Job Description

An exciting opportunity has opened to join our dynamic Dermatology Team as a Band 3 Dermatology Support Practitioner.



The successful applicant will join our multi-disciplinary team and work independently under the supervision of a registered nurse assist in delivering a high quality of specialist dermatology care, to a broad spectrum of patients.



The role is very hands on and and you will learn a range of new skills and competencies such as applying prescribed topical treatments and specialised dermatological bandaging, and carry out investigations such as screening investigations such as taking swabs, pregnancy testing, blood pressures, urinalysis, weight, INR coagucheck, nail clippings and fungal scrapings.



You will also assist Specialist nurses and doctors in specialised clinics such as botox, phototherapy and patch testing. The role also encompasses administration skills such as supporting our minor op clerk to book skin cancer patients for minor surgery and ensuring slots are filled to capacity



An Enhanced DBS Certificate with both the Children's and Adults' Barred Lists is required for this position.



To work within a multi-disciplinary team and under the supervision of a registered nurse assist in delivering a high quality of specialist dermatology care, to a broad spectrum of patients. The post holder will undertake tasks and duties delegated by the clinical team or Dermatology Nurse Specialists, working both supervised and unsupervised/autonomously where appropriate.



The successful candidate will join the team of existing band 3 support practitioners working closely with our staff nurses, and nurse specialists, carrying out enhanced roles once deemed competent, and supporting consultants in the smooth running of their dermatology clinics.



Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.



We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care



Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.



Primary Care



Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.



Community Services



Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.



Specialist Regional Services



We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018

Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)

National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme



KEY DUTIES



To assist nurse specialists, staff and medical team with;



General clinics

MED clinic

Phototherapy treatment clinic

Urticaria clinic

Patch test clinic

Minor surgery assistance

Supporting the skin cancer service

Carrying out screening investigations including phlebotomy

Preparation of biologic clinics

Application of topical creams and bandages

To support the minor ops clerk to book appointments when needed.



CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES



To assist nurse specialists in phototherapy/hand and foot PUVA, including application of topical emollients or dressings were prescribed under the supervision of the trained nurse. Also cleaning of machines and treatment bowl

To ensure and be responsible for the smooth running of the urticaria recovery area, monitoring patient's observations (blood pressure, sats etc) for signs of anaphylaxis alongside the nurse specialist urticarial clinic, and to alert trained nurses/doctors/MET team if appropriat

To assist Consultant in patch test clinics, removing patch tests, correctly marking patch tests prior to removal and preparing the patient for their results reading

To assist nurse specialists in minor surgery at St Helens and Newton Hospital, in particular for ad hoc urgent skin cancer patients/ patients on 2WW skin cancer pathways/ skin cancer "see and treat clinics", and provide support for Dermatology Clinics held offsite eg Whiston Competent in Aseptic Non-Touch technique, scrub in to assist surgeons in minor ops and applying basic dressings, educates patients in post-operative car

To support the Skin cancer Nurse specialist in providing ongoing emotional support to patients diagnosed with skin cancer, to monitor the skin cancer helpline and deal with basic patient needs independently within realms of competence and refer on to specialist nurse specialist when appropriate. Support the skin cancer nurse specialist with documentation and recording of telephone consultations for both coding and patients' clinical notes in line with Trust Policies and Procedures

To carry out screening investigations such as taking swabs, pregnancy testing, blood pressures, urinalysis, weight, INR coagucheck, nail clippings and fungal scrapings, phlebotom

Assist in application of leg ulcer dressings (non-compression

To assist in paediatric clinics, able to safely apply prescribed topical treatments and specialised dermatological bandaging

To be competent in removal of sutures and basic post op wound dressings, to work alone and unsupervised and the ability to work autonomously where appropriate e.g., removal of suture clinic.

To support Skin cancer specialist nurse with health promotion /well-being events

Assists in research and databases e.g., assisting Skin cancer nurse input data onto Somerset database, BADBIR.

To undertake reviews of patients returning to clinic for specified follow up care and manage appropriately using guidelines and protocols.

To provide education, health promotion support and encouragement to patients to self-manage their conditions appropriate to own knowledge/experience.

Housekeeping and maintenance of Dermatology admin packs for Nurse Specialists eg Phototherapy packs, minor op paperwork, patient information leaflets, patch test leaflets and documents, BADBIR packs

Recognise the workload of colleagues and provide support as necessary.



TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES



To be a member of the BDNG.

To have completed NVQ level 3 in Health Care or Equivalent.

Demonstrable experience working in a dermatology department in specialised areas.

To complete in house training competency programme for all sub specialities in dermatology.

To maintain competence/compliance in mandatory training.