Band 6 Allergy Nurse Royal Brompton Hospital Maternity Cover

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Communication
  • Participate in and take the minutes of the weekly Allergy multi-disciplinary meeting
  • Demonstrate good communication skills with both patients and colleagues
  • Demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity in dealing with patients/clients, visitors/relatives and colleagues - maintain good customer relations.
  • To adapt communication skills to meet the needs of patients who may have barriers to understanding e.g. language.
  • Maintain and promote effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary Allergy team and other Wards/Departments, including developing formal presentation skills.
  • Promote a positive image of the Trust at all times.
  • Promote the corporate image of the Trust to all individuals, groups and organisations both within the Trust and to the community at large.
  • Participate fully as a team member, sharing knowledge and information and supporting colleagues, to promote a cohesive ward team and the achievement of team objectives.
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive learning environment for colleagues, patients and visitors.
  • To ensure self-development through own completion of Trust and specialist competencies as per the Trust educational policies, update through reading and contributing to update policies, procedures, guidelines and seeking clinical and knowledge advancement.
• Patient care (both direct and indirect)
  • Provide a holistic approach to patient care that will include the appropriate level of physiological; pathological; spiritual; socio-economic and cultural aspects which influence the care of clients within your specific speciality.
  • Ensure there is sufficient supply of relevant patient literature in the outpatient clinics.
  • Be responsible for booking patients in for food or drug challenges and work with members of the Allergy team to prepare food and drug challenge materials, obtain written consent from patients undergoing a food or drug challenge and administer the relevant food or drug in accordance with hospital standard protocols.
  • Run the specialist food and drug skin prick testing service, taking booked and on-the-day referrals and organising appointments if required.
  • Support the Allergy Nurse Specialist in the running of the Immunotherapy and Xolair for chronic spontaneous urticaria services and maintain these services in the absence of the Allergy Nurse Specialist
  • Ensure that documentation is maintained to the Trust standard (including electronic records).
  • Identify and report clinical risks to the Allergy team so that appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the Trust risk management policy.
  • Actively seek evidence-based practice which will improve the quality of care and meet the needs of the patients.
  • Together with the Allergy Nurse Specialist, ensure the safe custody, maintenance and administration of medication, in accordance with Trust policies.
  • Promote and maintain a safe therapeutic environment for patients, their families and staff, according to national and local Infection Control guidelines, Health & Safety legislation and Trust policies and objectives.
  • Provide sound evidence based clinical advice as required to staff and patients.
  • Maintain a good understanding and implementation of clinical escalation procedures as required, especially within the domain of food and drug challenges.
  • Undertake effective multidisciplinary work with colleagues to deliver care.
  • Monitor quality of standards of care, in line with CQC requirements, IQAS requirements and Trust and Divisional objectives.
  • Comply with and participate in the Trust’s framework for Clinical Governance within the Allergy team, incorporating the Trust core behaviours and the 6 C’s and to work with the trust nursing strategy.
  • Maintain a safe working environment, including helping to identify clinical risks, including the safety and use of equipment, and ensure that appropriate action is implemented in accordance with the Trust risk management policy.
  • Together with the Allergy Nurse Specialist, take a leading role in the detection, management and prevention of safeguarding issues.
  • Have an awareness of current professional and clinical developments within the Allergy speciality and promote this to others.
  • Contribute to setting goals and benchmarking standards of care. Assist with the development of tools to improve the quality of the service and co-ordinate clinical services across the Allergy Service.
  • Record and report all incidents/complaints involving staff, patients and visitors in accordance with the Trust policies.
  • Ensure the nursing documentation is maintained to the Trust standard (including electronic records).
• Policy & Service development
  • Lead on delegated projects relating to local policy development.
  • To be actively involved in the development and implementation of Trust policies and procedures at Department level and reinforce their use.
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive learning environment for colleagues, patients and visitors.
  • Participate in staff education and development, including utilising appropriate learning opportunities
• Resource management
  • Ensure equipment used is fit for purpose by organising for the calibration of scales
  • Assist the Allergy Nurse Specialist in the effective and efficient use of resources by adhering to the procedures for the use of supplies. Have an awareness of budget management and budget setting.
  • Maintain the skin prick testing kit, ordering more reagents as required and work together with the Allergy Nurse Specialist to ensure effective use of resources & adequate stock levels of injection immunotherapy materials and other consumables.
• People management
  • Participate in the Trust Appraisal and Personal Development Plan schemes by: meeting with the manager at least annually which includes feedback from a selection of internal staff and team members.
  • Actively manage own annual leave in line with Trust and local Policy and Procedure
  • Participate in the programme for clinical supervision as required.
  • Maintain a personal, professional profile, identifying role and skill developments in line with the Scope of Professional Practice
• Information management
  • To adhere to the Trust’s Information Service and Information Governance Policies.
  • Use data which will contribute to the improvement of patient care.
  • Use the Trust internet to enhance care and for professional development.
  • Undertake relevant training for electronic information systems in place and under development.
• Research and development
  • Participate in the education of all learners within their area.
  • Identify and respond to learning needs for area.
  • Develop and deliver or organise local training sessions, mindful of Trust values.
  • Facilitate others in the development of informal teaching skills.
  • Participate in annual training needs.
  • Participate in any local or related research projects, clinical trials, etc.
  • Apply and encourage others to utilise evidence-based practice and relevant research findings in practice.
  • Identify areas of nursing research within their area that will be of benefit, encourage and educate other staff to recognise the importance of research.
  • Take responsibility for auditing the skin prick testing service, and participate in the collection of audit and research data as required