Respiratory Nurse Specialist

Job Description

An exciting opportunity through investment has arisen for a band 6 Nurse to join our Respiratory Team here at Livewell Southwest. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a specialist interest in Respiratory care. We are a specialist team made up of Physiotherapists, Nurses and Assistant practitioners, delivering Pulmonary Rehabilitation and respiratory care to patients living in their own homes. We have close links with primary and secondary care working closely with colleagues to deliver high quality care for our patients. Key ongoing developments are the expansion of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service and developing partnership working with virtual wards to prevent hospital admissions where possible for the Respiratory population we serve. Following significant investment, this is an exciting time for the successful individual to support in the shaping and development of the service. You will benefit from working in a small supportive team with the opportunity to develop leadership and service improvement skills. Closing Date: 23/02/25 Interview Date: 04/03/25 Contact Name for an informal discussion/enquiries: Clare Smith at or Main duties of the job The Band 6 nurse within the Community Respiratory team will undertake a leading role in the planning, coordination, delivery and evaluation of high-quality assessment, treatment and long-term management of patients with chronic respiratory conditions within their homes. To provide patients with advice and education regarding independent management of long-term respiratory conditions. To optimise treatment and stabilise their symptoms. To advise and support patients regarding management of exacerbations and avoidance of hospital admissions. To act as a resource of specialist expertise for patients and the wider MDT within Livewell Southwest, Primary and Secondary Care partners. To be involved in the planning, delivery and evaluation of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation service, including demonstration of exercise classes and provision of educational talks. The specialist team operates a 7-day service where staff numbers allow for this. This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information regarding eligibility. Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity. All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service. About us Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs. As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we are guided by our values: kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability while empowering staff and those we serve. We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives. We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation. Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions, and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert. Job responsibilities Responsibility for People Management To undertake comprehensive respiratory assessments of patients with breathlessness or worsening symptoms of Respiratory Disease including those with diverse presentations of multi pathologies; use of developed specialist clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate assessment of their condition utilizing following skills: Use of and trial with nebuliser Drug assessment Peak flow measurement Oximetry measurements Oxygen therapy assessment Undertake Pulmonary Rehabilitation assessments and classes Undertake Oxygen assessment in oxygen clinic (Under PTH honorary contract), or in the patients home/care home as required. This may well include arterial blood gases if required. Utilise knowledge and clinical reasoning to make complex decisions and seek advice where needed. Maintain knowledge and competency in this practice. Be responsible for the planning, implementing, development, delivery and evaluation of care across community nursing teams/clinics. To manage and prioritise a defined caseload and delegate where appropriate to the skill mix of the team. To act as a role model for other staff and students demonstrating high standards of specialist practice and professional conduct. Be responsible for providing and maintaining a learning environment and maximise opportunities for educational and development in the clinical area to enhance individual development and performance in the delivery of high standards. Acting as expert resource and assist in teaching knowledge and clinical skills for other health care professionals. Take part in the process of clinical supervision and support clinical supervision and reflective practice for team members. To develop strategies for continued professional development as Non Medical Prescriber if suitable for position. Support recruitment and selection of new staff, which may include being part of an interview panel. Act as mentor for new staff and students, including leading on a structured induction and training program for new members of staff. Support the coordination of study leave, annual leave, and rotas to ensure the service is operationally covered. Where difficulties are identified in maintaining service provision that this is escalated to senior managers of the service in team managers absence. Support the team manager in the supervision, line management, appraisals, mandatory training, standards and staff performance to work within the teams and supporting and investigating staff performance and absence. Take responsibility for your own personal and professional development, maintain competence, knowledge and skills commensurate with the role. To undertake all required training to develop competencies required for the role. Integrate theory into practice. Support staff to complete documentation within the agreed organisational timeframes. In the absence of the service manager, be responsible for the day to day management (without direct supervision) of the team and patient care provided to the agreed local and professional standards. To maintain effective verbal and written communication with the clinical team and to keep staff informed of changes to prescribing intervention or treatment provided to service-users. To work in partnership with medical staff and service-users in the development and implementation of clinical management plans related to an individuals treatment and prescribing needs. To establish and maintain good liaison with key stakeholders in the individuals care e.g. GP practices. Responsibility for financial and, or physical resources To demonstrate awareness of resources, providing cost effective and quality controlled usage of products. Exercise a duty of care in relation to the use of the organisations equipment and resources in a cost-effective manner. To be responsible for overseeing and monitoring and authorising of equipment and ensuring maintenance and repair. Track stock levels and ensure the supply levels are sufficient to meet the demands of the service. Maintain effective working relationships with multidisciplinary team and deliver a cost-effective quality service to patient and carers within a defined geographical area. To contribute to resource governance through knowledge and appropriate prescribing decisions. Responsibility for administration Responsibility for people who use our services To be accountable for the direct delivery of service by providing holistic evidence-based practice to patients and their carers, ensuring maximum independence and quality of life in a constantly changing environment. To achieve positive patient outcomes in partnership with multi-professional agencies. Utilise a range of specialised clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical setting in which they are seen. Exercising a high level of judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care. Act as a patient advocate as required ensuring individual needs, preferences and choices are delivered by the Service. Provide patients, families, and carers with tailored education, and evaluate impact of programmes. Provide advice and support, that may precipitate symptoms of acute exacerbation of underlying conditions or illness and include lifestyle changes that would be advantageous to health. Working within professional guidelines to make clinical decisions without supervision. To triage and accept appropriate routine and urgent referrals directly from other disciplines, patients, carers, and members of the public and, or refer to other agencies where appropriate. Ensuring all referrals are prioritised accordingly. To have a flexible approach to competing priorities in order to meet the needs of the patient and the service. To reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and enable the individual patient to be managed in the community. (Linking with MDT). To undertake comprehensive risk assessments of all situations associated with the care of patients to ensure nurses and the carers safety. To ensure privacy, dignity and human rights are respected for all patients and Carers. To maintain patients in their own homes, encouraging and promoting maximum independence and optimum quality of life. Preserve confidentiality and be aware of the Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment. To supervise, monitor, develop standards of care and participate in audit collate, and analyse data. Assess suitability of service-users for prescribing interventions and to initiate these as an independent or supplementary non-medical prescriber (as appropriate to ensure adherence with current legislation) Comply with the Professional codes, relevant legislation, procedures and policies. To review and make changes to prescribed medication, in collaboration with the service-user wherever possible (and adhering with agreed Clinical Management Plan where applicable). Be responsible for the provision of planned and unplanned care to patients and their carers in a defined geographical area. Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments Ensure adherence to Livewell Southwest Policies. Develop, review and audit guidelines, protocols, policies for specific aspects of own service in line with NICE guidance, best practice Guidance and professional forums and support implementation into practice ensuring the clinical practice reflects national and local drivers. Promote sharing of best practice with other Teams and Departments within the region. To be involved with the development, implementation, and monitoring of standards. To identify community health needs and participate in new projects, research, and audit. Supporting staff to initiate change. To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant government targets. Providing leadership and acting as a change agent disseminating this knowledge across the organisation. Facilitate the development of service objectives within own area, considering relevant guidelines and the needs of the Organisation. To support Patient Safety Incident Investigations, after action reviews, case reviews, swarm-based huddles. To support the investigation of complaints with support from the Operational Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Customer Services Department. Monitor the emergence of new evidence and implement and evaluate research-based recommendations that are expected to improve patient care in own work area. Develop links with other professional and voluntary bodies to ensure maximum effectiveness of the service and patient care. Lead practice innovation and the implementation of change in relation to the own area within the Organisation. Develop initiatives in health promotion and disease management which includes monitoring and improving the standards of health of the community. Identify and undertake areas for research and evaluations within own specialty, facilitating the involvement of appropriate staff. To be aware of the current legislation and prescribing developments that may impact on the delivery of services to service users. Have a good knowledge, and apply current Medicines, Controlled Drug and Non-Medical prescribing Policies. Please see attached Job Description for full duties and responsibilities Person Specification Specific Skills Good time management Autonomous practitioner with the ability to work unsupervised. Ability to assess and treat patients using evidence-based practice. Ability to work alongside clinicians to support and enhance quality of patient care. Excellent interpersonal skills in Leadership, co-ordination and management skills. IT Literate. Highly motivated with ability to influence and inspire others. Ability to act as a champion for patients and carers and their interests, ensuring the patients voice has an impact on service developments. Flexible, Adaptable, Team player Evidence of using initiative to put innovation into practice. Experience Post registered experience Able to demonstrate Clinical Management skills appropriate to the role. Proven relevant experience of Leadership. Experience in leading and development of new pathways of care and delivering best practice. Experience in managing sensitive issues and overcoming obstacles in communication. Experience and working knowledge of community setting. Experience of influencing change in the workplace. Qualifications Registered NMC Nurse with a Degree (or working towards) Current Registered Nurse with post registered experience. Currently hold or willingness to work towards postgraduate modules specialising in respiratory. Experience of mentoring. Recognised teaching qualification mentorship or equivalent. Leadership experience/qualifications or willingness to work towards. Nursing prescribing qualification or willingness to undertake. Additional requirements Familiar and committed to the principles and values of the NHS. Demonstrate commitment to focus on quality, promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes. Creates and fosters a culture of openness, honesty, integrity and inclusiveness. Ability to work flexibly, demonstrating commitment to partnership working. Ability to access / travel to patient homes across the locality. Values diversity and difference. Knowledge Up to date specialist knowledge of current practice within the area specified in job purpose. Knowledge of national and local frameworks and strategies. Ability to translate best practice evidence and national policies in practice. Background and development knowledge of Government Policies and changes in Primary Care. Understanding of NICE guidance. The post holder will have experience undertaking Incident Investigations. Values diversity and difference. Ability to undertake holistic patient centred assessment. Evidence of continued recent academic and clinical development. Knowledge of service development. Previous primary care / community experience. 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. Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working. #J-18808-Ljbffr