Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a Gastroenterology Nurse Specialist to join our Inflammatory Bowel Disease Service.

The post holder will be trained up by this well-established nurse-led service, which involves managing complex patients, biologics and advice lines and undertaking nurse-led clinics. The post holder will work collaboratively with the other IBD Specialist nurses within the trust and will therefore need strong leadership skills and be able to work autonomously.

The post holder will be key in supporting the Gastroenterology Consultants and the service, working in partnership with patients and other health care professionals to ensure patients are receiving the best care and support with their condition and streamlining the patient’s pathway. This will include using advanced judgement and knowledge of the speciality, and to be able to lead and show innovative nursing practice within inflammatory bowel disease within the trust and also through local networks.

This role will include managing a patient caseload, receiving referrals, carrying out advice line support and running nurse-led clinics. The post holder will need to be computer-literate and can use IT systems.

If you do not have the relevant experience, this will be a band 6 training post until all competencies are met and then it will be uplifted to a band 7.

Main duties of the job

This role will require you to work cross-site at both Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital to enable integration into both teams on both sites.

The post holder will need to work within the gastroenterology multi-disciplinary team, providing specialist nursing care to a defined group of patients with Inflammatory Bowel conditions using clearly defined protocols.

The role will involve correspondence with other health care professionals in primary and secondary care; therefore, strong written and communication skills are desirable.

The post-holder will need to be able to work autonomously; however, be able to escalate concerns or seek clinical guidance when appropriate and will be supported by the Gastroenterology team.

The role will also involve patient education in the form of teaching sessions, to empower patients with the knowledge to manage their conditions. At times you may also be required to support nursing and ward staff, and will promote awareness, implementation and adherence to trust, national and professional polices.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children).

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.

Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trust’s 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email mtw-tr.professionalstandards@nhs.net if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.