Lead Nutrition Specialist Nurse

Merseywestlancs; Chorley; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is seeking a highly motivated Nutrition Nurse to lead its nutrition service at Whiston Hospital. The successful candidate will manage patients with artificial nutrition needs and work collaboratively with the medical team to enhance patient nutritional care. Applicants should have a strong background in patient management, excellent communication skills, and relevant qualifications. This is a full-time role that offers professional development opportunities and a supportive working environment.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave

NHS discounts

Health and Wellbeing services

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with experience in nutritional patient care.
• Proven leadership qualities and ability to manage caseloads.
• Experience in outpatient care with nutritional support.

Responsibilities

• Lead the nutrition service at Whiston Hospital.
• Manage a caseload of patients needing artificial nutrition support.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team to ensure quality of care.

Skills

Advanced clinical practice

Patient care management

Communication skills

Leadership

Nutrition expertise

Education

Registered Nurse Diploma/Degree

Masters level qualification relevant to specialty

Current ALS/ILS certification

Job description

We want talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds to join #TeamMWL, with us you can learn, grow and develop yourself and your career, realising your true ambitions and aspirations.

Whatever you’re looking for in your career, you’ll find it here at MWL.

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to "name of trust" transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and knowledgeable Nutrition Nurse to join and lead our established nutrition service across MWL but based at the Whiston Hospital site.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, caring and compassionate individual, who has a keen interest in managing patients requiring artificial nutrition support and who is ready to work towards expanding, strengthening and developing the current service. The post holder will support the delivery of nutritional services within the Trust, working with the multidisciplinary team supporting medical, nursing and other clinical colleagues to ensure the quality of nutritional care to patients is maximised.

The applicant should have experience in providing in and outpatient care to patients with nutritional problems; they should be familiar with parenteral and enteral nutrition support and can plan, assess, implement and evaluate patients’ nutritional care. It is essential to possess excellent interpersonal skills along with the ability to work efficiently and independently.

You should be self-motivated and have a positive attitude towards change.

The applicant must demonstrate commitment to their own continued professional development and be committed to contribute to the long-term development of the nutrition service.

Ideally the successful candidate would have post registration course applicable to nutrition.

The interview date for this position is yet to be confirmed.

Main duties of the job

• The Lead Nutrition Nurse Specialist will be an integral part of the clinical management team supporting the Gastroenterology department during the work.
• The Lead Nutrition Nurse Specialist will demonstrate advanced autonomous clinical practice working across traditional boundaries and augmenting the medical role, utilising assessment, decision making and diagnostic skills.
• By independently ordering and interpreting investigations, the Lead Nutrition Nurse Specialist demonstrates the ability to safely manage his/her own caseload, identifying the need to involve other members of the MDT, ensuring high quality, effective management of patients.
• The Lead Nutrition Nurse Specialist will take the lead, participate in educational sessions; clinical supervision; research, audit as well as quality and service improvement, ensuring high quality, effective management of patients.
• The post holder will abide by legal requirements and statutory rules relating to their practice maintaining standards of professional practice in accordance with the NMC guidelines.

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL

• Provide advanced levels of clinical practice, knowledge and skills in Nutrition. The primary focus will be Nutrition patients.
• Undertake history and physical examination to accurately assess the patient’s condition.
• Requests interpret and act upon relevant diagnostic tests and procedures.
• Interpret, convey and act upon complex and conflicting information to MDT members/patients/relatives including in possible stressful situations, which may be delicate or offensive in nature (i.e. breaking bad news).
• Act as a clinical expert providing continuous support to the nursing staff and other MDT members within and outside designated area of work.
• Undertake advanced (invasive and non-invasive) procedures pertaining to patient need, in accordance with appropriate training and clinical supervision.
• Prescribe medication in accordance with current legislation and trust policy. Specifically, to prescribe parenteral nutrition and medications for short bowel syndrome.
• Perform clinic review of nutrition patients, providing support for consultants.
• Lead on service improvement
• Develop self-supported remote follow up clinic and provide support for nursing staff that run this service.
• Provide unsupervised support for acute medical admissions unit and emergency department including clinical review of day ward attenders.
• Maintain comprehensive, contemporaneous and accurate nursing/medical records and documentation, utilising information technology where available to facilitate caseload management.
• Effectively manage acute life‑threatening conditions in accordance with current ALS/ATLS/ALERT guidelines (as appropriate at area of work/need).
• Act as a role model through demonstration of high standards of practice, providing a clinical environment that motivates and encourages effective working partnerships.
• Participate in multidisciplinary ward rounds/board rounds, case conferences, clinical and audit meetings.
• Gain informed consent from patients for procedures undertaken by self or on behalf of others, both written and verbal, according to Trust policy.
• Provide evidence‑based specialist knowledge and advice to patients, families/carers throughout the patient’s journey to meet their physical, emotional and psychological needs.
• Provide clinical expertise in the management of patients utilising specialist theoretical and clinical skills.
• Facilitate and support unit co‑ordinators/ward managers to develop effective working relationships with the multi‑disciplinary team to enhance the care and management of patients.
• Act as an autonomous practitioner exercising judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care.
• Undertake nurse prescribing as part of designated role and provide autonomous practitioners.
• To support junior medical staff, sharing clinical workload and allowing junior doctors to achieve training and development requirements.

LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT

• Ensuring that the patient experience remains the focal point for service improvement within the Directorate.
• Provide clinical support to complaints and SIRI/SUI investigations.
• Support senior staff and clinical teams in maximising flow of patients through units to meet elective and emergency demand, utilising leadership and expert clinical skills.
• To contribute effectively to service developments both within the directorate and at strategic level.
• Attend Gastroenterology Governance and Business Meetings.
• To act as a role model by demonstrating excellent communication and listening skills with patients, relatives and staff.
• Active involvement in Senior Nursing Forum.
• Promote effective team working within nursing and medical staff on Gastroenterology wards.
• Provide support for senior nursing staff in relation to staff development and complaints.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff.
• Lead/guide nursing and medical staff in the appropriate and timely care of the patient.
• Network locally, regionally and nationally to share and exchange ideas and principles.
• Provide an effective leadership role in contributing to own departmental issue pertaining to clinical governance agendas and shared governance within the Trust e.g. maintaining standards, risk management, clinical audit and research, standard setting, benchmarking, evidence‑based practice, etc.
• To provide leadership to nursing staff and junior doctors regarding training and development ensuring the delivery of consistent high‑quality care.
• To support Trust Management Teams with ongoing clinical care provision and assist with safe, effective flow through the Trust.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Adherence to Clinical Nurse Specialist competency framework
• Attend mentor meetings with respective Consultants.
• Take responsibility for one’s own professional development and continually assess and acknowledge areas for development as they arise.
• Raise awareness of specialty conditions within area of practice by teaching and providing education across Gastroenterology, including specialist nutrition reviews.
• Support in the facilitation of an appropriate learning/practice environment for nursing, medical and Physician Associate students and new starters providing direct supervision and training.
• Assist in identified training and educational needs of the nursing staff/medical staff and participate in its delivery.
• Provide clinical supervision, mentorship, preceptorship and tuition to nursing and medical staff within the Medical Care Group.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

• Develop good working relationships with medical and nursing staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team within and other departments within the Trust and external.
• Act in accordance with the NMC guidelines/Code of Professional Conduct
• Attend Trust wide audit.
• Lead the reporting of clinical incidents/concerns and take appropriate action to address any safety and quality issues raised.
• Develop and implement policies and strategies in line with evidence‑based practice e.g. NICE/DoH.
• Be involved in identification, development and implementation of relevant policy/guidelines to aid future management by the MDT (e.g. Ambulatory Care pathways).
• Facilitate and identify clinical audit/research and disseminate findings.
• Support, initiate and promote evidence‑based practice, contribute to the development, monitoring and evaluation of clinical guidelines, standards and protocols and adhere to professional regulation.
• Participation in the critical review of complaints, compliments and significant event analysis with a view to the continual improvement of patient care, ensuring lessons learnt and changes to clinical practice from RCA’s Trust Wide are communicated throughout the directorate and division and acted upon.
• Identify the need and undertake research and clinical audit in order to inform practice and improve the effectiveness of patient care.
• Promote patient and public involvement in the development of services to improve patient care.
• Know about the Trust’s local policies/procedures.
• Understand the importance of sharing information, how it can help and the dangers of not sharing information.
• Be responsible for ensuring that there is adherence to child protection and safeguarding vulnerable adult protocols within clinical practice.
• Be able to seek advice and report concerns, ensuring that they are listened to.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse Diploma/Degree
• Masters level qualification relevant to specialty (or working towards)
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Post-registration qualification in specialist areas
• Teaching and assessing qualification – Level 6
• Current ALS/ILS certification
• Clinical Examination Skills Course - Level 6 or above
• Independent Nurse Prescriber - Level 6 or above
• Relevant counselling qualification to specialism – Level 3

Knowledge & Experience

• Post registration experience in an area exposed to Nutrition patients
• Significant experience as Band 6 or above
• Proven track record in service development and implementation of change
• Experience of teaching and assessing students/staff in the clinical area
• Demonstrate evidence of effective leadership qualities
• Previous management experience (i.e. case load, ward management)

Skills

• Able to influence and overcome resistance through application of advanced communication skills
• Able to analyse data and provide written reports
• Intermediate IT skills in word processing and sheets
• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues, and policy relating to specialist areas
• Able to manage work autonomously
• Proven organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate unpleasant/sensitive information to patients in a variety of settings.
• Able to influence and overcome resistance through application of advanced communication skills
• Able to participate/undertake clinical audit and research
• Demonstrate evidence of effective leadership qualities

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact [e-mail]

We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision‑making process.

The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify your eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click here to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship.

eVisa Update

For successful candidates on selected work and study visa routes, who have completed and paid for their applications will no longer receive a visa vignette in passport as evidence of their permission to enter the UK. Instead, you will be issued with an eVisa only, which is accessed by creating a UKVI account.

Before travelling to the UK, we advise applicants to:

• Understand how to generate an eVisa share code

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Please note if applicable, applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment.

If you have not already done so, you are therefore encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service to which a small annual fee of £13 per year applies.

Flexible Working

We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that:

• All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
• There is no limit on the number of requests they can make.
• Employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason.

At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working. We would also encourage you to also discuss flexible working options at interview stage.

Working for Team MWL

Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

The Trust is a non-smoking across all our sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Smoke Free NHS website.

You must ensure that your application, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

The Trust will not accept applications which to be AI generated and will check all applications against AI detection software.

Additional Information

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and Behaviours which are We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE, which can be found here .

An applicant guide to help and support you with your application and what to expect during your recruitment journey can be accessed in the supporting documents.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Dr Vanessa Theis Job title Consultant Gastroenterologist / Nutrition Lead Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0151 290 4274 Additional information

If you require any further information or wish to arrange an informal discussion, please contact my secretary Val Ashley via [e-mail]

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