A rare opportunity has arisen to join our dynamic team as a Lymphoedema Practitioner.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Registered Nurse to develop specialist skills in lymphoedema care within a compassionate, supportive hospice team, making a real difference to patients across Somerset.
You will be joining a team who provides patient-focused care to patients with lymphoedema throughout Somerset, regardless of cause.
Full training and development will be provided to help you to grow your expertise in lymphoedema care.
If you're ready to develop specialist skills and make a meaningful difference to patients and families across Somerset, we'd love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
As a Lymphoedema Practitioner, you will manage a caseload of patients with mild to moderate oedema.
Your role will include:
* Managing and treating patients with primary and secondary lymphoedema, including those with advanced disease
* Delivering a range of interventions such as compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, laser therapy, and kinesiotaping
* Working closely with oncology nurse specialists to support patients at high risk of developing lymphoedema
* Providing education, early detection, and ongoing support to improve patient outcomes
* Delivering care across community and hospice settings throughout Somerset
Holiday entitlement
* 33 days holiday including bank holidays, increasing with length of service (pro-rata if part-time)
* For the purposes of annual leave, we recognise continuous service for clinical staff paid at band 5+ who join directly from the NHS or another hospice
* Ability to buy and sell annual leave
* NHS employees eligible to continue with their NHS pension scheme*
* Non-NHS employees will receive 6% employer and 5% employee contribution.
Award-winning Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family offering:
* Vitality & wellbeing health portal for non-emergency care
* Unlimited access to 24/7 online GP Consultations as well as Expert Case Management
* Confidential and free 24-hour Employee Assistance
* Counselling and support
* Legal, financial, and medical information and advice
And more
* Life assurance cover (2x salary)
* Health Cash Plans
* Blue Light Discount Card
* Enhanced maternity leave*
* Learning and development opportunities
* Free on-site parking in Yeovil and Taunton
* Volunteering and fundraising opportunities
*Eligibility criteria applies
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
* To assist the Lymphoedema Specialist (LS) in the provision of a high quality, patient focused service for patients with lymphoedema.
* To provide care and expertise in lymphoedema management to patients at risk of developing lymphoedema and with mild to moderate lymphoedema, and to assist the LS in the management and treatment of patients with severe and complicated or advanced lymphoedema.
* To provide advice and education on all aspects of managing mild to moderate lymphoedema for patients, relatives and health care professionals.
Clinical Responsibilities
* To provide support, advice and information to patients, their families and carers and other health care professionals on all aspects of lymphoedema, including the promotion of self-management.
* To use relevant assessment strategies and provide care to patients with primary and secondary lymphoedema, including patients with life-limiting conditions as allocated by the LS.
* To work as an autonomous practitioner assessing physiological and/or psychological functioning of patients with lymphoedema as part of a general assessment to determine treatment and the need to refer to other members of the multi‑disciplinary team.
* To use skills and knowledge to ensure the safe and effective use of relevant equipment provided for the assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients with lymphoedema.
* Make appropriate referrals to the multi‑disciplinary team, ensuring seamless service for patients and an integrated approach to care management between organisations and agencies.
* To maintain clinical credibility through practice and to use the findings of relevant research and evidence‑based practice to optimise high quality care for the patient with lymphoedema.
* To work within all St Margarets Hospice Care and agreed regional lymphoedema policies.
* To comply with all relevant hospice policies and procedures.
* To ensure that the cleanliness and tidiness of the working environment is optimised, to reduce the risks of infection and accidental injury.
* To assist the LS in maintaining an adequate stock of lymphoedema consumables.
Management Responsibilities
* To be responsible for the ordering of specialist hosiery required for the patient with lymphoedema, selecting the supplier as appropriate.
* To liaise with key staff in order to maintain the upkeep of equipment and facilities in the department and outreach clinics to ensure the safety of patients.
* To use the hospice information systems to input statistical data required for resource management and clinical audit of the service.
* Demonstrate flexibility to meet service needs
Professional Responsibilities
* To participate in research projects within the lymphoedema service.
* Undertake any necessary skills training, professional updates and mandatory training as appropriate to the post and as directed.
* To participate in professional networking, membership of relevant professional groups, clinical supervision, journal club and significant event meetings as appropriate.
* To participate in the staff Personal Development Review scheme and be responsible for complying with the agreed organisational, professional and personal objectives.
* Participate in induction programmes for all new staff as required by the LS.
Communication and People
* Authorised to liaise with: all St Margarets Hospice Care personnel; Primary and Secondary Healthcare Providers; Care Homes; Voluntary Sector and Charitable Organisations.
* Deliver care to patients and carers and engage with them in order to maintain and improve quality of services.
* Achieve changes in practice by diplomatic interaction with all grades of staff.
* Communicate effectively with people about highly complex or sensitive topics and/or in difficult situations; managing patient/carer expectations relating to realistic treatment outcomes and the extremes of emotion associated with cancer, other life‑limiting illnesses and palliative care; supporting anxious or distressed patients and relatives as necessary.
* Express ideas clearly through oral, written and electronic communication mediums, varying the level and style of communication with all people, respecting their differing levels of understanding and responding to communication difficulties as appropriate.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* Nursing registration and relevant Professional qualification (degree level)
* Ability to communicate effectively with people about difficult or sensitive topics and/or in difficult situations.
* Ability to show tact and manage boundaries.
* Good time management.
* Effective case load and workload management.
* Understanding of user and carer perspectives.
Working with others
* Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to liaise effectively with patients, the MDT and across organisations with individuals at a range of levels.
* Excellent verbal, written and personal communication skills, confident and articulate.
* Ability to manage conflict situations.
* Ability to work as part of a team or individually.
Outcome and Results
* Computer literate, able to use work documents, spreadsheets and email communication.
* Able to travel to undertake community, outreach and domiciliary work.
* Ability to make decisions, organise, prioritise and meet deadlines.
Leading in your area
* Takes the opportunities, time and investment for professional development.
* Ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of palliative care and the needs of patients and families.
* Evidence of an interest in the management of chronic oedema.
* Experience of multi‑disciplinary/ multi‑agency working.
* Palliative Care experience.
* Experience in working independently in lymphoedema management / leg ulcer management.
* Innovative and resourceful practitioner.
* Experiences of working with people with chronic disease.
* Experience of working within an Oncology setting.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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