Job overview

We are looking to appoint an experienced and highly motivated individual to work with our existing team of Stroke Alert Nurses on West Rayham ward. You will work closely with the multidisciplinary team on the 29-bed ward, being involved with all aspects of care throughout the patient’s journey.

You are required to demonstrate the ability to assess potential stroke patients via ED and across the Trust, facilitate initiation of time critical treatments, as well as acting as a point of contact for advice for urgent and non urgent referrals. The role requires the candidate to be proactive, work under pressure, hold excellent communication skills and a willingness to learn and teach others the importance of holistic, evidence based stroke care.

This role will be fully supported by the Stroke Lead Nurse, with opportunities available to develop skills, to include being Team Leader, undertaking Staff appraisals, holding the Stroke Alert bleep, and supporting staff development.

If you are committed and passionate to provide and facilitate person centered care to our stroke patients with a continuously high standard we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• To work within the NMC code, within policies, procedures and guidelines of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust.
• To ensure that high standards of nursing care are given and maintained, and act when standards are not met.
• Act a clinical role model, ensuring clinical expertise and practice is enhanced.
• To participate in the assessing, planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised programmes of care.
• To recognise changes in patients’ conditions which require the intervention of others and refer on as appropriate.
• To clearly present the patient’s point of view to others, including promoting and protecting the interest and dignity of patients
• Support the ward sister/charge nurse in ensuring the ward has appropriate Link nurses and support them undertaking that role.
• In the absence of the ward manger monitor the 24-hour duty rota to maintain agreed staffing levels.
• Monitor and ensure standards of care are maintained and that policies/procedures and protocols are adhered to.
• Experience work, incorporating the results from the ward Patient Satisfaction Surveys.
• Participate in research programmes using agreed research findings to enhance patient care/experience.

Working for our organisation

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) King’s Lynn is located near some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK, along the north Norfolk coast, and not far from Sandringham House.

We provide a comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics and community-based healthcare services to around 331,000 people across west and north Norfolk, in addition to parts of Breckland, Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire.

We have more than 4,000 staff and volunteers, approximately 530 beds, and a helipad for air ambulances. We work with neighbouring hospitals for the provision of tertiary services, including as part of regional partnership and network models of care, such as the trauma network.

In February 2022 the significant progress that has been made at QEH was recognised by the Care Quality Commission who rated the Trust as ‘Good’ in all of the core services they inspected. They recommended the Trust moves out of the recovery support system (formerly special measures).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about this role please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

To arrange an informal visit please contact Jodie Tillett,  Lead Nurse/Matron, Stroke Unit on 07974090479,  or email [email protected]

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• RGN Degree/Diploma in nursing
• Evidence of Post registration Educational Continuing development

Desirable criteria

• Recognised NMC Teaching and Assessing Qualification or equivalent, or willingness to undertake, or in progress.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Post registration experience
• Evidence of innovation and achievements in clinical practice
• Can demonstrate their experience of collaborative working
• Can demonstrate the use of appropriate criteria to prioritise patient case load

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of working as part of a multi- disciplinary working experience
• Demonstrates experience of clinical risk management
• Community experience

Skills

Essential criteria

• Demonstrates understanding of efficient and effective use of resources where the workload can be unpredictable
• Demonstrates the ability to prioritise and implement and use new ways of working.
• Effective communicator and negotiator
• Demonstrates a high level of clinical expertise
• Understands importance of evidence-based practice
• Knowledge of NHS plan and national nursing strategy
• Awareness of SSNAP performance in relation to stroke services
• Experience of working with acutely unwell patients/ or those with neurological conditions.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and its implications for practice
• Experience of supervising, mentoring colleagues and/or students

Desirable criteria

• Good understanding of clinical governance issues especially risk management and audit procedures, including evaluation
• Audit experience / research skills
• Experience of Patient and Public Involvement in Service Delivery

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working on a stroke unit, or acute neurological experience

Applications are welcome from anyone who meets the criteria specified in the person specification regardless of age, gender, disability, race ,ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances. Only those applicants who demonstrate in the application form how they meet the criteria in the person specification will be shortlisted for interview. We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who possess and can demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our core values.