Clinical Nurse Specialist – Alcohol Liaison Team Lead

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical leadership and management

Act as lead for the development of services for patients presenting with alcohol related health harms within the trust

Demonstrate compliance with Trust initiatives - improving care for patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD)

Act as role model in nursing patients with alcohol related issues. Providing competence, specialist knowledge, developed analytical and decision making skills towards providing efficient, effective quality care to patients with AUD

Act as the primary source of expertise to consultant all hospital staff in the care and service provision for patients with AUD

Demonstrate sound understanding of the legal and ethical issues involved in caring for patients with AUD and/or challenging behaviours, including the Mental Health Act (1983, updated 2007), Mental Capacity Act (2005, updated 2019) and its use in an acute hospital setting

Lead on the implementation of robust systems in the management of patients in alcohol withdrawal, including risk assessment, restraint policy and deprivation of liberty policy

To undertake non-medical prescribing and ensure continued professional development and competencies to maintain Royal pharmaceutical Society (2022) and NMC competency frameworks and standards

Act as the primary source of expertise for specialist prescribing for alcohol withdrawal management

Continually re assess the changing needs of patient treatment needs whilst in hospital, adjusting planned care and prescription changes as appropriate

Provide specialist assessment, consultation and management for the care of patients with highly complex needs, including the development of individualised risk assessments and care packages

Provide brief intervention, motivational interview and relapse prevention to patients with alcohol misuse

Lead on the implementation of care planning for the patients that frequently attend the trust with alcohol related psycho-social and health needs

Represent University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust at multi-professional groups such as Plymouth Creative Solution forum and safeguarding / best interest meetings

To provide clinical supervision to nursing staff caring for patients that have AUD and are at risk of experiencing withdrawal to ensure high standards of care are maintained

Maintain strong links with community services for a robust continuity of care for patients with alcohol and complex issues

Close liaison and strong links with social workers, alcohol workers, risk managers, mental health teams, discharge teams and families when providing a plan of care for patients that are ready for discharge from hospital

Provision of information sharing where appropriate in accordance with information governance structures

To carry out regular audits as required and maintain data collection regarding patient interactions and service provision, in order to provide appropriate clinical activity data as required

Professional and service development

Deliver care that is evidence based, reflecting current best practice and research

To provide identification and brief advice training to hospital staff on a rolling programme and signposting staff to appropriate training packages

Provide a positive learning environment to meet the needs of pre and post registration students and multi-agency staff

To support alcohol champions on all trust wards in relation to alcohol withdrawal, brief advice and brief interventions

Continual promotion of the alcohol liaison service within the trust and the wider community setting

Provide specialist education programmes and advice to community agencies

Provide a consultation liaison service to clinicians and clinical teams within the general hospital. This will include giving specialist advice on a range of care, treatment and patient management issues

Provide ongoing rolling programmes for induction doctors and physicians within the trust

Maintain ongoing involvement of local alcohol policy and strategies

Maintain own professional development and clinical skills

Keep abreast of latest developments/guidance in alcohol, substance misuse, mental health and dual diagnosis

Participate in audit, service evaluation and research projects relating to alcohol related health problems

To audit practice in relation to referral patterns, reduction of re attendance rates, reduced length of stay, reduction in alcohol related health problems, service provision, assessing outcomes and identifying improvement to quality

Demonstrate high quality record keeping and documentation with adherence to trust policy

To participate in Quality Assurance and the Clinical Governance strategy across the trust

Keep up to date with current issues concerning patients / service users with alcohol issues by attending meetings, forums and working groups as appropriate

Facilitate and maintain strong links with other hospitals in the south west within the South West Peer Group meetings

Make appropriate referrals to statutory and non-statutory agencies for longer term interventions such as counselling, psychological interventions and family therapies

Record workload and monitor outcomes using the appropriate Information technology systems: IPMS, Halo, Nerve Centre, SALUS, System one

To support Hepatology Advanced Care planning and other systems of plans of care

To provide line management to the Alcohol Liaison Nurses and ensure compliance with training and appraisals

Possess effective time management and personal organisation skills

With support from the Consultant Nurse for Hepatology ensure the ALN team can demonstrate appropriate clinical competencies

To undertake clinical supervision / peer observation from the Consultant Nurse for Hepatology

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Take every opportunity to expand ones practice in line with the principles contained within the NMCs Code of Conduct. Identify personal career development pathway as part of formal appraisal system

Ensure that all elements contained within the NMCs Code of Conduct are adhered to and, in particular, those relating to professional accountability and revalidation

Through supervision and mentorship, identify personal learning needs; participating in personal continuing education and other activities to promote ones own personal growth

Develop and further clinical knowledge and professional skills through relevant training and study

Adhere to occupational health guidelines at all times

Work on own initiative, independently and as a team. Read and interpret policy documentation, sometimes of a clinical nature requiring periods of intense concentration.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Ensures that privacy, dignity and confidentiality is maintained in all aspects and levels of communication especially pertaining to patients, carers and staff

Demonstrates a sensitive and empathetic communication style to build trusting relationships, ensuring patients are fully informed and consent to treatment. Facilitates

communication between patients, their relatives and the multi-professional team both within the organisation and with external stakeholders that results in clear responsibilities being identified and ensures that care is delivered both effectively and efficiently

Actively involves patients, their relatives and carers in their treatment and encourages others to enable individuals to assist in their own recovery

Communicates highly complex information and subsequently supports patients, relatives, carers and colleagues as appropriate. Imparts highly sensitive and distressing news to patients/relatives in considerate and professional manner

Communicates proactively with all staff on the clinical condition and treatment/discharge plans of patients and ensures accurate records are maintained by self and all other staff. Supports others in co-ordinating the discharge process and ensures written and verbal advice is available to patients, their relatives and carers

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in managing patients with AUD and liver disease
• Demonstrable knowledge of the needs of patients and key issues relating to AUD

Desirable

• Involvement with governance processes

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC registration
• Non-medical Prescribing qualification / working towards

Desirable

• Prepared to undertake formal qualifications at advanced level eg. Degree level, MSc

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

• Effective inter-personal skills & demonstrable experience in supervising & mentoring.
• Ability to undertake a comprehensive alcohol assessment

Desirable

• Budget awareness and priority setting

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

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital Plymouth

Derriford Hospital Plymouth

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)