Senior Staff Nurse - Programmed Investigation Unit

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and motivated nurse to join our Sexual Health service as a Nurse Practitioner within the Sexual Health Improvement and Prevention (SHIP) team. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the delivery and development of high-quality, evidence-based care with a focus on health improvement, intervention, and prevention. Please note this role is fixed-term for 12 months.

In this role, you will work closely with the SHIP team leader to provide visible and supportive leadership to the SHIP team. You will act as a clinical role model, ensuring the provision of patient-centred sexual health interventions and prevention care. A key part of the role will be maintaining robust processes for partner notification, results management, contact tracing, health promotion, and risk reduction interventions, as well as contributing to behavioural support and focused psychological care for patients accessing our services.

We are looking for a nurse with substantial experience in sexual health, strong leadership skills, and the ability to support and develop teams. Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach are essential, along with a commitment to patient-centred care, service improvement, and reducing health inequalities.

In return, we offer the opportunity to be part of a supportive multidisciplinary team and the chance to make a significant contribution to the delivery and improvement of Sexual Health services.

Main duties of the job

• In conjunction with the SHIP team leader, be responsible for the clinical leadership of the Specialist Health Improvement teams within the Sexual Health and HIV services, demonstrating a supportive and flexible leadership approach and a proactive, responsible attitude to promote confidence in the team and the service.

• Act as a clinical role model to ensure that the nursing team provides sexual health intervention and prevention care that is efficient and patient-focused.

• In conjunction with the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse, develop and maintain a team of health improvement nurses to ensure the service specification for intervention and prevention is implemented across the service.

• Maintain robust procedures and processes for partner notification, contact tracing, and results management within Sexual Health and HIV services.

• Maintain robust procedures and processes for the provision of health promotion, risk management/reduction, behavioural interventions, and focused psychological support for patients attending Sexual Health and HIV services.

• Support the Matron/Senior Sister in exploring current practice, identifying areas for development, and planning appropriate changes using research and experience to evaluate the outcomes.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide health promotion, risk management/reduction, behavioural interventions and focussed psychological support for identified patients attending Sexual Health and HIV Services.

• To take referrals from within the sexual health teams and external sources as required to provide enhanced expertise and support to patients with identified vulnerabilities or increased sexual health risk factors – including inpatients as required

• To maintain clinical credibility by acting as a clinical practitioner in own area of expertise including the provision of history taking, sexual health screening, diagnosis and treatment of STI’s.

• To supply and administer medication as required via PGD or Independent prescribing as appropriate

• To utilise advanced knowledge and skills and undertake procedures and practices such as bimanual examination, proctoscopy contraceptive implant insertion and removal, IUD insertion and removal, cervical cytology and specialist follow up clinics.

• To develop and participate in specialist nurse delivered clinics as appropriate to the intervention and prevention needs of the service

• To ensure that robust procedures for enhanced partner notification are implemented in practice in line with National Guidance

• To ensure that there is a clear and consistent approach to results management across the service and the health improvement team actively support and directly contribute to the delivery of positive results as required

• To ensure that all patients are managed and processes are in place to support a consistent and effective active recall procedure for patients at risk of STIs, HIV, unplanned pregnancy and repeat abortion.

• To act as the team lead on adult and child safeguarding processes and to ensure clinical staff are supported in managing complex cases

• To manage the pathway of patients presenting for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (PEPSE) to ensure that management, recall and behavioural interventions are robust

• To manage the pathway for patients newly diagnosed with HIV to ensure rapid access to services, provide support as required and to ensure robust partner notification

• To manage and oversee the pathways for women diagnosed with STIs in pregnancy, in particular ante-natal syphilis

• To maintain clinical credibility by acting as a clinical practitioner in own area of expertise including the provision of history taking, sexual health screening, diagnosis and treatment of STI’s.

• To supply and administer medication as required via PGD or Independent prescribing as appropriate

• To be highly visible, accessible and approachable to staff, patients and the public to ensure that open and honest communication channels are created and sustained.

• To maintain an overview of the standards of care being delivered across defined clinical areas and instigate remedial action if necessary.

• To ensure that patients follow agreed pathways of care and are supported in safe and effective outcomes

• To provide advice on Sexual Health and HIV issues as required both internally and externally,

• To work collaboratively and develop relationships with external agencies, particularly those working with young people and other vulnerable groups, to promote the service and facilitate patient referrals

• To plan, develop and implement education and outreach activities in line with agreed service prioritie

Leadership

• To assist in the resolution of any conflicts within the clinical area, resolving informal complaints locally and assisting in the investigation of and response to formal complaints as required

• To investigate accidents and incidents; identify and implement corrective action where necessary, in conjunction with the matron.

• To lead on specific service and team development projects as agreed with the matron.

• To actively participate and support the use of Adverse Incident reporting within the service.

• In conjunction with the Matron, support the clinical services to maximise resources, ensuring that the service priorities are met and kept within the allocated budget.

• To contribute to recruitment and selection of appropriate staff. To assist in identifying and implementing appropriate retention initiatives.

• To lead the team in the delivery and planning of a robust audit programme to improve patient care delivery.

• To develop tools to improve the quality of the service through audit.

• To act as a clinical role model, mentor and clinical supervisor for team members as required

• To represent the Service at appropriate Division wide groups and to actively participate in the Clinical Nurse specialist Forum.

• To assist the Matron/Senior Sister in implementing new policies and service developments within the team.

• Ensures compliance with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy, supporting the delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to positively promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring services are responsive to the needs of equality groups.

Education and Training

• Within the team to lead and promote the development of the educational environment by actively contributing to the educational development of all qualified and unqualified staff.

• To work with the team in assessing the clinical skills required to deliver a safe and high quality service, identifying any deficits in this and developing programmes to address these issues.

• To deliver training and workforce development for members of the multidisciplinary sexual health and HIV team to ensure basic health improvement, prevention and intervention skills are maintained within the department

• To deliver training on external courses delivered by the department (e.g. STIF) and ad-hoc training both within the Trust and outside, e.g. to primary care, as appropriate

• In conjunction with the matron and Senior Sister to ensure there is a robust and detailed process for ensuring nursing, health improvement, prevention and intervention competencies and assessment within the team

• To proactively support the new induction, training and assessment of new team members

• To act as a resource for junior staff. To guide and support developmental projects and advise on further resources inside and outside the Trust as appropriate.

• To establish and maintain communication links with appropriate lecturers from link HEIs – providing teaching input if requested

• To lead and promote within the team the development of an evidence-based approach to clinical care.

• To promote, initiate and participate in appropriate nursing research.

• To ensure representation at local, national and international conferences.

• To support the matron on benchmark and quality audits including Observations of Care, ensuring that staff receive feedback on the results, and to implement action as directed.

Person specification

Skills

Essential criteria

• An in depth knowledge of results interpretation and the management of STI’s including HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills including negotiation and influencing skills

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience at a band 6 level or above
• Current experience of clinical nursing practice in sexual health.
• Experience of providing motivational interviewing and focussed interventions in a sexual health setting

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Recognised Sexual health Module
• Recognised Contraception Module
• Letter of competence in Implant Fitting/removal
• Letter of competence in IUT
• Motivational interviewing/Counselling course
• Cervical Screening course
• Registered Nurse

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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