Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Stroke Clinical Nurse Specialist at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) within our newly refurbished A-rated stroke service.
MTW stroke services recently received a £7 million investment and have developed a 14-bedded Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit and a 35-bedded Acute Stroke Unit which opened in May 2024.
Alongside this development, MTW continues to operate a Stroke Assessment Bay, accepting direct admissions from the ambulance service to offer immediate hyper-acute stroke interventions. The Stroke Assessment Bay is also used to review patients on our evolving ambulatory pathway.
We are looking for a passionate and innovative individual with experience in hyper-acute and acute stroke care. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent leadership and management skills, a proactive approach to service development, and an ability to work autonomously to support all elements of the stroke pathway.
Evidence of continued professional development within stroke, alongside up to date knowledge of national stroke guidelines and prevalent research trials is essential.
The successful applicant will also have a comprehensive understanding of the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) and how this relates to service monitoring and improvement.
This is a one year fixed term contract or secondment opportunity.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of this role are;
To maintain operational oversight of the stroke assessment bay, including all relevant pathways.
To be actively involved in the pre-hospital triage pathway with SECAmb, including staff training and clinical supervision
To provide direct line management to the Band 6 Stroke Assessor team
To conduct telephone triaging of TIA patients and participate in the TIA clinics
To lead on audit and data collection and report to internal and external stakeholders
To provide an excellent level of stroke expertise and knowledge to patients and families
To work autonomously in relation to the delivery of specialist patient care and the development of the service to improve patient's care
To be actively involved in stroke follow up clinics and provide expertise to deliver information and sign post to internal and external services
About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital Trust in the county of Kent.
The Trust provides a full range of general hospital services and some areas of specialist complex care to around 760,000 people living in the south part of West Kent and the north part of East Sussex.
The Trust's core catchment areas are Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and their surrounding boroughs. We work from two main clinical sites: Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Tunbridge Wells Hospital opened in 2011 and provides single rooms with en-suites for all in-patients - the first of its kind in the country.
We employ more than 7,000 full and part-time staff in a huge range of clinical and non-clinical roles across both of our hospital sites.
Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Following your Corporate Induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email mtw-tr.professionalstandards@nhs.net if this is problematic)and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace.Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Interview Date: TBC
Job description
Job responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Following your Corporate Induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email mtw-tr.professionalstandards@nhs.net if this is problematic)and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace.Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Interview Date: TBC
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree
- Evidence of short courses or modules at Masters level.
- Current RN registration with the NMC
- Evidence of commitment to continual professional development
- Post graduate education relevant to clinical area
- Teaching qualification (ENB998, mentorship course or equivalent)
Desirable
- Accredited course in physical assessment and clinical history taking
- Non Medical Prescriber
- Member of relevant Clinical interest group
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Minimum of 3 years RGN with postgraduate experience with evidence of practising to a high level of expertise in clinical area at Senior level
- Participation in clinical audit and evaluating the outcomes of a service
- Evidence of influencing and implementing change
- Working across organisational boundaries
- Multidisciplinary team working
- Proven and demonstratable clinical expertise within the field of stroke
- Experience of managing and supervising others
- Ability to demonstrate expertise in the differential diagnosis & management of stroke
- Ability to take strategic views for long term service improvement
- Knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, pathology related to stroke
- Knowledge of the relevant NSF, NICE and other clinical guidelines for stroke
Desirable
- Experience of leading a service development
- Participation in clinical research
- Evidence based practice in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of stroke
Attributes
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate a proactive approach with drive and enthusiasm
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills including presentation and public speaking skills
- Ability to share knowledge and develop staff in line with evidence-based practice
- Understanding of the current issues within stroke services and the NHS
- Demonstrate a sound knowledge of Clinical Governance and risk management
- Ability to support & influence other members of the MDT including medical staff
- Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise work
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate working at an advanced clinical level
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree
- Evidence of short courses or modules at Masters level.
- Current RN registration with the NMC
- Evidence of commitment to continual professional development
- Post graduate education relevant to clinical area
- Teaching qualification (ENB998, mentorship course or equivalent)
Desirable
- Accredited course in physical assessment and clinical history taking
- Non Medical Prescriber
- Member of relevant Clinical interest group
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Minimum of 3 years RGN with postgraduate experience with evidence of practising to a high level of expertise in clinical area at Senior level
- Participation in clinical audit and evaluating the outcomes of a service
- Evidence of influencing and implementing change
- Working across organisational boundaries
- Multidisciplinary team working
- Proven and demonstratable clinical expertise within the field of stroke
- Experience of managing and supervising others
- Ability to demonstrate expertise in the differential diagnosis & management of stroke
- Ability to take strategic views for long term service improvement
- Knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, pathology related to stroke
- Knowledge of the relevant NSF, NICE and other clinical guidelines for stroke
Desirable
- Experience of leading a service development
- Participation in clinical research
- Evidence based practice in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of stroke
Attributes
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate a proactive approach with drive and enthusiasm
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills including presentation and public speaking skills
- Ability to share knowledge and develop staff in line with evidence-based practice
- Understanding of the current issues within stroke services and the NHS
- Demonstrate a sound knowledge of Clinical Governance and risk management
- Ability to support & influence other members of the MDT including medical staff
- Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise work
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate working at an advanced clinical level
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).
