Job overview
The TB Nursing Service is part of Public Health and Prevention Directorate and has a dual role in providing TB care and the delivery of the neonatal BCG vaccination programme. The service provides advice and support to patients about TB and works to ensure compliance with treatment and to prevent onwards transmission.
We are excited to be recruiting a Tuberculosis (TB) Specialist Nurse for east Kent. We are seeking someone with excellent communication skills, who enjoys the challenge of working with socially and medically complex patients in a community setting and who is passionate about advocating for our patients. We are looking forward to welcoming the right candidate to our ‘Outstanding’ Trust and our friendly and well-established team.
We care for adults, children and babies, through case management, screening clinics, BCG vaccination and health promotion. The post will involve visiting people in their own homes, clinics and some outreach work as well as phone and virtual appointments.
The role will primarily involve caring for patients in the east Kent, but may involve some wider travel in Kent for training and meetings. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously without direct supervision.
In return for your hard work we offer you a flexible working environment, personal development and a comprehensive corporate and local induction programme. We strongly believe in making sure you have the right support, resources and training to enjoy your job.
Main duties of the job
Specialist TB Nurses play a vital public health role in reducing the onwards transmission of TB through contact tracing, identifying close contacts of index cases and offering screening in line with TB guidelines. Their role includes co-ordinating and delivering TB screening clinics, attending incident management meetings and responding to outbreaks.
Specialist TB Nurses provide expert knowledge and skills acting as a resource to advise, educate and support the TB multidisciplinary team and raise awareness of TB to the public and other health care professionals.
Specialist TB Nurses support the delivery of the local neonatal BCG immunisation programme, delivering the vaccine to eligible babies in clinics.
Working for our organisation
Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’ve got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent
We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences
We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn’t visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission
The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won’t involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We’ll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both
See where you can go with KCHFT
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a community Trust many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. As such you will be asked to confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement of the role to be able to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment, if you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via quoting the vacancy reference number so we can support you further.
The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.
Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.
We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.
At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.
Find out more about the community difference here.
Good luck! We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Registered health care professional (NMC registration)
2. Health related degree and evidence of relevant post graduate development at Level 6
Desirable criteria
3. Mentoring qualification
4. Immunisation and Vaccination training
5. Venepuncture qualification
6. TB qualification Tuberculosis post graduate certificate
7. Working towards Master level study
Experience
Essential criteria
8. Experience in area of practice
9. Practical experience in managing health related projects/complex caseloads
10. Experience with use of IT systems including Microsoft, Electronic Patient Records systems
Desirable criteria
11. Experience of Immunisation/TB nursing
12. Experience working with children and young people
13. Experience of working with vulnerable people and inclusion health
Knowledge
Essential criteria
14. Knowledge of TB and TB care
15. Understanding of TB & BCG National guidance and best practice
16. Evidence of continued relevant professional development and implementation in practice
Desirable criteria
17. Understanding of health inequalities and barriers to healthcare
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
18. Sound communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written)
19. An understanding of the training needs of the post and gaps in knowledge
20. Ability to use own initiative
Desirable criteria
21. Demonstrate competency interventions related to specialist TB nursing including venepuncture, immunisation and vaccination, Mantoux/Tuberculin skin test, requesting diagnostics testing, interpreting reports and ensuring compliance with treatment
Employer certification / accreditation badges