Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Bedfordshire Hospitals Liver Surveillance Programme as well as contributing to the clinical management of patients with a variety of liver diseases. This will include working autonomously and in collaboration with multidisciplinary professionals, to ensure the Hepatology service maintains a consistent high standard contributing to the improved outcomes for patients.
The post holders will perform at specialist enhanced practitioner level, facilitating early assessment, supporting diagnosis and prompt treatment of patients with liver disease presenting to Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, within the inpatient/outpatient setting. This also relates to admission avoidance, timely discharges and ensuring that management is in line with evidence-based guidelines.
There are two posts available, one based at Bedford Hospital and one at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital. The post holders will be joining a friendly and supportive team including Hepatology Specialist Consultants, Lead CNS, ACP and wider nursing teams.
Main duties of the job
1. To act as a source of specialist advice for patients, their families and carers on specialist nursing care and management of liver disease, including provision of lifestyle advice.
2. Act as the first point of access via the patient telephone help-line and email system for patients, in order to identify problems and provide ongoing care.
3. Recognise and respond appropriately to a sudden change in a patient’s clinical condition. Receive and provide accurate and complex information regarding patients’ clinical status to other members of the MDT.
4. In collaboration with the medical team, assess patient suitability for discharge including review of blood results, medication and patient capacity for self-care on discharge. Manage and escalate appropriately any identified problems and provide follow up education and relevant discharge documentation.
5. Using advanced clinical judgement to decide in personalised treatment pathways in relation to ascitic drainage in collaboration with Hepatology Consultant
6. Learn how to perform liver related procedures (e.g. diagnostic and therapeutic paracentesis) and manage potential complications
7. Plan and implement effective liver surveillance for eligible patients
8. Perform appropriate investigations and Fibroscans accordingly
9. Contribute to maintenance of database and tracking
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
10. Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
11. Current NMC registration
12. Evidence of continuous CPD
13. Mentorship or Education Qualification
Desirable criteria
14. Non medical prescriber
15. Speciality specific qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
16. Relevant demonstrable experience in hepatology specialist nursing
17. Experience of working on own initiative and prioritising workload
18. Understanding of current national developments and guidance in speciality
19. Awareness and understanding of liver surveillance programme
20. Experience of and competence in delivering hepatology procedures eg. paracentesis
Desirable criteria
21. Working knowledge of patient administration systems
22. • Evidence of managing clinical change
Knowledge
Essential criteria
23. Interest in and experience of research and audit
24. Understanding and experience of Quality governance and risk management
25. Competent at performing Fibroscans or willing and able to learn.
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
26. •Able to form and maintain excellent professional relationships with all members of the multi professional team
27. •Effective communication skills both written and verbal – able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive information.
28. •Ability to embrace, lead and drive change in a complex environment.
29. •Ability to organize and prioritise own workload and direct the work others and adjust plans as required both in the short and long term.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.