Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To deliver and evaluate a specialist nursing service for patients with heart failure alongside the existing team. To include:

·         Demonstrate appropriate practice in the care management of patients referred to the Nurse delivered heart failure service.

·         Triage referrals to the inpatient Nurse heart failure service to ensure patients are seen in as an inpatient or outpatient as appropriate.

·         Triage referrals from GPs for suspected HF clinic and that seen in a timely manner.

·         To work within trust wide clinical guidelines, policies and procedures, including those agreed for heart failure.

·         Assessment of individuals’ physical, psychological and social needs, requiring clinical reasoning, investigative and analytical skills aiming towards advance practice level

·         Planning, implementation and evaluation of specialised individual plans of care, recommending the best course of intervention. This necessitates high levels of autonomy and advocacy.

·         Demonstrating highly specialist knowledge, skills and innovative practice in the area of heart failure, underpinned by a sound evidence base and acting as a source of expertise.

·         Use of recognised outcome measures, assessment tools and clinical skills to evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter interventions as required.

·         Developing, implementing and evaluating referral systems for patients with heart failure.

·         Making appropriate and timely direct referrals to other health care professionals and other specialist services across primary, secondary and tertiary care. This will necessitate liaison with a wide range of individuals and a sound knowledge of the multidisciplinary team and the roles of its constituent professionals and the services provided

·         Establishing timely involvement and continuing support of patients and their families and carers

·         To act as an Independent non-medical prescriber in accordance with NICE guidance, local Trust heart failure guidelines and his or her scope of practice.

·         Requesting appropriate investigations and the analysis, interpretation and comparison of the findings.

COMMUNICATION

·         Promoting collaborative working across the trust and network and in partnership with other professionals and agencies, advising on practice and service development and delivery in relation to heart failure.

·         To liaise with health care professionals in both the hospital and the community, including the Community Heart Failure Service, to streamline care and maintain continuity

·         To work closely with the Consultant Cardiologists and other relevant Consultants to ensure that a high standard of care is delivered to heart failure patients.

·         Providing and receiving highly, sensitive information including diagnosis, prognosis and issues relating to lifestyle and behaviour change and where there may be significant barriers to acceptance requiring counselling and motivational interviewing skills.

·         Presenting specialised information relating to area of practice across the trust and network.

·         Ensuring concise and accurate documentation is kept in accordance with Trust policy including maintenance and management of records and reports.

·         To use and develop effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal to communicate with patients who may have barriers to understanding or communicating. For example patients with hearing or sight problems, cognitive problems or difficulty in accepting diagnosis.

QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS

·         Participating in the development and implementation of appropriate standards, protocols and operational policies.

·         To assist with the development and implementation of policies, procedures, guidelines and standards relating to a specialist nurse service for people with heart failure as required. Ensuring practice is based on best evidence, including the interpretation of national guidance at local level.

·         Demonstrating continuous evaluation of practice and service delivery. Designing and conducting audit and making appropriate changes following evaluation

·         Active participation in National Heart Failure audit on behalf of the Trust.

·         Promoting and disseminating current research and audit findings.

·         Demonstrating a highly specialist knowledge and application to practice of the clinical trials relating to heart failure.

·         Identifying researchable questions, gaps in practice and sources of potential funding.

MANAGERIAL AND ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILTIES

·         Planning and evaluating heart failure nursing activities in collaboration with the Director of Nursing and Quality, General Manager, Consultant Cardiologist and Lead Nurse

·         Developing, managing and monitoring the service in line with local and national requirements and guidelines.

·         Participating in the construction, implementation, review and modification of business plans to meet future service needs.

·         Identifying opportunities for improvements to the services and manage change in collaboration with others.

·         Generating, providing, analysing, recording and storing information to support decision-making.

·         Assessing, monitoring and managing risk, working within the clinical governance framework to improve service quality.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

·         To provide specialist advice with regard the purchase and commissioning of resources relating to the speciality.

·         Responsible for ensuring any equipment relating to practice is properly used and maintained.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The post holder will develop self and contribute to the development of the knowledge and practice of others by:

·         Providing support, information, education and training to meet the needs of multi-disciplinary professionals, patients, families and carers.

·         Supporting and challenging others on specific aspects of their practice.

·         Developing and evaluating written information.

·         Supporting student nurse placements.

·         Participate in developing strategies for sharing knowledge and influencing practice, including identifying, designing, delivering and evaluating learning initiatives.

·         Challenging professional and organisational boundaries in the interests of patients.

·         Providing evidence of academic achievement and professional experience and standing.

·         Facilitating open channels of communication to feedback ideas

·         Identifying and undertaking individual personal development plans for self, maintaining a professional portfolio, collecting evidence of personal development and reflective practice.

·         Participation in identifying, recommending, delivering and evaluating training

·         Establishing and maintaining a regional and national network of contact