University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
Heart Failure Clinical Nurse Specialist
The closing date is 24 May 2026
As a Heart Failure Specialist Nurse, the post holder will provide expert assessment, management, and education for patients with heart failure, working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to support admission avoidance, timely discharge, and optimal long‑term management. The role includes participation in audit, service development, and education of staff and patients. The post holder will be expected to complete all essential Heart Failure and advanced practice training to progress to Band 7, supported by supervision and appraisal.
Main duties of the job
* Provide specialist assessment and management of patients with acute and chronic heart failure within a tertiary service, including ambulatory IV diuretic therapy to support admission avoidance and timely discharge.
* Undertake comprehensive clinical assessment, optimise treatment, monitor response, and escalates care appropriately.
* Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team across hospital and community pathways.
* Support discharge planning, follow‑up, continuity of care, and patient self‑management.
* Contribute to service development, clinical audit, quality improvement, and delivery of evidence‑based practice.
* Deliver education, advice, and training to patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.
* Advanced clinical assessment and decision‑making in heart failure care.
* Competence or willingness to develop competence in ambulatory IV diuretic administration.
* Strong communication, leadership, organisational, and multidisciplinary working skills.
* Ability to manage complex patients and prioritise workload autonomously.
* Audit, evaluation, and service improvement capability.
* High professional accountability and clinical competence.
* Compassionate, patient‑centred approach.
* Proactive, adaptable, and resilient.
* Strong focus on safety, quality, efficiency, and continuous professional development.
Job Responsibilities
Expert Clinical Practice
* Act as an expert Heart Failure practitioner, delivering autonomous, evidence‑based care in line with national and local guidance.
* Provide comprehensive clinical assessment, diagnosis support, treatment optimisation, and evaluation of patients with complex heart failure.
* Deliver ambulatory Heart Failure services, including IV diuretic therapy, monitoring, escalation, and follow‑up.
* Undertake nurse‑led and MDT clinics, ward rounds, patient reviews, and multidisciplinary meetings.
* Prioritise and manage referrals according to agreed clinical protocols and pathways.
* Support admission avoidance, early facilitated discharge, and step‑up/step‑down care through ambulatory pathways.
* Work across inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and virtual settings, delivering care face‑to‑face, remotely, or via telephone as appropriate.
Medicines Management and Prescribing
* Be accountable for safe and effective medicines management in line with Trust policy and professional standards.
* Administer medicines including intravenous therapies within ambulatory care settings.
* Undertake Non‑Medical Prescribing where qualified and within scope of practice, or provide expert advice on medicines optimisation.
* Monitor treatment response, side effects, and adherence, escalating concerns appropriately.
Patient‑Centred Care and Communication
* Deliver compassionate, respectful, and individualised care aligned with Trust values.
* Provide expert education and support to patients, families, and carers to promote self‑management and informed decision‑making.
* Demonstrate advanced communication skills, including difficult conversations, capacity assessment, and shared decision‑making.
* Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation across paper and electronic records in line with NMC and Trust standards.
* Act as a patient advocate, ensuring equity of access, cultural sensitivity, and respect for individual beliefs.
Safeguarding, Risk and Governance
* Recognise and act on safeguarding concerns, including Mental Capacity Act, DOLS, and Prevent guidance.
* Participate in risk assessment, escalation, and management in line with Trust processes.
* Report, manage, and learn from incidents and near misses, contributing to reflective practice and service improvement.
* Adhere to all Trust policies, procedures, and clinical governance frameworks.
Service Development, Audit and Quality Improvement
* Actively contribute to clinical audit, service evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives.
* Participate in the development, review and updating of policies, protocols, pathways, and guidelines.
* Analyse activity, outcomes, and patient feedback to inform service redesign and development.
* Support national and local strategy implementation within Heart Failure services.
Education, Training and Supervision
* Act as an expert educational resource for staff, students, patients, carers, and external agencies.
* Deliver formal and informal education, including teaching sessions, MDT training, and patient education programmes.
* Act as mentor, supervisor, and role model for nursing and multidisciplinary colleagues.
* Contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive learning culture within the service.
Leadership, Teamwork and Resource Management
* Work autonomously while contributing effectively to multidisciplinary teamwork.
* Manage own workload, prioritising clinical activity and identifying capacity pressures.
* Promote collaborative working, effective communication and professional practice.
* Participate in service planning, innovation and redesign aligned with organisational objectives.
* Contribute to cost‑effective service delivery and optimal use of resources.
Professional Accountability
* Maintain professional standards in accordance with NMC Code, Trust policies, and governance frameworks.
* Participate fully in appraisal, revalidation and personal development planning.
* Undertake continuous professional development to maintain and advance clinical competence.
Developmental Post Requirements
* The post holder will complete all essential Heart Failure qualifications, advanced clinical skills training and competency frameworks.
* Progression to Band 7 will be supported through supervision and appraisal and is dependent on evidence of autonomous specialist practice.
Key Skills and Attributes
* Advanced clinical assessment and decision‑making.
* High‑level communication and leadership skills.
* Ability to manage complex patients and competing priorities.
* Strong commitment to patient‑centred, evidence‑based care.
* Resilience, adaptability and professional integrity.
Person Specification
* Registered General Nurse on NMC Register.
* Degree in Nursing or Health/Nursing related study.
* 3 Years nursing experience within Cardiology.
* Evidence of working at Specialist Nurse Level.
* Health Assessment Qualification.
* Heart Failure Management Qualification.
* V300 non‑medical prescriber.
* Leadership Qualification.
Salary: £32,073 to £56,515 a year (dependent on experience).
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