Patient Educator

The Patient Educator will work alongside the Heart Failure Specialist Nurses and the Cardiac Rehab team. They will take responsibility for the education of patients, empowering them to live a healthier lifestyle and to understand the implications of, and treatment paths for, their heart failure diagnosis.

• Monitoring, recording and progressing patients’ education programmes in accordance with agreed guidelines, protocols and treatment regime.
• Supporting the senior cardiology/heart failure staff to ensure that the educational component of the cardiac rehabilitation programme is clinically effective and high quality.
• Preparing and delivering holistic health promotion and patient education for individuals attending cardiac rehabilitation and their carers.
• Providing advice to patients and carers in a variety of settings, both face to face and digitally.
• Participate in local service audit, evaluation and research.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential. The Centre for NMAHP Research and Education Excellence (CeNREE) provides support for UHNM staff to develop and engage in research including external Fellowship and Grant application support and a Clinical Academic Career Pathway.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

• To be a member of a multidisciplinary team and share information with team members.
• Develop rapport with patients/clients using negotiation and motivational skills in encouraging participation and consent for participation in the cardiac rehabilitation and education programme.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and demonstrate an unbiased approach to care.
• Communicate with patients, clients and visitors in a polite and respectful manner reflecting their level of understanding and taking into account cultural and language barriers; also promoting their sense of dignity at all times.
• To communicate and liaise with all members of the multidisciplinary team in a polite and professional manner to contribute to all relevant aspects relating to patient management and care.
• To empathise, reassure (where appropriate) and to utilise persuasive skills when dealing with patients in highly emotive states.
• To develop skills to diffuse situations which occasionally arise when dealing with aggressive, demanding or angry patients/carers/relatives.
• Positively promote the cardiac rehabilitation and education programme and be involved in all aspects of Health Promotion where appropriate.
• Knowledge of the aetiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and management of cardiac disease and their related comorbidities.
• Analysing and evaluating a patient’s understanding of their Heart Failure diagnosis and the long term implications.
• Identifying knowledge gaps and empowering patients to learn more about living a healthier life with their long term condition.
• Explaining the treatment process, including the type of treatment and frequency of appointments.
• Providing guidance and support to patients and their families regarding treatment plans, including answering questions about treatment procedures.
• Conducting one-on-one sessions with patients in order to educate them about their condition, treatment plan, and aftercare instructions.
• Tailoring education session to be driven by what is important to the patient at the time of the education content delivery.
• Designing and delivering educational programs on a variety of topics.
• Assisting patients with appointment scheduling and follow up care after procedures.
• Developing materials such as brochures, pamphlets, and flyers that help patients understand their condition and treatment options.
• Delivering relevant information to patients in a manner that is easy to understand and then assessing understanding using established techniques like teach back, chunk and check and ask-talk-ask.
• Organising community events that promote healthy living and encourage participation in on-going care programs.
• Coordinating educational programs for groups of patients who are undergoing similar treatment plans.
• To be responsible for own time management, prioritising caseload in conjunction with service requirements.
• Liaise with other team members for smooth running of service by verbal or non-verbal means of communication – email, written instructions, and telephone.
• To lead and maintain effective communication and working relationships within the service, the Directorate and the Trust.
• Be the point of contact for all queries regarding Heart Failure patient education.
• Undertake study and specific training as required to fulfil the role.
• Maintain knowledge of local, national and NICE Guidance for Heart failure conditions. It will be the post holder’s responsibility to provide updates/changes to processes relevant to the education of Heart Failure patients.
• Ability to demonstrate the dexterity, co-ordination and sensory skills required to take psychosocial observations, following appropriate training.
• To represent the team when required at meetings and internally and externally.
• The ability to multi-task and prioritise a varied workload with competing pressures; Manage their own day to day work load, planning duties and prioritising tasks as required.
• Take reasonable care for own health and safety and that of any other person who may be affected by own actions or omissions at work.
• Responsible for collecting and entering data, receiving and processing referrals and clinical information.
• Manages an effective filing system.
• Use and maintain resources efficiently and encourage others to do so.
• Order printing and publications of educational material.
• To carry out general administrative and clerical duties.
• Input clinical data to electronic and other information systems.
• The post holder will work independently whilst maintaining appropriate links with senior staff.
• To carry out duties and accept special responsibilities, which are commensurate with this grade.
• Ability to maintain concentration when delivering educational packages to patients and during clerical activities.
• Deal with difficult and distressed patients in a compassionate manner.
• Recognise signs of depression and anxiety in patients and follow appropriate referral practices.
• Assist with the development and implementation of patient-specific and goal-centred care.
• To work flexibly by working occasional unsociable hours to accommodate service requirements.
• May demonstrate duties to new starters or other staff.
• To participate in audit and research projects within cardiac rehabilitation where appropriate.