Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• To provide support, advice and information to patients, their families and carers and other health care professionals on all aspects of lymphoedema, including the promotion of self-management.
• To use relevant assessment strategies and provide care to patients with primary and secondary lymphoedema, including patients with life-limiting conditions as allocated by the LS.
• To work as an autonomous practitioner assessing physiological and/or psychological functioning of patients with lymphoedema as part of a general assessment to determine treatment and the need to refer to other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• To use skills and knowledge to ensure the safe and effective use of relevant equipment provided for the assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients with lymphoedema.
• Make appropriate referrals to the multi-disciplinary team, ensuring seamless service for patients and an integrated approach to care management between organisations and agencies.
• To maintain clinical credibility through practice and to use the findings of relevant research and evidence-based practice to optimise high quality care for the patient with lymphoedema.
• To work within all St Margarets Hospice Care and agreed regional lymphoedema policies.
• To comply with all relevant hospice policies and procedures.
• To ensure that the cleanliness and tidiness of the working environment is optimised, to reduce the risks of infection and accidental injury.
• To assist the LS in maintaining an adequate stock of lymphoedema consumables.

Management Responsibilities

• To be responsible for the ordering of specialist hosiery required for the patient with lymphoedema, selecting the supplier as appropriate.
• To liaise with key staff in order to maintain the upkeep of equipment and facilities in the department and outreach clinics to ensure the safety of patients.
• To use the hospice information systems to input statistical data required for resource management and clinical audit of the service.
• Demonstrate flexibility to meet service needs

Professional Responsibilities

• To participate in research projects within the lymphoedema service.
• Undertake any necessary skills training, professional updates and mandatory training as appropriate to the post and as directed.
• To participate in professional networking, membership of relevant professional groups, clinical supervision, journal club and significant event meetings as appropriate.
• To participate in the staff Personal Development Review scheme and be responsible for complying with the agreed organizational, professional and personal objectives.
• Participate in induction programmes for all new staff as required by the LS.

Communication and People

• Authorised to liaise with: all St Margarets Hospice Care personnel; Primary and Secondary Healthcare Providers; Care Homes; Voluntary Sector and Charitable Organisations.
• Deliver care to patients and carers and engage with them in order to maintain and improve quality of services.
• Achieve changes in practice by diplomatic interaction with all grades of staff.
• Communicate effectively with people about highly complex or sensitive topics and/or in difficult situations; managing patient/carer expectations relating to realistic treatment outcomes and the extremes of emotion associated with cancer, other life-limiting illnesses and palliative care; supporting anxious or distressed patients and relatives as necessary.
• Express ideas clearly through oral, written and electronic communication mediums, varying the level and style of communication with all people, respecting their differing levels of understanding and responding to communication difficulties as appropriate.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• To provide support, advice and information to patients, their families and carers and other health care professionals on all aspects of lymphoedema, including the promotion of self-management.
• To use relevant assessment strategies and provide care to patients with primary and secondary lymphoedema, including patients with life-limiting conditions as allocated by the LS.
• To work as an autonomous practitioner assessing physiological and/or psychological functioning of patients with lymphoedema as part of a general assessment to determine treatment and the need to refer to other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• To use skills and knowledge to ensure the safe and effective use of relevant equipment provided for the assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients with lymphoedema.
• Make appropriate referrals to the multi-disciplinary team, ensuring seamless service for patients and an integrated approach to care management between organisations and agencies.
• To maintain clinical credibility through practice and to use the findings of relevant research and evidence-based practice to optimise high quality care for the patient with lymphoedema.
• To work within all St Margarets Hospice Care and agreed regional lymphoedema policies.
• To comply with all relevant hospice policies and procedures.
• To ensure that the cleanliness and tidiness of the working environment is optimised, to reduce the risks of infection and accidental injury.
• To assist the LS in maintaining an adequate stock of lymphoedema consumables.

Management Responsibilities

• To be responsible for the ordering of specialist hosiery required for the patient with lymphoedema, selecting the supplier as appropriate.
• To liaise with key staff in order to maintain the upkeep of equipment and facilities in the department and outreach clinics to ensure the safety of patients.
• To use the hospice information systems to input statistical data required for resource management and clinical audit of the service.
• Demonstrate flexibility to meet service needs

Professional Responsibilities

• To participate in research projects within the lymphoedema service.
• Undertake any necessary skills training, professional updates and mandatory training as appropriate to the post and as directed.
• To participate in professional networking, membership of relevant professional groups, clinical supervision, journal club and significant event meetings as appropriate.
• To participate in the staff Personal Development Review scheme and be responsible for complying with the agreed organizational, professional and personal objectives.
• Participate in induction programmes for all new staff as required by the LS.

Communication and People

• Authorised to liaise with: all St Margarets Hospice Care personnel; Primary and Secondary Healthcare Providers; Care Homes; Voluntary Sector and Charitable Organisations.
• Deliver care to patients and carers and engage with them in order to maintain and improve quality of services.
• Achieve changes in practice by diplomatic interaction with all grades of staff.
• Communicate effectively with people about highly complex or sensitive topics and/or in difficult situations; managing patient/carer expectations relating to realistic treatment outcomes and the extremes of emotion associated with cancer, other life-limiting illnesses and palliative care; supporting anxious or distressed patients and relatives as necessary.
• Express ideas clearly through oral, written and electronic communication mediums, varying the level and style of communication with all people, respecting their differing levels of understanding and responding to communication difficulties as appropriate.

Person Specification

Leading in your area

Essential

• Takes the opportunities, time and investment for professional development. Ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of palliative care and the needs of patients and families. Evidence of an interest in the management of chronic oedema. Experience of multi-disciplinary or multi-agency working. Palliative Care experience.

Desirable

• Experience in working independently in lymphoedema management / leg ulcer management. Innovative and resourceful practitioner. Experiences of working with people with chronic disease. Experience of working within an Oncology setting.

Working with others

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to liaise effectively with patients, the Multi-Disciplinary Team and across organisations with individuals at a range of levels. Excellent verbal, written and personal communication skills, confident and articulate. Ability to manage conflict situations. Ability to work as part of a team or individually.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registration and Professional qualification. Nurse, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist.

Outcome and Results

Essential

• Computer literate, able to use work documents, spreadsheets and email communication. Able to travel to undertake community, outreach and domiciliary work. Ability to make decisions, organise, prioritise and meet deadlines.

Self Awareness

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively with people about difficult or sensitive topics and/or in difficult situations. Ability to show tact and manage boundaries. Good time management. Effective case load and work load management.

Desirable

• Understanding of user and carer perspectives.

Leading in your area

Essential

• Takes the opportunities, time and investment for professional development. Ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of palliative care and the needs of patients and families. Evidence of an interest in the management of chronic oedema. Experience of multi-disciplinary or multi-agency working. Palliative Care experience.

Desirable

• Experience in working independently in lymphoedema management / leg ulcer management. Innovative and resourceful practitioner. Experiences of working with people with chronic disease. Experience of working within an Oncology setting.

Working with others

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to liaise effectively with patients, the Multi-Disciplinary Team and across organisations with individuals at a range of levels. Excellent verbal, written and personal communication skills, confident and articulate. Ability to manage conflict situations. Ability to work as part of a team or individually.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registration and Professional qualification. Nurse, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist.

Outcome and Results

Essential

• Computer literate, able to use work documents, spreadsheets and email communication. Able to travel to undertake community, outreach and domiciliary work. Ability to make decisions, organise, prioritise and meet deadlines.

Self Awareness

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively with people about difficult or sensitive topics and/or in difficult situations. Ability to show tact and manage boundaries. Good time management. Effective case load and work load management.

Desirable

• Understanding of user and carer perspectives.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

St Margaret's Somerset Hospice

Address

Heron Drive

Bishops Hull

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5HA

Employer's website

https://www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/home-page (Opens in a new tab)