Lead Practice NurseNHS

Job summary

Chastleton Medical Group is a well-established, friendly, and forward-thinking GP practice serving the local community in the heart of County Durham. We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Lead Practice Nurse to join our dedicated multidisciplinary team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a nurse with a strong interest in diabetes care and chronic disease management to lead and develop our nursing services, helping to deliver outstanding patient-centred care to our practice population.

As our Lead Practice Nurse, you will play a key role in delivering clinical services, supporting colleagues, and driving quality improvement across long-term condition management.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

• Lead and support the practice nursing team.
• Support the delivery of services for patients with long-term conditions, particularly diabetes.
• Undertake chronic disease reviews including diabetes, asthma, COPD, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
• Work collaboratively with GPs, pharmacists, healthcare assistants, and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Support achievement of Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) targets and service development initiatives.
• Deliver evidence-based care and promote patient self-management.
• Participate in clinical audit, quality improvement projects, and service planning.
• Provide mentorship and clinical leadership for nursing colleagues.

Job description

• Lead long-term condition management having a special interest in Diabetes within the organisation, supporting quality improvement and assurance initiatives
• Support the current Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and work to the IPC Policy helping to provide audits, training, support and evidence of compliance. To produce the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the Business Manager
• Consult with patients and their families to undertake assessments of patient need
• Support public health and screening programmes, including immunisations, vaccinations, and cervical screening
• Embed population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access
• As required, provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF
• Support, mentor, and supervise new-to-practice nurses and other healthcare professionals within the organisation
• Be an integral part of the general practice team as well as supporting the wider practice nurse network and multi-disciplinary team
• Prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice
• Teach and advise patients and their families on how to manage their condition
• Participate in clinical audits and research projects and implements changes as required, including supporting with the development, and updating of practice protocols/guidelines and procedures locally
• Work within national and local protocols where these exist
• Recognise the boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom patients should be referred
• Demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems
• Provide supervision to student nurse associates and nurse associates
• Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements
• Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on safeguarding adults and safeguarding children
• Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events
• Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
• Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
• Attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed
• Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics)
• Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
• Contribute to practice targets (QOF, etc.), complying with relevant guidance
• Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation ensuring that SNOMED CT codes are used effectively
• Maintain chronic disease registers and implement an effective call/recall system
• Chaperone patients where necessary
• Support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies
• Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients, etc.)
• Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate
• There may be, on occassion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levles.

About us

• A welcoming and supportive practice team.
• Opportunity to lead and influence service development.
• Well-established patient population and strong community links.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• Flexible working options and a positive work-life balance.
• The chance to make a real difference to the health of our local community.