Lymphoedema Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsible for: Providing high quality assessment and treatment plans to patients referred into the service and supporting service development and delivery

We recognise the skills required to undertake this role require a period of mentorship and training, so this is a development opportunity.

Purpose of Job:

To provide a high quality specialist lymphoedema service promoting individual treatment and care programmes, as part of the multi- disciplinary team.

Job purpose:

To undertake the management plan set out by the Lymphedema specialist

To assess and treat patients with Lymphoedema, both Primary and Secondary, who may have complex and/or chronic presentations. The Lymphoedema Service is predominantly clinic-based but also includes in-patient ward cover.

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

To develop appropriate assessment skills in evaluating the patients condition and in progressing and executing appropriate treatment plans

To formulate an appropriate, individual management and/or treatment programme, using clinical reasoning skills, setting objectives, timed goals and ensuring treatment progression with a variety of manual and treatment techniques.

Maintain accurate records and managements plan reviews

To apply practical therapeutic skills in Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Complex Decongestion Therapy, as taught by a British Lymphology Society approved body to fit support hosiery.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to patients, relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of the Lymphoedema Service and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care

To represent the Lymphoedema Service, giving specialised advice to MDT members when required.

To participate in the efficient running of the Lymphoedema Service, working closely with and supporting the other members of the team.

To provide education and support to community colleagues, including specific Lymphodema training and education.

To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management and that of more junior staff.

Organisation

Ability to organise time effectively, creating work schedules, prioritising workload and meeting deadlines

Using Initiative

Able to take responsibility for own actions and make decisions without referring to others

Resilience

Ability to remain calm and self-controlled under pressure

Communication

Experience of communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing, adapting style to suit the audience

To communicate effectively with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, about patient issues, in order to facilitate a team approach to patient care; writing to General Practitioners etc.

To communicate effectively with patients and carers in order to maximise therapeutic outcomes, and to ensure understanding of the condition. Communication skills in persuasion, motivation and explanation will be used. Barriers to effective communication will occasionally be encountered e.g. hearing loss, Special Needs

To assess capacity, gain consent and have ability to work within a legal framework and to support other staff to do likewise

Team Working

Ability to develop effective and supportive relationships with colleagues

Influencing and Negotiating

Experience of influencing, convincing or negotiating with others in a way that results in acceptance and behaviour change

Building Relationships

Ability to quickly build a rapport and establish professional relationships with others, based on trust and understanding

Client Focus

Ability to ensure the patient is central to all decisions made regarding management of care

IT skills

Ability to use Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and Outlook. Knowledge of the workings of databases

Personal and Professional Responsibilities:

To work the contracted hours appropriate to enhancing the availability of the service for the patients.

To maintain personal Clinical Professional Development (CPD), by incorporating them, as appropriate, into work practice. To be an active participant in in-service training, by attendance at staff meetings and by leading and participating in tutorials, training sessions and external courses as appropriate to your role in the department

To keep up to date with relevant developments within the field of Lymphoedema, disseminating information and ensuring that practice is based on the best available evidence.

To be a resource for advice to colleagues working in other clinical areas.

To communicate effectively and to work in collaboration with MDT colleagues across the Health and Social Care sectors, ensuring delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service

To participate in the staff appraisal scheme

To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out duties and to adhere to departmental Health and Safety policy, including the competence to use the equipment. Also, to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice, including manual handling.

To maintain accurate and up to date documentation in line with legal and departmental requirements, including the production of appropriate reports, letters and treatment summaries.

To be aware of the health and safety aspects of your work and to implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including the prompt reporting and recording of accidents.

To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures, and to be involved in the reviewing and updating of these, as appropriate.

To fulfil the requirements of mandatory training as dictated by the organisation.

To carry out any other duties, which might be considered appropriate by the team leader or Service Manager

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree in nursing or other Allied Health profession (working towards)
• Registration with appropriate registered body.
• Evidence of further study in related subject- wound care

• Information technology
• Audit
• Lymphoedema MLD Qualification

Experience

• Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner
• Prioritisation of workload
• Supervision of students in any environment
• Directing patient care

• Ability to build effective working relationships with patients/carers/colleagues
• Experience of evidencing and auditing practice
• Membership of Special Interest Group

Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of all relevant diagnoses and their management
• Detailed anatomy and physiology related to this speciality
• Clinical reasoning
• Able to undertake a literature search/review
• Current evidence based practice
• Health and Safety and Risk awareness

• Knowledge of compression Hosiery and lymphoedema associated products
• Knowledge of local community services and value of inter-agency working

Personal Attributes

• Willingness to be flexible to meet service needs
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Empathy and support to patients and families
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Reliable and punctual
• Effective communication skills
• Motivation to direct self and others
• Observational skills
• Problem solving skills
• Assessment skills
• Sets realistic aims for self and patients
• Commitment to Continuous Professional Development

• Negotiating skills
• Ability to positively make changes to meet service need
• Enthusiasm and encouragement
• Teaching skills
• Ability to work on own initiative

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name

Trinity Hospice

Address

Low Moor Road

Blackpool

Lancashire

FY2 0BG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.trinityhospice.co.uk/