To Accept and Prioritise Referrals Into the Lymphoedema Service

Job Description

1.Job Title: LymphoedemaPractitioner - Development post
Reports to: Lymphoedema Service Manager
Accountable to: Director of Quality & Patient Care
Salary: Band 5
Hours: 37.5per week
Date: June 2016
2.Job Summary
The post holder is responsible for participating in the provision of specialist services to patients with lymphoedema in North Derbyshire, as a member of the Lymphoedema and Specialist Palliative Care Teams. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring their skills, competencies; clinical/professional expertise is maintained to deliver care within this specialist area.There is an expectation for the post holder to complete the Lymphoedema Diploma course to Keyworker level.
The aim of the service is to assist patients in managing their condition. This will require the undertaking of training in management of lymphoedema in line with the development of the service.
Services are provided in an in-patient, day centre and outpatient setting at Ashgate Hospicecare with outreach to clinic atBlythe House Hospice in Chapel-en-le-Frith, and community/home visits.
All Hospice staff use a combination of professional knowledge and skills with personal attitudes of care, compassion and sensitivity, and a team approach, achieve the highest quality of service to each individual receiving hospice care, and tohis/her family.
3.Organisation Chart

4.Main Duties & Responsibilities
Clinical

to accept and prioritise referrals into the lymphoedema service.

to assess and identify the needs of the patient and set realistic goals jointly with the Lymphoedema Specialist.
to plan and deliver a Keyworker level Lymphoedema management programme in collaboration with patient and carers with appropriate follow up.
to evaluate outcomes of intervention.
to analyse and adapt Lymphoedema management in response to changes identified in the needs of the patient.
to work as a member of the Lymphoedema and specialist palliative care teams, attending and participating in appropriate case conferences and Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings if necessary and effectively communicating relevant information.
to liaise with and make appropriate referrals to colleagues in the Specialist Palliative Care Team, Oncology Teams, Primary Health Care Teams and any other relevant community agencies.
to be physically able to facilitate the safe moving and handling of patients often in difficult working conditions.
to write clinical reports and input into multi professional records.
to make use of the Clinical Supervision on offer.

Administrative

to keep accurate patient management records in accordance with hospice and departmental policies.
to collect a record of work throughput to allow for evaluation of the lymphoedema service and for submission to Hospice management.
to be responsible for the correct management of specialist equipment within the lymphoedema department.
to be responsible for maintaining adequate stock levels of specialist supplies within budget allowances and purchasing policies and procedures.
to use the hospice computer system.

Management

to manage a simple caseload and organise the daily programme of the lymphoedema service.
to be involved in the development of policies and protocols relevant to the service, in conjunction with colleagues in surrounding regional lymphoedema services and the BLS.
to assist in the planning, development and implementation of new ideas and techniques and service development, through regular audit, review and evaluation/quality assurance programmes for the service.
to ensure that all practice follows the Lymphoedema Framework & 'Best Practice'.
to be actively involved in strategic planning for the service.
to supervise, support and guide unqualified staff and volunteers assisting you and to delegate work appropriately.

to assist in the submission of an annual report,Service Evaluations and other relevant documents as requested by the Hospice management.

General

to be aware of and operate within the parameters of Ashgate Hospicecare policies relating to clinical work, Health & Safety, Fire Prevention, Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation, moving and handling, Infection Control, Risk Assessment, Discipline and Grievance.
to be an independent practitioner working under the guidance and protocols of Governing bodies e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council and British Lymphology Society.
to be aware of the Hospice’s place in the local community and the need to maintain effective public relations and fundraising base.
to attend regular inter agency meetings where nursing involvement in lymphoedema management needs to be represented.

5. Personal Development

to develop your own clinical and professional knowledge and expertise through the Skills and Knowledge Framework consistent with the needs of the service and budget limits.
to maintain an up to date knowledge of developments and current research in the field of lymphoedema. With the approval of the Consultant in Palliative Medicine, may be required to participate in national or regional research projects. Own research undertaken within the local hospice will be with the approval of senior management.
to participate in the hospice appraisal system, identifying training needs in line with personal and service development for yourself and junior staff.
to participate with colleagues in the planning and delivering of continuing education programmes for hospice staff, volunteers and others attending the hospice for specialist learning experience.
to participate in the planning and supervision of clinical placements for health care students.
to ensure the continuity of specific treatment programmes in your absence by teaching nursing staff to carry out appropriate procedures.
to use opportunities in the daily working situation to pass on skills as appropriate to other team members, the patient and carers and to build on own skills.
to act in an advisory capacity to other clinicians/services who may require specialist advice.
to network with the wider national network of specialist lymphoedema practitioners for sharing of information and experiences.
the post holder will be encouraged to be a member of an appropriate professional organisation supporting specialist lymphoedema practice and attend appropriate study days, conferences etc.

The job description describes the main duties and responsibilities of the post holder but is not exhaustive. The Hospice management reserves the right through consultation with the post holder to alter or amend any part. It will form part of the regular performance review and staff development process.
This Job description does not constitute part of the Contract of Employment.
6.Communications And Working Relationships
Internal: All staff and volunteers; department managers, senior management team and Trustees.
External: Education providers, community health providers, local acute health providers, Care Quality Commission, Clinical Commissioners, other Hospice providers, Cancer Network, Social Services, Tertiary Care Services, Independent & Voluntary Organisations, private sector training providers
Please note this is an illustrative list only.

This Job Description describes the main duties of the post holder and is not exhaustive.

This Job Description will be reviewed with the post holder as part of the regular performance review and staff development procedure.

This Job Description does not form part of the Contract of Employment.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Lymphoedema Keyworker

1. Attainments/Qualification(assessed byApplication, Interview or Test)
Essential

First level RegisteredNurse with current NMC registration/ Physiotherapist registered with HPC or registered Occupational therapist

ENB998/730

/ Desirable

Diploma/Degree or willing to consider studying towards degree qualification.

Possession of ENB 931 or equivalent qualification in palliative care

2. Skills(assessed byApplication, Interview or Test)
Essential

Excellent communication and negotiation skills Performs under pressure
Excellent time management
Ability to inspire confidence to work colleagues
Ability to drive

/ Desirable

Cancer or Palliative Care experience
Computer skills
Teaching skills
motivational skills

3. Knowledge/Experience(assessed by Application, Interview or Test)
Essential

2 years evidence of post registration experience nursing or therapies
Evidence of CPD
Multidisciplinary Team working
Cancer and its treatments
Lymphoedema problems, management and treatment

/ Desirable

Community nursing/therapy experience

4. Other factors(assessed byApplication, Interview or Test)
Essential

Able to work to pressure/deadlines
Ability to work in a team
Flexible
Empathetic
Supportive
Good health record
Motivated
Enthusiastic

Job description additional information
Infection Control
Infection Prevention and Control is everyone’s responsibility. All staff, clinical and non clinical, are required to adhere to the Hospice Infection Prevention and Control Policies and Procedures and must make every effort to maintain high standards of Infection Prevention and Control at all times, thus minimising the risks associated with healthcare associated infections.
Staff involved with patient care, whether directly or indirectly, have a duty to:

Clean their hands before and after direct contact with patients and when entering and leaving a hospice clinical area.
Ensure that patient equipment is cleaned and/or decontaminated appropriately between each patient use.
Ensure that all environments, where patient care is provided, is clean at all times, maintained to a high standard and appropriate for patient care.
Provide patients, relatives and the public with clear and consistent HCAI messages and advice on standard Infection Prevention and Control precautions and key infections (MRSA and Clostridium Difficile).

All staff have a duty to:

Attend/undertake Infection Prevention and Control training programmes provided by the Hospice.
Report to Unit Manager any infections that they develop which may be transmissible to patients or colleagues.
Adhere to the Hospice’s Uniform and Non Uniform Dress Code Policies.
Challenge and address inappropriate Infection Prevention and Control practice.
Report and take action on areas where Infection Prevention and Control standards are not being met.

Health and Safety at Work
You must not wilfully endanger yourself or others whilst at work. Safe working practices and safety precautions will be adhered to. Protective clothing and equipment must be used where provided. ALL accidents / incidents must be reported to your immediate senior officer, and you are asked to participate in accident prevention by reporting potential hazards and to ensure that appropriate forms are completed. A copy of the Hospice Health and Safety Policy document will be given to the successful applicant on appointment.
Patient and Public Involvement
The organisation is committed to complying with its duty to involve and consult patients and the public as outlined in Section 242 of the NHS Act. In practice this means that staff have a duty to practice in accordance with the Public and Patient Involvement Strategy and be involved in the PPI work relevant to their role and the service that they work in.
Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults
All Hospice employees are expected to adhere to Derbyshire Safeguarding Boards/Ashgate Hospices Safeguarding policies and procedures in relation to the identification and protection of children and vulnerable adults. Hospice employees are also expected to work co-operatively with our partner agencies to ensure the services and systems are effective in protecting children and vulnerable adults.
All staff have a duty to:

Attend training on Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults as part of Induction and on an ongoing basis through Essential Training updates.

All staff working specifically with vulnerable adults have a duty to:

Attend Basic Awareness Training

Data Protection
If you have contact with computerised data systems you are required to obtain, process and/or use information held on a computer or word processor in a fair and lawful way. To hold data only for the specific registered purpose and not to use or disclose it in any way that is incompatible with such purpose and to disclose data only to authorised persons or organisations as instructed.
Access to Health Records
All staff who contribute to patients health records are expected to be familiar with and adhere to, the Hospice Record Keeping Policy and other related documents. All staff who have access to patients records have a responsibility to ensure that these are maintained efficiently and that confidentiality is protected in line with the Hospice’s policies and related documents.
Staff are also subject to this obligation both on an implied basis and also on the basis that, on accepting their job description, they agree to maintain both patient/client and staff confidentiality.
In addition, all health professionals are advised to compile records on the assumption that they are accessible to patients in line with the Access to Health Records Act 1998.

Ashgate Hospicecare JD & PS Template 2016