Closing Date: Friday 26th of September
Taking up Appointment : November 2008
Location of Post: St. Mary’s Headquarters, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Reporting Relationship:
Clinical: To the medical director of the ‘Heart Smart’ programme and to the Croí medical advisory committee
Administrative & Management: Reporting to the Croí Community Cardiac Care Co-ordinator and accountable to the Mayo Innovation Fund Steering committee which is representative of Public Health Nursing, General Practice, Practice Nursing, Health Promotion, Cardiology, Community Nutrition & Dietetic Services, Croí and Mayo PCCC.

Details of Service: Establishment of this post is to promote and develop a consistent approach to the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors within the primary care team populations in Co. Mayo. The framework for delivery of the service will be the ‘Heart Smart’ approach.
‘Heart Smart’ is a community based, nurse-led, high-risk cardiovascular prevention programme established by Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation in association with the Cardiology Department at University Hospital Galway. Findings to-date, have demonstrated that this programme can achieve statistically significant reductions in risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure and lifestyle risk factors.
MAYO PCCC in collaboration with Croí and the Department of Cardiology at UHG propose to extend the already established ‘Heart Smart’ initiative to the wider community of Mayo working in partnership with the seven primary care teams with the ultimate aim being to provide a template for the roll out of ‘Heart Smart’ across all primary care teams in the country.

Purpose of the Post: To lead the integration of ‘Heart Smart’ a community based, high-risk cardiovascular prevention programme into Mayo PCCC. The primary role will involve developing, implementing and evaluating the programme. The individual must demonstrate in-depth knowledge or experience within primary and secondary prevention of heart disease.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Clinical:
• Be responsible for the co-ordination, planning and implementation of the Heart Smart programme into Mayo PCCC. This will involve 4 phases:
1. Identification of high-risk individuals.
2. Conducting risk factor assessments, offering lifestyle support and motivational interviewing
3. Referring high- risk individuals to their GP in accordance with a protocol that is based on the European Guidelines for CVD Prevention.
4. Conducting follow up assessments at 6 months
• To liaise closely with the primary care teams in identifying and the follow up management of high- risk individuals;
• To work autonomously as a specialist within guidelines with responsibility for clinical excellence and managing own workload

Developmental:
• Develop linkages and strong working relationships with the established primary care teams, voluntary organisations and service user groups in the county

Education & Training:
• Assume responsibility for own ongoing learning and development needs;
• Contribute to the education and training of Primary Care team health professionals in relation to the ‘Heart Smart’ programme;
• To co-ordinate and present health promotion information sessions on CVD prevention to the wider community;

Audit & Research:
• Provide monthly updates to the Croí Community Cardiac Care Co-ordinator and bi-monthly reports to the Mayo Innovation Fund Steering committee;
• To maintain good office procedures, accurate and up-to date records, ensuring the recording of statistical data is in line with agreed procedures;
• To ensure that Heart Smart is delivered to a high quality and in line with the protocol;
• Ensure that the quality control of equipment is in line with the Heart Smart protocol;

Education and Qualifications:
Candidates must be registered in the general division of the register of Nurses kept by An Bord Altranais
Hold an approved post graduate qualification in any of the following
• Practice Nursing
• Primary Care/Health Promotion
• Public Health Nursing
• Cardiac Nursing
• Cardiac Rehabilitation
Individuals undergoing any of the above qualifications will be considered
Have at least 4 years post registration relevant experience.
Experience in a primary or community care setting is desirable

Skills, Competencies and/or Knowledge
Professional Knowledge
• Demonstrate knowledge of risk factor management and current guidelines;
• Demonstrate an awareness of health promotion concepts and principals;
• Demonstrate an understanding of basic research methods
• Demonstrate up to date knowledge of developments in cardiology, cardiac rehabilitation and current national approaches to the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease;
IT Skills
• Demonstrate computer literacy including Email, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access;
Planning and Organising
• Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills in delivering a quality service;
• Demonstrate time management skills including an awareness of resource management ;
• Demonstrate skills in planning and conducting audits;
• Demonstrate ability to use own initiative;
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrate highly developed motivational and negotiating skills to effect change;
• Ability to analyse and interpret basic statistics;
• Demonstrate an awareness of cultural diversity;
• Demonstrate excellent presentation skills to large groups of people;
• Demonstrate confidence, assertiveness and flexibility;
Leadership and Teamwork
• Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and autonomously;
• Demonstrate initiative and innovation in the delivery of service;
• Demonstrate practitioner competence and professionalism;
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development;
Patient/Customer Focus
• Demonstrate an awareness of relevant legislation e.g. health and safety and data protection;
• Demonstrate a focus on quality including the ability to set and maintain standards;
• Demonstrate an ability to work in partnership with individuals, empowering them to take control over their own health;

Shortlisting: Applicants may be short listed for interview based on information supplied in their CV at the closing date;
Criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the post specific requirements, duties, skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification;

Other Requirements Specific to the Post: Must hold a current clean driving licence;
You will be required to provide your own car and be fully insured therein;

Tenure: The appointment is a 1-year fixed term specified purpose contract. The project will be reviewed at the end of this period.

Remuneration: The Salary range for the post is: €44,000 - €50,000.

Working Week: The normal working hours are from 9am -5.30pm, inclusive of a 1 hour lunch break. However, you will be required to work outside the normal office hours from time to time. Overtime hours will not be paid for, but will be compensated for by time off in lieu.

Annual Leave: The Annual leave entitlement will be 21 working days excluding public holidays.

Probation: The employment will be probationary for a period of 3 months.

Letter of Application together with CV to be submitted no later than Friday 26th of September to: Irene Gibson
Croí Community Cardiac Care Co Ordinator
Croí
University Hospital Galway
For informal enquiries contact : Irene Gibson at (091) 735854 or email irene@croi.ie