Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity vacant within the Heart failure specialist team, we are a friendly team who deliver specialist Nurse led care to our patients within the acute and community setting. The postholder will be working within the heart failure service (acute and community) working closely with the Virtual Ward team.
They will provide specialist advice and support for patients with heart failure, identifying and assessing patients suitable for Virtual Ward care. Providing Heart failure advice on treatment, escalation, and discharge. The job will include outpatient heart failure clinics within primary and secondary care.
This post is available for Band 6 or Band 7 dependant on previous experience and qualifications. If criteria for Band 7 are not met there will be support and an opportunity to progress within the role. Expectations for progressing to Band 7 would be completion of Independent Nurse Prescriber course, working towards masters level programme, independently supporting heart failure clinics and virtual ward duties.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will work within the Heart failure team providing care within the acute inpatient setting - reviewing inpatients who have a diagnosis of heart failure, creating management plans and overseeing these to facilitate safe prompt discharges. Patients will also be reviewed in Heart failure clinics (acute and comm setting) as acute discharges to review progress and to continue optimisation of HF therapies. Patients will be reviewed in an acute setting and in the community with potential for referral to the Virtual ward, the team work closely with the VW to provide specialist advice and support for patients with heart failure, reviewing patients daily on VW ward rounds and MDTs.
The successful candidate will require an ability to work autonomously, be able to prioritize workload, work closely within a small team and have good communication skills.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
To develop and deliver a service to improve the health and wellbeing of patients requiring assessment for heart failure, working within the heart failure team and the virtual ward.
The West Suffolk Virtual Ward provides specialist led care to a variety of medical and surgical patients (adult and paediatric) across a broad range of specialties. Care is provided to them in the comfort of their own homes using an advanced personal remote monitoring platform, enabling them to safely leave hospital sooner or not come into hospital at all. The Virtual Ward team includes community nurses, specialist nurses, advanced care practitioners, consultants, therapists, healthcare assistants and a range of other health and social care staff.
The postholder will be working within the heart failure service (acute and community setting) and will work closely with the Virtual Ward team providing specialist advice and support for patients with heart failure, identifying and assessing patients suitable for Virtual Ward care, reviewing patients on daily ward round calls and providing advice on treatment, escalation, and discharge. The job plan will include outpatient heart failure clinics within primary and secondary care.
This post is available for Band 6 or Band 7 pending on previous experience and qualifications. If criteria for Band 7 is not met there will be support and opportunity to progress within the role. Expectations for progressing to Band 7 would be completion of Independent Nurse prescriber course, working towards masters level programme, independently supporting heart failure clinics and Virtual ward duties. The aim once working independantly between the team is to offer cover over a six day working week.
In partnership with the multidisciplinary team support and develop integrated models of care, ensuring all patients receive the highest standard of clinical care. Be responsible for development and facilitating clinical and educational programmes for a variety of staff within the cardiac centre and throughout the trust. Promoting a supportive learning environment.
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential
1. oRN/Registered Paramedic
2. oPreparation for Mentorship / relevant teaching qualification
3. oIndependent Nurse Prescriber
4. oAdvance course/s, eg ILS, ALS
5. oDegree or equivalent
Desirable
6. oManagement course
7. oX-ray interpretation course
8. oTeaching at instructor level
9. oWorking towards master level qualification
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
10. oExperience of working as an independent practitioner
11. oMinimum of three years cardiac experience
12. oPatient caseload management
13. oExperience of training delivery
14. oEvidence of continued development
15. oExpert in clinical skills and assessment
16. oEvidence of teaching experience
17. oExperience of planning and implementing relevant training
18. oKnowledge of clinical governance
Desirable
19. oExpert in another field
20. oEvidence of management skills
21. oEvidence of research or published work
22. oMasters Level/considering Masters Level Programme
23. oIT skills
Skills & Abilities
Essential
24. oExcellent communication skills
25. oSound ECG interpretation
26. oAbility to work autonomously
27. oProblem solving skills
28. oAble to work alongside staff to teach and mentor
29. oAble to focus on and support national and local targets/initiatives for health improvement
Desirable
30. oEvidence of leading a team
31. oAbility to present teaching in a variety of ways
32. oEvidence of managing a team/group
Personal Qualities
Essential
33. oAbility to travel to all rural locations to meet the needs of the role