Lead Nurse - Neurology

Go back Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Lead Nurse - Neurology The closing date is 30 June 2025

We have an exciting opportunity for a Lead Neurology Specialist Nurse to provide effective and efficient leadership of the neurology department cross-site between Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Bedford Hospital, focusing on neurology specialist nursing services ensuring high quality patient care and an optimal neurology service for all.

The post holder will contribute to the development of a high quality local neurology service.

Main duties of the job The Lead Neurology Specialist Nurse will work alongside the Deputy Head of Nursing to provide professional leadership and specialist clinical advice, education and support to all level of health care providers including colleagues working in nursing, midwifery, medical and Allied Health Professionals.

The post holder will be an expert, autonomous practitioner, working under the supervision of the Clinical lead, with a broad experience of all aspects of neurology. They will manage their own caseload and supervise the caseload of the neurology specialist nursing teams. They will lead on the development of appropriate evidenced based programmes of education and care for people with neurological conditions.

The post holder will increase awareness of neurological concerns by disseminating knowledge and skills to other health care professionals and people with neurological conditions and their family /carers, thereby improving the day to day and long term management of neurology conditions through enhanced self-care.

About us Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities Key responsibilities

• To deliver evidence based individualised patient care according to patients changing health care needs. Providing leadership and specialist advice to ensure effective continuity of care delivery.
• Be recognised as a clinical expert in the management of neurological conditions, to set standards and engage in autonomous high-level decision making.
• To manage a significant caseload of patients with neurology conditions, managing complete programmes of care. Working with patients and carers to empower them to make informed decisions about their health, in particular, those at high risk of developing complications that require intensive therapies, technology, or education and support.
• To promote and contribute to the clinical governance agenda.
• To lead on the development of standards and protocols that concerns the nursing care of people with neurological conditions.
• To promote a culture of clinical excellence in neurology care throughout the Trust.
• To act as a resource for health care professionals and other agencies and voluntary organisations i.e. GPs, Consultants, junior doctors, qualified nurses, allied health professionals and nursing and residential homes.
• To diagnose and prescribe treatment/medications as an independent nurse prescriber in line with the BHT Guidelines and other policies/protocols.
• To prescribe and initiate intravenous and oral therapy for patients where indicated by the Trusts neurology guidelines supported by an appropriate individualised education programme.
• Works autonomously (with clinical supervision, when required, by the Clinical Lead), plans and prioritises own workload. There are broad guidelines but the post holder decides how best these will be acted upon in each individual circumstance and with each patient.
• To refer to other health care professionals independently.
• Involve patients and carers/relatives in the planning and delivery of care and in the development of services to enhance the patient/carer experience.

Communication and relationship skills

• To work as the team leader, sharing knowledge and information and supporting colleagues to promote a cohesive team and the achievement of objectives for the service.
• Contribute or lead on the investigation of complaints, PISRF and untoward incidents within the ward/ department in line with Trust Policies and procedures and in conjunction with the ward or department manager and implement recommendations for action.
• Ensure that people with neurological conditions are aware of and receive the full range of information, support and resources available to them both internally and externally. When necessary facilitate communication and decision-making between them and the inter-disciplinary team.
• To network with multi-professional colleagues within and outside the Trust, to champion sound clinical leadership and develop support mechanisms for sharing good practice across the clinical arena. Be visible in relevant clinical areas to act as a resource for both staff and patients.
• Act as a communications ambassador and deploy advanced communication skillsensuring effective communication with patients and relatives. Champion effective communication with all members of the MDT, wards and departments, to provide seamless and effective care management for patients with cardiac conditions.
• Enable staff to exercise professional judgment within a framework of accountability.
• Actively promote the Trusts neurology nursing service to other NHS/health organisation.

Leadership and management

• Provide 1:1s to all the nursing staff as necessary, annual appraisal and PDP for staff under your direct supervision. Ensure that they do the same if they supervise staff.
• Ensure that all specialist nurses have up to date job plans and that these are reviewed annually or as the needs of the service changes.
• Delegate tasks and activities to a range of team members, recognising their development needs, ensuring that staff have the appropriate training and coaching to take on projects. Ensure that all projects are facilitated and outcomes are evaluated. This will impact on succession plans.
• To be aware of the change management process and take on expert role within this process.
• Where appropriate contribute to the investigation and management of staff issues that relate to sickness and absence, poor performance, harassment, disciplinary and grievance issues using the relevant Trust policies and in liaison with your Directorate management team, implement recommendations for action focusing in particular on learning contracts and action plans.
• To support flexible working practice, in line with Improving Working Lives Standards and Trust Change Management Policy

Education and Training

• Provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge to colleagues, patients and carers/relatives both within and outside the Trust.
• To ensure that training needs analysis are undertaken. Plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified need. Implement agreed teaching programmes in line with Trust objectives and key neurology related training initiatives.
• To ensure that a suitable learning environment is maintained based on the principles of a learning organisation. Ensure staff have effective orientation, preceptorship, supervision and in-service training. Develop neurology nursing competence and self-assessment where appropriate.
• Develop and participate in the education of pre and post-registration health care professionals/medical staff.
• Participate in curriculum planning and development of in house courses relevant to area of expertise.
• Ensure team compliance with mandatory training.
• Address specific health targets related to own area of practice, e.g. NICE, NHS England guidelines.
• Maintain up to date skills and knowledge and maintain awareness of professional issues within a professional portfolio.
• In collaboration with line manager ensure the recruitment and retention of staff is within the budgeted establishment.
• To manage the financial budget for the service along with the service manager.
• To supervise staff, ensuring that they have systems in place to manage the efficient and effective use of supplies, provisions and equipment of the Department within the designated budgets. This includes management of temporary staff.
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