Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Practice Development Nurse within the Corporate Practice Development Team. This role supports Community Services at the University Hospital Lewisham in creating and sustaining a high-quality learning environment, enabling staff to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to deliver safe and effective patient care.

The post holder will work in partnership with Divisional teams, the Clinical Academy, and Corporate Practice Development Leads to identify learning needs, deliver education, and support practice development aligned to organisational priorities. The role includes providing shadowing sessions, supporting workforce capability, and contributing to the delivery, organisation, and academic components of key Trust programmes, including the Fundamentals of Medical Care course. This includes supporting teaching, course coordination, and academic processes such as assessment and marking.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the District Nursing Service provides a progressive learning environment for all grades of Clinical Staff within their remit. The post holder will support and coordinate the development of Registered Nurse, Nursing Associates, Health Care Support Workers and both pre- and post-registration learners by co-ordinating educational activities and assessments of learning within the department.

The post holder will actively promote and contribute to inter-professional learning activities across the Division and Trust wide, acting as an effective role model for best practice registered professional. The post holder will provide educational and clinical support for the Registered Professionals in the clinical area.

We welcome applications from those interested in developing into the role of Practice Development Nurse. You will initially be employed as a Practice Development NurseDevelopmental Post (Band 6) and you will be supported through a practice development programme, once all the set elements of the program are completed and signed off, you will automatically progress into a Practice Development Nurse (Band 7) role.

About us
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

Job responsibilities
Practice Development Nurse are expected to be compassionate, responsive and professional, contributing to the quality of the services we provide by:

• Working in accordance with the regulating body NMC, Trust and Clinical Academy Policies and Procedures.
• Ensuring that own practice demonstrates current clinical knowledge
• Working alongside clinical staff in the community to support individual Nurses in developing their practice.
• Producing written accounts of relevant episodes of clinical facilitation, documenting learning achieved and areas for further development.
• Demonstrating highly developed specialist knowledge in clinical settings and supporting the advancement of knowledge and skills using approved assessment procedures.
• Working effectively as part of the multi-professional, inter-disciplinary team, encouraging and supporting other health care professionals in the promotion and maintenance of an effective learning environment.
• Maintaining effective working relations with colleagues at all levels and from all professions within the Division, always ensuring effective communication.
• Able to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information which might include discussions about academic progress, safe practice and professional standards.

Qualifications and Training
Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse
• A Degree in Nursing or equivalent
• A clinical expert either through formal qualification (diploma/degree) and/or extensive clinical experience pertinent to the area.
• Other appropriate post basic qualifications and experience
• Appropriate Mentorship/ Practice Supervisor/ Practice Assessor qualification

Desirable

• Teaching qualification (PG Certificate Practice Education or equivalent) or a willingness to work towards one
• Leadership and Management course

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience of Band 6 acute care experience
• Significant and proven clinical and management skills within a relevant clinical field
• Evidence of effective multi-disciplinary working.
• Previous involvement in quality initiatives.
• Experience in teaching, mentoring and assessment

Desirable

• Experience of audit/QI Project
• Experience of inter-professional teaching and learning in the clinical environment including undergraduate medical education

Experience Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Demonstrates evidence of developing innovative practice and of being proactive in managing change
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Computer literate with good skills using the Microsoft packages
• Presentation skills
• Research awareness and demonstrates how this relates to practice
• Demonstrates an understanding of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
• Awareness of current developments in own clinical specialty.

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Able to work clinically and undertake a full range of duties with regards to patient care
• Demonstrates commitment to high standards of patient care and service delivery
• A genuine desire to be a learning facilitator with demonstrable enthusiasm for practice development

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).