Clinical Nurse Specialist for Parkinson’s Device Assisted Therapies

Job overview

The job purpose is to form the core of a device assisted therapies (DAT)service at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. This service forms a comprehensive care pathway for those with advanced/complex Parkinson’s disease, allowing equitable access to infusion based dopaminergic treatments (apomorphine, foslevodopa-foscarbidopa and levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel) and Deep Brain Stimulation within the catchment area of UHPNT.

Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS at Risk staff throughout Devon who is able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.

Main duties of the job

UHPNT will be the first centre across the South West Peninsula to run a dedicated DAT clinic, it is anticipated that satellite clinics will in due course open at other acute NHS Trusts across the South West Peninsula. Part of the role of the proposed candidates will be to provide support for Parkinson’s nurse specialists to establish and run clinics at these centres. This will entail a strong element of regional education to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing of best practice.

The role is anticipated to be predominately hospital based. Most clinical contact will be in person, either at UHPNT sites or within the community (including where appropriate at the patient home). There may be a limited opportunity for some home working, however this would be anticipated to be largely restricted to administrative or service development tasks.

The role will require a prescribing qualification, however we encourage applications from those who do not currently possess this qualification, as we will provide support and time for the right candidate to obtain this. In this case appointed candidates will commence to role at band 6 level with progression to band 7 upon completion of a prescribing qualification. We will also consider applications on a less than full time basis for this role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Demonstrate advanced empathetic interpersonal and communication skills in dealing with patients and carers through the various patient pathway from the point of diagnosis.
• Demonstrate advanced practice in holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care within their own speciality. This will necessitate high levels of autonomy and advocacy.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills and innovative practice in relevant specialist area. Promote clinical excellence. Demonstrate continual evaluation of practice, making agreed changes and evaluating their impact.
• Assess and monitor risk in own and others’ practice acting on the results thereby ensuring safe delivery of care.
• Work as an autonomous expert/advanced practitioner.
• Work within the Nursing + Midwifery Council (NMC) Code, Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses and Midwives