The successful candidate will be responsible for managing their own caseload, conducting face-to-face and telephone clinics, and ensuring effective communication across various healthcare disciplines. Additionally, the role requires adherence to professional nursing standards, participation in service development initiatives, and establishing connections with external epilepsy services. The Clinical Nurse Specialist will act as a key resource for patients and caregivers, providing expert advice and facilitating access to necessary services while upholding safeguarding principles.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Adult Epilepsy Service. The service is based at GSTT working over both main sites Guys Hospital and St Thomas' hospital. The post holder will act as a specialist and will demonstrate a high level of expertise within the specialist epilepsy service, providing advice, education and support to patients and their families and health care professionals. The post holder will work as part of the epilepsy nursing team but also autonomously proving assessment, planning , delivery and evaluation of specialist clinical nursing for people with epilepsy.
The post holder will work alongside the specialist consultants and allied health professionals in the department of neurology and neurophysiology taking a key role in the management of adult patients with epilepsy.
You will actively undertake clinical audits and research within the specialist area.
You will be responsible for contributing to the ongoing development of clinical practice, research and standards of care within the service, including development of policies, protocols and guidelines and contribute to service developments in collaboration with multidisciplinary colleagues.
The post holder will be required to provide face to face clinics , telephone clinics, ward and accident and emergency reviews.
About us
- To work collaboratively and liaise effectively with cross-specialty multi-professional healthcare teams to achieve a co-ordinated specialist service for patients with epilepsy.
- Assess adult patients with new seizures through to those with ongoing seizures
- Work in collaboration with the patient and multidisciplinary team to develop plans of care around all aspects of epilepsy management.
To develop and implement nurse led support, advice, review and drug monitoring services to enhance the clinical review of patients and meet the clinical governance agenda.
Be responsible for developing and working within evidence based specialist pathways of care, guidelines, protocols and patient group directions to support patient and their families, reviewing and updating plans and documentation.
To be involved in the development of the Epilepsy services in line with service demands and directorate policy
To co-ordinate the provision of specialist services to patients, both within hospital and/or in the community setting, effectively liaising with multidisciplinary colleagues
To be conversant with, and work within the recommendations made by the Royal College of Nursing and NICE.
Contribute to the development of Adult Epilepsy services through establishing links with colleagues nationally and internationally.
Ensure continued effective registration with the NMC and be aware of NMC Code of Professional Conduct. They must be accountable for their own practice. Be aware of the NMC Scope of Professional Practice and ensure competency to undertake duties as allocated. Ensure that a professional and updated Portfolio is maintained as per NMC guidance.
To act as the reference point for patient, their families and other carers (e.g. homecare) and assist in all aspects of their care pathway
Provide expert nursing advice to internal and external health/social care agencies on patients with Epilepsy
To develop and provide appropriate, comprehensive, concise and accessible patient / carer information for procedures and therapies.
Ensure that effective communication has been established with all disciplines, for patient and their families.
To uphold safeguarding principles when working with young people or vulnerable adult and their families.
Able to communicate very sensitive and distressing information to patients and families.
Provide specialist clinical advice, training and education to healthcare professionals within and outside the Trust.
Manage own workload / caseload within a defined specialist group.
Safely set up and maintain administration of all medications in accordance within the NMC Guidelines, Directorate and Trust policies. Where appropriate, to organise and undertake diagnostic tests led by the Neurology consultant
To participate in the promotion of the specialist service through dissemination of specialist knowledge, both locally and nationally.
Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in their speciality.
Able to interpret information and take appropriate action and lead others to do so.
To develop assessment tools to support high quality nursing interventions, and ensure the problems and needs of patient and/ or their carers are appropriately channelled.
Develop good networks with patients, their families and support groups. Seek the views of the service users and encourage participation in certain aspects of service development.
To establish collaborative working relationships with other Neurology- Epilepsy Nurse Specialists where relevant (outreach, day-care), and community nurses.
Ensure that effective communication has been established with all disciplines, patients and their relatives.
Communicates very sensitive and distressing information to patients and families. Ability to assess and advise patients and relatives in crisis situations and ensure that their needs are met by the whole team.
Enables and supports colleagues in developing effective communication skills particularly in difficult situations.
To use specialist knowledge to explain and re-assure patients about diagnosis, treatment options and outcomes.
To be an active member of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure smooth transition of care .
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