TB Network Screening Lead Nurse

Job overview

North Central London TB Service is a  well established, networked TB service providing world class care to patients and their carers across the five north central London boroughs. We are a nationally recognised, team of nurse specialists, outreach staff and administrators who work closely with the respiratory and infectious diseases  teams at the Whittington,  Royal Free London, (Pond Street and North Middlesex sites)  and University College London, hospitals.

We are looking for a highly motivated, dynamic Network Screening Lead Nurse to join our team and help shape the future of TB control.  There will be opportunity to drive innovation and improvements in service delivery.  You will have the freedom and support to explore new ideas, challenge existing processes and implement creative solutions to improve patient outcomes. This is a rare opportunity to work in a dedicated specialist role in TB control. You will possess excellent communication skills to support and advocate for patients who may have difficulty accessing healthcare. You will enjoy managing people, supporting staff and service development. You will be well supported by the Senior Nursing team and the wider MDT. A comprehensive induction will be provided  and your training and development needs  will be supported where appropriate.

You will regularly work across hospital sites and in the community setting. This is a permanent, part time contract working 30 hours/week.

Main duties of the job

To work as part of the Tuberculosis (TB) Nursing Team to coordinate the complete and timely contact investigation for TB incidents and outbreaks in congregate settings, across the North Central London TB Network through:

• Identifying setting where contacts require screening
• Identifying at risk contacts
• Liaising with the Health Protection Team (HPT)
• Coordinating and supporting the screening of contacts
• Collecting and collating screening outcome results
• Presenting screening outcomes at cohort review

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To act as an expert resource in the management and screening of all TB contacts ensuring a consistent approach to risk assessment of TB contacts and incidents across the network in line with local and national guidelines.

To be responsible for leading and developing innovative models of screening TB contacts across the network, improving the accessibility of the service, increasing the number identified and screened, reviewing and developing protocols and ensuring local and national TB performance management targets are achieved.

To strengthen the pathway of communication between UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) HPT and NCL TB service.

To be a specialist resource in supporting cluster investigations.

To lead, in collaboration with the MDT and UKHSA on the integration of whole genome sequencing (WGS) data into clinical practice to improving contact tracing activities, including incident and outbreak investigations, and the early detection of drug resistance ensuring early change to appropriate treatment regimens.

To provide Senior TB Nurse leadership to the TB team and develop and lead on initiatives relating to workforce organisation & innovation to develop contact tracing clinical practice.

To work with colleagues to develop the strategic direction of the TB service in line with national and local targets, working closely with the MDT.

The post-holder will be flexible in their approach to their working day and will routinely work across sites and organisational boundaries.

See attached full Job Description