Pressure Ulcer Educator/Quality Improvement Practitioner

NHS; South Petherton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is looking for a Pressure Ulcer Educator/Quality Improvement Practitioner to support the implementation of a pressure ulcer reduction strategy. You will provide training, facilitate quality improvements, and promote best practices in skin integrity management across inpatient settings. Join a commitment to enhancing staff capabilities through effective education and quality performance in a supportive environment within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

Benefits

Flexible working options

NHS pension scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Career development opportunities

Blue Light Card discounts

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse Associate on the NMC register or equivalent.
• Foundation degree or higher diploma in health care.
• Experience in delivering training using various methods.

Responsibilities

• Provide education and training on pressure ulcer prevention.
• Support teams in the management and reduction of pressure ulcers.
• Work clinically within Tissue Viability Teams as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Team working

Communication

Education

Registered Nurse Associate

Foundation degree in health care

Assessor/Teaching/training qualification

Tools

IT platforms (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams)

Job description

Pressure Ulcer Educator/Quality Improvement Practitioner

The post holder will be required to work with the wider Tissue Viability Team (across the 3 TVN Teams- Musgrove, YDH and Community) to facilitate the implementation of a programme of work in support of the Trust's pressure ulcer reduction strategy in all inpatient settings.

To provide expert support, advice and assessment to staff caring for individuals with skin integrity issues including wounds (pressure ulcer, leg ulcers, chronic non-healing wounds, skin tears, post surgical wounds) and pressure ulcer prevention.

Provides educational needs for Trust staff and supports other agencies with education on an ad-hoc basis.

Main duties of the job

This will include:

* To work alongside the Pressure Ulcer Educator and Quality Improvement Co-ordinator to implement a structured plan to support educational and quality improvement activities associated with pressure ulcers and their prevention;

* Contribute to the Trust governance process for the management of pressure ulcer incidence by co-ordinating the validation process on the Trust clinical incident system.

* Support the Tissue Viability Service in the monitoring of the impact of educational and quality improvement activity within the team;

* Act as a positive role model that promotes a pro-active approach to preventative practice; ensuring a holistic and inclusive approach to the management of people at risk of pressure ulcers;

* Work flexibly across the Trust, as required.

There is an expectation that the post holder will spend some time working clinically within one of the TVN Team.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:

* To act as an innovative and enthusiastic role model providing training, guidance and advice to staff caring patients at risk or with pressure ulcers.

* As directed, work with colleagues across the Trust to ensure that pressure ulcer prevention training is embedded, and compliance (where appropriate) is monitored.

* To advocate the use of best practice in line with the Trust's Pressure Ulcer Policy.

* To help maintain good communication, liaison and working arrangement with all inpatient clinical Wards/Units and working in close conjunction with the other relevant support teams.

* To deliver training at various levels to a range of staff across the organisation, using different methods/strategies.

* To support the Tissue Viability Teams with activities associated with pressure ulcer prevention as they work with their Tissue Viability Link Nurse/Champions networks, enabling the sharing of good practice and develop their roles across the wards/units.

* To escalate any concerns around practice/care that they identify whilst working alongside frontline colleagues; addressing issues directly where they feel able and comfortable to within their remit and experience.

* Delivering regular learning sessions to large groups, individual teams, bespoke clinical skills, and developing the use of technology enhanced learning, such as simulation (as appropriate).

* Keep up to date with the development of clinical policies/procedures/best practice relevant to the topic.

* Support local teams to facilitate quality improvement methodology to implement activities that address the pressure ulcer reduction strategy.

* Ensure good standard on documentation of work activity to support the monitoring the impact of the educational and quality improvement activities.

* Planning and prioritising work activities effectively and in line with the service requirements, as directed by the Pressure Ulcer Educator and Quality Improvement Co-ordinator.

* Ensure accurate and timely clinical record keeping.

* To be able to address straightforward problems in their day-to-day work, reporting concerns to their supervisor in a timely manner.

* To participate in the implementation and audit/review of training and education activities relevant to the topic.

* To gather feedback from training delivered for ongoing review.

* Awareness of different teaching/learning methods and resources to ensure the most effective delivery is achieved.

Whilst this is an education and quality improvement role, there is an expectation that the post holder will work clinically within one of the clinical teams for some of their contracted time, and this will require the following -

* To implement treatment and care following specialist assessments as directed by senior members of the Tissue Viability Service;

* Support specialist treatment of patients with complex tissue viability needs;

* To ensure that the principles of confidentiality, consent and capacity are upheld within the application of their duties;

*Work within the limitations of own scope of practice and competencies and escalate elements of care outside of that to a senior colleague;

* Ensure accurate and timely clinical record keeping;

* To be able to utilise specialist skills i.e., compression therapy, or Negative Pressure Wound Therapy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• * Registered Nurse Associate on the NMC register OR Assistant Practitioner qualification (as below)
• * Foundation degree in health care or Higher National Diploma in health care i.e. at Level 5 of the Regulated Qualification Framework
• * Assessor/Teaching/training qualification or equivalent

Experience

• * Proven experience working within a health or social care setting or undertaking a caring role -- including supporting junior colleagues
• * Proven experience in caring for patients at risk or with pressure ulcers
• * Experience in use of IT platforms such as -- Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams.
• * A good understanding of health and social care models
• * Knowledge of the national strategies/agenda relevant to the discipline
• * Audit

Additional Criteria

• * Act as a role model
• * Able to demonstrate a good standard of English language
• * Good interpersonal and team working skills
• * Ability to prioritise own workload and to keep deadlines with minimal supervision
• * Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
• * Willingness to learn new skills required for the role
• * Access to transport to travel in connection with the post e.g. to attend meetings or training events across the county.
• * Experience at delivering training in a range of methods
• * Ability to use specialist wound therapies, such as compression therapy, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy and Larval Therapy
• * Ability to work under pressure

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.