Job summary
The Spinal Cord Injury Practitioner is a new role within the East Midlands. The post holder will be part of a peripatetic team working across the East Midlands, based at University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL), and predominantly covering SCI patients within the UHL and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
The role of the Spinal Cord Injury Practitioner as a nurse or Allied Health Professional will provide high-quality clinical standards, patient-oriented care for patients diagnosed with spinal cord injury (SCI) and Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES). The post holder will be responsible for providing direct specialist intervention and clinical advice to patients with traumatic, non-traumatic SCI and CES. The postholder will need to liaise with patients, their families, other hospitals, and rehabilitation centres ensuring a seamless, co-ordinated, and timely approach to care and rehabilitation. This will be based upon a networked model of care led by Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Unit Sheffield as the regional SCIC.
The post holder will be required to use high level of clinical expertise in their specialism to provide leadership, support, education and training for medical, nursing and therapy teams involved in direct patient care of people with a spinal cord injury, in any setting in the catchment area, including cross-cover support where necessary and sharing resource and expertise to ensure equity of access and provision across the region.
Main duties of the job
To work, organise and facilitate communication with Multidisciplinary teams in all settings where patients with SCI are treated and planning for planning of care, good practice, transfers, or discharge.
To assess, monitor and provide specialist advice and support to a care plan to patients who have sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury or develop a condition impacting a normal functionality of the spinal cord across a variety of settings.
To demonstrate professional skills, standards, and experience consistent with a clinical specialist in SCI management and act as a source of expertise across the SCI East Midlands network.
To maintain a complex clinical caseload as an autonomous practitioner.
To promote the delivery of kind, compassionate and respectful care, developing relationships with patients that involve better listening and decision-making.
To use specialist knowledge and experience to constructively challenge others; escalating concerns that affect individuals', families', carers', communities' and colleagues' safety and well-being when necessary.
To ensure that the workforce responsible in the care of SCI patients in any setting has regular updates and training aimed at improving the SCI patient pathway, including preventing avoidable complications.
Supporting referrals to the SCIC and helping to determine the most appropriate pathway for the patient.
Working with local community and specialist teams to enable the most appropriate ongoing care and rehabilitation.
About us
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/
Job description
Job responsibilities
To work, organise and facilitate communication with Multidisciplinary teams in all settings where patients with SCI are treated (including Spinal Cord Injury centres, Major Trauma Centres, other referring services, rehabilitation centres and community/primary care settings) for planning of care, good practice, transfers, or discharge. To assess, monitor and provide specialist advice and support to a care plan to patients who have sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury or develop a condition impacting a normal functionality of the spinal cord (non-traumatic SCI) across a variety of settings. To demonstrate professional skills, standards, and experience consistent with a clinical specialist in SCI management and act as a source of expertise across the SCI East Midlands network. To maintain a complex clinical caseload as an autonomous practitioner. To promote the delivery of kind, compassionate and respectful care, developing relationships with patients that involve better listening and decision-making. To engage with, appraise and respond to individuals motivation, development stage and capacity, working collaboratively to support health literacy and empower individuals to participate in decisions about their care and to maximise their health and well-being. To use specialist knowledge and experience to constructively challenge others; escalating concerns that affect individuals, families, carers, communities and colleagues safety and well-being when necessary. To ensure that the workforce responsible in the care of SCI patients in any setting has regular updates and training aimed at improving the SCI patient pathway, including preventing avoidable complications. Supporting referrals to the SCIC and helping to determine the most appropriate pathway for the patient. Working with local community and specialist teams to enable the most appropriate ongoing care and rehabilitation.
Being a point of contact for SCI care for staff, patients, and relatives in the short and long term and to refer onto additional specialised services as required. Oversee and monitor the quality of care for patients who have sustained SCI/Cauda Equina. Investigate areas of concern and promote good practice both within the organisation and the wider networks in conjunction with the Major Trauma Service Team, Therapy Lead and Clinical Leads. Assist in promoting SCI flow through the Trust by identifying patients who no longer require specialist acute care and can be moved for care closer to home. Escalating delays to the relevant teams. Work collaboratively with the SCICS, Trauma Network, the wider multidisciplinary team and specialities involved in SCI care, including charities and signposting/ support services and other organisations to develop relationships and pathways to ensure that the patient pathway is appropriate and smooth. Maintain links nationally with other SCI Coordinators in order to share best practice and develop links for out of area patients. Maintain oversight of SCI patients within the Trust using various methods to capture patients who are admitted either via ED or directly to the wards using the relevant databases and systems. Keep accurate patient specific records for all patients summarising injuries, interventions, ongoing actions, follow up and significant events. Ensure patients and families are being kept informed of relevant plans. To have a broad understanding of trauma care and work in conjunction with the major trauma coordinators to ensure that all patients needs are assessed and meet at the appropriate stage of their recovery and a rehabilitation prescription completed for SCI patients Identify and implement changes which promote a positive patient experience. Support the investigation and resolution of complaints or concerns related to the service. Maintain Professional registration and work within professional codes of conduct, National, Regional and Local guidelines, policies, and procedures
Job description
Job responsibilities
To work, organise and facilitate communication with Multidisciplinary teams in all settings where patients with SCI are treated (including Spinal Cord Injury centres, Major Trauma Centres, other referring services, rehabilitation centres and community/primary care settings) for planning of care, good practice, transfers, or discharge. To assess, monitor and provide specialist advice and support to a care plan to patients who have sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury or develop a condition impacting a normal functionality of the spinal cord (non-traumatic SCI) across a variety of settings. To demonstrate professional skills, standards, and experience consistent with a clinical specialist in SCI management and act as a source of expertise across the SCI East Midlands network. To maintain a complex clinical caseload as an autonomous practitioner. To promote the delivery of kind, compassionate and respectful care, developing relationships with patients that involve better listening and decision-making. To engage with, appraise and respond to individuals motivation, development stage and capacity, working collaboratively to support health literacy and empower individuals to participate in decisions about their care and to maximise their health and well-being. To use specialist knowledge and experience to constructively challenge others; escalating concerns that affect individuals, families, carers, communities and colleagues safety and well-being when necessary. To ensure that the workforce responsible in the care of SCI patients in any setting has regular updates and training aimed at improving the SCI patient pathway, including preventing avoidable complications. Supporting referrals to the SCIC and helping to determine the most appropriate pathway for the patient. Working with local community and specialist teams to enable the most appropriate ongoing care and rehabilitation.
Being a point of contact for SCI care for staff, patients, and relatives in the short and long term and to refer onto additional specialised services as required. Oversee and monitor the quality of care for patients who have sustained SCI/Cauda Equina. Investigate areas of concern and promote good practice both within the organisation and the wider networks in conjunction with the Major Trauma Service Team, Therapy Lead and Clinical Leads. Assist in promoting SCI flow through the Trust by identifying patients who no longer require specialist acute care and can be moved for care closer to home. Escalating delays to the relevant teams. Work collaboratively with the SCICS, Trauma Network, the wider multidisciplinary team and specialities involved in SCI care, including charities and signposting/ support services and other organisations to develop relationships and pathways to ensure that the patient pathway is appropriate and smooth. Maintain links nationally with other SCI Coordinators in order to share best practice and develop links for out of area patients. Maintain oversight of SCI patients within the Trust using various methods to capture patients who are admitted either via ED or directly to the wards using the relevant databases and systems. Keep accurate patient specific records for all patients summarising injuries, interventions, ongoing actions, follow up and significant events. Ensure patients and families are being kept informed of relevant plans. To have a broad understanding of trauma care and work in conjunction with the major trauma coordinators to ensure that all patients needs are assessed and meet at the appropriate stage of their recovery and a rehabilitation prescription completed for SCI patients Identify and implement changes which promote a positive patient experience. Support the investigation and resolution of complaints or concerns related to the service. Maintain Professional registration and work within professional codes of conduct, National, Regional and Local guidelines, policies, and procedures
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse or AHP
- Current Professional registration
- Relevant professional degree or equivalent qualification.
- Relevant experience at band 6 or above in caring for patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).
- Demonstrate SCI related CPD
Desirable
- Relevant SCI courses
- Master's level study in relevant health related subject or willingness to undertake
Experience / Knowledge
Essential
- Experience in managing patients with an acute spinal cord injury and rehabilitation or equivalent.
- Specialist knowledge of clinical area.
- Experience in service development Effective leadership & teaching skills.
- Ability to work without supervision. Good communication skills.
- Experience in service development
- Experience of leadership
Desirable
- Previous experience of similar role.
- Urology experience
- Tissue viability experience
- Experience in developing education packages
- Outpatient clinic experience
- ITU experience
- Neuro experience
- Trauma experience
Communication and relationship skills
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Excellent communication both written and verbal
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Evidence of participation/ undertaking research/ audit
Skills / Abilities
Essential
- Able to use initiative and make decisions
- Logical and flexible in approach to work demands
- Solution focused
- Able to deal with stressful situations
- Able to supervise and direct others Good understanding of IT and technology skills.
- Evidence of on-going professional development.
- Experience of reading and interpreting a range of clinical information and results
- Effective leadership skills Project and organisational management
- Ability to maintain privacy and dignity with all interactions
- Full drivers licence with own transport
Desirable
- ASIA assessment
- Bladder and bowel management
- Collar care management
- Presentation skills
- Able to review service delivery and support and implement change.
- Able to deliver training/ education.
- Experience of student supervision/ clinical education
- Mentorship or equivalent or experience of teaching the clinical areas.
- Evidence of management skills Experience of developing clinical pathways.
- Ability to travel across the County
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Able to organise own workload Able to plan and delegate roles to others as appropriate
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse or AHP
- Current Professional registration
- Relevant professional degree or equivalent qualification.
- Relevant experience at band 6 or above in caring for patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).
- Demonstrate SCI related CPD
Desirable
- Relevant SCI courses
- Master's level study in relevant health related subject or willingness to undertake
Experience / Knowledge
Essential
- Experience in managing patients with an acute spinal cord injury and rehabilitation or equivalent.
- Specialist knowledge of clinical area.
- Experience in service development Effective leadership & teaching skills.
- Ability to work without supervision. Good communication skills.
- Experience in service development
- Experience of leadership
Desirable
- Previous experience of similar role.
- Urology experience
- Tissue viability experience
- Experience in developing education packages
- Outpatient clinic experience
- ITU experience
- Neuro experience
- Trauma experience
Communication and relationship skills
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Excellent communication both written and verbal
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Evidence of participation/ undertaking research/ audit
Skills / Abilities
Essential
- Able to use initiative and make decisions
- Logical and flexible in approach to work demands
- Solution focused
- Able to deal with stressful situations
- Able to supervise and direct others Good understanding of IT and technology skills.
- Evidence of on-going professional development.
- Experience of reading and interpreting a range of clinical information and results
- Effective leadership skills Project and organisational management
- Ability to maintain privacy and dignity with all interactions
- Full drivers licence with own transport
Desirable
- ASIA assessment
- Bladder and bowel management
- Collar care management
- Presentation skills
- Able to review service delivery and support and implement change.
- Able to deliver training/ education.
- Experience of student supervision/ clinical education
- Mentorship or equivalent or experience of teaching the clinical areas.
- Evidence of management skills Experience of developing clinical pathways.
- Ability to travel across the County
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Able to organise own workload Able to plan and delegate roles to others as appropriate
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours
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).
