Job Description
We love what we do and we think you will, too!At Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC), we provide joined-up mental health, physical health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Gloucestershire. We run community hospitals and provide care and support in people’s own homes and in a range of other locations across the county. We are on a mission to enable people to live the best life they can and we have a vision to work together to provide outstanding care.
We put people at the heart of our services, focusing on personalised care by asking ‘what matters to you’.We’re passionate about making sure that everyone can contribute to achieving our mission and we are continually working to support healthy and happy high-quality teams in all areas of the Trust.Our application process aims to understand each candidates knowledge, skills and experience. We have found that candidates that use AI to generate their answers can lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description.It is really important to personalise your application to convey your individual skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively and for us to understand why you are applying for this role with GHC. We discourage over reliance on AI-generated applications as it will lessen your chances of success in securing an interview with us .Job overviewThe Bone Health Service is a small countywide service, seeking to recruit a motivated nurse to join the team.You will be required to have an understanding of osteoporosis and falls in order to provide advice and support for those at risk of osteoporosis following a fracture.
Through delivering outpatient clinics and in-reach to acute hospitals across the county, the Bone Health Nurse will help ensure that older people in Gloucestershire who sustain a fragility fracture are identified, assessed for future fracture risk, and receive appropriate evidence-based interventions to help prevent further fractures.You will receive training and support to help you develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to provide high quality care. Main duties of the jobThe successful post holder will work alongside the established team. Responsibilities will include case-finding, assessing, requesting diagnostic investigations, and making recommendations, or prescribing treatment, for secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures for their group of patients on an inpatient and outpatient basis.
This can include referring for investigations such as bone density scans once competent to do so, and prescribing medication. Independent non-medical prescribing would be an advantage, but not essential, as appropriate training can be offered. The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.
Working for our organisationWe have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people’s homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with lots of opportunity to tell us about their experiences of working with us. In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views.
It was great to hear that:- 72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question.- 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region.- 81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust’s priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%.This high-level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations, alongside a great response rate, indicating good staff engagement. However, we also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas. To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top-quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.Detailed job description and main responsibilitiesResponsible for case-finding, assessing, requesting diagnostic investigations within scope of practice, and making recommendations, or prescribing treatment, for secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures.
This can include prescribing medication and providing lifestyle advice. Be skilled in patient assessment and history taking to formulate a person-centred treatment and management plan.Review and discuss the results of investigations, including blood results and bone density scans, with the patient. Provide treatment and medication education and assess concordance with medications.
Identify and coordinate treatment of patients requiring parenteral osteoporosis treatment. This can include the safe administration of subcutaneous injections for suitable patients.Act as an expert resource to other healthcare staff in the clinical management of patients. Be prepared to undertake additional learning to develop specialist knowledge.
Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication and networking with multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams to ensure seamless and integrated service delivery. Engage in effective communication with service users, relatives and carers, often delivering complex and sensitive information.Ensure the Bone Health Service is delivered in line with the local referral pathway for the service, and be guided by Local and National relevant guidance for osteoporosis and secondary fracture prevention.Evaluate risk factors for falling and identify the need for further assessment or interventions. Refer to relevant services as identified in clinical assessment, for example, Falls Assessment and Education Service, Consultant Osteoporosis clinics.Contribute to provision of educational support to patients and healthcare professionals.Work within an ethical framework and demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to the cultural and social backgrounds and expectations of service users.Be able to access and analyse up-to-date evidence to inform care.
Contribute to the coordination, development and evaluation of the Bone Health Service with support from the Bone Health specialist nurse. Contribute to the development of an audit programme. Contribute to the development of action plans to address service areas for improvement.Responsible for inputting accurate information into patient electronic records in line with documentation and record keeping policies.Work closely with team secretary to ensure efficient running of the service and outpatient appointment system.
Report any identified concerns or issues in line with agreed policies.Support Buddy/ Lone working policy for safety of self and team members. Take part in clinical supervision and work as a reflective practitioner.Engage in and attend service team meetings and Osteoporosis group meetings to maintain professional development, contribute to sharing good practice, and cooperate in peer support. Engage with wider Long Term Condition Services as required.Attend relevant national conferences as available and on agreement with Trust study leave processes to maintain specialist knowledge.
Be responsible for effective use and management of resources, including supplies and maintenance of any equipment.Organise own time and be able to work autonomously within remit of agreed role. Be accountable for your practice in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.Work to continue to demonstrate the importance of the clinical nurse specialist role to both patients and healthcare professionals.Support Bone Health specialist nurse in operational management of the service. The Trust is required to work in line with the Government’s UK Visa and Immigration Rules and Regulations.
For more information about sponsorship for certain roles, please visit - https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas Person specificationQualificationsEssential criteria- Registered Nurse- Appropriate nursing qualification educated to degree level, or equivalentDesirable criteria- Teaching, Assessing or equivalent Support in Learning Course- Independent Non Medical Prescribing (or willingness to undertake)- Radiology Non- medical referral qualification (or willingness to undertake)ExperienceEssential criteria- Experience of working in adult nursing- Experience in orthopaedic, care of the elderly, or frailty nursing- Experience of multi-agency working, including primary, secondary and voluntary sectors- IT literate- experience of using a variety of IT programmes including electronic patient recordsDesirable criteria- Post-registration experience of caring for patients with osteoporosis and/or who have had a fragility fracture- Experience in patient assessment, including the taking of patient history- Experience of supervising/mentoring othersWhen joining us, as well as becoming part of a team that makes a difference, we also offer: - Free car parking at many of our sites - 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service - A broad range of training and development opportunities, including apprenticeships up to Level 7 qualification. - A multi-professional preceptorship programme for all Newly Qualified; Nurses, Nursing Associates, Internationally Educated Practitioners, Allied Health Professionals and Return to Practice Practitioners. - Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when if you work unsocial hours - Flexible, family friendly and agile working opportunities - Recognition and long service awards - Fast Track physiotherapy - Access to discounts and salary sacrifice schemes; including Cycle to Work, Car scheme and discounts on travel, leisure and retailers.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. If you are aged 16-30, you may be eligible for financial and pastoral support from the King’s Trust, with who we are in partnership with to support your first 6 months in role. We will pass on your details to the King’s Trust who will be in touch with you if you are eligible.
If you would rather not be contacted, please let us know.For more information please see the attached 'Additional Information for Applicants' document. Good luck with your application.