Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Dermatology
Job Specification, Terms & Conditions
Job Title and Grade / Clinical Nurse Specialist Dermatology(Grade Code 2632)
Campaign Reference / NRS0847
Closing Date / Tuesday, 23rd April 2013 at 12 noon
Proposed Interview date(s) / Week commencing 19th May 2013
Taking up Appointment / To be indicated at job offer stage
Organisational Area / HSE West
Location of Post / A panel will be formed for all HSE West from this recruitment campaign and future permanent or specified purpose vacancies will be filled from this panel. The tenure of these posts will be indicated at "expression of interest" stage.
There is aninitial permanent vacancy at the Mid-Western Regional Hospitals Group. The successful candidate will be expected to deliver a service across the Hospitals Group at the Mid-Western Regional Hospitals Limerick, Ennis and Nenagh.
Details of Service for current vacancy / The Mid-Western Regional Hospitals Group has an established Dermatology service at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital Limerick providing a wide range of consultant services as well as a CNS run phototherapy service. The Hospital Group has three Dermatologists; Dr. Bart Ramsay, Dr. Kashif Ahmed and Dr. Catriona Hackett andtwo CNSsin Dermatology. The Group now wishes to establish outpatient dermatology services and nurse led phototherapy services at Nenagh and Ennis hospitals.
Reporting Relationship / The post holder:
- Is professionally accountable to the Assistant Director of Nursing for the Medicine Directorate or designated officer
- Is clinically accountable to the Dermatologists
- Will report to the Assistant Director of Nursing for the Medicine Directorate or designated officer
Purpose of the Post / The CNS in Dermatology will contribute to the improvement of the health care experience and outcomes for patients attending dermatology services.
The following are specific aims for the current vacancy in the Mid Western Regional Hospitals Group:
- *To attain academic qualifications at masters level (Level 9 NQAI) and fulfil the registration requirements set by An Bord Altranais for entry on the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) register.
- To provide expert and timely care to patients identified as requiring management for a dermatological condition with specific responsibility for developing phototherapy services in Ennis and Nenagh.
- To help develop a seamless patient centred dermatology service across the Hospital Group that improves outcomes for patients.
- To evaluate the quality of the service provided through ongoing clinical audit, policy development and patient focused research.
- To prepare the sites for ANP Accreditation.
*Successful candidates are expected to pursue and obtain registration as an ANP within a 3-year period of appointment. Non-registration as an ANP may lead to redeployment within the organisation.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities / Clinical Focus
The CNS in Dermatology will:
- Manage a caseload of patients with dermatology conditions
- Articulate and demonstrate the concept of nursing specialist practice within the framework of Nursing legislation and the regulatory body of An Bord Altranais.
- Provide safe, comprehensive care for patients and their families within the scope of practice guidelines set out by An Bord Altranais
- Plan and initiate care and treatment modalities within agreed interdisciplinary protocols to achieve patient/client centred outcomes and evaluate their effectiveness
- Utilize evidence based assessment and treatment skills and techniques to determine and manage each patient/family needs.
- Develop, document and update care, discharge and teaching plans as necessary.
- Complete and maintain relevant documentation in a thorough and accurate manner.
- Plan all care in collaboration with the patient
- Liaise as appropriate with other members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) regarding any aspect of patient care
- Implement changes in health care service in response to patient/client need and service demand
- Identify and implement health promotion priorities in the area of dermatology specialist practice
- Maintain effective and appropriate communication and collaboration with other departments, members of the multidisciplinary team, other agencies, colleagues, personnel, patients and their relatives/carers
The CNS in Dermatology will:
- Enable patients and their families/guardians to participate in decision about their health needs
- Articulate and represent patient interests in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team
- Implement changes in healthcare in response to patient need and service demand
- Influence practice and promote improved/new standards of care in relation to patients with a dermatological condition
- Respect the dignity and confidentiality of patients, serving as their advocate when necessary.
The CNSin Dermatology will:
- Provide specialist information and education to Patients and their families with regard to improving their understanding, coping and effective management of their condition
- Provide both formal and informal teaching to a number of people; patients/clients, families, health care providers, including student and trained nurses, and care assistants. Take part in in-house multidisciplinary presentations and teaching to staff in the various acute hospitals
- Be self-directed in his/her learning to ensure continued professional credibility. Identify own Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs and engage accordingly
- Identify areas where scope of practice can be advanced
- Provide mentorship, preceptor ship, teaching, facilitation and professional supervisory skills for nurses and other health care workers
- Act as preceptor to undergraduate and post-graduate student nurses on placement
- Plan and deliver staff teaching in relation to individual setting.
The CNSin Dermatology will:
- Identify, critically analyze, disseminate and integrate nursing and other evidence into the management of diseases of the skin
- Establish, implement and evaluate audit programmes of the service, the quality of care and the Clinical Nurse Specialist current practice, in line with local and regional developments, to include monitoring and health promotion programmes as relevant.
- Use the outcomes of audit to improve service provision
- Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes through use of audit data and specialist knowledge
- Review policies, procedures, guidelines and protocols in relation to the dermatology service to ensure they are continually updated in line with best practice evidence
- Monitor, access, utilize and disseminate current relevant research to advise and ensure the provision of informed evidence based practice in the management of diseases of the skin
- Understand the need for nursing research and be able to implement this process to contribute to the development of services provided
- Develop and promote research awareness among all staff in relation to diseases of the skin
The CNS will:
- Provide leadership in clinical practice relating to the management of diseases of the skin and act as a role model to staff nurses who work in the acute services or in the community
- Network with other CNSs in Dermatology and other associations
- Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines
- Uses specialist knowledge to support and enhance generalist nursing practice
- Liaise with multi-disciplinary team within the acute Hospitals and Community based to create a seamless service
- Contribute to nursing quality assurance by assisting in identification of recurring nursing problems and data collection.
The CNS will:
- Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
- Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role, for example Standards for Healthcare, Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards, and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards
The CNS will:
- Provide and efficient, effective, and high quality service, respecting the needs of each patient.
- Effectively manage time and caseload in order to meet the needs of a changing and developing service
- Continually monitor the service to ensure it reflects current needs
- Implement and manage identified changes
- Ensure that confidentially in relation to patient records is maintained
- Maintain accurate and up to date statistics of the service provided, including audit of patient contacts
- Represent the specialist service at local and national levels as required
- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records / data on matters pertaining to the planning, management, delivery and evaluation of the service in line with HSE requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or experience / Candidates must at the closing date of application:
Be registered in the General Division of the Register of Nurses kept by An Bord Altranais or be entitled to be so registered
And
Have at least 5 years post registration experience in the division of the register in which the applicant is currently practicing
And
Have a minimum of 2 years in the specialist area (Dermatology)
And
Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her professional responsibility within his/her scope of practice
And
Must demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development
And
From the 1st September 2010 must have a Level 8 (or higher) post-registration National Qualifications Authority of Ireland major academic award relevant to the area of Dermatology prior to application
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). In this case the candidate must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.
Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character
Post Specific Requirements, additional qualifications and/or experience required / Demonstrate depth and breadth of experience in Dermatology services.
Demonstrate interest in and/ or experience of developing dermatology nurse services.
Other requirements specific to the post / For the current vacancy in Mid Western Regional Hospitals Group, you are required:
- *To attain academic qualifications at masters level (Level 9 NQAI) and fulfil the registration requirements set by An Bord Altranais for entry on the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) register.
- To have access to transport as post will involve travel between sites.
*Successful candidates are expected to pursue and obtain registration as an ANP within a 3-year period of appointment. Non-registration as an ANP may lead to redeployment within the organisation.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge / Candidates must demonstrate:
- practitioner competence and professional credibility – demonstrates a high level of clinical knowledge to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role
- the ability to lead on clinical practice and service quality
- promotion of evidence-based decision making; evidence-based clinical knowledge in making decisions regarding patient / client care
- the ability to plan and manage resources effectively
- effective analytical, problem solving and decision making skills
- strong interpersonal skills including the ability to build and maintain relationships
- effective communication and influencing skills
- initiative and innovation in the delivery of service
- resilience and composure
- openness to change
- integrity and an ethical stance
- a commitment to continuing professional development
- the ability to relate nursing research to nursing practice
- knowledge of quality assurance practices and their application to nursing procedures
- awareness of relevant legislation and policy e.g. legislation relevant to the service area, health and safety, infection control etc.
- awareness of current and emerging nursing strategies and policies in relation to dermatology
- a willingness to develop information technology (IT) skills relevant to the role
Competition Specific Selection Process
Shortlisting / Interview / Short listing may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Those successful at the shortlisting stage of this process (where applied) will be called forward to interview.
Code of Practice / The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, feedback facilities for candidates on matters relating to their application, when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process, and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code Of Practice, Information For Candidates”.
Codes of Practice are published by the CPSA and are available on in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, Information For Candidates” or on
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.
This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Dermatology
Tenure / The initial vacancy for this post is permanent and whole time. This post is pensionable. A panel will be formed from this recruitment campaign and future permanent or specified purpose vacancies of full time or part time duration will be filled from this panel. The tenure of these posts will be indicated at "expression of interest" stage.Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004.
Remuneration / The Salary Scale (as at 01/01/10) for the post is:
Euro 47,089 – 47,886 – 48,559 – 49,659 – 50,874 – 52,067 – 53,260 – 54,604 – 55,852 (pro rata)
Working Week / The standard working week applying to the post is:will be confirmed at Job Offer stage.
HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).
Annual Leave / The annual leave associated with the post will be confirmed at Job Offer Stage
Superannuation / Membership of the HSE Employee Superannuation Scheme applies to this appointment.
Existing Members who transferred to the HSE on 1st January 2005 pursuant to Section 60 of the Health Act 2004 are entitled to superannuation benefit terms under the HSE Scheme which are no less favourable to those to which they were entitled at 31st December 2004.
Appointees to posts in the Mental Health Services which formerly attracted fast accrual of service should note that the terms of Section 65 of the Mental Treatment Act 1945 do not apply to New Entrant Public Servants as defined by Section 12 of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.
Probation / Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer of the Health Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months.
Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 / This post is one of those designated in accordance with Section 2 of the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment in this post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. Such officers will, on receiving a report of child abuse, formally notify the Senior Social Worker in the community care area in which the child is living.
Infection Control / Have a working knowledge of Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
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