Spinal Outreach and Community Liaison Clinical Nurse Specialist

To perform autonomous outreach visits to newly referred spinal cord injury (SCI) patients to assess their clinical needs and to ensure that expert clinical knowledge and specialist spinal injury care is shared with all referring hospitals (non-specialist in SCI), in particular the Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) for London.
To empower spinal injury outpatients to live successfully in the community by promoting their independence, self-reliance and self-esteem, and participate in the lifetime surveillance and support service for patients with spinal cord injuries, throughout the Southeast of England.

Please check JD for full listing of Job Description and responsibilities

To work autonomously as a Specialist SCI Nurse in the non-specialist referring hospitals, community settings and nurse led clinics to effectively deliver expert nursing advice and education for professionals, patients, and their family members on spinal cord injury.

To deliver an advanced, highly specialised spinal outreach service for people with a new SCI that are not in a specialist SCI Centre.

To provide teaching and training for non-specialist multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in hospitals and community settings to enable them to care for the SCI patient.

To ensure that patients and their families are fully informed and supported by providing clinical and psychological support.

To establish clear lines of communication within the non-specialist teams at MTCs, other referring hospitals and community teams.

To link with non-specialist teams to increase knowledge and facilitate the care of this patient group to help reduce avoidable complications by training and management strategies. To maintain effective ongoing liaison with hospital teams and community.

To represent the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre (LSCIC) and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) at conferences and on other forums.

To assist in co-ordinating the admission of patients from referring hospitals or from the community to the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre for their rehabilitation.

At the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH), we are committed to achieving the best staff experience in the NHS. In the 2023 NHS Staff Survey, we proudly:

Scored above the national average for the People Promises: "We are recognised and rewarded," "We are always learning," "We work flexibly," "We are a team," and for staff engagement.
Ranked #1 among all Trusts in North and Central London for all People Promises and themes.
Ranked #1 among all Acute Specialist Trusts for "We work flexibly."

At RNOH, we’re committed to being actively anti-discriminatory and actively inclusive. We recognise our brilliant people do brilliant work, and we offer rewarding careers, no matter what their background. We continue to strive to break down barriers to be the Trust where people come together because what they do matters, makes a difference and where they can thrive. ​

Joining our organisation means enjoying a wide range of staff benefits, including:

24/7 access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
A Rewards & Recognition platform, offering opportunities to thank colleagues, send gifts, and access exclusive discounts.
A dedicated Staff Wellbeing Hub, providing a space to relax and recharge away from the work environment.
Salary sacrifice schemes for transport (season ticket loans, car and bike), electrical goods, and childcare

At RNOH, we are more than a workplace—we are committed to patients, to excellence and the wellbeing of our staff.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CLINICAL

Ø To facilitate communication between MTCs / non-specialist referring hospitals / community teams and the specialist SCI team at the RNOH.

Ø To work with the referring MDT and community team key staff members to maintain a robust specialist service.

Ø To provide specialist advice and support via a nurse led telephone service, nurse led clinics as well as follow up support through the email referral system.

Ø To travel to MTCs, non-specialist referring hospitals and Community settings in order to provide expert clinical knowledge and skills through various teaching strategies to members of the MDTs caring for patients with a newly acquired spinal cord injury and as required patients with long standing SCI.

Ø To contribute proactively to the decision-making process when planning care or organising transfer/admission arrangements to the LSCIC.

Ø To work with and support senior clinical staff at the non-specialist referring hospitals and community teams in identifying areas where changes in practice are required and also where opportunities exist for improving the treatment and support of patients.

Ø To assess the care needs of patients, their families and carers in non-specialist referring hospitals and the community by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care within the current setting.

Ø To share responsibility with the other members of the Spinal Outreach and Community Liaison Teams for patient caseload. To ensure all patients have an accurate plan of care which reflects the assessment undertaken and incorporates the issues and recommendations made with clear documentation in the patient’s electronic health records - EPIC

Ø To provide information for the specialist spinal MDT admission meetings, ensuring all patients are reviewed and presented to the team at RNOH when updating the waiting list.

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Ø To utilise every opportunity to ensure that own skills and knowledge are regularly updated.

Ø In collaboration with other team members, design a formal teaching package for acute hospitals and for community professionals in relation to spinal cord injury and review and update as necessary.