Children's Outpatients Ward Leader

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Clinical Nurse Specialist to join the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Team at King’s College Hospital. The post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care that supports early discharge, prevents hospital admissions, and enhances patient experience. This senior role will focus on improving quality, developing the OPAT service, and leading innovation through evidence-based practice and clinical leadership.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team within the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service. The primary aim of the role is to improve quality and redesign the patient journey to deliver a clinical and cost-effective service for patients who would otherwise require hospital admission or prolonged inpatient stay for the administration of parenteral antibiotics. The service is centered on providing safe, patient-focused care.

The post holder will play a key role in developing nursing expertise in Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy Service across the organisation, be instrumental in changing practice as required and will assist in enhancing and maintaining the current OPAT service with a view to developing the service further through research-based practice and audit.

The post holder will be available to offer advice to staff in all clinical areas of the Trust within limits of competence and role. The post holder will be skilled in venipuncture, cannulation, ultrasound Guided Vascular Access, insertion of PICC and midline and will manage Portacath and Hickman lines including troubleshooting.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Clinical Nursing Practice
To assist in the delivery of an expert specialist nursing service for people requiring OPAT service
To provide specialist nursing advice, clinical assessment and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through treatment.
Use clinical expertise and judgement to respond to clinical areas referrals for OPAT.
Identify patient suitability for inclusion in the OPAT service and for insertion of a suitable vascular access devise for this purpose
Competent to undertake venepuncture, cannulation, mid-line and PICC line insertion
Use specialist knowledge and skills for assessing and interpreting complex issues across a wide variety of disciplines, providing advice in the development of nursing standards and guidelines for patient care

To ensure continuity of a high standard of evidence based nursing care, assessing health related and holistic needs of patients, their families and other carers by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care.

This can include:
o Proactive Managing of OPAT caseload
o Initiating and interpreting tests and investigations, on-going monitoring
o Demonstrate sound knowledge of antibiotic therapy
o Making and receiving referrals based on the needs assessment of patients
o Develop practice to be able to deliver nurse led clinics supporting patients
requiring OPAT service and needs
o Support the team and organisation in delivering innovative services to support
patient access to the OPAT team
o Assessing and meeting patients on going care, health and wellbeing needs and develop a care plan and action referrals as a result
o Using data to identify high-risk individuals and groups and to ensure that services meet their needs

· Ensuring clear documentation in the patient’s records of all significant consultations in accordance with Best Records Keeping Guidance
· To be actively involved in in-patient care, liaising with ward staff to ensure high quality nursing care
· To support the reduction of hospital ad community acquired blood stream infections due to venous access, taking into account relevant legislation, published guidelines and local policies.
· Identify educational needs for patients and/or carers with regard to the management of their IV access device, self-administration of IV access devices prior to their discharge (if appropriate), and clinical staff who will be caring for the patient prior to discharge
· Act as a key worker point of contact for patient using the OPAT and related enquires ensuring that patient have an expert advice on their treatment
· Ensure all patients receive appropriate follow-up and that relevant information is available to enable patients to make an informed choice about their treatment and care
· Support patients with decision making about their acre or treatment, ensuring shared decision making
· Take responsibility for delivery of Key Performance Indicators (KPI`s) related to OPAT
· To follow-up patients as appropriate and ensure all relevant information is available to enable patients to make an informed choice about their care and treatment throughout their pathway of care
· To deliver a seamless service through the development of Multidisciplinary team processes and communication
· To work collaboratively with as other MDTs at Denmark Hill or Princes Royal Hospital site where care needs require
· To participate in the identification and development of clinical protocols and strategies to enhance both the continuity and standard of specialist care whilst ensuring equity of access to the service
· To participate in the process of operational policies and review annually in accordance with national standards
· Review and update clinical information offered to patients every two years
· To ensure all care is given in accordance with agreed protocols
· Provide support and education to patients and their families
· To work with the MDT to develop, implement and evaluate integrated care pathways
and systems of MDT documentation
· To liaise with local community, social services, paramedics and voluntary organisations in order to develop existing services for clients, carers and health professionals
· To participate in relevant forum at Care Group, Trust, ICS or National/International level to represent the service perspective.
· To provide support to Infectious Diseases consultants during the ID follow-up clinic
· Support the OPAT consultant and pharmacist with the provision of precise and prompt prescriptions, within the independent prescriber’s scope of practice, delivered in a timely manner, as per the Trust non-medical prescribing guidance

Please see full JD for further job description.

Person specification

Essential Desirable: Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• NMC Level 1 Registered Nurse
• Educated to Degree level or above
• Advanced clinical assessment skills or willingness to develop these
• Relevant post-registration qualification and evidence of professional development
• Non-medical prescriber or willingness to undertake course

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Clinical experience in relation to all types of vascular access devices and IV Therapy.
• Significant experience at Band 6 (or equivalent) or above within specific specialist area.
• Experience in placing vascular access devices

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Competent in undertaking: -Venepuncture -Cannulation
• Communication skills: ability to impart complex information to patients, relatives and carers, with different levels of understanding
• Strong leadership skills

Desirable criteria

• Clinical skills to include: -Ultrasound Guided Vascular Access -Insertion (PICC) -Management of Hickman and Porta Cath

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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