Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a TB Clinical Nurse Specialist join our nurse-led TB team at the University Hospitals Dorset based at Poole hospital on the beautiful South coast.



Working alongside the TB ECP, ACP and Nurse consultant, you will help to provide comprehensive TB services across East Dorset.



Previous TB experience is advantageous but not essential. Post holders will be expected to develop their TB clinical skills, experience and knowledge. Persons already possessing ECP / ACP qualifications and skills are also welcome to apply but the post is capped at a band 6 .



Candidates must be able to demonstrate a desire to work with and develop their TB clinical skills and knowledge as well as an ability to practice both automatously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team working within both primary and secondary care settings.



The successful applicants will ultimately operate nurse led clinics, providing LTBI diagnosis and treatment, assistance in the diagnosis, treatment and follow up of people with latent and active TB and NTM diseases, supervision of treatment, TB contact tracing, new entrant TB screening and BCG vaccination. Care is delivered under the supervision of the ACP and TB Nurse Consultant.



Candidates must be able to demonstrate a desire to work with and develop their TB clinical skills and knowledge as well as an ability to practice both automatously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team working within both primary and secondary care settings.



The successful applicants will ultimately operate nurse led clinics, providing LTBI diagnosis and treatment, assistance in the diagnosis, treatment and follow up of people with latent and active TB and NTM diseases, supervision of treatment, TB contact tracing, new entrant TB screening and BCG vaccination. Care is delivered under the supervision of the ACP and TB Nurse Consultant.



UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.



If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.



UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.



AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process



With appropriate supervision and support, works towards independently undertaking the assessment, diagnosis, and management of patients with Tuberculosis (TB), including both latent and active disease, as well as other mycobacterial infections.



Through structured training, develops the competence to work effectively both within a multidisciplinary team and, where appropriate, autonomously. Demonstrates high standards of clinical knowledge and skills--underpinned by theory and practical experience--to holistically assess and manage patient care, often in complex clinical and/or social circumstances.



Progressively acquires the expertise to become an accountable practitioner, responsible for managing their own caseload. This includes exercising a high level of professional autonomy, judgement, and accountability when making complex clinical decisions within the TB Service, across both primary and secondary care settings.



Supports, and where appropriate, contributes to the development and implementation of service and policy improvements, influencing practice beyond own area and across disciplines. This is guided by current evidence-based practice and aligned with the Trust's values-based approach to care.



Acts as a knowledgeable resource on TB for colleagues, patients, and the wider community. Supports the development, delivery, and evaluation of TB-related education for a broad range of healthcare professionals across care settings, as well as for patients and the public.

The post holder is expected to be able to:

Assume responsibility for the daily management of the clinical areas to which they have responsibility for Car owner/driver essential for the role along with expectation to drive across the county as and when required

Establish and maintain excellent communication with individuals/groups, providing and receiving complex, sensitive and/or contentious information and explore complex issues across a wide range of care options and decisions.



Acquire developed interpersonal and communication skills to overcome barriers, providing guidance, advice, and support to the individual /carer regarding management of their health/illness condition and its impact on individuals/carer's life.



Communicate complex, very sensitive, sometimes distressing condition related information to patient/carer using empathy and reassurance; identifies and overcome barriers to understanding as appropriate.



Learn to work across professional, organisational and system boundaries and proactively develop and sustain new partnerships and networks to influence and improve health, outcomes and healthcare delivery systems.



Analytical and Judgemental Skills



Develop professional judgment skills to assess, analyse and manage complex and unpredictable care events in the assessment of specialist clinical conditions recognising and working within the boundaries of practice, knowing when and who to refer patients to.



Work collaboratively with an appropriate range of multi-agency and inter-professional resources, developing, maintaining, and evaluating links to manage risk and issues across settings.



Demonstrate receptiveness to challenge and preparedness to constructively challenge others, escalating concerns that affect individuals', families', carers', communities' and colleagues' safety and well-being when necessary.



Planning and Organisational Skills



Plan and manage own workload.



Learn to plan a discrete aspect of patient care, ensuring provision meets the needs of the patients.



Plan and deliver relevant specialist teaching for all disciplines and levels of staff, patient and carer groups within the Trust, in relation to own area of expertise. This will include developing links with other professionals and agencies.



Act as a visible trainee enhanced practice role model by demonstrating high standards of care in line with UHD values.



Engage in self-directed learning, critically reflecting to maximise clinical skills and knowledge, as well as own potential to lead and develop both care and services.



Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy



Take responsibility for providing care and treatment in line with current evidence base at an enhanced practice level, developing the ability to make critical judgments and problem solving, regarding patient pathways for a distinct caseload of patients.



Develop the skills and knowledge to initiate and carry out complex patient assessment: analyse and interpret results using developed enhanced clinical knowledge and skills in specialist field, that includes comprehensive patient history and health assessment, physical examination, clinical measurements using enhanced clinical skills, detailed medicines history, and undertaking and interpreting a range of tests/investigations.



Critically evaluate and analyse clinical problems using expertise and clinical knowledge, seeking out and applying relevant evidence, enhanced clinical assessments, diagnostics, interventions, and equipment to make clinical decisions.



Work towards discussing and agreeing assessment outcomes with individuals, carers, and other health professionals to devise and evaluate complex care plans related to field of expertise.



Under supervision initiate, evaluate and modify a range of interventions which may include therapies, lifestyle advice, care and independently prescribing medicines in accordance with Trust regulations, as agreed at department and directorate level, to a distinct caseload of patients within specialist field, based on efficacy, safety, and cost.



Demonstrate the underpinning subject-specific competencies i.e. knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the role setting and scope, and demonstrate application of the capabilities to these, in an approach that is appropriate to the individual role, setting and scope.



Responsibility for Policy / Service Development



Implements policies and proposes appropriate changes to policy/service provision as a consequence of interpretation of local and/or national guidance/research findings.



Work alongside clinical leads, operational teams and stakeholders to develop local solutions for quality and service improvement.



Actively engage in peer review to inform own and other's practice, formulating and implementing strategies to act on learning and make improvements



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Actively seek feedback and involvement from individuals, families, carers, communities and colleagues in the co-production of service improvement



Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources



All staff must ensure they use resources in a manner consistent with organisational objectives and policies, ensuring that resources are realistic, justified, and of clear benefit to the organisation. Observes personal duty of care in relation to resources and equipment used .

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management



Advocate for a culture of organisational learning contributing to wider development of those working in their area of practice by disseminating best practice.



An act as a role model and mentor for learners and junior staff and participates in departmental meetings to help promote new ideas to benefit patient care.

Reflect on personal professional practice, identifying and managing further training and developmental needs in line with enhanced practice role, whilst maintaining a suitable CPD record.



Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties



Maintain clear accurate and contemporaneous records of personally generated data in line with current professional guidelines and standards.



Incorporates current technology appropriately in care delivery and uses information systems to support decision-making, to improve care.



Support Trust's governance process, including adverse incident and complaints reporting and investigation.



Responsibility for Research and Development



Regularly participates in research appraisal and clinical audit activities in own area and takes action based on results of these activities, ensuring evidence-based strategies are developed and applied to enhance quality, safety, productivity and value for money.