Stroke Specialist Nurse

The Stroke Nurse Specialist Team provide 24 hour/365 day a year cover deploying highly specialised evidence-based clinical practice. The Stroke Nurse Specialist Team also initiate diagnostic investigations to either confirm or exclude a stroke and are individually responsible for the patient in the initial phase of the stroke pathway which include radiological imaging and assessment resulting in either thrombolysis, referral to tertiary centres or onward to the Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) based at Whiston Hospital.
The Stroke Nurse Specialists work autonomously and are self-directed in the clinical care they provide. They are also responsible for the review of stroke patients in an outpatient setting at intervals of six and twelve months which involves a review of their holistic needs which may result in a change to their current care, medication or referral to the wider multidisciplinary community team.
This post will be subject to an Enhanced DBS (with barred list for vulnerable adult's disclosure).
Interviews to be held W/C 1st December - TBC, · Manage and prioritise work load to meet service needs.
· Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationships between clinicians, practitioners and managers within the speciality.
· Effectively and sensitively communicate highly complex and sensitive information to emotionally distressed patients and family/carers at key points in the patient pathway on a frequent basis.
· Use advanced communication skills to provide verbal and written information to patients and their families/carers, in timely manner specific to their individual needs.
· As a core member of the multidisciplinary team you will be expected to provide professional advice to and liaise with medical, therapy, social and nursing staff within the trust and primary care.
· Represent the Trust and provide professional advice and support in order to facilitate patient and public involvement in service delivery and design.
· Facilitate a high quality, cost effective specialist service through monitoring and audit and other quality initiatives.
· Lead on and participate in key developments relating to the speciality so that high quality patient focused services are promoted.
· Attend and participate in multi-professional team meetings., · To maintain and enhance professional registration and uphold the NMC code of conduct
· To provide evidence based stroke specialist nursing service, which is responsive to user's needs. Care will reflect current local protocols and national guidelines and delivered through face to face consultation on a day to day basis
· Demonstrate advanced practice skills in the holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of stroke patients. This includes history taking, physical examination with specialist knowledge and skill-set in neurological examination and the requesting of diagnostic procedures and investigations.
· Necessitates high levels of autonomy and advocacy using analytical and judgment skills in undertaking differential diagnosis.
· Administration of relevant medication under PGD
· Following specialist assessment facilitate and organise the direct admission of patients to the hyper acute unit ensuring seamless transfer of care
· Assess and effectively manage individual devastating psychological and physical effects of stroke
· Facilitate and co-ordinate the process of informed choice for patients in the provision of treatment and care. This would include acting as a patient advocate to guide to treatment
· Advise on the complex disease and symptom management for patients within the stroke speciality, in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Evaluate response to interventions and advise on the adaptation of management
· Act as a resource for the Medical & Nursing team and other health care professionals working within the Trust and Primary care, providing professional advice and support concerning stroke and TIA.
· In partnership with Consultant Staff, Consultant Nurse, Allied Health Professionals, and Head of Quality, develop robust governance systems by contributing to the development and implementation of evidence-based protocols, documentation processes, standards, policies and clinical guidelines through interpreting and synthesising information from a variety of sources and promoting practice.
· Demonstrate advanced complex communication skills in supporting, informing and advising patients and families through diagnosis and disease progression. This will involve frequently imparting significant news.
· Refer to other health professionals and outside agencies to ensure optimum care and on-going support for individual's patients/carers, and to ensure seamless transfer of care.
· Maintain links with local and national organisations, which support the care of patients within the stroke speciality, represent the Trust at meetings with CCG's and community partners.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
· Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records/data on all matters pertaining to the planning, management delivery and evaluation of the service.
· Maintain and input data that support reporting of the Trust CQUIN and performance measures.
· Ensure records are safeguarded and managed as per HSE policy and local guidelines.
· Ensure efficient action in response to complaints as per trust guidelines
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
· Undertake clinical competencies relevant to stroke service to demonstrate expertise in extended nursing roles -this includes undertaking and completing the STEP training course.
· Identify and use advanced educational strategies to deliver complex information to patients and carers.
· Contribute to Trust wide education and training of staff within this highly specialist area.
· Deliver formal and informal training and teaching as part of the stroke specific speciality.
· Act as a mentor or clinical supervisor were appropriate.
· Identify own personal development needs to work as an advanced practitioner and be willing to work towards degree or masters to enhance role or any other appropriate training or education.
· Contribute to promoting educational links with local providers of higher education.
LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
· Act as a role model demonstrating high standards of care and provide clinical leadership across the Trust for this specialist area .Ensure when patients are transferred to nursing teams that if appropriate overall supervisory responsibility of patient care
· Contribute to clinical governance
· Participate in operational and strategic planning for the development and delivery of the specialist stroke services locally and across the Mid-Mersey foot print
· Attend Trust senior nursing meetings, deputise for the Stroke lead nurse and / or Directorate Manager
· Represent the Trust by contributing to and participating in meetings locally regionally and nationally relating to the stroke speciality.
RESEARCH & AUDIT
· The post holder is expected to collect data that provides evidence within the specialist area of practice. To contribute towards research in area of expertise and critically appraise and evaluate and apply theoretical frameworks.
Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. You are part of an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.
Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.
The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.
If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact [email protected]
We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.
The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision-making process.
The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click here to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 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.
Please note if applicable, applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment.
If you have not already done so, you are therefore encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service to which a small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
Flexible Working
We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that:
· All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
· There is no limit on the number of requests they can make.
· Employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason.
At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working. We would also encourage you to also discuss flexible working options at interview stage.
Working for Team MWL
Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
The Trust is a non-smoking across all our sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Smoke Free NHS website
You must ensure that your application, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.
Additional Information
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and Behaviours which are We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE, which can be found here.
An applicant guide to help and support you with your application and what to expect during your recruitment journey can be accessed in the supporting documents.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon.

We are looking for a highly skilled, motivated nurse to join our Stroke Nurse Specialist Team who are an integral part of the multidisciplinary Stroke Service.

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1^st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
+ CARE that is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
+ SAFETY that is of the highest standards
+ COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
+ SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
+ PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
Our achievements include:
+ Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
+ Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
+ Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme