Clinical Nurse Specialist

at  Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Clinical Responsibilities Demonstrate appropriate practice and specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care. Clinical decision-making adjusting doses of oral chemotherapy in line with local and national guidelines. Have a sound knowledge of oncology medications. Assess and recognise emergencies.
To interpret information and take appropriate action and lead others to do the same. To independently deliver nurse led clinics when required. To see children and families from the CYP oncology case load, providing direct care, education and support for patients and their families. Process telephone encounters with families and/or young person in a timely manner.
Be part of initial diagnosis of children with oncology disorders with the medical team, counselling families before diagnosis, carrying out blood tests and communicating results. Receive and raisereferrals of the CYP, working with the families and/or young person to support and educate with compassion. To communicate sensitive and distressing information to parents and families. Assess and advise patients and relatives in crisis situations and ensure that their needs are met by the whole team.
To work with each family using interpersonal skills to build a trusting relationship thus promoting concordance, recognising the dynamics of change for each family. To act as an expert resource for children and young people and their families, giving advice, education about diagnosis and treatment and support that is appropriately planned to meet each individual’s needs empowering them to manage their treatment regimes. This must be a dynamic process recognising the growth and development of the child and the changing themes of oncology disease. To prioritise care that can be offered to families taking a flexible approach.
To be aware of professional boundaries between nurse and family. To make appropriate referral and delegation of care to community childrens nurse. To assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care for the CYP liaising with schools as needed. Work with CYP oncology teams where appropriate and work in partnership with Birmingham Womens & Childrens Hospital..
Using expert judgement and analytical, problem-solving skills in the surveillance and recognition of changes in patients condition. To be aware of child protection issues and take appropriate action should there be concerns involving case conferences and planning meetings. To have an active understanding of the physiology of oncology disorders. To have an understanding of test results, and to be able to ensure that appropriate results can be explained to the family.
Plan, organise and monitor the management of care for children and young people with oncology disorders who are inpatients ensuring effective discharge planning. To be responsible for effective communication between tertiary, secondary, primary care and the family. Plan, organise and monitor a seamless transition of care for adolescent patients with CYP oncology disorders and their families to the adult team or GP ensuring full preparation for the young person. To ensure accuracy of documentation and maintain an efficient and accurate record system with relevant information in agreement.
To ensure safe storage of measurements or quality of life information and retrieve data such as trend plotting of these results. Access and utilise patient information through the PAS and ESR. Communication Maintain effective communication network with all multi-professionals, facilitating a multidisciplinary approach. To work effectively within the multidisciplinary oncology team including attending in-patients, ward rounds, to participate in weekly clinical meetings and out-patient clinics.
To act as advocate for the CYP. Act as an expert resource for medical staff both within the trust and outside. To liaise with the TCT or adult oncology team to ensure open exchange in the developments in the oncology service. To work with oncology service at Birmingham Women and Childrens Hospital to contribute to service development, change management and the development of policies and guidelines.
Leadership and Management In conjunction with the other multidisciplinary colleagues, contribute monthly/quarterly reports of case mix, workload and education activity which will be presented at Directorate meetings. Take an integral part in regional and national oncology related working groups. To participate in the presentation and publication of relevant research and best practice initiatives. To be actively involved with conferences & meetings, developing presenting skills in the regional and national setting.
To represent the Trust nationally. To network with other CYP Clinical Nurse Specialists throughout the UK, joining appropriate organisations in order to collaborate, share and benchmark practices and initiatives To obtain, evaluate and disseminate information to facilitate best practice for the CYP and their families. Regular meetings with group and Lead CYP Oncology Nurse Specialist to ensure co-ordination of care, continuity and planning changing in frequency from weekly to monthly according to current service needs.Maintain confidentiality of patient/family and staff information. Be discerning when confidential information should be shared.
To undertake all expanded role procedures according to agreed protocols within the scope of Professional Practice and identify areas for further advancement. Develop and maintain own clinical skills and knowledge of the oncology speciality that is evidenced based aiming to achieve a ‘best practice’ principle, keeping up to date with new advances in treatment and new developments in the world of children and young people oncology research. Manage time off and delegate care of patients appropriately. Professional Responsibilities Maintain own professional knowledge development and competence.
Assess own educational needs and keep up to date with clinical and nursing developments in line with requirements of NMC. Be aware of the Code of Professional Conduct and be professionally accountable for own actions. Work autonomously, when required, having accountability for decisions made (in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct). To manage own caseload managing own time on a weekly and monthly basis.
Education and Training Ensure staff are fully trained on the range of equipment, consumable products associated with the care and treatment of patients. Undertakes active teaching and assessing in the education and training of clinical and non-clinical staff to support the education strategy. Support staff undertaking SACT (Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment) competences. Act as a role model and clinical expert when liaising with the local primary healthcare teams, teachers and other relevant community health professionals in order to promote a better and on-going understanding of each child / young persons condition and associated symptoms and treatment regimes to promote effective continuity of care.
Act as a resource and mentor for other members of the paediatric specialist nurse team. To mentor post registration and pre-registration students as requested. Acting as role model and clinic expert undertake active teaching and assessing in the education and training of clinical and non-clinical staff to support the education strategy. Clinical Governance Support effective governance by disseminating good practice and promoting clinical audits.
Participate in Clinical Governance and Risk Management including participating in the development and implementation of audit and guidelines. Any policy development to be informed by Childrens Act and national service framework for children and young people. Participate with the investigation of complaints and incidents in line with Trust policy and procedure. Maintain high standards of nursing care within own practice and monitor the standard care.
Service Development Ensure constant provision of effective, high quality nursing care. Contribute in developing the quality and availability of children and young peoples related information for families and community health care professionals. Support and work with the children and young peoples multidisciplinary team in the introduction of clinical changes. To be actively involved in the development of oncology protocols and procedures e.g.
care pathway, in conjunction with other members of the oncology multidisciplinary team. Assist in introducing and applying research findings along with members of the CYP Oncology team to enhance the care of children and young people with Oncology disorders. Take a role in identifying and recommending relevant areas for research within childrens and young peoples nursing which will benefit patient care. Participate and be actively involved in multidisciplinary research studies of relevance to the care of patients with oncology , playing a lead role in liaising between the patient and the research team

Please refer the Job description for details