Job Description

Are you passionate about Stroke?



Do you want the opportunity to work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist for this complex group of patients?



An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the existing Stroke Nurse Clinician Team at the Trust.



We are looking for a highly motivated individual with relevant and substantial clinical experience in an acute/early supported discharge team stroke setting.



You should also have excellent interpersonal skills, a professional manner; promoting teamwork and effective communication between all disciplines involved in the care of Stroke patients.



You will provide Advanced Specialist Stroke Nursing skills, in particular assessing acute stroke patients in the A+E Dept, and inpatient areas, supporting hyper acute and acute stroke care and following the patient post discharge through the ESD service. You will assist in the co-ordination of the Stroke pathway and provide support to patient and their families.



Relevant training will be provided as necessary.



Shortlisting Date - 22nd August 2025

Interview Date - 2nd September 2025



You must have excellent clinical skills to ensure our patients receive optimal care with minimal delay. You will provide clinical leadership, expert advice to all staff and be able to recognise, at an early stage, any intervention required for acutely ill patients.



Whilst being an integral part of the Stroke Team, based on the Acute Stroke Unit and Accident & Emergency department and Early Supported Discharge team. You must have the ability to work as an autonomous practitioner who is able to effectively manage and prioritise your workload independently and work well under pressure.



The role requires working across a 5-day rota, at 22.5 per week.



The successful candidate will need to ensure that they are able to meet the travel requirements of community working.



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 assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for Stroke and TIA patients admitted to the Trust, offering advice and support to A&E / Ward staff.

To ensure the Stroke Pathway is implemented for all relevant patients following assessment.

To assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients receiving Thrombolysis treatment, offering advice and support to A&E / Ward staff.

To provide specialist advice and clinical practice.

To work collaboratively and co-operatively with clinical colleagues to develop service and promote the quality of care delivered.

To promote stroke based quality initiatives.

To deploy and utilise manpower resources effectively and efficiently.

To ensure that the ward areas are clean and that all ward equipment is clean and in safe working order.

To ensure that Matron/Senior Sister for the area is aware of any issues that affects standards of ward hygiene.

Take responsibility for managing their own health and well being.



CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES



The stroke service runs a 24 hour/7 day service, therefore a substantial part of this post will be shifts and unsocial hours.



Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and any other associated legislation.

To assist in setting and monitor standards of nursing care within the speciality.

To act in a consultative capacity on nursing matters within the speciality.

To liaise with medical staff and other disciplines on the management of the speciality.

To be responsible for assessing, planning, implementation and evaluation of stroke and TIA patient care.

To ensure that patient care is delivered within the Nursing and Midwifery Scope of Professional Practice and Code of Professional Conduct.

To promote the involvement of patients and their relatives in the management and evaluation of care.

To have shared responsibility for the delivery of patient care by all members of the nursing team on the ward/department.

To maintain safe custody of drugs, ensuring that checking, witnessing and administration procedures are compatible with statutory and trust requirements.

To undertake appropriate training to expand clinical skills relevant to the speciality.

To ensure compliance to all Trust Risk Management, Research Governance and Infection Control Policies and Procedures and abide by the Standards for Better Health.



ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES



To assist in the development of policies and protocols relevant to the speciality.

To assist in manpower studies and the collection and collation of statistical data.

To assess and plan action to meet individual development needs.

To assist in the planning and implementation of orientation programmes for Trust staff.

To assist in the co-ordination and monitoring off duty, annual leave and sickness and absence of stroke clinician service.

Ensure prompt reporting of faulty equipment in order to maintain a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors.



TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES



To promote an environment conducive to learning.

To assess learning & developmental needs of members of the Trust nursing team in the speciality.

To assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of programmes of specialty-based teaching ensuring learning objectives are achieved.

To ensure the educational needs of learners are met and evaluated during their allocation to the ward/department.

To facilitate & participate in continuing education & assessment for learners allocated to the ward/department.

To ensure that own personal development is maintained and recorded in line with the KSF outline for the post.

Undertake appropriate mandatory training in infection control and comply with all Trust Infection Control policies relevant to the post, particularly with regard to the hand hygiene policy.



LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES



To participate in the monitoring and measuring in the quality of care within the stroke service.

To inform Matron if acceptable levels of care, standards, practice, and patient safety cannot be sustained.

To deputise for the stroke nurse specialist in his/her absence.

To promote effective lines of communication with other departments within the Trust.

To participate in the development of other information systems relevant to the decision-making process.

To ensure optimal and economical levels and usage of supplies in the clinical area.

To assist in setting and monitoring the achievement of stroke standards and objectives.

To encourage & motivate ward/department staff on personal & professional development at all levels.

To support and counsel members of the stroke team.



RESEARCH & AUDIT



To develop and implement methods of auditing nursing practice within own speciality.

To initiate / participate in local research.

To promote awareness of current nursing research in members of the ward /department teams.

To introduce and apply research findings to ward/department nursing practice where relevant.

To promote and disseminate local/national/international research findings to other wards/units/forum/departments.

To support people's equality, diversity, and rights.

To ensure compliance with all Trust policies.

To ensure compliance with all Trust research governance procedures.

To ensure compliance to all Trust risk management policies and procedures

To abide by the Nursing and Midwifery Code of professional Conduct

To ensure that own competency is achieved & maintained in the use of clinical equipment relevant to the role.

It is the post holder's responsibility to maintain current registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council. A lapse in registration would render the post holder unable to work as a Registered nurse.