Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust; Wolverhampton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is seeking a Specialist Rheumatology Nurse to provide expert nursing care for patients with inflammatory and autoimmune musculoskeletal conditions. You will conduct specialist assessment, monitor disease activity, and coordinate care with the MDT to ensure safe, patient-centered management.

In this role you will lead nurse-led clinics, deliver education on medications such as DMARDs and biologics, document clinically, and contribute to service development and

Qualifications

• NMC registration with current license.
• Health Assessment module.
• Non medical prescriber (or working towards).
• Experience managing rheumatological conditions requiring DMARD and biologic therapy.

Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive assessment of patients with rheumatological conditions.
• Monitor disease activity and treatment response.
• Manage nurse-led clinics in accordance with local and national guidelines.
• Provide specialist advice and support to patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.
• Recognise and respond to deteriorating patients and disease flares.

Job description

To provide specialist rheumatology nursing care for patients with inflammatory and autoimmune musculoskeletal conditions, ensuring safe, effective, and patient-centred management through clinical assessment, treatment monitoring, education, support, and multidisciplinary coordination.

Main duties of the job

Specialist assessment review monitor patients with rheumatological conditions

Provide nurse led clinics telephone advice and patient follow up

Monitor patients receiving DMARDs biologic and other specialist treatments

Identify and elevate deterioration infection adverse effects and treatment complication

Provide medication education treatment advice and self management support

Coordinate care with consultants and wider MDT

Support safe and timely initiation and monitoring of treatments

Provide advice and support during disease flare and any changes in condition

Maintain accurate clinical documentation

Contribute to audit QI and service development

Support and develop wider nursing team

Promote patient centred care improved outcomes across the rheumatology pathway

Working for our organisation

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We’re passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as “Good” by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Undertake comprehensive assessment of patients with rheumatological conditions.

Monitor disease activity and treatment response.

Manage nurse-led clinics in accordance with local and national guidelines.

Provide specialist advice and support to patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.

Recognise and respond appropriately to deteriorating patients and disease flares.

Develop and implement individualised care plans.

Contribute to the early diagnosis and ongoing management of inflammatory arthritis and other rheumatological diseases.

Medication Management

Monitor patients receiving DMARDs, biologic therapies, and other specialist treatments.

Review blood test results and identify abnormalities requiring intervention.

Educate patients regarding medication safety, side effects, and adherence.

Support biologic therapy initiation and ongoing monitoring.

Prescribe medication within competence and scope of practice where appropriately qualified.

Patient Education and Support

Provide education regarding disease processes, treatment options, self-management, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Support patients to make informed decisions regarding their care.

Facilitate patient empowerment and self-management.

Provide psychological support and signpost patients to relevant services and support organisations.

Care Coordination

Act as a key point of contact for patients and relatives.

Coordinate care across primary, secondary, and tertiary care services.

Liaise with GPs, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals.

Ensure timely referrals and follow‑up arrangements.

Facilitate smooth transitions between inpatient and outpatient services.

Leadership and Management

Contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives.

Assist in developing policies, protocols, and clinical guidelines.

Support the management of clinical risk within the service.

Participate in audit, governance, and service evaluation activities.

Deputise for the Lead Rheumatology Nurse as required.

Education and Training

Maintain specialist knowledge through continuing professional development.

Participate in teaching and training programmes for staff, students, and patients.

Provide clinical supervision and mentorship where appropriate.

Promote evidence-based practice within the rheumatology service.

Research and Audit

Participate in clinical research studies and service evaluations.

Contribute to data collection and audit programmes.

Implement findings from research and national guidance into clinical practice.

Support continuous service improvement through quality initiatives.

Communication

Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients and families.

Build therapeutic relationships with patients experiencing long-term conditions.

Maintain effective communication with multidisciplinary teams.

Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with Trust policies.

Professional Responsibilities

Maintain NMC registration and adhere to the NMC Code.

Practice within professional and organisational policies and procedures.

Maintain patient confidentiality and information governance standards.

Undertake mandatory and statutory training requirements.

Contribute to safeguarding and infection prevention activities.

Application and interview

• NMC registration
• Health Assessment module
• Non medical prescriber (or working towards)
• Experience of managing rheumatological conditions requiring DMARD and biologic therapy

Flexible Working

As a major employer in the Black Country and West Birmingham region we are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance. We want the Black Country and West Birmingham region to be the best place to work and as such will consider all requests to work flexibly taking into account personal and individual circumstances alongside the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the Recruiting Manager as part of the on-boarding process.

Qualifications

Please be advised that if the post that you are applying for requires any level of qualification (e.g. A-Levels, Degree etc) or Professional Registration (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council etc) you will be required to provide proof as part of the pre‑employment process. By submitting your application you are giving the Trust permission to check the qualification certificates provided back to the source provider. Please note that a sample of all applicant’s qualifications will be checked with the educational institution or provider. Furthermore, a sample of all applicants’ qualifications will be checked back to the educational institution or provider to interview letters to further deter fraud.

Visa/Sponsorship Information

In line with UKVI requirements, the Trust is unable to sponsor any applicants for Skilled Woker Visas who do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements including applicable salary thresholds and concessions. Before applying, please ensure that you have the right to work in the UK, or that the role is eligible for sponsorship. For more information, please visit Health and Care Worker Visa or Skilled Worker Visa .

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.