Clinical Nurse Specialist, Candidate, Hepatology, University Hospital

Details of Service

Cork University Hospital (CUH) has approximately 800 beds and this will increase further to 1,000 beds on completion of the transfer of additional services to the CUH campus. CUH currently employs approximately 4,571 (WTE) staff of multiple professions and is the primary teaching hospital for the Faculty of Health and Science in University College Cork (UCC). UCC is the Academic partner of the South/South West Hospital Group. CUH has very strong relationships with each of the six schools within the Science Faculty of UCC and this is a key area for future development to maximise the opportunities for both the service and academia.

CUH is a recommended Major Trauma Centre for the Republic of Ireland due to the wide range of specialties delivered by the hospital – including Neurosciences, Cardiac Services, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Renal, Internal Medicine, Vascular, Ophthalmology, Urology, Plastic Surgery, Maxillary-Facial, Paediatrics, Intensive Care, Oncology, Haematology, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology and Emergency Medicine.

CUH is the tertiary referral centre for the HSE Southern area, and the supra regional area of Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny. CUH therefore acts as a regional centre for secondary and tertiary care for the catchment population of approx. 550,000 served by the HSE Southern area and a supra-regional centre for a total a population of 1.2 million.

Six Health Regions have been established within the HSE, on the basis of the geographical boundaries agreed by the Government in July 2019 and they will be operational from 2024.

Each Health Region will be tasked with population specific planning resourcing and delivery of health and social care services for the needs of its unique population. This will result in improved accountability and governance in terms of finance and performance, while also bringing decision-making closer to the frontline.

Health Regions will enable and empower staff to provide services that are:

• Integrated, locally planned and delivered

• Easier to access and navigate

• Available closer to home

Health Regions are geographically-based units with clearly defined populations. They align community and hospital services within specific areas. The HSE will retain a strong but leaner central organisation, with more service provision developed at a local level.

The HSE South West health region will manage and deliver all public health and social care services in Cork and Kerry. HSE South West includes all hospital and community healthcare services in the region.

This includes:

• South / South West Hospital Group S/SWHG

• Cork Kerry Community Healthcare CKCH

• Midlands Louth Meath Community Health Organisation

• Community Healthcare Organisation Dublin North City and County

The Department of Population and Public Health is also now aligned with this health region

Services in the South West health region:

HSE Services working within this region include:

• Acute Hospitals

• Primary care services

• Community services

• Social care services

• Health and social care professionals

• Voluntary sector services

South / South West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare will become part of HSE South West health region from 3rd March 2025 and the transition to the new structures will be taking place throughout 2025.

Hepatology Unit, CUH

The Hepatology unit within the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cork University Hospital, is one of two units outside Dublin accredited to treat patients for Hepatitis C. We offer a diverse range of care services including preparation and follow up of patients who have undergone Liver transplantation. Currently, the NPGH are agreeing a patient pathway which will offer efficient and equitable access to care for patients with liver disease. CUH will act as the main hub site and support for various sub sites throughout the SSWHG. The team at CUH will provide a presence when required and advice to personnel working on other sites with regards to patient care, education and training.

Purpose of the Post

As outlined in this job description, the cCNS pathway will facilitate the post holder to be supported to professionally and clinically develop the skills and knowledge required to achieve the competencies of the CNS role.

The post holder will coordinate and deliver care to patients attending the Hepatology Service in Cork University Hospital and the integrated outreach community-based hubs under the governance of CUH Hepatology Medical and Nursing Teams. They will provide knowledge and understanding of addiction, and alcohol and drug treatment services available. They will also provide support to patients with a new diagnosis in the integrated community outreach clinics to understand their condition, providing education regarding modes of transmission, treatment options and lifestyle changes necessary to prevent further liver damage.

The cCNS post holder will be enabled to deliver care in line with the five core concepts of the role set out in the Framework for the Establishment of Clinical Nurse/Midwife Specialist Posts, 4th edition, National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (NCNM) 2008.

Caseload

The cCNS will focus initially on the following service user groups: Adults aged 16 years and above.

The cCNS clinical role is based on the core concepts and associated competencies for the CNS (adapted from NCNM 4th edition 2008)

The concepts are:

· Clinical Focus (Direct and Indirect Care)

· Service user/Service User Advocacy

· Education and Training

· Audit and Research

· Consultancy (including leadership in clinical practice)

Informal Enquiries

We welcome enquiries about the role.

Contact Ciaran Sweeney – Assistant Director of Nursing, ciarna.sweeney@hse.ie 087 0921093- for further information about the role

Contact Ann-Marie O’Keeffe- People Resourcing, Annmarie.okeeffe2@hse.ie – for enquiries relating to the recruitment process