A Gender CNS post is an innovative and important step in providing world class gender care to trans people in Ireland. Key roles will focus on :

Speciality practice of the CNS includes:

• Clinical practice

• Education and training

• Research implementation and audit

• Consultancy roles

• Advocacy

Clinical practice:

The Gender CNS will:

• Work in collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team at the National Gender Service in assessing and implementing an individualised plan of care for service users attending the National Gender Service.

• Provide a specialist nursing service for patients attending the National Gender Service who require support and treatment throughout their care continuum.

• Evaluate clinical problems in conjunction with other team members, and co-ordinate investigations, therapies and service user follow up.

• Accept appropriate referrals from members of the multidisciplinary team and other allied health professionals internally.

• Provide nurse led clinics in conjunction with the Clinical Lead of the National Gender Service in line with the needs of the service and Scope of Practice (NMBI).

• Arrange referrals to other appropriate specialist services, diagnostic tests or specialist investigations in consultation with the multidisciplinary team.

• Communicate and provide support for service users and their families if required.

• Provide an efficient, effective, and high quality service, respecting the needs of every individual service user.

• Effectively manage time and a caseload in order to meet the needs of a changing and developing service within agreed PPGs.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways, individual care plans and shared care arrangements with other Services.

• Identify and utilise professional and voluntary resources and facilities at local and national level by direct or indirect referral.

• Maintain professional standards including patient and data confidentiality

Education and Training:

• The Gender CNS should maintain clinical competence in patient management, aligned to current and future developments in the field of transgender healthcare.

• Maintain and develop personal practice standards and keep informed of progress and up to date knowledge in the field of gender, endocrine and other specialities related to the provision of transgender healthcare.

• Keep up-to-date with mandatory training and maintain records of same.

• Seek advice and assistance with assigned cases that prove to be beyond the scope of the professional competence or knowledge of a CNS.

• Identify the educational needs of other professionals, including student nurses, and participate in training programmes for nursing staff, other members of the multi disciplinary team and key stakeholders.

• Develop, with the MDT, relevant education material for staff and clients.

• Participate in the orientation programmes of all new staff within the department and in-service programmes

.

Audit and Research:

The Gender CNS will:

• Maintain an awareness of current development and research findings with regard to this area of specialist practice.

• Take a pro-active role in the formulation of evidence based policies, procedures and guidelines for practice.

• Monitor key performance indicators as part of the Nursing team at the National Gender Service.

• Participate in clinical and organisational audit to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the service provided against established research and evidence.

• Promote individual best practice interventions in accordance with the identified needs of every individual.

• Initiate and promote nursing research and associated research in this specialist area of practice.

• Ensure that Hospital Standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of total care to all who come into contact with the National Gender Service.

• Promote and support the delivery of quality improvement plans and other components of internal and external quality assurance programmes e.g. HIQA Programmes, Hand Hygiene, Infection Prevention & Control.

Patient Advocate:

The Gender CNS will:

• Act as an advocate for service users, involving communication and representation of service user perspectives with other members of the MDT.

• Liaise with other health service providers in the development and ongoing delivery of the National Gender Service.

• Support advocacy, particularly in relation to service users participation in decision making, thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options.

• Advocate for appropriate supports and strategies for service users.

• Establish, maintain and improve collaboration and co-operation between Acute Services, Community Services, Primary Care and voluntary organisations.

• Ensure that the physical, psychological and social needs of the client are attended to in collaboration with the MDT of the National Gender Service and external agencies as appropriate.

• Take appropriate action on any matter identified as being detrimental to staff and/or service user care or well being or any matter that may be inhibiting the efficient provision of care.

• Ensure the views of all service users are sought, reviewed and acted upon.

• Adopt and developthe concept of service user centred care and challenge any interaction which fails to deliver a quality service.

• Ensure the efficient action of complaints in accordance with HSE policy.

Consultant:

The GenderCNS will:

• Act as a resource in providing specialist knowledge, expertise and care in liaison with the multidisciplinary team.

• Support, advise and develop the knowledge and expertise of other healthcare professionals involved in providing gender affirming support and appropriate clinical interventions.

• Represent the National Gender Service at local, national and international meetings as required.

Professional Responsibilities

The Gender CNS will:

• Practice nursing according to the Code of Professional Conduct and the Scope of Practice Framework as laid down by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and the National Clinical Guidelines.

• Adhere to national, regional and local Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines, policies and protocols and legislation.

• Work within their scope of practice and take measures to develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice.

• Maintain a high standard of professional behaviour and be accountable for their practice.

• Be aware of ethical policies and procedures which pertain to their area of practice.

• Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the patient.

• Follow appropriate lines of authority within the Nurse Management structure.

Health & Safety

The Gender CNS will:

• Comply with the policies, procedures and safe professional practice of the Irish Healthcare System by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards

• Document and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of relevant/designated individual(s) in line with best practice.

• Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.

• Be aware of risk management issues: identify risks and take appropriate action.

• Comply with department procedures with regard to assessment, recommendation and or manufacturing of all assistive devices.

• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect.

• Attend mandatory Health and Safety Training.

• Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role: for example, Standards of Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.

Administration

The Gender CNS will:

• Participate in the development of operational and service planning for the delivery of the National Gender Service.

• Contribute to policy development and formulation, performance monitoring, business planning and budgetary control.

• Maintain accurate and up to date statistics of the service provided, including records of patient contacts.

• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records/data on all matters pertaining to the planning, management, delivery and evaluation of the National Gender Service in line with Health Service Executive requirements.

• Ensure that records are safeguarded and managed as per HSE/local policy and in accordance with relevant legislation.

• Submit activity data/furnish appropriate reports to the DON as required.

• Ensure that the care setting is maintained in good order using appropriate models, that supplies are adequate, and that all equipment is in good working order and ready for immediate use.

• Requisition with due economy.

• Ensure that equipment is maintained according to Hospital Policy.

• Assist in the implementation of Information Technology developments.

• Undertake other duties as required by the DON or his / her designate.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved, and consequently the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him / her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.