Specialist Nurse

Job overview

We are looking for a flexible, motivated, and dynamic nurse to join our small, friendly, creative and forward thinking Haemoglobinopathy team in a part time role. Our well established Thames Valley Specialist Haemoglobinopathy Network, cares for approximately 700 adults and children, with rare inherited anaemias such as sickle cell disease, thalassaemia, and diamond blackfan. The network covers Oxford, Milton Keynes, Swindon, Wexham Park, Reading, Stoke Mandeville and High Wycombe.

Back ground

The care of this group of patients and families is determined by national Haemoglobinopathy care standards (please see the links to the adult and paediatric guidelines  Link here,  link here, Link here ) and our specialist network is peer reviewed to the Quality review service standards.

Our network works to a ‘whole of life’ approach to care, so our paediatric and adult teams are very closely linked, with joint quality meetings. The specialist nurses have many joint projects, such as transition and provide cross cover. We work closely with our adult and paediatric specialist nurses in Milton Keynes, as well as community services across the region. The teams have monthly MDT’s, local and outreach clinics to the network hospitals.

Main duties of the job

This is a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic, motivated nurse, to work across both adult and paediatric services across the network. You will be part of our whole life service and will be an integral team member. The role is about providing support, education and information to patients, families and healthcare staff and can be as diverse as helping with social services applications to sexual health discussions, supporting transition or teaching nursing staff.

We will ensure you have the orientation and training required so that you can support our patients and their families. Ultimately, you will be the named nurse for a cohort of patients in one part of the network and support the local hospitals in the non-acute care of these patients. The contracted hours can be worked flexibly to meet both the needs of the service and yourself.  Whilst the role is Oxford based, depending on where you live, we may be able to allocate local hospitals close to your home.

To be our successful candidate you will have a caring and compassionate nature, superb interpersonal skills and the resilience to work in a developing environment. Your excellent communication skills will enable you to engage patients and their families in decision making and self-care and support them in managing their health care needs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Specialist Practitioner will contribute to the care of adult and paediatric patients and families. This role involves hospital and community based working across the Thames Valley Network.

• Accept patient referrals to agreed criteria and be identified as the key worker for an agreed patient/client caseload.
• Provide advice, education and support to patients, their carers and other health care professionals.
• Practice clinically in agreed care settings according to approved protocols or guidance.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the designated service.
• Work across departmental and hospital boundaries.
• Liaise with other hospital and community teams along an agreed pathway to support the delivery of patient and family centred seamless care.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the designated service.
• Work in-conjunction with the local service and the regional network using the Lead Nurses for specialist guidance.
• Work towards specifically agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPI) based on local and network service needs.