Spinal Outreach and Community Liaison Clinical Nurse Specialist

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES CLINICAL To facilitate communication between MTCs / non-specialist referring hospitals / community teams and the specialist SCI team at the RNOH. To work with the referring MDT and community team key staff members to maintain a robust specialist service. To provide specialist advice and support via a nurse led telephone service, nurse led clinics as well as follow up support through the email referral system. To travel to MTCs, non-specialist referring hospitals and Community settings in order to provide expert clinical knowledge and skills through various teaching strategies to members of the MDTs caring for patients with a newly acquired spinal cord injury and as required patients with long standing SCI. To contribute proactively to the decision-making process when planning care or organising transfer/admission arrangements to the LSCIC. To work with and support senior clinical staff at the non-specialist referring hospitals and community teams in identifying areas where changes in practice are required and also where opportunities exist for improving the treatment and support of patients. To assess the care needs of patients, their families and carers in non-specialist referring hospitals and the community by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care within the current setting. To share responsibility with the other members of the Spinal Outreach and Community Liaison Teams for patient caseload. To ensure all patients have an accurate plan of care which reflects the assessment undertaken and incorporates the issues and recommendations made with clear documentation in the patients electronic health records - EPIC To provide information for the specialist spinal MDT admission meetings, ensuring all patients are reviewed and presented to the team at RNOH when updating the waiting list. EDUCATION AND RESEARCH To utilise every opportunity to ensure that own skills and knowledge are regularly updated. In collaboration with other team members, design a formal teaching package for acute hospitals and for community professionals in relation to spinal cord injury and review and update as necessary.