Job summary
The Band 7 Blood Borne Virus (BBV) Nurse Specialist will provide expert, autonomous and evidence-based specialist nursing care to people living with or at risk of blood borne viruses, including HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and hepatitis D.

Working across hospital and community settings, the post holder will provide an integrated specialist service that supports early diagnosis, treatment, prevention and long-term management of BBV infection. The role will involve managing a complex caseload, undertaking specialist clinical assessment, supporting treatment and monitoring, providing health promotion and education, and coordinating care across organisational and professional boundaries.

The post holder will act as a senior clinical resource and expert practitioner, providing specialist advice to patients, carers and healthcare professionals. They will work collaboratively with HIV, infectious diseases, hepatology, sexual health, primary care, community, substance misuse, prison healthcare and voluntary-sector services to ensure patients receive coordinated and person-centred care.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will manage a complex caseload, undertaking comprehensive clinical assessments, developing and evaluating individualised care plans, supporting diagnosis and treatment, and coordinating ongoing care. They will provide specialist advice, education and health promotion to patients, carers and healthcare professionals, promoting treatment adherence, self-management, prevention and risk reduction.

A key responsibility will be strengthening the interface between hospital and community services. The post holder will work collaboratively with primary care, sexual health, infectious diseases, hepatology, substance misuse, prison healthcare, community and voluntary-sector services.

The post holder will provide clinical leadership and act as an expert resource, supporting staff through education, supervision, mentorship and specialist advice. They will contribute to service development, audit, research, quality improvement and implementation of evidence-based practice.

The role requires a high level of clinical autonomy, professional judgement and leadership, with a strong focus on reducing health inequalities and delivering safe, effective, compassionate and person-centred BBV care.

Job responsibilities
Clinical Safety in a potentially High-Risk, Lifelong Condition
A senior CNS:

• Ensures prompt identification of newly diagnosed BBV patients
• Reduces clinical risk through consistent clinical decision-making
• Oversees safe antiretroviral prescribing and monitoring if needed
• Onward referrals to other HIV services if not from the Liverpool area

Without strong clinical leadership, variation in care can directly compromise patient safety.

A senior CNS ensures:

• Seamless coordination between disciplines
• Clear clinical accountability
• Timely escalation of complex cases

This integration is critical for patients with comorbidities, or safeguarding needs.

Responsibilities

• Leads clinical audit and quality improvement
• Maintains robust governance structures
• Stigma-related distress - available to advise how to deal with difficult situations
• Provides expert clinical advice around testing and treatment
• Builds confidence in managing complex cases
• Long-term service stability
• Consistent, expert clinical oversight with continuity of clinical standards
• Trusting relationships with services eg BBV and ED
• Sets the tone for compassionate, high-quality care
• Directly contributes to better clinical outcomes

Essential Qualifications

• Registered general Nurse
• ENB 998 or equivalent
• Evidence of CPD/Short courses
• Degree or equivalent (relevant discipline)
• Completion of short courses in specialist field

Desirable Qualifications

• ENB 276, ENB 934, 280 Counselling Course, Nurse prescribing Course

Essential Experience

• Experience of advising and liaising with multi professional teams
• Experience of working in partnership with community services
• Experience of successful multi-agency working
• Demonstrable experience in HIV/Hepatitis medicine or GUM, or Infectious Diseases or drug services
• Experience of working with diverse cultural/social groups

Desirable Experience

• Evidence of experience in Infectious Diseases/ Liver services / Drug services
• Has experience in teaching both one to one and on a formal basis
• Evidence of presentation at local or national conferences
• Experience of developing pathways/protocols
• Evidence of recent audit or research involvement

Essential Knowledge

• Evidence of influencing, motivating and negotiating with others to achieve change in relation to care
• Awareness of current national and local agenda in NHS and Social Care
• Evidence of being able to communicate complex, sensitive information and advice on healthcare to patients/clients, carers and colleagues
• Understanding how other agencies work
• IT literate
• Awareness of factors that contribute to good health and the importance of promoting these in line with organisational public health policy

Essential Skills

• Ability to work to deadlines and manage a diverse workload
• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills
• Ability to understand and analyse complex data
• Risk assessment skills
• Ability to network with multidisciplinary colleagues
• Self-management and motivation skills
• Report writing skills

Desirable Skills

• Research skills

Essential Other

• Confidence to challenge poor practice and ability to address difficult issues
• Ability to travel to work across boundaries

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Location: Linda Mc Cartney - Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Mount Vernon Street, Liverpool, L7 8TF
Contract: Fixed term, 2 years
Working pattern: Full-time
Pay scheme: Agenda for change, Band 7
Closing date: 02 November 2026

Contact: Eimear Kealey-Smith, Blood Borne Virus Nurse Consultant, eimear.kealey-smith@liverpoolft.nhs.uk, 01517062966

Apply through our website.