Specialist Spinal Injuries Practitoner

NHS Jobs; Sefton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking an experienced nurse leader to oversee spinal cord injury care across in-patient and outreach settings. The role emphasizes evidence-based practice, mentorship, and maintaining high standards of nursing documentation and patient outcomes.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team, coordinating care pathways, supporting staff development, and driving improvements in clinical governance and patient experience.

Qualifications

• Provide expert nursing care in accordance with current research-based protocols.
• Maintain accurate written nursing records and regularly evaluate documentation in line with NMC/HCPC guidelines.
• Provide support and assessment for in-patients, day case and acute outreach patients.
• Liaise with ward staff and other services to support patient care.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage nurse-led services in assessment, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients.
• Act as Key Worker for patients undergoing investigations and spinal cord injury diagnosis.
• Support timely pre-admission care, in-patient interventions and discharge planning.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to support spinal cord injury patients and ensure effective referrals.
• Contribute to clinical governance by auditing practice and ensuring adherence to policies.

Job description

CLINICAL

1. 1. Ensure nursing care is delivered in an expert and professional manner compatible with currentresearch-based protocols and be responsible for maintaining accurate, effective andcomprehensive written nursing records by regularly evaluating nursing documentation inaccordance with the NMC / HCPC guidelines.
2. 2. Provide support and assessment for in-patients/day case/acute outreach patients.
3. 3. Provision of information, advice and support to in-patients and out-patients and their relatives andcarers.
4. 4. Provide support to ward staff, liaison between services.
5. 5. Develop and manage nurse-led services in assessment, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up ofpatients.
6. 6. Act as Key Worker to patients undergoing investigations and diagnosis of spinal cord injury.
7. 7. Provide support to services to ensure timely and appropriate pre-admission care, in-patientinterventions, and discharge planning.
8. 8. In conjunction with the Multi-Disciplinary Team, provide support to patients undergoing spinal cordinjury surgery and treatment.
9. 9. Ensure effective liaison and referral processes with other specialities for example the threeNorthwest Major Trauma Centres, Intermediate Care Services, Primary, and Secondary Care.
10. Act on concerns raised by team members or service users taking appropriate action according toTrust Policies and Guidelines.
11. 11. Demonstrate and monitor competency in clinical skills including clinical examination required forthe post and work to define protocols and guidelines for example clinical examination, non-medicalprescribing.

LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT

1. 12. Maintain professional competence, authority and credibility through clinical practice, acting as arolemodel and leader, providing supervision, support and mentorship to nursing staff.
2. 13. Contribute to the service development of Spinal Cord Injury services within the Trust.
3. 14. Promote and disseminate best practice within the Trust and external networks.
4. 15. Assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of evidence-based nursing practicestandards, guidelines, protocols, policies, and care pathways.
5. 16. Support Trust managers and NWRSIC leads to achieve appropriate targets for Spinal Cord InjuryService.
6. 17. Actively participate in peer review, clinical and managerial supervision.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

1. 18. Identify and provide support, advice, and teaching to nursing/AHPs and junior medical staff in thecare and management of patients with spinal cord injury.
2. 19. Contribute to in-house clinical skills programmes.
3. 20. Act as a mentor/supervisor for nurses/AHPs undertaking higher educational awards within thespeciality.
4. 21. Contribute to the pre-registration nurses educational experience, acting as a mentor for practiceplacements.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

1. 22. To develop and implement clinical audit of own practice, protocols and procedures to demonstrateclinical effectiveness.
2. 23. Act on concerns raised by team members or service users taking appropriate action according toTrust Policies and Guidelines.
3. 24. Record and report incidents, accidents, or complaints to the Head of Nursing and act inaccordance with Trust Policy.
4. 25. Participate and lead in clinical research.
5. 26. To introduce and apply research findings to nursing practice where relevant.
6. 27. Act in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Code of Conduct/Professional Body at all times.
7. 28. Undertake appropriate mandatory training in infection control and comply with all Trust InfectionControl policies relevant to the post, particularly with regard to the Hand Hygiene Policy.
8. 29. Ensure compliance to all Trust Risk Management, Research Governance and Infection ControlPolicies and Procedures and abide by the Standards for Better Health.
9. 30. Responsible for ensuring own continuing professional development and identifying developmentneeds within the Trust knowledge and skills development review process.
10. 31. Contribute to the Trusts programmes for monitoring and ensuring adherence to ClinicalStandards, for example NICE Guidelines, Quality Surveillance Programme and National ServiceFrameworks

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust