Job summary
The Role of the Specialist CFS/ME Practitioner:
Professional Qualification: Nurse (RN), Health Care Professional: OT or Physiotherapist
Using the Stockport Primary Care Trust Job Description and local service knowledge the role of a ME/CFS specialist is to deliver a patient centred , biopsychosocial model of management and treatment to support the patient living with ME/CFS.
Main duties of the job
- Perform advanced holistic triage and assessment of patients with multi-system symptom presentations, with a complexity of physical, emotional and psychological health
- To develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme
- Work collaboratively with primary and secondary health care services, third sector services and social prescribing, education and social services, to ensure the delivery of a seamless and high quality service
- To be responsible for a caseload and work without direct supervision.
- Provide support to MDT and cover for absent colleagues
- Promote a holistic, supportive and patient centred service that facilitates an intervention approach to promote change, acceptance and promotes self-management aiming to optimises functional improvement
- Undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner
- Act as an advocate for patients and their families when necessary
- Carry-out risk assessment in line with Trust/National Protocol
- Anticipate care needs and develop individual patient lifestyle management plans to include pacing and grading activity, equipment prescription or home modification recommendations
- Ensure patient care and planned interventions are supported by available evidence base and experiential knowledge and are in accordance with Code of Professional conduct
- Keep up to date with professional standards and relevant literature related to ME/CFS
About us
We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.
We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.
We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.
If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.
We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.
Benefits we offer to you:
- Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
- NHS pension scheme membership
- Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
- NHS Staff discounts
- Cycle to work scheme
- Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
- Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice
Job description
Job responsibilities
Work with patients, carers and families, and other statutory health related services
Work autonomously and within a team
Be flexible in their approach to therapy and management of symptoms
Have advance communication skills
To have expert knowledge and understanding of the ME/CFS diagnosis, symptoms, and potential prognosis
Manage a patient through the entirety of their care episode in relation to ME/CFS, assessment, symptom management, support, and discharge. Referring on to other agencies where support out of their skill set is required, e.g. physiotherapy
Have a broad skill set which can include advanced skills in delivering advice on PACING, sleep management, relaxation, stress management. The specialist will also have rudimentary knowledge and skills in pain management, CBT or counselling, exercise , diet and healthy living advice
Manage severe and complex, house bound patients. The Stockport service offers a domiciliary service to patients, this is not a national standard and quite exceptional. This places the specialist in the role of key-worker, requiring collaborative working with social services and other attending care agencies
Be able to recognise non-ME/CFS symptoms, and know when and where to report these
Be an advocate for the patient, which may involve supporting with work adjustments, benefit claims, education, through reports or MDT meetings
Know where to sign-post patients for CFS/ME support, e.g. local or national support groups
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.
If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £41.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary
In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £13.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy/ Physiotherapy/ Nursing
- State Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council/Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Membership of Professional body RCOT/CSP/RCN
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of current best practice in physical and psychological interventions in ME/CFS
- Awareness of relevant specialist interest groups e.g. Action for ME
- Knowledge of Nice Guidance in ME/CFS
- Knowledge of best practice in management and treatment of ME/CFS
Desirable
- Understanding of post exertional malaise, and implications when advising activity programmes
- Be able to explain post exertional symptom exacerbation in the contex of ME/CFS
Work related skills
Essential
- Car Driver
- Hold valid UK driving licence, and car owner with insurance for business use
Equality and diversity
Essential
- Knowledge of Neurodiversity and the implications around communication and treatment approaches
Desirable
- Be able to discuss how a therapy intervention may be modified when working with an individual living with neurodiversity
Experience
Essential
- Experience triaging GP referrals, and reading and interpreting investigation results, including blood results
- Understanding of the diagnostic process for ME/CFS
Desirable
- Multidisciplinary Team sharing of triage findings and investigation results, to provide reasoning to accepting or rejecting referrals
Skills and experience
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
- Ability to process and record complex information and respond effectively
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
- Apply health, safety and risk management processes, especially towards loan working
Desirable
- Post registration experience in community services
- Knowledge of intermediate care and community/support services.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skill
- Ability to build effective working relationships.
- Positive attitude to disability and problem solving
- Remain professional, calm and polite in difficult situations
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Address
4th Floor Beckwith House
Wellington Road North
Stockport
SK4 1AF