Huntington's Disease Specialist Nurse

Livewell Southwest; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health organization in Plymouth seeks a Band 6 Huntington's Nurse Specialist to deliver person-centred care for individuals affected by Huntington's disease. You will conduct assessments, provide care planning, and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to enhance quality of life. Applicants should be Registered Nurses with an understanding of Huntington's disease, showing strong communication and interpersonal skills. This full-time role allows you to make a significant impact while promoting best practices in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Protected CPD time

Training pathways

Leadership programs

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with experience in Huntington's disease required.
• Ability to work autonomously and in a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated commitment to person-centred care and improving outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert nursing assessment and care planning.
• Support individuals and families affected by Huntington's disease.
• Contribute to research and service development initiatives.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Risk assessment and management

Education

Registered Nurse and current NMC registration

Post Graduate Specialist Knowledge in Community Mental Health

Tools

Microsoft Teams

Patient recording systems

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Huntington's Nurse Specialist to join Livewell Southwests. This is a fixed term 12 month,full-time position for a registered nurse with experience in Huntington's disease and a passion for delivering high-quality, person-centred care.

You will play a key role in supporting individuals andfamilies affected by Huntington's disease in the community, workingcollaboratively with the Older Peoples Mental Health (OMPH) Functional Team.

As a Huntington's Nurse Specialist, you will provide expertnursing assessment, care planning, and ongoing support for individuals livingwith Huntington's disease in the community. Acting as a key point of contactfor patients and their families, you will offer advice, education, andemotional support. You will work collaboratively with the OPMH Functional Teamand other professionals to ensure integrated, holistic care.

To succeed in this role, you must be a Registered Nurse withcurrent NMC registration and have demonstrable experience in Huntington'sdisease. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, alongwith the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team. Acommitment to person-centred care and improving outcomes for patients andcarers is fundamental to this role.

This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference inthe lives of people affected by Huntington's disease.

Main duties of the job

The Huntington's Disease Specialist Nurse post is an autonomous practitioner who will facilitatehigh-quality care and support for individuals with Huntington's disease and their families throughspecialist assessment, planning, coordination, implementation, and signposting to appropriateprofessionals and agencies. The post holder will provide advanced clinical advice using soundclinical reasoning and accountable decision-making to patients, families, and the widermultidisciplinary team, aiming to enhance quality of life, promote self-management, and preventavoidable deterioration. In addition, the Specialist Nurse will actively contribute to research, audit,and service development initiatives, supporting evidence-based practice and fostering innovationwithin the Huntington's disease service.

The post-holder is responsible to the Manager of the Older Persons Functional CommunityMental Health Service.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to 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 socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

To work with individuals with a diagnosis of Huntington's Disease, promotingindependence dignity and quality of life. Knowledge and understanding of the condition, using a self-management approachinvolving families, when appropriate to do so.To provide up to date Huntington's Disease education and awareness sessions regardingHuntington's, current clinical trials and research to Health and Social Care professionals,other third sector and voluntary bodies, and family members.To ensure access to holistic multidisciplinary Health and Social Care assessment andreview for patients living with Huntington's Disease.Perform comprehensive assessment of a persons need and plan/implement and evaluatecare delivery according to individual patient need, demonstrating advanced clinical skills. Contribute to multi-disciplinary clinics in a community health care setting, undertaking reviewsof patients health and social care needs.Act as a facilitator when services such as social services, therapies etc are required to ensurewhere possible early referral and a seamless transition to services, with support whererequired.Undertake hospital and care home liaison to ensure appropriate care and support for patientswith Huntington's Disease.Provide support and advice to care homes and care at home teams around the support andcare of person with Huntington's Disease. Support people to comply with their treatment programmes when living with the impact ofHuntington's Disease. Work of the Huntington's Disease services within their operational area.

Responsibility for people who use our services

Ensure that individual care is delivered in a timely, effective and safe manner. Make autonomous decisions on a daily basis without direct supervision and be the primaryspecialist within PlymouthCreate, implement and update care plans and risk assessments as required ensuring theindividual, carers and other professionals are involved as appropriate. Able to identify risk and the formulate risk management plans within the community.Provided advice, information and support around Huntingdon's to individuals, carers andother professionals in the community settingPromote safeguarding and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adultsImplement of NICE guidelines, other statutory guidelines and best practice. Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local legislation, policies and bestpractice relevant to the post.Ability to receive, analyse and formulate information and apply good professional judgments,often when working independently in the community. Maintain high standards of care to individuals with Huntington's Disease. Deliver education and training to people with Huntington's Disease, Carers, Health andSocial Care practitioners and care at home/ care home staff. To promote an understanding of the needs and challenges that face individuals, families andcare providers, through the provision of education and information. Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and treatments.Undertake home visits, supporting patients, their families/carers, and health and social carecolleagues.Receive and provide highly complex and possibly conflicting information.Identify and respond to emerging issues for the person or family.

Full details in Job Description

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse and current NMC registration
• Post Graduate Specialist Knowledge and/or experience in Community Mental Health setting
• Evidence of recent professional development
• On-going mandatory training
• HD: An enabling approach to supporting families

Specific skills

• Skilled and experienced clinician, particularly in assessment management of risk and crisis intervention
• Good communication skills (verbal and written skills)
• Empathic outlook on health care delivery which respects clients dignity and human rights
• Interpersonal skills
• Supervisory skills
• Risk assessment and management skills
• Calm and adaptable
• Ability to work flexibly
• Ability to work autonomously and part of MDT
• Recognise and manage stress in self and others
• Ability to commute around the locality.
• Creative, enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Ability to manage change
• Willingness to participate in service development
• Ability to work flexibly and dynamically to support the Manager in developing a healthy team culture and driving forward team improvements and change at all times.
• Skills in working with IT systems such as Microsoft teams, online diary systems, patient recording systems.
• Understanding of Continuing Health Care

Experience

• Experience of working in a community health or hospital setting
• Relevant experience of working with adults with a diagnosis of Huntington's Disease
• Significant experience of working with people with complex presentations in the community or hospital setting.
• Caseload management
• Experience of supporting people and their families with a long term progressive neurological condition

Knowledge

• Understanding of the motor, cognitive and psychiatric impact of Huntington's Disease
• Knowledge and understanding of current treatments and best practice for Huntington's Disease
• CMHF/PCF and record keeping
• NSF & MHA and NICE guidelines
• Demonstrate a commitment to professional development and be an able educator
• Evidence of life-long learning (academically and Professionally)
• Competent and knowledgeable in regards to Livewell Policies relevant to the role.
• IT knowledge/skills
• Knowledge of National and local strategies, and developments in mental health services.
• Able to draw upon a range of skills to support and deliver change within a MDT.
• Understanding of the health and social care landscape across Plymouth

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