Job overview
We are looking for an innovative, dynamic, hardworking clinician to come and work within our friendly and high performing Long- term Ventilation team. We are looking for a six-month secondment to join our team. This is full time hours but can be negotiated if you wish to job-share or work reduced hours.
This role is an exciting opportunity for an excellent Nurse to further develop their skills as a Ventilation Clinical Specialist (Band 6). Your role will be to work together with the team to meet the growing number of patients under the care of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Long Term Ventilation Service (LSCLTVS). This will allow you to gain experience working as a specialist nurse, and in managing patients across a variety of settings (ward, clinic and community). This offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your CV in readiness for a permanent position as a specialist nurse.
Our team consists of two Medical Consultants, a Consultant Physiotherapist, two Ventilation Nurse Specialists, and a Ventilation Secretary. Our Medical Consultants have specialist interests in long term ventilation (LTV), Asthma, Airways and COPD and as a result we have strong working relationships with the specialist multidisciplinary services. We also work very closely with a range of other speciality teams such as the MND and nutrition teams.
Main duties of the job
Your role will include supporting acute patients who are either newly referred to the service for set up on home ventilation, or existing patients that have been admitted acutely and require support. You will work alongside us in clinic reviewing existing patients on ventilation and troubleshooting machines, interfaces and optimisation of settings. You will support community visits and help support patients contacting us by calls and emails. You can be part of MDT discussions to focus on the best care and outcome for our patients. You will ultimately work as part of a team to support patients under the care of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Long Term Ventilation Service across the region working with a variety of key stakeholders across primary and secondary care, including inpatient teams, community care providers, GPs, commissioners and families.
We recognise this will require support and guidance which will be provided by the existing team.
Working for our organisation
We are a national award-winning team with numerous opportunities for career development. We manage the care of people in the Lancashire and South Cumbria region who have ventilatory failure or are at risk of developing problems. We are a rapidly growing service meaning we offer the opportunity to be involved in developing the service to continue to provide exceptional care in a manner that bests suits our patients.
Within our team we would like to offer the opportunity to you to develop your clinical knowledge and skills and to lead as an autonomous practitioner.
We would welcome the opportunity to have you in our team and feel it offers you the opportunity to gain an understanding of the Specialist nurse role, will develop your skills working at an advanced level and give you the opportunity to progress your career.
If you are interested and would like to know more, please get in touch. The hours will be offered over Monday-Friday between 0800-1800 but we can be flexible within this time depending on your availability and other commitments. Please email or
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• Support the Consultants and Senior Specialist Nurses in ensuring the provision of excellent care with compassion for the patients, relatives and visitors who are cared for by the service.
• Ensure a high standard of nursing is delivered by self and others based on assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care to meet patients’ needs in accordance with agreed local and National standards and evidence based guidelines. In order to provide excellent care with compassion the Band 6 Specialist Ventilation Nurse will support their line manager by ensuring that:
• All patients are involved in decisions about their care and have agreed their plan of care.
• All patient based risk assessments e.g falls, nutrition, medication, infection control, pain, are carried out in line with Trust policy and are used to inform the agreed plan of care
• All patients are provided with information and opportunities to learn about their condition, care and treatment and general health promotion.
• All patients are provided with, and encouraged to engage in appropriate activities and stimulation to maintain usual physical and mental function, promote well-being and recovery in particular when requiring an enhanced level of care as an in-patient.
• All patients feel they have been treated with dignity and respect.
• Appropriate members of the wider multidisciplinary team are engaged in the planning and provision of care and treatment for patients as required.
• All patients are happy with the care and compassion received and have had frequent opportunities to discuss their care with the team. All patients are asked for feedback on the care they have received.
• All patients, visitors, staff and students are welcomed in a manner which promotes a positive image of self, and the team.
• Bearing in mind confidentiality, relatives and family are asked, where appropriate, if they have any concerns about the care being provided are given opportunity to raise any issues.
• Each member of the Ventilation Service understands their responsibilities, with regard to the patient’s safety health and wellbeing and feels able to and knows how to raise any concerns about a patient in a timely manner.
• Assist and support the Senior Team in the safe, effective management of the area including management of personnel, facilities and the associated systems and processes • Ensures staff rotas are planned in advance ensuring adequate staffing and skill mix.
• Assists in the recruitment and selection of staff following agreed policies
• Demonstrates familiarity with policies and procedures, including major incident, fire, health and safety, disciplinary, complaints and grievance and follow these as necessary.
• Assists with management of performance issues including attendance, professional conduct, capability etc.
• Carries the area bleep in the absence of the Ward Manager
• Actively tries to resolve issues and complaints at local level
• Assists with investigation of complaints, clinical incidents and errors to identify and supports any required change to nursing practice.
Gives clear and concise advice to people on the procedures in place eg PALS, complaints.
• Resolves potential conflicts as per conflict resolution guidance and the promotion of zero tolerance
• Reports incidents of violence or aggression immediately in order to seek help and support
• Act as a role model, presenting a positive image of self, team and the organisation • Complies fully with the Trust Uniform Policy and ensures nursing team comply.
• All patients, visitors, staff and students are welcomed
in a manner which promotes a positive image of yourself, the ward and the ward team
• Be responsible for the delivery and co- ordination of care, through appropriate professional practice, delegation and supervision of duties carried out by junior staff • Own work is prioritised appropriately and time is managed effectively
• Co-ordinate care across the service deploying staff and prioritising as necessary
• Takes appropriate action when shortfalls occur, or are likely to occur.
• Delegated duties are realistic, achievable and take into account team members’ role, abilities and development needs.
• Staff are appropriately supervised and supported in their roles.
• Meets standards for leading and co-ordinating ward teams
• Has built excellent relationships with MDT and liaises effectively to ensure seamless care
• Set, monitor and maintain standards of care to improve the patient experience and outcome of care. • Challenges poor standards of care or inappropriate behaviour and raises and escalates concerns about the safety and wellbeing of patients
• Takes a proactive part in team meetings
• Participates and leads in innovations and improvements in services including the ‘productive’ programme, seeking patients and others views as appropriate.
• Ensures patients are placed on appropriate care pathways e.g the Care of the Dying Pathway, Sepsis Pathway.
• Responsible for supporting the development of the service and the administration and support teams by being a visible and strong role model providing leadership and direction to the team, capitalising on research and development opportunities, providing clinical supervision and advice for staff and students in order to support them in reaching their full potential. • Undertakes audit and evaluation programmes
• Makes constructive suggestions as to how the service can be improved.
• Proactively manage risk and maintain patient safety, conforming to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines. • Ensures patient based risk assessments e.g falls, nutrition, medication, infection control, pain, are carried out in line with Trust policy and timescales
• Ensure documentation is complete, legible and accurate
• Ensures appropriate actions to minimise risk e.g cot sides, blue tray, enhanced care are implemented.
• Achieves own ANTT and hand hygiene audit and promotes and carries out audits for other staff and students.
• Uses and ensures agreed moving and handling procedures used and provides advice on patient moving and handling
• Current moving & handling update training maintained
• Reports all accidents, incidents, near misses, faulty equipment or environmental issues immediately as per
Trust Policy
• Communicate all relevant information to the multidisciplinary team internally and with external organisations as required, to ensure seamless care • Communicates in a professional and timely manner.
• Develops and maintain communication with people
about difficult matters or difficult situations, in an appropriate, supportive and empathic manner
• Promote provision of patient education and health promotion • Ensure all relevant health assessments have been undertaken
• Gives health promotion advice or refers to specialist
• Promote equality in care and practice by recognising, respecting and meeting the needs and choices of individuals • Treats everyone with dignity and respect
• Acts in accordance with current legislation, policies, procedures and good practice relating to equality & diversity.
• Takes action to address behaviour that undermines equality and diversity.
• Safeguards children, young people and vulnerable adults, escalating concerns in line with Trust policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Ensures environment of care is safe, well equipped and compliant with standards for hygiene and cleanliness. • Stock levels are maintained to enable smooth running of the department
• Manages resources within agreed budgets as set by the Clinical Manager
• Equipment is cleaned and maintained as per Trust standards.
• To participate in education and training of junior staff. • Undertakes mentor training when identified
• Evidence of being active mentor and role model
• Actively involves and supports students and junior staff in educational opportunities
• Positive student feedback received through educational audits
• Act as assessor and mentor to junior staff and students supporting their development
• Be involved in Induction and monitoring of new staff
• Maintain and develop own professional competence and seek to extend the scope of personal knowledge and skills within scope of role and professional practice • Actively participates in the appraisal and Personal development planning process and has a current appraisal and Personal Dev Plan
• Carries out staff appraisals and ensures all staff have agreed objectives and personal development plans.
• Undertakes identified learning and development opportunities, as agreed with manager.
• Maintains a current Personal Development Portfolio, in line with Trust Policy and NMC Registration
• Participates in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
• Mandatory training as outlined by the Trust in the Risk Management TNA is up to date
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
1. Appropriate NMC Registration
2. Diploma or Degree in Nursing
3. Evidence of continuing professional education or development in area of specialty.
4. Driving license/Ability to travel to enable community visits.
Desirable criteria
5. Post registration qualification in area of speciality area
6. NMC recognised Mentorship qualification
7. Non-Medical prescribing qualification
8. Spirometry Interpretation Qualification
9. Ventilation Qualification/ Courses
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
10. Evidenceof clinicalcompetence in area of speciality eg respiratory/ ventilation (acute and long-term)
11. Awareness of recent advances within Nursing practice
12. Knowledge of Clinical Governance and safeguarding and the relevance to practice
13. Knowledge of relevant policies and procedures
14. Experience of implementing changes to benefit patients and improve nursing practice
15. Knowledge of Ethical issues
Desirable criteria
16. Evidence of leadership experience and learning
17. Knowledge of Research and Development
18. Experience in telephone advice clinics
19. Experience in nurse/ AHP-led clinics
20. Experience in developing guidelines or protocols
21. Experience in managing complex respiratory patients