Job overview
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is committed to delivering excellent, compassionate care. Our MS Service supports around 3,000 patients across Lancashire and is run by a small team of experienced MS Specialist Nurses working within a dedicated multi-disciplinary team. We are now offering an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join our service.
Based in the Department of Neurology at the Royal Preston Hospital, the role involves supporting patients and families locally and through outreach clinics held across district hospitals in Lancashire, ensuring all patients have access to specialist MS care.
We are looking for a nurse with good knowledge of neurological conditions, particularly MS, and experience of caring for people with long‑term conditions. You should be able to manage your own caseload, work effectively both independently and within a small team, and demonstrate a caring, proactive and flexible approach. Non‑medical prescribing qualification, or a commitment to work towards it, is essential. As the role involves travel across a wide geographical area, you must be a car driver with access to a vehicle.
You will receive high‑quality training, ongoing professional development and a comprehensive induction. We offer a supportive team environment with opportunities to develop your skills and contribute to the continued growth of the MS service.
Main duties of the job
You will manage their own caseload and clinics, monitoring patients receiving disease modifying treatments, providing a systematic and holistic approach to the management of people with MS.
You will provide education and support around diagnosis and treatments. You will work 22.5 hours per week covering Monday to Friday between 8am-5pm.
Working for our organisation
The MS service covers the whole of Lancashire, based at Royal Preston Hospital covering clinics outreach clinics in each local area. The team currently has 2 x Lead MS Specialist Nurses, 2 x MS Nurses, 1 x Disease Modifying Treatment Coordinator and 2 x Clerical Officers.
Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.
You’ll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you’d never have done. You’ll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.
You’ll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care and enhancing their experience which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To support the MS Specialist Nurse in ensuring the provision of excellent care with compassion for patients and relatives who are cared for within the team.
In order to provide excellent care with compassion the MS Support Nurse will ensure that:
· All patients involved in decisions about their care and have agreed their plan of care.
· All patients provided with information and opportunities to learn about their condition.
· All patients feel they have been treated with dignity and respect.
· Appropriate members of the wider multidisciplinary team are engaged in the planning and provision of care and treatment for patients as required.
· All patients are happy with the care and compassion received and have had frequent opportunities to discuss their care with the MS Nurse responsible for their care.
· Supports the implementation and monitoring of adherence to relevant clinical guidelines.
· The documentation of patient care is contemporaneous, occurs during the consultation with the patient and meets professional and trust standards, clearly indicates the care required and provided and the outcome of care.
To assist and support the MS Specialist Nurse in ensuring a high standard of care is delivered, based on assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care to meet patients’ needs.
In order to assist and support the MS Specialist Nurse in ensuring a high standard of care is delivered the Multiple Sclerosis Support Nurse will:
· Plans care in partnership with the people with MS in their caseload, facilitating their choice and involvement in decision making.
· Provide training, support and monitoring patients as required within their caseload, who are receiving disease modifying treatments.
· Promotes self-management for people with MS, providing education and support as required, to people with MS, patient groups and other professionals in the care of people with MS.
· Makes appropriate referrals to other health professionals as necessary.
Assist and support the MS Specialist Nurse in the safe and effective management of the MS Service
In order to assist and support in the safe and effective management of the MS Service the Multiple Sclerosis Support Nurse will:
· Maintain own nursing skills and competencies
· Maintain a current CPD portfolio in line with Trust policy and NMC registration
· Participate in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities.
· Achieve required standards for revalidation.
· Ensure own practice meets professional and Trust standards and provide high standards across the service.
· Communicate in a consistent, professional, approachable, helpful and timely manner.
· Comply fully with the Trust uniform policy
To assist and support the MS Specialist Nurse in the delivery and co-ordination of care through appropriate professional practice.
In order to assist and support the MS Specialist Nurse in the delivery and co-ordination of care through appropriate professional practice the Multiple Sclerosis Support Nurse will:
· Proactively manage risk and maintain patient safety, conforming to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
· Complies with all policies and procedures related to infection prevention and control.
· Ensure the environment of care is safe, well equipped and compliant with standards for hygiene and cleanliness.
· Maintains excellent relationships with the MDT and liaises effectively to ensure seamless care.
· Delivers evidence based, individualised care through holistic needs assessment and evaluation of all care interventions.
· Plans and delivers work within their assigned caseload and effectively manages their own diary.
· Develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters or difficult situations, in an appropriate, supportive and empathic manner.
· Participates in data collection and recruitment for research projects in line with research protocols. · Participates in quantitative and qualitative data collection of the MS Service.
Safeguards people and promotes equality in care and practice by recognising, respecting and meeting the needs and choices of individuals
· Safeguards children, young people and adults, escalating concerns in line with trust policy and regulatory frameworks.
· Acts in accordance with current legislation, policies, procedures and good practice relating to equality & diversity.
· Take action to address behaviour that undermines equality and diversity.
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
1. Appropriate NMC registration
2. Degree in Nursing
3. Non-Medical Prescribing (or willing to work towards)
4. Post Registration Qualifications relevant to the role
5. Mentorship qualification
Desirable criteria
6. Level 4 ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) or equivalent
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
7. Experience and knowledge of Neurology Medicine and MS
8. Able to perform clinical duties commensurate to that of the role e.g. Venepuncture, Cannulation
9. Ability to Implement changes within nursing practice
10. Evidence of clinical competence in area of speciality
11. Experience in the care of MS patients
Desirable criteria
12. Evidence of working at Band 6
13. Experience in Nurse-led clinics
14. Experience developing guidelines/protocols