About this role
Job summary
Are you passionate about delivering high-quality stroke care and supporting people to achieve their rehabilitation goals? We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Stroke Specialist Nurse to join our Integrated Community Stroke Service within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing specialist assessment, rehabilitation, education and support to people affected by stroke across Somerset. You will play a key role in helping patients and their families navigate their recovery journey, promoting independence, self-management and personalised care.
The successful candidate will provide expert stroke nursing input, contribute to service development, support colleagues through education and leadership, and work collaboratively with a range of health and social care professionals to deliver outstanding patient-centred care in community settings.
Main duties of the job
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Stroke Specialist Nurse to join Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's Integrated Community Stroke Service.
The post holder will provide specialist nursing assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and advice for patients following stroke across a range of community settings. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the successful candidate will support the delivery of evidence-based stroke care, contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives, and provide clinical expertise to patients, carers and colleagues.
The role requires excellent communication, clinical decision-making and leadership skills, alongside a commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred care that supports individuals to maximise their recovery and live well after stroke.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities
Communication and Key Working Relationships
To provide supportive and sensitive communication, written and verbal advice to clients, carers and staff, whilst demonstrating an understanding of the nature and effects of some information and of barriers to effective communication ex. sensory problems.
Communicate complex clinical information both written and verbal, in an easily understood form, to patients, carers, and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
Require tact and communication skills to overcome the significant barriers to communication present in many patients.
Impart / explain the prognosis / outcome of nursing intervention to patients and their carers in a sensitive and supportive manner.
Develop a close professional working relationship with medical teams and other members of the multidisciplinary team, and staff in local services available for patients, through a respect for, and understanding of, their different roles and training
Actively participate in board rounds, multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences representing the patients' needs from a nursing perspective to ensure
To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing, social services and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include providing specialist/ expert advice to case conferences, discharge planning, patient reviews and admission prevention.
Planning and Organisation
Participate in projects to support with development of the nursing service and the provision of stroke service in the county.
To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. This may primarily be community based but will require cover for other patient groups during times of staff absence for holidays, sickness, etc. Within the working day there can be frequent interruptions to the work pattern.
To be responsible for organising, prioritising and planning your own caseload and that of the staff under your supervision within the stroke service.
To be flexible in the provision of clinical cover at times of staff shortages across the county as this is a county-wide service - this may require working between community rehabilitation teams in different locations.
As an autonomous practitioner, to consistently pursue self- directed support and learning, and formal agreed supervision according to Trust policy. Ensuring appropriate preparation for professional revalidation.
Analytics
To participate in accurate and timely collection of data for the production of regular monitoring reports, for the activity in their own area of responsibility
Responsible for ensuring accurate statistics are recorded so activity data comparison can be completed.
To record therapeutic interventions in line with national stroke guidelines and SSNAP guidelines.
To participate in clinical audit and research.
Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring the nursing components within an interdisciplinary assessment of patient care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of treatment plans. To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.
To use advanced clinical reasoning to predict achievable outcomes of treatment and to recommend the best course of intervention, developing comprehensive treatment plans, in conjunction with other professions and agencies.
To work alongside other professionals within the multidisciplinary team; ensuring high-quality care and rehabilitation and effective communication. This will involve managing a caseload of appropriate patients.
To be aware of and appropriately manage sensitive and/or complicated information. To deal sensitively with patients who may have challenging behaviour, have high levels of anxiety and aggression caused by pain, cognitive change, dementia, limited mobility, terminal illness, degenerative disease etc.
To assist with implementation of consistent patient medication self-administration trials post discharge home to increase personal independence.
To be able to utilise and promote specialist nursing skills e.g. understanding and management for VTE assessment and prophylaxis, physiological monitoring, bladder/bowel dysfunction, understanding and support of management of cardiovascular issues i.e. AF, blood pressure control, monitoring and management, identify complications of stroke and assess secondary prevention regarding reducing further incidence of stroke.
To act as or support the role of key worker, this may include managing extremely complex cases and seeking support of outside agencies.
To regularly work alone in unpredictable environments e.g. patients own home, where there may be an element of risk e.g. dealing with verbal aggression. This may include working in unclean surroundings and coming into contact with dirt, fleas, lice, passive smoking etc.
To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload and take action to effectively manage identified risks.
To provide specialist advice, teaching, training and clinical supervision regarding rehabilitation management of patients on caseload for junior members of staff.
To deputise for team leader in local base in their absence, and with prior arrangement deputise for team leader across their locality with support from the neighbouring team leaders.
Provide regular supervision for supervisees to support with service development, meeting national guidelines and ensure that they are following operational policies and procedures.To participate in the staff appraisal process and develop Personal Development Plan (PDP) as both appraiser and appraisee.
Promotes and advocates Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility
To comply with the Trust and departmental policies and procedures.
Engage effectively with research to promote evidence-based stroke nursing practice.
To take an active role in in-service training both locally and within Somerset Partnership NHS foundation Trust as a whole.
To keep up to date with all relevant guidance and NHS targets and ensure the effective dissemination of relevant information as directed.
Contribute to relevant projects in relation to the development of the Trusts' Corporate Service Plan and organisational objectives as required/appropriate
Undertake any necessary skills training, Professional Updates and Mandatory Training as appropriate to the post.
To provide a service that is sensitive to race, culture and diversity and to be aware of where to find relevant information relating to equality and diversity and to report to their line manager any behaviour which undermines equality and diversity such as racist, sexist or derogatory comments
To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, actively participating in training sessions, peer review and external courses. To use reflective practice to evaluate your own work and incorporate changes as necessary. To maintain a portfolio that reflects personal/ professional development and complies with the requirements for Health Professions Council (HPC) registration.
To engage actively in practice development, evaluation, outcome measures, audit and research activities relevant to rehabilitation services to promote evidenced based practice.
To be aware of and demonstrate a good understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources
To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all resources, equipment and patient appliances. The post-holder will be expected to contribute to activities within the department which may include the ordering of equipment and monitoring of stock levels. They will make use of IT equipment and will be expected to ensure this is stored safely when not in use.
Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management
The Band 6 Nurse will provide clinical leadership for more junior nurses and is accountable for ensuring that the patient care needs are met (with particular regard to medication, physiological monitoring and identifying deterioration and complications and secondary prevention).
Contributing to the education of the stroke team in the nursing referral criteria, monitoring of physiological signs of the patient, bladder/bowel dysfunction, secondary prevention and identifying complications associated with Stroke.
Contribute to education and training of health and social care staff regarding Stroke Nursing which could include local induction and professional training sessions as required.
To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care, (including care delegated to students and assistant staff). To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
Information Resources & Administrative Duties
Be responsible for effective time management and effective use of resources available and of the wider nursing team.
To maintain accurate record of patients' attendances and treatments using the relevant IT system. This includes contributing to discharge letters and writing referral letters.
Any Other Specific Tasks Required
To use communication tools (verbal and non-verbal) to gain valid informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear. To have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment e.g. those with cognitive or speech difficulties.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Qualification as a registered nurse. Leadership qualification or experience. Experience in training others.
Desirable
Masters level qualification or equivalent. Teaching qualification or experience.
Experience Essential
Significant post registration experience of delivering a clinical role with Stroke patients and their families. Ability to teach / supervise junior staff / student. Proven experience at senior staff nurse level or sister level in associated speciality. Experience in managing complex stroke patients.
Desirable
Audit skills.
Additional Criteria Essential
Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service. Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills. Professional and patient focussed approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members. Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities. Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner. Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team.
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 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Williton Community Hospital
North Road
Williton
Somerset
TA4 4RA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)