Lead Nurse London Spinal Cord Injury Network

Job overview

The post holder will be responsible developing standardised practice across nursing teams, in specialised spinal cord injury (SCI) clinical skills within acute and community settings across the London Spinal Cord Injury Network (LSCIN).

They will promote professional development of the nursing team in addition to ensuring high quality SCI nursing care across London ensuring consistency of care for SCI patients.

In conjunction with the Network’s Education Lead, the post holder will lead the design and development of the nursing SCI clinical skills competency and educational programme through continuous professional development across sites to ensure it is patient focused and promotes the delivery of excellence in spinal care.

The post holder will promote the concept of shared learning for the combined improvement of nursing skills and knowledge when caring for SCI patients.

Main duties of the job

Communication

Personal and People Development

Research and quality improvement

Health, Safety and Security

Service Improvement

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

• Meet with the LSCIN manager regularly to update on progress and feedback to Network Boards to identify and agree proposed objectives for the delivery of the in-house training programme for nursing staff.
• Develop strong relationships with Sisters / Charge Nurses within the wards caring for patients with SCI across LSCIN to meet the educational needs of their teams, who are caring for SCI patients.
• Present formal reports and presentations as required.

Personal and People Development

• In conjunction with the Network’s Education Lead, support Trusts to develop competencies for nursing staff across LSCIN who are caring for SCI patients
• Work collaboratively with CNSs, Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses and Clinical Leads within each unit across LSCIN to assess the clinical skills of nursing staff as required.
• In conjunction with the Network’s Education Lead, Lead the design and development of the in-house SCI nursing education programme based on Network competencies.
• Provide facilitation, coaching, supervision and shadowing opportunities to individuals to support their development in SCI clinical skills.
• Be flexible and adaptable and respond to pressures within units when delivering specific training to nursing staff.
• Provide constructive feedback to staff on their performance, taking remedial action when performance falls below the required standards.
• Be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, management & clinical skills and professional awareness in accordance with CPD requirements and maintain professional profile.
• Be accountable for and ensure own practice is current and relevant.
• Provide support and guidance for CNSs, Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses, Practice Assessors and Practice Supervisors.
• Evaluate the training programme and present the outcomes to CNSs, Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses across the LSCIN.
• To attend and contribute to the SCI Community of Practise.

Research and quality improvement

• Promote a culture, which promotes a spirit of enquiry, innovation and quality improvement, ensuring nurses are equipped to be leaders of service improvement, which places patients at the forefront.
• Support the development and implementation of the nursing research and nurse-led innovation in conjunction with others.
• Support nursing staff to lead quality improvement, practice development and research projects and contribute to multidisciplinary projects.

Health, Safety and Security

• Ensure potential risks for all staff and patients related to the training programme are identified, action taken as required and relevant reporting procedures adhered to.
• Identify risks across LSCIN in relation to nursing competency and measure the maturity of this.
• Develop and maintain a nursing risk register for LSCIN.
• Bring partner organisations together to develop solutions to minimize risks and improve standards of care.
• Draw up actions plans to minimize and manage risk as required.
• Identify and address opportunities for shared learning resulting from incidents and complaints from spinal patients to improve nursing care.

Service Improvement

• Design and implement strategies to promote SCI nursing care, taking into account regional and national agenda.
• Design an education programme in accordance with valid evidence for SCI nursing care.
• Devise, implement and promote initiatives to develop and enhance nurses’ professional development in spinal cord injury care, including Network clinical guidelines.
• Encourage, promote and support SCI nursing research activity across the LSCIN.
• Develop strategies with local units to continue to enhance nurses’ knowledge when caring for spinal patients.
• Determine the effectiveness of the training programme and present results to local units and to the LSCIN Boards via quarterly reviews.
• To meet regularly with the lead nurses and practice educators across LSCIN to ensure that progress is made against agreed work plans.