Band 8a - Lead Nurse Rheumatology Service

at  Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Rheumatology and Scleroderma services at Royal Free London are expanding!
We are elated to be seeking a band 8 a Lead Nurse who will be at the forefront of providing and leading our patient clinical support services.
You will lead and drive the improvement of our Rheumatology services at The Royal Free Hospital.
The Rheumatology service provides nationally recognised services for long term, acute and complex rheumatological conditions e.g. inflammatory arthritis, Lupus, Sarcoidosis, vasculitis, Adult Onset Stills diseases and Behçet’s disease .
We operate a large regional and national biologic therapy service. As well as providing diagnosis, long-term condition management alongside facilitating and managing an expert clinical advice service for our patient population.
For our nationally recognised services we manage patients with complex, acute and long-term rheumatological conditions.

We are looking for an exceptional candidate who already possess or will be working towards fostering the key attributes of advanced clinical practice and can implement them into every day clinical practice:

• Clinical Practice
• Education
• Leadership & Management
• Research

The Rheumatology service provides a diagnostic, wide ranging treatments and management advice service for a caseload of patients with a variety of Rheumatological conditions.

The Lead nurse will work closely with the Lead nurse for Scleroderma service, multi-disciplinary team, divisional/Trust leadership and shared care networks to plan and deliver a first-class clinical service. Including:

• Act as a visible role model and expert autonomous practitioner
• Provide strategic direction for Clinical Nurses Specialist team
• Lead on the development, and implementation of programmes of nursing led care for individual patients and the client group as a whole
• Lead training and education for nurses and allied health care professionals within the specialist area, internally and externally
• Contribute to development of the department’s clinical research strategy, and engage at all levels of research process
• Responsibility for excellent standards of nursing care to patients through the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating nurse-led services
• Lead on review and evaluate the provision of patient information & education sessions, in collaboration with the MDT
• Work with the clinical team to create and enable a positive patient experience and promote staff wellbeing

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s biggest and most innovative Trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated staff care for over 1.6 million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17 million tests.
Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top
For more information please follow link https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/
This vacancy has been advertised in accordance with the new NHS pay rate which will take effect from autumn 2024. Please note if your employment starts before the 24/25 pay scales are implemented you will be paid under the 23/24 pay scales and any backpay will be adjusted accordingly. Further information can be found at https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/pay-scales-202425 .

1.1 Always maintain professional behaviour and promote a positive image of Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust at all times, in line with World Class Care values
1.2 Practice as an expert, autonomous practitioner. Independently assess patients by using advanced clinical assessment skills and clinical judgement to take a detailed history, physically assess, make required differential diagnosis, order tests or investigations (including IRMER) required to confirm diagnosis, evaluate and review treatment plan
1.3 Triage refferrals within local protocols to ensure timely clinical review to increase patient access to specialist advice and treatment
1.4 Undertake independent and supplementary prescribing in accordance with the trust policies and within the scope of practice agreed by clinical lead, divisional director for nursing and clinical director for the division
1.5 Ensure effective communication is maintained both written and verbally, regarding patients, through close liaison with professional colleagues, both in primary and secondary care, and to develop working relationships with consultants, general practitioners and other support services
1.6 Act as a clinical resource in primary and secondary care on managing patients with Rheumatology care needs
1.7 Act as a first point of contact for patients/allied health care professionals seeking specialist advice via the clinical advice line and service email
1.8 Regulary review practice and explore new opportunities for developing and delivering excellence in specialist Rheumatology nursing
1.7 Ensure that all requirements for continuing professional development are met and to keep
abreast of new advances in the field of rheumatology as appropriate; to attend seminars,
unit meetings, and conferences as required by the department
1.9 Ensure infection control policies and procedures are followed at all times by self and all
members of the team