Job Summary
Are you a dynamic and experienced nurse leader with a passion for critical care and patient safety? We are seeking a highly motivated Lead Nurse to head our Critical Care Outreach Team (CCOT) at the Aintree site. This is a pivotal role within our Trust, offering the opportunity to lead a specialist team that supports patients transitioning from critical care, responds to acute deterioration, and contributes to our Avoidable Mortality Reduction Programme through surveillance of Sepsis and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). As Lead Nurse, you will be responsible for the daily management, strategic direction, and clinical leadership of the CCOT, ensuring alignment with corporate and divisional objectives, and will also support the Medical Emergency Team (MET) Lead Nurse in delivering rapid response services across the Trust.
Key Responsibilities
* Strategic leadership and operational management of the CCOT
* Clinical oversight of patients stepping down from Critical Care
* Responding to MET calls and supporting acutely ill patients
* Surveillance and review of AKI and Sepsis alerts
* Education and training across the Trust, including tracheostomy care
* Supporting inter‑hospital transfers of critically ill patients
* Performance management and development of CCOT staff
* Ensuring compliance with national guidelines and Trust policies
Clinical Responsibilities
* Inform and co‑ordinate clinical service delivery provided by the CCOT, providing clinical leadership and demonstrating specialist clinical skills based on current best practice and evidence‑based guidelines and relevant National competencies for outreach and rapid response teams.
* Perform comprehensive assessments of critically ill patients and implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health needs and level of dependency.
* Interpret diagnostic information and provide a service including analysis of blood results, ECG, venepuncture, arterial blood gas sampling, cannulation and intra‑osseous access.
* Provide Trust‑wide spirometry assessment for patients identified by Critical Care and acute medical teams.
* Initiate appropriate expert care, treatment and monitoring in ward areas when admission to Critical Care is not available or appropriate.
* Function as a resource for ward personnel, providing clinical leadership and support.
* Communicate complex and sensitive information to staff, patients and relatives, including discussions around ceilings of care and DNACPR decision making.
* Ensure patients’ views are sought and taken into account in decision‑making processes and respect their customs, values and spiritual beliefs.
* Establish and maintain effective communications between doctors, CCOT, MET and ward departments, managing conflicting views where necessary.
* Respond to requirements with flexibility and empathy, ensuring patient safety is a priority.
* Respond to referrals for acutely ill patients and emergency situations throughout the hospital as part of the Trust MET.
* Review and analyse blood results and clinical data from Trust database for Sepsis and AKI to highlight at‑risk patients and ensure prompt assessment and recognition of deterioration.
* Liaise with clinical teams to ensure appropriate AKI and sepsis care bundles are implemented, initiating emergency and follow‑up treatment when required.
* Maintain ALS provider status and act as team coordinator at cardiac arrest and emergency calls.
* Provide expert advice on the management of the acutely ill patient in relation to NEWS.
* Ensure appropriate handover of deteriorating patients to Medical and Critical Care teams.
* Represent CCOT in MDT meetings relating to complex discharges and discharge planning.
* Review the patient’s critical care journey using their diary for psychological follow‑up and support.
* Plan care with MDT in relation to rehabilitation after Critical Care and assist with patient reviews and support at follow‑up clinics.
* Prioritise workload according to clinical needs and maintain flexibility for emergency calls.
* Ensure the CCOT always complies with the Hospital Infection Control and Prevention Policy.
Strategic / Leadership Role
* Lead and develop the CCOT, encouraging teamwork, maximising individual contribution, and supporting innovation.
* Lead CCOT in the provision of avoidable mortality reduction surveillance work around AKI and Sepsis.
* Develop and implement policies that impact across the organisation.
* Monitor and evaluate health, safety and security of staff, implement best practice in ward and department areas.
* Report and manage any concerns reported by team members or service users in accordance with Trust policy.
* Maintain role as a model for patient safety and staff support.
* Disseminate information regarding the CCOT to other disciplines internally and externally.
* Support bed management teams to ensure safe and effective patient flow.
* Allocate staff effectively, identify manpower needs, and review skill mix regularly.
* Assist in MET audit data reporting and work with leadership in audit and reporting activities.
Person Specification – Qualifications (Essential)
* Registered NMC Nurse (RN)
* Post‑registration qualification relevant to Critical Care
* Educated to 1st Degree level or equivalent experience
* Completion of Clinical Examination and Clinical Diagnostics courses
* Advanced Life Support Provider (ALS)
* Advanced Clinical Skills
* Teaching and assessing qualification
Person Specification – Qualifications (Desirable)
* Leadership / Management qualification
Experience (Essential)
* Significant clinical experience within a Critical Care setting
* Experience of leading and managing a team
* Experience of leading and delivering a clinical service
* Experience of leading and managing change
* Significant clinical experience in assessing, planning and delivering patient care autonomously using advanced clinical skills
* Experience in planning, facilitating and delivering teaching in a variety of settings
Experience (Desirable)
* Experience in the development of strategies, policies and procedures
Knowledge (Essential)
* Evidence of continuous professional development
* Able to demonstrate and apply specialist knowledge gained through clinical experience
* Knowledge of current professional and local and National NHS related issues
Skills (Essential)
* Ability to interpret, develop and propose changes to policy or service development at local level
* Highly developed problem‑solving, critical appraisal and decision‑making skills
* Highly developed motivational skills and strong commitment to staff involvement and empowerment
* Strong analytical and judgement skills, able to handle complex, contentious and conflicting information and identify the appropriate course of action
* Able to influence and resolve conflict, overcome resistance through advanced communication skills
* Able to present information to professional groups at all levels
* Exemplary leadership skills
* Assertiveness skills and ability to motivate, inspire and enthuse others
* Able to plan, prioritise and coordinate clinical workload across the team
* Able to perform advanced clinical skills in patient assessment and treatments
* Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines
* Ability to understand and manage the stress of others
* Good level of IT skills in word processing, spreadsheets, e‑mail and PowerPoint presentations
Skills (Desirable)
* Knowledge of, and participation in, financial management and budget control
Other Essential
* Willingness to work flexibly and at other sites when required
* Ability and willingness to undertake further training as necessary
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer Details
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Aintree University Hospital
Lower Lane
Fazakerley
L9 7AL
Employer’s website
https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
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