Obesity Specialist Nurse (Independent Prescriber), Band 7

Job overview

We wish to appoint new Obesity Specialist Nurse (Independent Prescriber) colleague to join our Specialist Weight Management Service (SWMS) at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHNHSFT), to work alongside a doctor to develop a pathway to prescribe weight management drugs alongside the SWMS offer to appropriate patients.

The Obesity Specialist Nurse in the Specialist Weight Management Service will provide evidence based, comprehensive, person centred and individualised medical care for people living with obesity referred to SWMS, working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

In this role, you will conduct consultations, assess patient histories, prescribe medications weight loss medication, and provide ongoing support to ensure safe and effective treatment. The post holder will work with people with complex needs, practising with a high level of autonomy and clinical expertise in non-medical independent prescribing, assessment and treatment.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will:

• Support with the planning and mobilisation of a GLP-1 medication       pathway

• Conduct face to face and remote patient consultations
• Review patient histories, including Summary Care Records, self-reported information, and current medications.
• Prescribe medications in line with service treatment plans and national guidelines.
• Provide individual and group advice and support to help patients manage their medication safely and effectively.
• Monitor patient progress through regular check-ins and planned follow-ups.
• Work in collaboration with the Psychology and Dietetic Leads who oversee the wraparound care.
• Contribute to service development and the refinement of treatment plans.
• Attend MDT meetings to support collaborative decision-making.
• Provide specialist pharmaceutical care and advice on medicines management for patients accessing the service
• Offer personalised recommendations to optimise co-morbidity management, improving healthcare outcomes and promoting best care for people living with obesity
• Participate in the training and development of other members of the MDT and wider healthcare community.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We expect the post-holder to support the development of a robust service in order to provide high quality medication pathway for patients referred to the specialist weight management service. This will include:

1.        Clinical Responsibilities/Key Responsibilities

• Adheres to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Prescribing Competency Framework and General Medical Council’s Good Practice in Prescribing and Managing Medicines and Devices.
• Contributing to complex case assessment alongside other colleagues from the MDT
• Support review of referral information to triage suitability for service, level of urgency and complexity (with the EOSS and SWMS Traffic Light Triage)
• Responding to medication queries, escalating any clinical risks or concerns to the Clinical Lead
• Reviewing current co-morbidity management and making recommendations for further management/optimisation or opportunities to support weight loss/prevent further gain
• Flagging/raising potential risk with colleagues overseeing relevant care and making onward referral where indicated
• Support more efficient decision making and faster throughput to treatment via robust Triage and screening

2.               Professional Development, Education and Training

• Training within team and wider healthcare community
• Opportunity to promote Obesity Best Care Protocol and improved outcomes for a highly stigmatised patient group
• Opportunity to contribute to wider evidence base in Tier 3 services through audit and evaluation

3.               Planning and Organisation

• Supporting the development of guidance and protocols around the prescription of GLP-1 medication
• Supporting the introduction of a safe pathway for the provision of GLP-1 medication

4.           Communications and Working Relationships

• Service promotion within wider Integrated Care System
• Liaison with internal colleagues (e.g., Tier 4, Diabetes, Cardiology, etc.), primary care and commissioners (ICB) where appropriate
• Advocacy for patient group within primary and secondary care
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.