Job overview
The overall aim of the community heart failure service is to prevent avoidable hospital admissions as well as improving patient’s knowledge and understanding of their own condition. Clinical aims are to optimise medical therapy and refer on to hospital colleagues for advanced heart failure non-medical management.
1. Provide clinical assessments that will enable patients whenever possible to optimise or maintain their health & independence within the home.
2. Help patients achieve optimum quality of life irrespective of where they are in their disease progression.
3. Work collaboratively across health, social care, voluntary & private sectors to provide a seamless service for all service users.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will support in the delivery of high quality Heart Failure nursing services throughout the trust to minimise and reduce the impact of heart failure ensuring a seamless, co-ordinated and timely approach to care.
To manage the day to day care of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Heart Failure (HF). This will involve running and maintaining specialist cardiac nurse led clinics and providing a home visiting service which will enhance the care of HF and cardiac patients within the primary care setting, thereby aiming to improve their quality of life and prevent avoidable admissions to the acute sector. Work as a Specialist Nurse for HF managing a defined patient caseload, without day to day supervision including independent prescribing. To work with Primary Care Staff providing specialist advice and support on HF to develop high levels of clinical competence and performance in all areas of Chronic HF.
The post holder will be working alongside other clinical colleagues to provide expert individualised care, treatment and support for this patient group and their families/carers independently in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team in line with local and national targets. They will play a key role within this team in order They will organise the education of nurses, medical staff, allied health professionals (AHP’s), patients and carers and participate in heart failure teaching development where appropriate.
Working for our organisation
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We are exceptionally proud of our service and are seeking a motivated and driven individual to join the team as a band 7 Community Heart Failure Specialist Nurse covering West Mid and South Bedfordshire.
Person specification
Education/Qualification/Training
Essential criteria
4. Relevant professional qualification and current registration
5. Independent Nurse prescriber or willing to undertake training
6. Degree relevant to clinical field or working towards
7. Advanced clinical assessment skills/ training Phlebotomy trained or willing to undertake
8. Teaching/ mentoring qualification
9. Clear evidence of ongoing clinical and professional development
Desirable criteria
10. Post registration Cardiac Course
11. Glasgow Caledonian Heart Failure Management Course
Other
Essential criteria
12. Has a UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
Experience
Essential criteria
13. Evidence of significant post registration experience in cardiac nursing including experience at Band 6
14. Evidence of working recently clinically with heart failure patients
15. Experience in managing conflict and difficult situations
16. Experience in managing conflict and difficult situations
Desirable criteria
17. Experience in teaching both patients and staff, and developing/ facilitating appropriate learning sessions
18. Experience in developing guidelines, audit, evaluation and report writing
19. Demonstrate experience in monitoring quality of service provided
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
20. In depth knowledge and understanding of the current evidence based practice in the management of cardiac conditions.
21. Knowledge of the principles of Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Children
22. Knowledge of the principles of health promotion and prevention of illness
23. Demonstrate excellent communication skills using a variety techniques and strategies, i.e. email, documentation/ record keeping, active listening, verbal.
24. Excellent analytical, reflective and problem solving skills
25. Able to prioritise and manage own time to meet the needs of the service
26. Able to work to deadlines and under pressure
Desirable criteria
27. Understanding of National and Local issues that impact on the population in the management of cardiac patients in Bedfordshire.