Specialist Community Practitioner Student (District Nurse)

Job overview

We are one of only two community teams in the UK to receive an outstanding status by CQC. Come and join us, and become a part of the amazing work we do!

GSTT Integrated Local Services is promoting the DOH agenda for excellent clinical service provision within local communities.

This is a 1 Year fully funded, full time training opportunity for trained nurses to qualify as a District Nurse.

Candidates must demonstrate evidence-based practice, up-to-date clinical and leadership skills, as well as a commitment to the delivery of an effective and efficient district nursing service. Through this application process you are applying for a place at University and an NHS sponsored placement allowing you to train as a District Nurse.

Now is a fantastic and exciting time to join Guy's and St Thomas’ Neighbourhood Nursing team with a great deal of benefits, including in-house training and development programmes, career progression, staff support, and trust loans for electronics and devices. 

We aim to identify solutions more effectively whilst streamlining the care given to our patients, improving the independence of our nurses and their professional freedom/responsibility.

Rachel Turner-Peard - Matron for Education welcomes informal discussion prior to applications. 

You are strongly recommended to view the course outline on the London South Bank University website

Closing Date: 30th June 2024

Interview Date: 12th July 2024

Main duties of the job

- To work towards gaining the standards of proficiency for entry to the NMC register/recordable for Specialist Community Practitioner, District Nurse.

- To develop knowledge, skills and competencies to take on the role of a qualified Specialist Community Practitioner within the Neighbourhood nursing service.

- To gain the knowledge, skills and competence required in order to exercise higher levels of judgment, discretion and decision making in clinical care focusing on four broad areas:

Clinical practice

Community engagement

Clinical practice development

Leadership in clinical practice

- The post of Specialist Community Practitioner Student is a development post building on existing knowledge, skills and competencies to achieve a higher level of practice resulting in an academic qualification as well as a recordable/registerable qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Working for our organisation

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK’s best known hospitals – Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield – as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

You will have the opportunity to further develop and enhance your skills with the support and training available by working alongside experienced nurses and specialists. We have a supportive culture to encourage each other to strive to be the best within our daily practice. Our feedback as a team reflects this.

Working with us you will have access to numerous benefits:

Mobile devices for personal protection whilst in practice, allowing you to work more flexibly.

Opportunity to apply for training and mentorship programs on all grades of nursing staff.

Access to our partners Kings College London for Masters level education opportunities.

Financial, health and wellbeing support.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The fundamental responsibilities of the post holder are to attain the academic credentials and the clinical skills required to practice as a NMC registered Specialist practitioner in District Nursing. These are summarised below:

To fulfil the requirements of the Specialist Community Practitioner programme by attending university course dates and practice placement days in accordance with University regulations and Trust contractual requirements.

To work with the Practice Assessor and Practice supervisors to develop the skills and competencies to achieve NMC Registration Standards for Specialist Community Practice. It is expected that the student will undertake independent work and discuss the learning from it with the PA/S.

With the support of the Practice Assessor to link the theoretical knowledge gained through the university programme to the practice situation.

To demonstrate an understanding of current and emerging National, Regional and local healthcare legislation, policies and guidelines as they pertain to chosen pathway.

To develop/build on skills of caseload and team leadership and management.

To be an active part of the host team taking on increasingly complex patients for reviews and new patient assessments, participation in hand over and other team meetings.

To develop a sound understanding of own role in governance and assurance processes in the running of the service in each local team.

To work within University Regulations pertaining to academic work and student conduct and to meet timescales and deadlines as required.

To work within employing organisation policies as they pertain to the relevant clinical setting and clinical practice.

To work within employing organisation policies relating to employee responsibilities for example sickness absence reporting.

To keep the Trust updated on key milestones throughout the course including results and any resubmission / deferral needed or requested.

The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated. Please see attached job description for full details.

Person specification

Skills/Knowledge/Ability

Essential criteria

Academic ability to study independently at: postgraduate level. Sufficient IT skill to be able to A/I Knowledge of assessment of health needs of the local Population. A/I use Epic (electronic patient record) system. University e-learning systems and online work submissions, spreadsheets and word documents.

Excellent, adaptable communication skills both written and verbal.

Awareness of the role of contemporary District Nursing

Desirable criteria

Background knowledge of current policy relating to public health and primary care

Knowledge of assessment of health needs of the local population

Experience

Essential criteria

Recent experience of working as a registered nurse in a community nursing role

Experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams

Evidence of involvement in the management of difficult situations and conflict resolution

Evidence of working without direct supervision and managing own workload

Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria

Values and Behaviours

Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.