as familiarisation days, training days and clinical governance
- Experience of challenging managing conversations requiring highly complex communication skills and dealing with sensitive information including families receiving life changing news
- Experience of managing the care of bereaved relatives and providing bereavement support
- Experience of working in the third sector (voluntary or paid)
- Evidence of experience with leading service improvement and developing clinical practise
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.
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.
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).
