Detailed job description and main responsibilities

*Please see the  Job Description

Clinical Practice

- To assist with development of patient focused services, providing professional and clinical role modelling to all staff groups in both the Endoscopy Unit and Hospital.

- To undertake endoscopic procedures (with informed consent having due regard to patient safety and safe use of equipment) and remove polyps independently.

- Identify abnormalities and act according to protocols suggesting appropriate further investigations within agreed criteria.

- Demonstrate advanced clinical decision making.

- Work independently and as part of a team of consultant and clinical endoscopists, undertaking endoscopy procedures at the request of other clinicians based within the Trust.

- Provide conscious sedation as appropriate using informed consent according to national and local guidelines.

- To provide other appropriate IV interventions as per Trust training programmes.

- To provide advice to patients and promote lifestyle changes.

- To provide support and education to endoscopy staff and other agencies as a clinical expert.

- Complete an electronic report for every procedure performed ensuring future treatment and follow-up care is arranged.

- Plan and prioritise own workload, liaising with the appropriate administrative support teams as necessary.

- Liaise with the various multi-disciplinary teams regarding the management of patients.

- Promote and demonstrate the benefits of the Bowel Cancer screening Programmes 

- To use advanced communication skills to: promote a positive working environment, impart significant news, and implement change.

Clinical Governance

- Maintain and evaluate standards of care.

- To ensure compliance for ongoing accreditation by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on endoscopy and endoscopy training.

- To safeguard the welfare and safety of staff, patients and visitors during working hours in accordance with the requirements of the Trust’s Health and Safety Policy.

- To attend mandatory lectures, courses and training sessions.

- To participate in research and clinical audit in accordance with Trust policies.

- To contribute to the development of protocols and guidelines in line with evidence based practice.

- To identify strategies for increasing user involvement.

- To work closely with Departmental staff and the MDT’s to identify strategies for risk reduction.

- To highlight and act upon any hazards/unsafe practices and ensure all accidents/untoward incidents are reported in accordance with the laid down procedures.

Education and training

- To act as a role model and mentor to all staff, medical and nursing, providing informal and formal teaching and support.

- Facilitate study days for other healthcare professionals.

- To promote health education both locally and nationally such as Bowel Cancer Awareness.

- To update own educational needs by attendance at courses, conferences and study days, in addition to mandatory training, fire, manual handling and life support sessions.

- To maintain the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and expert clinical nursing requirements.

- To write and promote the writing of educational leaflets for patient and staff use.

Clinical Management

- To plan and prioritise own workload.

- To maintain a high profile with patients and staff informing, advising and using counselling skills as required, actively promoting and demonstrating the benefits of the post.

- To promote safe practice in accordance with the principles and scope of professional practice.

- To work closely with the Endoscopy Sister and Matron, Bowel Cancer Screening team, Consultants, Divisional Nursing Director, Clinical lead for Endoscopy and the General Manager to develop new service/ initiatives.

- In partnership with service leads, participate in the future planning, development and funding of initiatives in order to pre-empt the changing needs of the service.

- To attend administrative and management meetings as invited.

Staff Management & Development

- The post holder will participate in the management, supervision and development of Clinical  Endoscopists in training.   

- Support medical and nursing colleagues to ensure that high standards of clinical practice and quality of care are achieved and maintained.

- As a senior nurse to act as a clinical role model and offer support and professional guidance to other colleagues.

Personal Development

- To maintain a professional attitude at all times, developing the role of the Clinical Endoscopist in the best interest of the patient/profession in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice.

- To attend courses and conferences to keep up-to-date with recent research and practice changes.

- To promote safe practice.

- To act as the patients advocate.

- To critically evaluate current practices in light of relevant nursing/medical research and initiate change as appropriate.

Service Development & Improvement

- Assist with service development and the overall implementation of policies for the non-medical endoscopy service with the MDT.

- Assist with the development and maintenance of protocols, care pathways and guidelines based on evidence based research for patients undergoing routine diagnostic and interventional endoscopy.

- Assist with developing audit to assess compliance with JAG regulations.

- Collaborate with national groups looking at the development and implementation of national guidelines aimed at improving services for endoscopy and endoscopy.

- To assist with promoting and coordinating nursing research within endoscopy to promote evidence based practice at Trust and National Level.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

- Demonstrate advanced theoretical and practical clinical knowledge required to perform range of work encompassed within the role.

- Demonstrate highly developed physical skills in performing flexible upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy within the endoscopy unit. 

- Demonstrate competency in IV cannulation, drug administration and supply of medication within the framework of a PGD.

- Demonstrate knowledge of Global Rating Scale (GRS) and JAG accreditation standards.

- Contribute to the Corporate Nursing Strategy of the Trust.

Acting as a role model you will be involved in teaching, audit and research within the specialty.  Able to work independently, with authority and as a self-directed practitioner, you will play a key role in helping to shape the non-medical endoscopy team to be able to provide new and different ways of providing our gastroenterology service. You will be required to assist the team in their current provision of service in vetting referrals for the 2 week wait pathway and validation of surveillance patient lists.