Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL PRACTICE

To use knowledge and expertise in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care for patients with lymphoedema

Contribute to the development of nurse/allied health professional led services in order to meet service demand within the specialty of lymphoedema

Collaborates and networks with all members of the multi-professional and multi disciplinary team on the provision of patient care.

Participates in all discussions that are required for high quality, timely and accurate patient assessment and care planning for adults with lymphoedema.

To assess the needs of the patient and work in partnership with individuals to agree the most appropriate plan of care for them

Ensure the symptom control of palliative lymphoedema in patients with advanced disease is managed and fully understood by families and health care professionals involved in care, providing specialist information, education, practical and emotional support as required.

To communicate information about diagnosis of lymphoedema and outcomes of treatment.

With the support of the Team Lead to act as an autonomous practitioner managing own caseload, delivering care in line with National Guidance, receiving and making direct referrals.

To provide skilled assessment of patients referred to the lymphoedema service determining the clinical diagnosis and treatment pathway.

To implement appropriate care to obtain the best results in the improvement of the condition, adjusting the clinical management to suit the patients needs/tolerance and managing complex and emotive clinical scenarios.

To educate patients in the long-term management of their lymphoedema, monitoring as required and empowering the patient to maintain compliance with treatment programmes and care of their swollen limb/area, in order that they can achieve their optimum quality of life.

To provide skilled practice in a range of assessment and treatments to manage lymphoedema, including skin care, exercise, measurement for and prescription of compression hosiery, self lymphatic drainage and manual lymphatic drainage.

Professional Responsibilities

To adhere to the Professional Conduct and be wholly accountable for his/her practice.

To actively seek to raise the profile of Nurse-led /AHP led services within Royal Surrey Foundations Trust community services, by publication, research and teaching.

To behave in a professional manner and act as a role model for other staff at all times

Contribute to effective ethical decision making relevant to lymphoedema practice.

Establish and maintain contact with professional bodies at local, national and international level

MANAGERIAL

To be responsible for the self- development of skills and competencies through participation in learning and development activities, and to maintain up to date technical and professional knowledge relevant to the post.

To support the team leader of the Lymphoedema Service to enhance the department performance and build organisational capability.

Work as an autonomous practitioner and support the implementing and disseminating of change through policy development based on the lymphoedema evidence.

To support the division wide Skin Integrity Forum (SIG).

Organise own workload and manage own clinical caseload.

Actively promote Clinical Governance.

Assist in providing monthly report on pressure ulcer incidence in the community division.

To support and deputise for the division-wide monthly Learning from Datix meeting where route cause analysis findings are presented by relevant community teams.

Provide monthly reports of case-mix workload clinical/non clinical activity.

Deputise when necessary for the Lymphoedema lead and attend Divisional Clinical Governance meetings and feedback to team

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse or AHP
• Post registration experience.
• Evidence of nursing/ AHP related qualification to degree level.
• Specialist knowledge of Lymphoedema / Chronic oedema or wound care Management attained through training and experience.

Desirable

• Teaching/assessing qualification to Postgraduate Diploma Level (Level 6) or equivalent
• Nurse/ NMP Prescribing

WORK RELATED KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Minimum 3 years clinical experience
• Clinical experience of patients with long term conditions
• Knowledge of chronic oedema treatment and compression therapies
• Experience of working autonomously and within a team
• Knowledge of Governance and Quality Improvement in health care
• Knowledgeable of Electronic Records systems
• Demonstrates enthusiasm towards teaching and sharing knowledge Sound knowledge and understanding of current nursing and education issues

Desirable

• Community experience desirable
• Experience of clinical audit
• Involved in service development and quality issues
• Line Management
• Cancer/palliative care knowledge and experience
• Knowledge of chronic oedema treatment and compression therapies

CAPABILITIES: ways of working

Essential

• Safe practitioner with attention to detail
• Ability to manage own work and that of others; has an organised approach to work and ability to prioritise
• Able to work with minimal supervision in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care for patients
• Cognisant with IT networks: competent with electronic systems
• Ability to resolve complex problems
• Excellent team worker, with well-developed interpersonal
• Strong communication skills and fluent in English written and verbal
• Behaves professionally articulating good customer service skills

Desirable

• Experience at networking across partnerships in primary and secondary care
• Evidence of bringing clinical leadership
• Experience of supervising and mentoring other health professionals

PERSONAL APTITUDES: attitude to working

Essential

• Demonstrate evidence of own Continuing Professional Development.
• Exemplary personal standards of conduct and behaviour.
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Confident, self-motivated
• Flexible and resourceful.

Desirable

• Ability to motivate others and lead developments in the clinical area.
• Strength of character and confidence to manage opposition and overcome obstacles in a positive and non-threatening manner

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).