Community Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist B7

Job overview

Suitable for Band 6 development

Part-time (30 hours/4 days per week) Hours of service: Monday to Friday, no weekends or bank holidays.

Based at Milford community hospital and covering the Guildford and Waverley area. Free parking at community sites. Full driving licence and use of a car with business insurance is required for the role.

• Are you an experienced nurse with community knowledge and a keen interest to become a Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist?  •    Are you enthusiastic about keeping people at home and preventing admission to hospital? •    Do you want to work for a unique, dynamic organisation that is transforming adult community services locally?

If you are, we’d love to hear from you!

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated nurse with a passion for improving care for patients with Parkinson’s in Guildford and Waverley. If you are not already an experienced Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist, you will be required to complete the Management of Parkinson’s Disease course and the Parkinson’s Nurse Competency Framework for the duration of your band 6 development. You will have the opportunity to work alongside our Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist to develop your assessment skills within clinic and home visit settings. You will have the opportunity to shadow other health care professionals to understand how community services work and link with the wider MDT.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is responsible for the management of a defined caseload and for the assessment, advice and support of health and social care needs of these patients. The aim of this role is to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, provide a link between the GPs, Consultants and specialist teams and signposting to other services where required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification

The post holder will provide information, education and support to patients their family and carers, to manage their own health symptoms and reduce the risk of hospital admission. The Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist is responsible for the management of a defined caseload where patients will be seen in clinic, via telephone consultation or at home. The role requires good communication skills and autonomous working to create professional links within primary care, nursing homes and secondary care to support patients within Guildford and Waverley.

The aims of the role are to:

• Promote appropriate timely assessment, investigations and treatment to prevent     unnecessary hospital admission. •    Use specialist clinical skills to optimise evidenced based care. •    Liaise with other professionals to facilitate relevant social and supportive care. •    Educate patients, families, carers and clinicians regarding Parkinson’s management. •    Support palliative and end of life needs by signposting to appropriate services.

The aims of the Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist or Band 6 development role are to:  •    Promote appropriate and timely assessment, investigation and treatment to prevent unnecessary hospital admission. •    Use specialist clinical skills and knowledge to optimise evidenced based care (under the direction of the consultant and Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist for band 6 development) •    Liaise with the wider MDT and health professionals to facilitate relevant social and supportive care. •    Educate patients, families, carers and clinicians regarding Parkinson’s management at all stages of this long term condition. •    Follow a supportive pathway to develop successfully to Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist

You will have a great professional support network which includes regular interaction with your line manager and team meetings allowing for shared growth, learning and development.