Job summary
We are looking for an experienced Practice Nurse who enjoys working in a small, friendly Practice.

This is an excellent opportunity for a registered Nurse with strong clinical skills who thrives in a collaborative Primary Care environment.

The Practice Nurse is to support nurses and other healthcare professionals within the organisation and across the wider network to enhance integration with community, secondary, and social care services.

This role is responsible for the delivery of evidence-based nursing services, working as part of the practice multi-disciplinary team, delivering care within their scope of practice to the entitled patient population.

Working autonomously, the Practice Nurse will be responsible for a number of clinical areas such as public health and screening programmes, including infection prevention and control, chronic disease management, immunisations, health promotion and prevention, well man/woman clinics and cervical screening, Furthermore, they embed population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access.

The post-holder will be an integral part of the general practice team, as well as supporting the wider practice nurse network and multi-disciplinary team. They are to participate in formal training events and to promote best practice in their area of expertise as well as supporting the practice management team in the reviewing and delivery of clinical policy and procedure.

Main duties of the job
This is an excellent opportunity for a registered nurse with strong clinical skills who thrives in a collaborative primary care environment.

Ideally, candidates will have experience in respiratory management, including asthma and COPD care; however, training and development may be considered for the right applicant.

About us
An exciting opportunity has opened up to become part of our experienced, supportive, and hardworking team, committed to delivering high-quality patient care.

We are looking for an experienced Practice Nurse who enjoys working in a small, friendly Practice, overlooking the Exe Estuary.

Job responsibilities
Ideally, candidates will have experience in respiratory management, including asthma and COPD care; however, training and development may be considered for the right applicant.

The following are the core responsibilities of the Practice Nurse in delivering health services:

• Support the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and work to the IPC Policy
• Consult with patients and their families to undertake assessments of patient need
• Support in the long-term condition management within the organisation, including being involved with quality improvement and assurance initiatives
• Develop, implement and embed an effective care management programme for the frail and housebound patients registered with the organisation
• Support public health and screening programmes, including immunisations, vaccinations, and cervical screening and also provide opportunistic health promotion advice
• Embed population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access
• As required, provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF
• Support new-to-practice nurses and other healthcare professionals within the organisation
• Teach and advise patients and their families on how to manage their condition
• Participate in clinical audits and research projects and implements changes as required, including supporting with the development, and updating of practice protocols/guidelines and procedures locally
• Work within national and local protocols where these exist
• Recognise the boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom patients should be referred
• Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements
• Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children
• Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events
• Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
• Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
• Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation
• Attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed
• Lead on public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics)
• Provide travel advice services
• Provide wound care (ulcer/Doppler, etc.) to patients
• Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation ensuring that SNOMED CT codes are used effectively
• Contribute to practice targets (QOF, etc.), complying with relevant guidance
• Maintain chronic disease registers and implement an effective call/recall system
• Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
• Chaperone patients where necessary
• Support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies
• Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients, etc.)
• There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Broad knowledge of general practice and experience of working as a Practice or Community Nurse
• Experience with chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of infection prevention and control measures
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients

Desirable

• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking
• An appreciation of the NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners

Clinical Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Experience of Practice Nurse skills including wound care, ECG, venepuncture, immunisations, new patient medicals and womans health (cervical cytology, contraception etc.)
• Request pathology tests and process the results, advising patients accordingly
• Understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice
• Ability to promote best practice regarding nursing matters
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understand when to refer to GPs
• Good clinical system IT knowledge and an ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people by telephone, email and face to face
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
• Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP surgeries, QOF and enhanced service
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient

Desirable

• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena and knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Knowledge of national standards that inform general practice (NSF NICE guidelines)

Other Requirements/Wider Responsibilities
Essential

• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health clearance
• Meet the requirements and produce evidence for professional revalidation
• Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role
• Flexibility to work outside core office hours

Desirable

• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse
• Has evidence of working at the relevant level of practice as described in the Primary Care and General Practice Nursing Career and Core Capabilities Framework

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Family planning qualification

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/local policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal and organisational skills
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Desirable

• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).