Liver Clinical Nurse Specialist

The post holder will work as a Band 6 Liver Clinical Nurse Specialist, providing specialist nursing support (maternity cover) to patients with liver disease across the Fylde Coast. Working under non-direct supervision, the role focuses on delivering high-quality, patient-centred care through clinical assessment, care coordination, patient education, and contribution to service development within the Liver Service.

The post holder will support nurse-led clinics and disease-specific pathways including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, haemochromatosis, cirrhosis monitoring, HCC surveillance, and the day-case ascites service, working closely with the multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, effective, and timely care.

Job description

This role provides an opportunity to develop specialist hepatology knowledge and clinical skills, contributing to governance, audit, quality improvement, and education, while progressing towards increased autonomy and practice in line with agreed competency frameworks.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details for the post

Person specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Current NMC registration (Part 1 - Adult Nursing)
• Degree in Nursing or equivalent
• Commitment to maintaining mandatory training requirements

Desirable

• Specialist qualification in gastroenterology/hepatology or working towards
• Venepuncture and cannulation competency

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years post registration experience in adult nursing
• Experience caring for patients with complex medical conditions
• Experience of holistic patient assessment and recognising deteriorating patients
• Experience of coordinating patient care across services and working within multidisciplinary teams
• Experience providing patient education, health promotion and lifestyle support
• Participation in clinical audit and quality improvement activity
• Sound understanding of adult nursing principles, chronic disease management, patient safety and clinical governance
• Ability to use clinical guidelines and evidence-based practice

Desirable

• Experience in gastroenterology, hepatology or specialist medical nursing
• Experience of nurse-led clinics or outpatient services
• Experience delivering structured education programmes or motivational interviewing
• Knowledge of liver disease, including viral hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver complications

Knowledge of NICE, BSG and EASL guidelines relevant to liver disease

Skills & Ability

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to explain complex information clearly
• Ability to conduct comprehensive nursing assessments and apply appropriate clinical examination skills.
• Competent use of clinical information systems and basic Microsoft Office applications
• Strong organisational, time-management and prioritisation skills, including ability to manage own caseload
• Accurate and comprehensive clinical documentation in line with professional standards
• Ability to identify problems, apply critical thinking and seek appropriate solutions
• Demonstrates professional behaviour in accordance with the NMC Code and a patient-centred approach to care
• Effective team-working skills and ability to work across professional boundaries

Desirable

• Flexible, adaptable and resilient, with emotional capacity to work with seriously ill patients
• Experience of breaking bad news and managing difficult conversations

Teaching, mentorship or supervision experience

Experience of clinic coordination and pathway management

About the employer

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a resident population of approximately 330,000 and the 12 million holidaymakers who visit the area every year. The Trust comprises Blackpool Victoria Hospital which is a large busy acute hospital and a smaller community/ rehabilitation hospital - Clifton Hospital. Outpatient services are also provided in Blackpool, Fleetwood and Lytham Hospital. The Trust is also responsible for the provision of a wide range of community healthcare services, including District Nursing, Community Matrons and therapy services.

The organisation provides specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. We also have specialised Cardio-thoracic Surgical and Sleep Medicine services (including polysomnography) and provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year.