Job summary
Surrey Downs Health & Care
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, ambitious and highly motivated individual to join the team of Surrey Downs Health & Care as a Lead Specialist Practitioner with the Neuro Team. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated, innovative individual, who is passionate about Neuro care and is able to demonstrate strong clinical leadership and skills to deliver excellent team work and clinical outcomes for patients.
As an integral part of the management team you will be expected to demonstrate exceptionally diverse communication skills. Have the professional competence to make informed clinical decisions regarding management and pathways to ensure effective patient journeys and improvement clinical outcomes and quality of life.
Applicants for this innovative and dynamic role should have values in line with our Trust values and will need to have demonstrable experience of monitoring and managing performance & quality targets. They will have driven to transformation and have a collaborative approach. Also, they will need to be able to work in a calm, logical and methodical way but be able to multi-task whilst dealing with frequently changing priorities.
Main duties of the job
- The Complex and Rare Neurological Conditions Specialist Practitioner will be responsible for the development and delivery of specialist Neurological care in the community for patients with Motor neurone Disease (MND) and other rare Neurological conditions.
- Providing expert clinical care to patients, their families, colleagues and external agencies within the Surrey Downs area.
- The role also provides Clinical leadership for the Specialist Neurological Nursing / practitioner team for MS and PD, as well as advanced clinical case management for patients with MND or other rare conditions living in the community who are at risk of deteriorating health that may result in declining quality of life or avoidable hospital admission or an unnecessary longer length of stay.
About us
Surrey Downs Health and Care (SDHC) deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.
Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centric care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:
- The three GP federations representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area
- CSH Surrey
- Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Surrey Council County
We collectively aspire to be an exemplar of how to deliver the highest quality and best value care in a complex health and care environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Lead will be expected to work at an advanced level:
- Actively facilitating and participating in improving and enhancing the level of care given to individuals with MND and other rare conditions, to support hospital care in the Surrey Downs area and preventing hospital admissions where possible.
- Delivering a high standard of care using autonomous clinical skills, and a broad and in depth theoretical evidence based knowledge.
- Will take responsibility for their own caseload of patients with MND and other Neurological conditions within Surrey Downs area.
- Line manages the other members of the team.
- Work with Head of Service Manager to plan and deliver Neurorehabilitation service priorities.
The role is primarily 80% clinical practice and 20% management. However the balance between practice and management will vary according to day-to-day priorities, this will be negotiated overall in conjunction with the Operational Leads.
- Provide clinical leadership to the Specialist Neurology Service with support from the Head of service.
- Act as the key point of contact and support for patients with Motor neurone Disease / other conditions or their carers.
- Supporting and working with carers and wider family members, liaising with other specialist practitioners for specific disease management advice and support.
- Manage a clinical caseload effectively and efficiently covering the Surrey Downs area with MND from diagnosis to end of life, therefore needing complex chronic (with rapid decline) neurological disease management, ensuring excellent clinical priorities and the use of time
- Promote service collaboration and maintain a high level of communication with all members of the multi-disciplinary team across acute, community, voluntary, and the independent sector settings.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and modify accordingly. To oversee smooth transitions between these providers.
- To maintain patient records in line with professional, legal and trust requirements. Effectively managing patient information and analysing of data from a clinical perspective.
- To communicate treatment plans clearly and professionally to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
- To prioritise referrals received by the service and pro-actively manage patient activity.
- Lead on the development of specialist policies and protocols.
- Educate patients about self-management of their condition.
- To provide initial emotional and psychological support to patients and their family/carers adjusting to illness, disability, end of life issues and bereavement and ongoing referrals as appropriate.
- To work alongside colleagues in associated clinical teams and to provide specialist input for patients in the advanced stages of progressive neurological disease linking in with the MND Partnership group and any other relevant groups
- Engage patients in research opportunities where they are willing and appropriate.
- To act as a first point of contact for patients, carers, GP practices and staff for information and signposting to other relevant services for people with rare neurological conditions.
- Receive and manage referrals from variety of sources including Consultant Neurologists and GPs.
- Undertake nurse led clinics, telephone clinics and home visits in the community for individuals with MND and other rare Neurological conditions.
- Be able to assess critically and re-evaluate the clinical situation as the disease progresses.
- Work autonomously with responsibility for an active patient caseload ensuring a high standard of nursing care for all interventions.
- Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate confidential patient records.
- Advise on the use of specialist medications including specific monitoring requirements and investigations.
- Proactive involvement in the development and delivery of training programmes in the care and management of patients with MND/other in a community setting for key stakeholders.
- Work in line with best practice guidelines ensuring evidence based best practice, and keep up to date with current research, nursing and medical developments in this speciality.
- Provide input when required to MDT meetings, case conferences, and discharge planning meetings, promoting delivery of seamless care for patients between relevant agencies, professionals and care settings.
- Undertake all relevant training updates in line with trust policy.
- In conjunction with the Clinical Manager be involved in setting service quality standards and service level agreements.
- Analyse the MND/other service provision by way of audit.
- Work in partnership with other clinicians and managers to support the development of services through service improvement projects and implement quality initiatives that will continuously improve patient care
- Maintain professional networking with local MNDNSs, members of the local MNDA branch, and staff from the local acute hospital to share and develop good practice and promote evidence based practice.
- Work within the budget allocated and ensure efficient use of resources..
- Undertake any such other duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with responsibilities of the post.
- Maintain own professional and clinical integrity in line with NMC/HCPC guidelines.
- Staff are employed to work within SDHC localities and may be reasonably requested to move base temporarily or on a permanent basis, as requested by service needs.
Leadership or managerial
- Undertake comprehensive, highly specialist holistic clinical assessments of patients and carers where needs may be variable and could be highly complex. This will involve planning, implementing and evaluating the care delivery according to changing health needs.
- To communicate highly complex sensitive information to patients, relatives and carers.
- Act as representative or advocate for patients attending specialist clinics where required.
- To undertake basic respiratory assessment
- To ensure early referral for respiratory assessment and ongoing support as necessary
- To monitor any changes to medication regimes, communicating responses to patients GP and the consultant responsible for the care of the client
- To attend MND clinics, liaising with the specialist consultant and evaluating interventions implemented within the clinic setting
- To facilitate good communication links between the client and carers and those involved in the management of the condition
- To participate in training and education of the individual, their carer and health and social care professionals involved in the management of the condition
- To provide support to clients with psychological and psychiatric problems associated with the condition.
- Treat all patients as individuals, respecting their privacy and dignity at all times. Be responsible for individual timely data entry is maintained
Information and reporting
- Ensure safe practice through development of a caseload management plan.
- Undertake risk assessment and reporting of critical incidents as outlined in the Trust policy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Lead will be expected to work at an advanced level:
- Actively facilitating and participating in improving and enhancing the level of care given to individuals with MND and other rare conditions, to support hospital care in the Surrey Downs area and preventing hospital admissions where possible.
- Delivering a high standard of care using autonomous clinical skills, and a broad and in depth theoretical evidence based knowledge.
- Will take responsibility for their own caseload of patients with MND and other Neurological conditions within Surrey Downs area.
- Line manages the other members of the team.
- Work with Head of Service Manager to plan and deliver Neurorehabilitation service priorities.
The role is primarily 80% clinical practice and 20% management. However the balance between practice and management will vary according to day-to-day priorities, this will be negotiated overall in conjunction with the Operational Leads.
- Provide clinical leadership to the Specialist Neurology Service with support from the Head of service.
- Act as the key point of contact and support for patients with Motor neurone Disease / other conditions or their carers.
- Supporting and working with carers and wider family members, liaising with other specialist practitioners for specific disease management advice and support.
- Manage a clinical caseload effectively and efficiently covering the Surrey Downs area with MND from diagnosis to end of life, therefore needing complex chronic (with rapid decline) neurological disease management, ensuring excellent clinical priorities and the use of time
- Promote service collaboration and maintain a high level of communication with all members of the multi-disciplinary team across acute, community, voluntary, and the independent sector settings.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and modify accordingly. To oversee smooth transitions between these providers.
- To maintain patient records in line with professional, legal and trust requirements. Effectively managing patient information and analysing of data from a clinical perspective.
- To communicate treatment plans clearly and professionally to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
- To prioritise referrals received by the service and pro-actively manage patient activity.
- Lead on the development of specialist policies and protocols.
- Educate patients about self-management of their condition.
- To provide initial emotional and psychological support to patients and their family/carers adjusting to illness, disability, end of life issues and bereavement and ongoing referrals as appropriate.
- To work alongside colleagues in associated clinical teams and to provide specialist input for patients in the advanced stages of progressive neurological disease linking in with the MND Partnership group and any other relevant groups
- Engage patients in research opportunities where they are willing and appropriate.
- To act as a first point of contact for patients, carers, GP practices and staff for information and signposting to other relevant services for people with rare neurological conditions.
- Receive and manage referrals from variety of sources including Consultant Neurologists and GPs.
- Undertake nurse led clinics, telephone clinics and home visits in the community for individuals with MND and other rare Neurological conditions.
- Be able to assess critically and re-evaluate the clinical situation as the disease progresses.
- Work autonomously with responsibility for an active patient caseload ensuring a high standard of nursing care for all interventions.
- Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate confidential patient records.
- Advise on the use of specialist medications including specific monitoring requirements and investigations.
- Proactive involvement in the development and delivery of training programmes in the care and management of patients with MND/other in a community setting for key stakeholders.
- Work in line with best practice guidelines ensuring evidence based best practice, and keep up to date with current research, nursing and medical developments in this speciality.
- Provide input when required to MDT meetings, case conferences, and discharge planning meetings, promoting delivery of seamless care for patients between relevant agencies, professionals and care settings.
- Undertake all relevant training updates in line with trust policy.
- In conjunction with the Clinical Manager be involved in setting service quality standards and service level agreements.
- Analyse the MND/other service provision by way of audit.
- Work in partnership with other clinicians and managers to support the development of services through service improvement projects and implement quality initiatives that will continuously improve patient care
- Maintain professional networking with local MNDNSs, members of the local MNDA branch, and staff from the local acute hospital to share and develop good practice and promote evidence based practice.
- Work within the budget allocated and ensure efficient use of resources..
- Undertake any such other duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with responsibilities of the post.
- Maintain own professional and clinical integrity in line with NMC/HCPC guidelines.
- Staff are employed to work within SDHC localities and may be reasonably requested to move base temporarily or on a permanent basis, as requested by service needs.
Leadership or managerial
- Undertake comprehensive, highly specialist holistic clinical assessments of patients and carers where needs may be variable and could be highly complex. This will involve planning, implementing and evaluating the care delivery according to changing health needs.
- To communicate highly complex sensitive information to patients, relatives and carers.
- Act as representative or advocate for patients attending specialist clinics where required.
- To undertake basic respiratory assessment
- To ensure early referral for respiratory assessment and ongoing support as necessary
- To monitor any changes to medication regimes, communicating responses to patients GP and the consultant responsible for the care of the client
- To attend MND clinics, liaising with the specialist consultant and evaluating interventions implemented within the clinic setting
- To facilitate good communication links between the client and carers and those involved in the management of the condition
- To participate in training and education of the individual, their carer and health and social care professionals involved in the management of the condition
- To provide support to clients with psychological and psychiatric problems associated with the condition.
- Treat all patients as individuals, respecting their privacy and dignity at all times. Be responsible for individual timely data entry is maintained
Information and reporting
- Ensure safe practice through development of a caseload management plan.
- Undertake risk assessment and reporting of critical incidents as outlined in the Trust policy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post graduate courses in either neurological or palliative care
Desirable
- Relevant specialist courses
- Nurse prescribing course if appropriate to role
Experience
Essential
- oEvidence of experience multi-disciplinary working
- oRelevant post registration experience
- oWillingness to develop area of specialist in Motor Neurone Disease
- oMentorship/teaching / assessing experience
- oParticipation in research and clinical audit and knowledge or current professional issues
- oAwareness of clinical governance agenda
- oKnowledge of change of management
- oAwareness of the current and wider NHS issues & Risk management agenda
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge of the role
- Experience of appraisal and clinical supervision
- Evidence of understanding of symptom management in MND and other rare conditions
Skills
Essential
- oLeadership skills
- oInterpersonal and communication skills both verbal and written
- oIT skills and timely data entry
Desirable
- oResource management skills
- oCritical analysis skills Negotiation skills
Organisational
Essential
- oAutonomous and team worker
- oAbility to prioritise
- oPresentation skills
- oAbility to assess, deliver, evaluate and benchmark quality care
- oAbility to deal with conflict in a professional manner
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post graduate courses in either neurological or palliative care
Desirable
- Relevant specialist courses
- Nurse prescribing course if appropriate to role
Experience
Essential
- oEvidence of experience multi-disciplinary working
- oRelevant post registration experience
- oWillingness to develop area of specialist in Motor Neurone Disease
- oMentorship/teaching / assessing experience
- oParticipation in research and clinical audit and knowledge or current professional issues
- oAwareness of clinical governance agenda
- oKnowledge of change of management
- oAwareness of the current and wider NHS issues & Risk management agenda
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge of the role
- Experience of appraisal and clinical supervision
- Evidence of understanding of symptom management in MND and other rare conditions
Skills
Essential
- oLeadership skills
- oInterpersonal and communication skills both verbal and written
- oIT skills and timely data entry
Desirable
- oResource management skills
- oCritical analysis skills Negotiation skills
Organisational
Essential
- oAutonomous and team worker
- oAbility to prioritise
- oPresentation skills
- oAbility to assess, deliver, evaluate and benchmark quality care
- oAbility to deal with conflict in a professional 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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
