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Main areas of responsibility and duties
Clinical
The CNS for the CFS service is responsible for supporting patients and their carers at any stage of their illness by providing:
- Clinical care in the speciality of CFS/ME with clinical supervision and support to ensure a high-quality service.
- With support undertake pre-diagnostic assessment and ongoing assessment of patients needs and formulating/developing an individualised care plan in line with NICE (20guidelines.
- Identifying patients with high levels of anxiety and depression who are at risk and liaising with appropriate services as part of safeguarding responsibilities and duties.
Triaging of new referrals involving high level clinical decision making, in conjunction with the lead consultant, referrer and patients to ensure appropriate placement in service pathway.
A co-ordinated specialist service by working within their scope of practice, and within a multi-disciplinary team, to maintain and improve standards of care through evidence-based best practice.
- A resource - giving advice on the control of physical and psychological symptoms, to patients, carers and health professionals, in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team.
- Counselling skills, e.g. motivational interviewing, to support patients making and sustaining behaviour changes.
- Information and support for patients with CFS/ME to meet their needs and the needs of their families/carers, respecting diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
- Assistance with the transfer of information between professionals including between hospital and community whilst ensuring confidentiality to provide a good standard of care
Out-Patient Responsibilities:
Nurse-led services:
To conduct comprehensive pre-diagnostic assessments under supervision of the Band 7 CNS and Lead Consultant.
Educating patients and their families/carers on the possible causes of CFS/ME and the various treatment options available.
Timely and coordinated referral to other members of the CFS/ME team where appropriate to improve patient management.
Follow-up patients by telephone, email to ensure their well-being and to provide support.
Subjects referred with suspected CFS/ME:
Triaging of new referrals involving high level clinical decision making in conjunction with Band 7 CNS, Lead Consultant, referrer and patient.
Take a history and assessment of new patients referred to the service in liaison with the CNS.
With support, interpret results of blood tests to exclude other causes.
Participate in the presentation and discussion of new patients to the multidisciplinary team and Consultant.
To plan and implement patient centred evidenced based care.
Possible involvement in collection of blood samples for research as instructed by Consultant Lead.
Liaise with GPs on the optimum management of patients. Co-ordinate appointments for medical review including recommendations for further tests after consultation with Consultant.
Recommendations for dietary referral and advice where appropriate.
Provide patients, their family/carers, and other health professionals with contact numbers for the clinic.
Communication
- Provide advice for Trust staff caring for CFS/ME patients.
- Provide a telephone resource service for primary care clinicians e.g. (GPs, practice nurses, occupational therapy (OT), Mental Health Teams etc).
- Liaise with LMDT (local multidisciplinary team) regarding plan of care and document in patient notes.
- Liaise with other CNCCs (clinical network co-ordinating centres) and regional LMDT to remain informed of best practice, research and service provisions allowing for equity of access for patients.
- Liaise with primary care to facilitate a seamless service for patients requiring ongoing community support.
Management
The CFS/ME CNS will contribute to the effective operation of the service by:
- With supervision managing a caseload of patients with CFS/ME, many of whom will have other co-morbidities, e.g. anxiety and depression.
- Participating in cross-site working and liaising with other professionals and agencies to provide a seamless service.
- Ensuring that referral criteria to and from the service and other healthcare professionals are clearly defined.
- Contributing to the maintenance of accurate patient records and providing information to other services as appropriate.
- Participating in the collection and retrieval of data to monitor and evaluate the service.
- Contributing to national initiatives through the CFS/ME networks.
- Having the knowledge of, and facilitating access to external sources of funding, e.g. grants and benefits
- Contributing to the collection and management of data relating to the minimum data set as per national guideline
Education
The CFS/ME CNS will alongside the CNS provide specialist education and training to other staff, students, patients and carers by:
- Promoting evidence-based practice in the context of care of patients with CFS/ME needs.
- Assisting in the development of CFS/ME policies, procedures and clinical protocols within the Trust.
- Acting as an educational resource for all professional groups within the Trust.
- Identifying training needs and implementing appropriate education programmes for patients, carers and staff. Where necessary, this should be in conjunction with the Trusts Education/Training Departments
- Contributing to CFS/ME education programmes in associated establishments, e.g. GP training.
- Ensuring engagement in continuing professional development and mandatory training in order to meet Trust and professional requirements for safe practice and maintain a high-quality service.
Research and Development
The CFS/ME CNS contributes to the maintenance of effective Clinical Governance within the Trust by:
- Participating in audit activities that will inform and develop practice and/or service provision.
- Undertaking or participating in any research projects related to CFS/ME.
Communications and working relationships
The CFS multi-disciplinary team
Patients, Families and Carers
Other CFS teams in the CFS network (BACME)
Service users and local support groups
Community Nursing and Therapy Teams
Community Matrons
Hospital Care Staff
Primary Care (including Practice Organisations)
PALS/ Complaints
Voluntary Services
Local Authorities
Independent Care Homes
Professional and General
The CFS/ME CNS will conduct him/herself in a professional manner at all times by:
- Acting in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Practice for Nurses/Midwives and Health Visitors.
- Acting in accordance with the Trust Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Data Protection and Managing Diversity policies.
- Comply with the trusts reporting and management of incidents policy.
- Carrying out such duties as may be required and are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade.
Band 6 Nurse Specialist - Chronic fatigue Service - Mat Cover
This is an exciting opportunity for a fixed term 12 month contract covering maternity Leave. The post holder, in conjunction with other members of the ME/Chronic Fatigue Service multi-disciplinary team, will provide a high-quality service to patients with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and those patient with Long COVID, based on nationally recommended guidelines for treatment, in order to promote management of, and recovery from ME/CFS (NICE 2021). The post-holder will be responsible for developing and delivering a highly specialised nursing service to patients with ME/CFS working under the supervision of a Nabd 7 CNS. This will be achieved by triaging new referrals, undertaking comprehensive pre-diagnostic patient assessments, managing a patient caseload, delivering group education and lifestyle management programmes, liaison with GPs and other healthcare professionals, consultation, teaching and training to the team and other health professionals.
Training in all aspects of working with patients with ME/CFS will be provided for this post.
The main duties include:
Triaging
- ME/CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion where collation of medical history and interpreting blood tests are a vital part of the triaging process. Attention to detail is important together with building a broad knowledge base of medical conditions.
Assessment
- conducting holistic comprehensive assessments, gathering clinical information and report writing skills are essential.
Follow up clinics
- ability to manage own caseload providing support and advice
Opportunity to participate in education seminars and patient group programmes.
Ability to work sensitively and compassionately with a marginalised patient population who are often misunderstood by medical professionals.
Main areas of responsibility and duties
Clinical
The CNS for the CFS service is responsible for supporting patients and their carers at any stage of their illness by providing:
- Clinical care in the speciality of CFS/ME with clinical supervision and support to ensure a high-quality service.
- With support undertake pre-diagnostic assessment and ongoing assessment of patients needs and formulating/developing an individualised care plan in line with NICE (20guidelines.
- Identifying patients with high levels of anxiety and depression who are at risk and liaising with appropriate services as part of safeguarding responsibilities and duties.
Triaging of new referrals involving high level clinical decision making, in conjunction with the lead consultant, referrer and patients to ensure appropriate placement in service pathway.
A co-ordinated specialist service by working within their scope of practice, and within a multi-disciplinary team, to maintain and improve standards of care through evidence-based best practice.
- A resource - giving advice on the control of physical and psychological symptoms, to patients, carers and health professionals, in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team.
- Counselling skills, e.g. motivational interviewing, to support patients making and sustaining behaviour changes.
- Information and support for patients with CFS/ME to meet their needs and the needs of their families/carers, respecting diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
- Assistance with the transfer of information between professionals including between hospital and community whilst ensuring confidentiality to provide a good standard of care
Out-Patient Responsibilities:
Nurse-led services:
To conduct comprehensive pre-diagnostic assessments under supervision of the Band 7 CNS and Lead Consultant.
Educating patients and their families/carers on the possible causes of CFS/ME and the various treatment options available.
Timely and coordinated referral to other members of the CFS/ME team where appropriate to improve patient management.
Follow-up patients by telephone, email to ensure their well-being and to provide support.
Subjects referred with suspected CFS/ME:
Triaging of new referrals involving high level clinical decision making in conjunction with Band 7 CNS, Lead Consultant, referrer and patient.
Take a history and assessment of new patients referred to the service in liaison with the CNS.
With support, interpret results of blood tests to exclude other causes.
Participate in the presentation and discussion of new patients to the multidisciplinary team and Consultant.
To plan and implement patient centred evidenced based care.
Possible involvement in collection of blood samples for research as instructed by Consultant Lead.
Liaise with GPs on the optimum management of patients. Co-ordinate appointments for medical review including recommendations for further tests after consultation with Consultant.
Recommendations for dietary referral and advice where appropriate.
Provide patients, their family/carers, and other health professionals with contact numbers for the clinic.
Communication
- Provide advice for Trust staff caring for CFS/ME patients.
- Provide a telephone resource service for primary care clinicians e.g. (GPs, practice nurses, occupational therapy (OT), Mental Health Teams etc).
- Liaise with LMDT (local multidisciplinary team) regarding plan of care and document in patient notes.
- Liaise with other CNCCs (clinical network co-ordinating centres) and regional LMDT to remain informed of best practice, research and service provisions allowing for equity of access for patients.
- Liaise with primary care to facilitate a seamless service for patients requiring ongoing community support.
Management
The CFS/ME CNS will contribute to the effective operation of the service by:
- With supervision managing a caseload of patients with CFS/ME, many of whom will have other co-morbidities, e.g. anxiety and depression.
- Participating in cross-site working and liaising with other professionals and agencies to provide a seamless service.
- Ensuring that referral criteria to and from the service and other healthcare professionals are clearly defined.
- Contributing to the maintenance of accurate patient records and providing information to other services as appropriate.
- Participating in the collection and retrieval of data to monitor and evaluate the service.
- Contributing to national initiatives through the CFS/ME networks.
- Having the knowledge of, and facilitating access to external sources of funding, e.g. grants and benefits
- Contributing to the collection and management of data relating to the minimum data set as per national guideline
Education
The CFS/ME CNS will alongside the CNS provide specialist education and training to other staff, students, patients and carers by:
- Promoting evidence-based practice in the context of care of patients with CFS/ME needs.
- Assisting in the development of CFS/ME policies, procedures and clinical protocols within the Trust.
- Acting as an educational resource for all professional groups within the Trust.
- Identifying training needs and implementing appropriate education programmes for patients, carers and staff. Where necessary, this should be in conjunction with the Trusts Education/Training Departments
- Contributing to CFS/ME education programmes in associated establishments, e.g. GP training.
- Ensuring engagement in continuing professional development and mandatory training in order to meet Trust and professional requirements for safe practice and maintain a high-quality service.
Research and Development
The CFS/ME CNS contributes to the maintenance of effective Clinical Governance within the Trust by:
- Participating in audit activities that will inform and develop practice and/or service provision.
- Undertaking or participating in any research projects related to CFS/ME.
Communications and working relationships
The CFS multi-disciplinary team
Patients, Families and Carers
Other CFS teams in the CFS network (BACME)
Service users and local support groups
Community Nursing and Therapy Teams
Community Matrons
Hospital Care Staff
Primary Care (including Practice Organisations)
PALS/ Complaints
Voluntary Services
Local Authorities
Independent Care Homes
Professional and General
The CFS/ME CNS will conduct him/herself in a professional manner at all times by:
- Acting in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Practice for Nurses/Midwives and Health Visitors.
- Acting in accordance with the Trust Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Data Protection and Managing Diversity policies.
- Comply with the trusts reporting and management of incidents policy.
- Carrying out such duties as may be required and are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade.
Band 6 Nurse Specialist - Chronic fatigue Service - Mat Cover
This is an exciting opportunity for a fixed term 12 month contract covering maternity Leave. The post holder, in conjunction with other members of the ME/Chronic Fatigue Service multi-disciplinary team, will provide a high-quality service to patients with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and those patient with Long COVID, based on nationally recommended guidelines for treatment, in order to promote management of, and recovery from ME/CFS (NICE 2021). The post-holder will be responsible for developing and delivering a highly specialised nursing service to patients with ME/CFS working under the supervision of a Nabd 7 CNS. This will be achieved by triaging new referrals, undertaking comprehensive pre-diagnostic patient assessments, managing a patient caseload, delivering group education and lifestyle management programmes, liaison with GPs and other healthcare professionals, consultation, teaching and training to the team and other health professionals.
Training in all aspects of working with patients with ME/CFS will be provided for this post.
The main duties include:
Triaging
- ME/CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion where collation of medical history and interpreting blood tests are a vital part of the triaging process. Attention to detail is important together with building a broad knowledge base of medical conditions.
Assessment
- conducting holistic comprehensive assessments, gathering clinical information and report writing skills are essential.
Follow up clinics
- ability to manage own caseload providing support and advice
Opportunity to participate in education seminars and patient group programmes.
Ability to work sensitively and compassionately with a marginalised patient population who are often misunderstood by medical professionals.
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