About this role
Job summary
Lunesdale Surgery is seeking a hard-working, enthusiastic and dynamic Practice Nurse to join our friendly and supportive team. We are ideally looking for someone to work at least 24 hours per week, with hours available up to full-time.
This role has a strong emphasis on chronic disease management. Applicants must have relevant experience and be confident assessing, monitoring and independently reviewing patients with long-term conditions. The successful candidate will also undertake treatment room duties, including injections, immunisations, vaccinations and wound care. Experience of travel health and travel vaccinations is desirable.
You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enjoy working within a multidisciplinary team and be able to work independently. Previous team leadership experience, or an interest in developing into a leadership role, would be an advantage.
Salary is £17.00 - £24.00 per hour, depending on experience. We welcome all enquiries and informal visits.
Main duties of the job
The main focus of this role is chronic disease management. The successful candidate will independently assess, monitor and review patients with long-term conditions, provide structured reviews in line with current guidance and practice protocols, support self-management and identify or escalate changes in patients health.
The role also includes treatment room duties such as administering injections, immunisations and vaccinations; wound assessment and care; health promotion; and supporting national and local vaccination programmes. Travel health advice and vaccinations may be included where the postholder is appropriately trained.
The postholder will maintain accurate clinical records, work within professional standards and practice policies, contribute to audit and quality improvement, support infection prevention and control, attend relevant meetings and training, and work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team. Depending on experience, the role may also include leadership and development of the nursing team.
About us
Lunesdale Surgery is a friendly rural GP practice caring for approximately 6,500 patients from our main surgery in Kirkby Lonsdale and branch surgery in Hornby.
Our experienced multidisciplinary team includes five GP Partners, three Salaried GPs, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, nursing, dispensary, reception and administration colleagues. The District Nursing Team and Western Dales Primary Care Network team are also based on site, enabling close working across practice, community and wider primary care services.
The PCN team includes Social Prescribing Link Workers, Health and Wellbeing Coaches, First Contact MSK Physiotherapists, Clinical Pharmacists and Mental Health Practitioners.
We offer a supportive working environment, NHS Pension Scheme membership, annual leave and bank holiday allowance pro rata, and free on-site parking. We welcome all enquiries, and informal discussions or visits can be arranged before application.
Job description Job responsibilities Main duties and responsibilitiesChronic disease management
The postholder will:
Independently assess, monitor and review patients with chronic diseases and long-term conditionsUndertake structured reviews in line with current guidance, local pathways and practice protocolsMonitor symptoms, clinical observations, medication, test results and disease controlRecognise deterioration or changes in a patients condition and take appropriate actionEscalate or refer patients to a GP or other clinician where requiredSupport patients to understand and self-manage their conditionsProvide health promotion, lifestyle and preventative care adviceDevelop and review personalised care plans where appropriateSupport practice recall systems and contractual requirements, including QOFMaintain accurate coding and clinical recordsContribute to the development and improvement of chronic disease servicesThe conditions managed will depend on the postholders qualifications, experience and demonstrated competence.
Treatment room dutiesThe postholder will undertake treatment room duties within their competence, including:
Administering prescribed injections and medicinesProviding routine immunisations and vaccinationsSupporting seasonal and national vaccination programmesAssessing and treating woundsApplying and changing dressingsRemoving sutures and clipsUndertaking relevant clinical observations and diagnostic proceduresObtaining specimens and carrying out point-of-care testing where requiredProviding cervical screening where appropriately trainedDelivering care under Patient Group Directions or other appropriate legal authorisationMaintaining vaccine cold-chain requirementsManaging treatment room equipment, supplies and stockFollowing infection prevention and control proceduresTravel healthWhere appropriately trained and competent, the postholder may:
Undertake individual travel health risk assessmentsReview vaccination historiesProvide evidence-based travel health adviceRecommend and administer appropriate travel vaccinationsProvide advice on malaria prevention and other travel-related risksRecognise when specialist advice or onward referral is requiredTravel health experience is desirable but is not essential.
Clinical care and patient safetyThe postholder will:
Deliver safe, compassionate and evidence-based careWork within the NMC Code and their professional scope of practiceObtain informed consent and respect patient dignity, privacy and choiceRecognise and respond appropriately to urgent or deteriorating patientsSeek advice when a clinical situation is outside their competenceFollow practice policies, clinical protocols and national guidanceAdminister and record medicines safelyReport incidents, near misses and clinical concernsParticipate in significant event reviews and shared learningRecognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concernsCommunication and multidisciplinary workingThe postholder will:
Communicate clearly, sensitively and professionally with patients, carers and colleaguesAdapt communication to meet individual patient needsWork collaboratively with GPs, the Advanced Nurse Practitioner, nursing, dispensary, reception and administration teamsWork closely with the District Nursing Team and Western Dales PCN team based on siteLiaise with Social Prescribing Link Workers, Health and Wellbeing Coaches, First Contact MSK Physiotherapists, Clinical Pharmacists and Mental Health PractitionersParticipate in relevant clinical, nursing, practice and multidisciplinary meetingsProvide clear clinical handovers and referralsSupport continuity and coordination of patient careManage difficult or sensitive conversations professionallyPromote a positive and respectful team environmentIndependent workingThe postholder will:
Plan and manage their own clinics and workloadPrioritise care according to clinical needUse clinical judgement to make safe decisionsWork within agreed professional and clinical boundariesRecognise their limitations and seek advice appropriatelyRespond flexibly to changes in workload and service requirementsWork at either practice site where requiredLeadership and team developmentDepending on experience and agreed responsibilities, the postholder may:
Provide day-to-day leadership and support to the nursing teamAssist with the coordination and development of nursing servicesPromote consistent standards of clinical careSupport the induction, supervision and development of colleaguesAssist with competency assessment and trainingIdentify service pressures, risks and training needsContribute to the review of clinical policies and proceduresSupport implementation of new clinical guidance and service changesPromote learning and continuous improvementLeadership experience is desirable but is not essential.
Clinical records and confidentialityThe postholder will:
Maintain accurate, clear and contemporaneous clinical recordsRecord assessments, advice, care plans and treatments appropriatelyUse agreed clinical codes and templatesMaintain patient and organisational confidentialityComply with UK GDPR, data protection and information governance requirementsAccess and share information only where professionally and lawfully appropriateReport any confidentiality or information security concernsInfection prevention and controlThe postholder will:
Follow practice infection prevention and control policiesApply standard precautions and use personal protective equipment appropriatelyMaintain safe and clean clinical environmentsClean and decontaminate equipment appropriatelyDispose of clinical waste and sharps safelyReport infection prevention and control concernsParticipate in relevant audits and trainingQuality, governance and professional developmentThe postholder will:
Participate in clinical audit and quality improvementSupport the practice in meeting contractual, regulatory and professional requirementsContribute to significant event analysis and shared learningIdentify and report clinical or organisational risksContribute to the development of practice protocolsParticipate in mandatory training, appraisal and performance reviewMaintain current NMC registration and meet revalidation requirementsTake responsibility for maintaining their professional competenceKeep up to date with relevant clinical guidance and legislationMaintain an appropriate continuing professional development portfolioSupport students or other learners where appropriately experiencedHealth, safety and equalityThe postholder will:
Follow practice health and safety, fire safety and lone-working proceduresUse clinical equipment safely and only where trained and competentReport hazards, accidents and near missesTreat patients and colleagues fairly, respectfully and without discriminationSupport equality of access to practice servicesRecognise individual patient needs and make reasonable adjustments where appropriateGeneral responsibilitiesThe postholder will:
Work flexibly to meet the reasonable needs of the practiceWork at the Kirkby Lonsdale and Hornby sites where requiredComply with practice policies and proceduresAttend relevant practice meetings and trainingMaintain professional standards of conductPromote the values and reputation of Lunesdale SurgeryUndertake other reasonable duties consistent with the roleThis job description is an outline of the main duties of the post and is not exhaustive. It may be reviewed following discussion with the postholder to reflect changes in service requirements, guidance or legislation.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Strong clinical knowledge and competence in chronic disease management Ability to assess, monitor and review patients with long-term conditions Ability to recognise deterioration and escalate concerns appropriately Knowledge of immunisation, wound care and infection prevention principles Understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and information governance Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team Good organisation, prioritisation and time-management skills Ability to use clinical judgement within professional boundaries Ability to maintain accurate electronic clinical records Commitment to safe, compassionate and patient-centred care
Desirable
Knowledge of QOF and primary care contractual requirements Knowledge of travel health Ability to provide clinical leadership Ability to support and develop colleagues Ability to contribute to service development and quality improvement
Experience Essential
Experience of managing patients with chronic diseases or long-term conditions Experience of undertaking structured chronic disease reviews Experience of working independently within an appropriate scope of practice Experience of administering injections, immunisations and vaccinations Experience of wound assessment and care Experience of maintaining accurate clinical records Experience of multidisciplinary team working
Desirable
Previous general practice or primary care experience Experience across a range of chronic disease areas Travel health and travel vaccination experience Cervical screening experience Experience of leading or supervising a nursing or clinical team Experience of clinical audit and quality improvement Experience of using EMIS Web or a similar clinical system
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse with current NMC registration Evidence of continuing professional development Relevant training or demonstrated competence in chronic disease management
Desirable
Travel health qualification or training Childhood immunisation training Wound care training Cervical screening qualification Leadership, management, teaching or mentoring qualification Immunisation and vaccination training, or willingness to complete required updates
Other Requirements Essential
Ideally able to work at least 24 hours per week, with hours available up to full-time Ability to work flexibly according to the agreed working pattern Ability to work at both practice sites where required Eligibility to work in the United Kingdom Satisfactory references Appropriate DBS and occupational health clearance
Personal Qualities Essential
Hard-working, enthusiastic and dynamic Professional, reliable and conscientious Approachable and compassionate Self-motivated and able to use initiative Flexible and adaptable Calm under pressure Committed to teamwork Aware of professional limitations Committed to continuing professional development
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 The Lunesdale Surgery
Address Wellington Court
Kirkby Lonsdale
Carnforth
Lancashire
LA6 2HQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.lunesdalesurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)