About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Practice Nurse to join our friendly and supportive GP practice in Sidmouth.
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a collaborative multidisciplinary team, delivering safe, effective, and patient-focused care to our local community. You will play a key role in managing long-term conditions, delivering preventative care, and supporting patients to achieve better health outcomes.
At Sid Valley Practice, we pride ourselves on our strong team culture, commitment to high-quality care, and dedication to staff wellbeing and professional development. We actively support ongoing training and career progression, making this an excellent opportunity for both experienced nurses and those looking to expand their skill set.
Key Responsibilities
Deliver high-quality nursing care and support Manage and support patients with long-term conditions Contribute to the effective delivery of clinical services Support the development and improvement of clinical practiceDesired Skills and Experience
Wound care management Immunisations and vaccinations - both adult and children Chronic disease management (Asthma, Diabetes, COPD) Womens health (including cervical screening) Phlebotomy and blood pressure monitoring Independent prescribing (desirable but not essential)
Main duties of the job Purpose of the Role
To be responsible for the implementation of processes for the effective management of patients with long-term conditions using evidence-based practice including care for elderly and housebound patients.
Working as a senior member of the practice multidisciplinary team, the post holder will ensure nursing services are delivered effectively to the patient population.
Working to agreed local and national protocols, the post holder will provide assessment, monitoring, review, and health education to patients with long-term conditions.
Additionally, the role involves providing screening and health education advice to the practice population, promoting and supporting healthy lifestyle choices.
Key objectives of the role include:
Providing high quality nursing care and support
Supporting patients with long term health conditions using evidence-based practices
Ensuring effective delivery of clinical services
Contributing to the development and review of clinical policies and procedures
About us
Sid Valley Practice is a well-established and forward-thinking GP practice based in Sidmouth, Devon, operating from the Beacon Medical Centre with an additional site at Sidmouth Hospital. We provide high-quality, patient-centred care to a coastal and semi-rural population, combining traditional general practice values with modern multidisciplinary working.
We have a registered list size of approximately 14,500 patients, delivering a broad range of primary care services including chronic disease management, minor surgery, immunisations, and nurse-led clinics.
Our Team
We are proud of our supportive, collaborative, and experienced multidisciplinary team. This includes GP partners, salaried and associate GPs, advanced nurse practitioners, practice nurses, healthcare assistants, and a skilled administrative and patient care navigation team.
Our nursing team plays a key role in delivering high-quality care through chronic disease management, treatment room services, and preventative health work, supported by nurse prescribers and advanced practitioners. We also work closely with community services such as district nurses, midwives, and specialist teams to ensure joined-up care for our patients.
We foster a positive working environment with a strong emphasis on teamwork, professional development, and delivering compassionate care to our local community.
Job description Job responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the Practice Nurse. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:
Clinical Care and Treatment
Assess and triage care needs and provide nursing treatments to patients according to agreed protocols. Conduct reviews of patients with long-term conditions (e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, COPD, hypertension, etc.) following agreed protocols. Follow up on complex patients, liaise with other healthcare professionals, and arrange follow-ups and ongoing appointments. Perform clinical procedures including dressings, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections, venipuncture, ear irrigation, care of central lines, and immunisations as per Patient Group Directions (PGDs). Provide health screening and lifestyle advice within agreed protocols, including new patient health checks and NHS health checks. Assist general practitioners with minor surgery and act as a chaperone as required. Perform cervical smear tests and gynaecological swabs as requested. Carry out clinical measurements such as venepuncture, INR anti-coagulation measurement, blood pressure, height and weight, ECG recording, spirometry/pulse oximetry, Doppler measurement of ABPI, and measurements for compression hosiery. Where the post-holder is an independent prescriber, prescribe medication in accordance with the current legislative framework. Vaccinations and Immunisation
Administer childhood vaccinations according to the British schedule and manage the Childhood Immunisation Programme within the Practice. Maintain up-to-date knowledge and training of vaccine schedules, vaccines, and PGDs. Maintain/update vaccination protocols, cascade information to team members, including GPs. Ensure timely ordering of vaccinations, stock rotation, and maintaining appropriate stock levels to ensure the clinic operates efficiently and minimises wastage. Quality of Care and Clinical Governance
Knowledge and understanding of QOF (Quality and Outcomes Framework) processes and outcome measures for identified patient groups. Implement personal responsibility to achieve QOF targets. Work with QOF Lead/Lead Nurse to agree and maintain responsibility for identified QOF areas, produce reports, follow up with patients, and take action to improve outcome measures. Patient Care and Support
Ensure a welcoming, caring, and safe environment is provided for patients. Respond appropriately to patient queries, take phone messages, and pass on written and verbal information as needed. Administrative and Organisational Tasks
Process pathology specimens as required, such as performing urinalysis, ensuring accurate, complete, and legible documentation of specimens. Complete administrative duties such as completing laboratory request forms and booking appointments for patients as required. Complete accurate documentation associated with patient healthcare and registration within the practice. Maintain adequate levels of stock and materials, and facilitate the efficient and effective use of resources. Report when stock availability falls below acceptable levels. Ensure equipment is checked/maintained according to manufacturers instructions.
Safeguarding
Policy Adherence: All staff must adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures, promoting a culture of safeguarding throughout the practice in line with established guidelines. Vigilance: Staff are required to remain vigilant to any signs or concerns of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, both within and outside of the practice environment. Reporting Concerns: All staff have a responsibility to report any safeguarding concerns, no matter how small, to the designated safeguarding lead or appropriate individual within the practice, following the practice's reporting procedures. Safeguarding Awareness: Staff should be aware of safeguarding issues, including those affecting vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with mental health or learning difficulties, ensuring they respond appropriately. Training: All staff must complete mandatory safeguarding training, ensuring they are informed and equipped to identify and act on safeguarding concerns in accordance with practice and legal requirements. Confidentiality: Safeguarding information must be handled with the utmost confidentiality, shared only with relevant professionals and authorities in accordance with safeguarding procedures. Collaboration: Staff should support collaboration with external agencies and safeguarding authorities when appropriate, to ensure the welfare and safety of patients is maintained.
Confidentiality and Security
Data Protection: Ensuring all patient information is kept confidential and secure, following legal and ethical guidelines. Access Control: Managing access to patient records and sensitive information, ensuring only authorised personnel can access it. Policy Compliance: Ensure the practice complies with healthcare regulations and guidelines, such as GDPR and NHS policies.
Health and Safety
Policy Adherence: The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, the Practice Health and Safety Manual and the Practice Infection Control Policy and published procedures.
Personal security systems: Will be utilised within the workplace according to Practice guidelines Risks: Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks. Reporting potential risks to Practice Management team. Training: Undertake and make effective use of training to update knowledge and skills. Infection control procedures: Adhere to these procedures and maintain work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.
Equality, Diversity, and Rights
Support for Equality and Diversity: Support the equality, diversity, and rights of patients, carers, and colleagues. Rights Recognition: Act in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a manner consistent with practice procedures, policies, and current legislation. Respect for Privacy and Dignity: Respect the privacy, dignity, needs, and beliefs of patients, carers, and colleagues. Welcoming and Non-judgmental Behaviour: Behave in a manner that is welcoming, non-judgmental, and respectful of individuals circumstances, feelings, priorities, and rights.
Quality Assurance and Improvement
Alerting Team Members: Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk. Self-Assessment: Assess own performance and take accountability for actions, either directly or under supervision. Team Effectiveness: Contribute to team effectiveness by reflecting on own and team activities and suggesting improvements. Interagency Collaboration: Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs. Time Management: Effectively manage own time, workload, and resources.
Communication
Team Communication: Communicate effectively with other team members. Patient and Carer Communication: Communicate effectively with patients and carers. Alternative Communication Methods: Recognise and respond to people's needs for alternative methods of communication.
Contribution to Service Implementation
Policy Application: Apply practice policies, standards, and guidance. Policy Discussion: Discuss with team members how policies, standards, and guidelines will affect own work. Audit Participation: Participate in audits where appropriate. System Optimisation: Contributing to the development and implementation of new administrative procedures and technologies to enhance practice efficiency.
Personal and Professional Development
Training Participation: Participate in any training programs implemented by the practice as part of employment. Performance Review: Engage in an annual individual performance review and take responsibility for maintaining a record of personal and/or professional development. Self-Development: Take responsibility for own development, learning, and performance. Skill Sharing: Demonstrate skills and activities to others undertaking similar work to enhance team capabilities.
Person Specification
Clinical knowledge and skills Essential
Ability to work in a collaborative manner within a multi-disciplinary team and demonstrate a positive, supportive working approach. Understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice. Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy. Ability to record accurate clinical notes. Ability to work within own scope of practice and understand when to refer to GPs. Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure.
Desirable
Clinical knowledge and skills including: Wound care/removal of sutures and staples. ECGs. Venepuncture. Diabetes. Hypertension. Asthma. Spirometry. Women's health (cervical cytology, contraception etc). Travel medicine.
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse with Nursing and Midwifery Council
Desirable
Mentor or teaching qualification Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management). Qualified Independent Nurse Prescriber on the NMC register. Family planning qualification.
Experience Essential
Experience of working in a primary care environment. Experience of infection prevention and control measures.
Desirable
Experience of working autonomously. Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse. Experience of managing elderly/housebound patients and long-term health conditions.
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 Sid Valley Practice
Address Beacon Medical Centre
Sedemuda Road
Sidmouth
Devon
EX10 9YA
Employer's website https://www.sidvalleypractice.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)