Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Kings College Hospital; Orpington; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking healthcare provider as a Band 6 Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Specialist. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on patient care within a dynamic team, focusing on the assessment and management of patients in the Rheumatology department. You will play a key role in delivering high-quality nursing care, adhering to clinical guidelines, and supporting continuous quality improvement initiatives. This is a fantastic chance to develop your skills in a supportive environment while contributing to the health and wellbeing of patients in need. If you are passionate about patient care and eager to work in a collaborative setting, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• NMC Registered Nurse with experience in Rheumatology care.
• Demonstrable clinical expertise and ability to manage patient care.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct access to a Telephone Helpline for Rheumatology Service users.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care needs.

Skills

Clinical Expertise

Patient Assessment

Care Coordination

Evidence-Based Practice

Health Education

Education

NMC Registered Nurse

Degree in Nursing or Equivalent

Further Professional Studies in Rheumatology

Mentorship Programme or Equivalent

Job description

Main area: Rheumatology

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (To cover maternity leave)

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday)

Job ref: 213-PRUH-7048277

Employer: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Employer type: NHS

Site: Orpington Hospital

Town: Orpington, Kent

Salary: £42,939 - £50,697 per annum, including high cost allowance

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 12/03/2025 23:59

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced Band 6 Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Specialist to cover a 12 month maternity leave in the Rheumatology Team at Orpington Hospital. Applicants should have been working in a similar role with the ability to demonstrate clinical expertise in the care of any patients receiving treatment in the department.

Main duties of the job

1. To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to this at all times.
2. To demonstrate clinical expertise in the care of any patients receiving treatment in the department.
3. To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the needs of patients on an ongoing basis, coordinating the care given by all members of the clinical team.
4. To accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patients’ condition, promptly report changes and instigate remedial action as appropriate.
5. To ensure that Clinical Guidelines are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with Line Manager and practice development staff.
6. To ensure that practice is evidence-based and with support assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area.
7. To uphold high standards of nursing care, according to existing policies and standards.
8. To support the ACP/trainee ACP and Modern Matron in processes of continuous quality improvement, formally evaluating standards of care and assisting in the implementation of changes in the light of such findings.
9. To contribute to the health education of patients and their families, ensuring that all patients receive appropriate advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Working for our organisation

Our values at King’s, are that we’re a kind, respectful team:

Kind: We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work.

Respectful: We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed.

Team: We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional.

The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (EDI) at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we can take Team King’s to another level.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To provide direct access to a Telephone Helpline for all users of the Rheumatology Service, giving advice, education, counselling or arranging appropriate interventions over the telephone for patients, relatives and other health care professionals thus addressing their queries, problems and/or concerns.
2. To carry out blood monitoring of all patients attending the department on disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Using agreed evidence-based guidelines, he/she will ensure the blood results are within agreed limits or carry out the required interventions whilst liaising with both primary care and the appropriate consultant.
3. To assess patient’s suitability for biologic therapies/biosimilars transfer utilising the British Society of Rheumatology criteria.
4. To organise access to and administration of the prescribed medication, educate the patients and monitor them once they have commenced a biologic therapy, liaising with medical staff, pharmacy and the relevant pharmaceutical company’s home care delivery service.
5. To identify and participate in biologics specific research.
6. To ensure practice is evidence-based and that clinical guidelines are developed and implemented taking into account the scope of practice and patient group directives.
7. To utilise specialist knowledge and skills to identify patient problems promptly, and coordinate with medical staff relating to the admission of Rheumatology patients where appropriate.
8. To support the lead specialist nurse and matron in management issues regarding the Rheumatology Service, in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary Rheumatology team.
9. To provide face to face and telephone consultations in allocated clinic times.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• NMC Registered Nurse
• Further professional studies relevant to the clinical area (Rheumatology)
• Mentorship programme or equivalent teaching qualification
• Degree in Nursing or Equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrable clinical expertise, relevant to the area (Rheumatology)
• Experience of providing nurse led clinics/telephone clinics
• Knowledge of relevant clinical guidelines
• An understanding of HR processes and issues pertaining to staff management

IMPORTANT:

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you.
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications.
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert.
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible.
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy.
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.