Job Description
Job Title: Bariatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
Department: Beacon Obesity Service
Reports to: Head of Endoscopy and Service Line Development
Date: 23 July 2025
Overall Purpose of Job
The Bariatric Clinical Nurse Specialist serves as the central point of contact for patients attending Beacon Obesity Services for bariatric procedures such as gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery, providing comprehensive support throughout the pre- and post-operative journey. This role involves delivering specialist nursing care, education, emotional support, and seamless care coordination to ensure optimal outcomes. The CNS leads both outpatient and inpatient nurse-led clinics and works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, including bariatric surgeons, anaesthetists, dietitians, physiotherapists, and psychologists. As a key patient advocate, the CNS facilitates informed decision-making and upholds the highest standards of patient-centred care.
Reporting line:
The role will report directly to the Head of Endoscopy and Service Line Development with oversight from the Director of Clinical Services. The clinical service development and expansion will be led by the Beacon Obesity Service Clinical Director
Clinical Governance and Accountability:
The Bariatric Clinical Nurse Specialist plays a pivotal leadership role by supporting ward staff during bariatric cases, ensuring adherence to best practices and safe patient care. The CNS actively contributes to the development and refinement of clinical pathways and quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing service delivery. Engaging in regular multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, the CNS also plays a key role in strategic planning and the ongoing expansion of bariatric services within the hospital.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Care
- Prepare patients pre-op: assessments, education programmes, readiness.
- Provide post-op care: inpatient reviews, wound management, complication screening.
- Manage patient queries (phone/email), ongoing follow-up.
- Coordinate MDT scheduling, communicate with internal/external teams.
Education & Support
- Host pre-admission & discharge education sessions.
- Offer emotional/psychological support through patient journey.
- Mentor ward/staff nurses in bariatric protocols and manual handling.
Quality & Audit
- Conduct audit and research to evaluate care outcomes.
- Maintain and update bariatric patient registry (e.g., National Bariatric Surgery Registry).
- Produce monthly activity reports, annual summary.
- Stay current on evidence-based bariatric care.
The post holder will partake in the Total Quality Management processes thereby contributing to:
- The identification of quality/policy/guideline issues.
- The evaluation of current practices to best practice.
- The setting of standards utilising structure, process and outcome.
- All hospital, regional and national audit processes.
- The Hospital Wide Accreditation Cycle.
- Health Promotion initiatives.
Professional & Administrative
- Adhere to NMBI Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics.
- Uphold clinical standards and hospital policies.
- Participate in committees, liaise with external stakeholders.
- Engage in CPD; pursue formal qualifications (e.g. post-grad diploma level 9).
Interdepartmental Collaboration:
The post holder maintains good and effective working relationships with other departments and with physicians, patients, families and outside agencies, including but not limited to:
- Consultant Coordination
- NCHD's
- Radiology
- Surgical Services
- Allied Services
- PSQI
- Finance
- Patient Accounts
- HR, Occupational Health and Clinical Psychology for patient and staff support.
- Medical Office
- Outpatient Clinics
- New Facility planning and development
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Relevant postgraduate qualification in bariatric nursing, obesity management, or a related experience is the area. (Level 8 or higher)
- Commitment to undertake a Level 9 qualification in Advanced Nursing Practice.
- Active registration with the NMBI (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland).
- Further qualifications in clinical leadership or healthcare management desirable.
Experience
- Minimum of 5 years post-registration experience in an acute hospital setting.
- At least 2 years' experience in bariatric, surgical, or obesity-related care.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively-verbally, in writing, and through professional presentations.
- Strong teaching skills with the ability to mentor and develop clinical staff.
- Demonstrated clinical judgement, critical thinking, and effective problem-solving abilities.
- Proven multi-tasking capabilities and ability to work effectively under pressure.
Job Specific Competencies and Knowledge
Teamwork
- Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Capable of motivating others, providing clear clinical direction, and fostering team cohesion.
- Open-minded, flexible, and proactive in embracing innovation and change.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
- Demonstrated understanding of and engagement in change management processes.
- Skilled in-patient counselling, education, and shared decision-making.
Planning and Organising
- Excellent planning, organisation, and time management skills.
- Experience in designing and implementing service improvements and clinical pathways.
- Flexible approach to rostering, on-call duties, and adapting to evolving service needs
Knowledge
- Up-to-date knowledge of bariatric surgery, obesity management, and evidence-based nursing practice in this field.
- Familiarity with national and international clinical guidelines in bariatrics.
- Experience working within an acute hospital environment with complex surgical pathways.
Patient/Customer Focus
- Strong commitment to delivering person-centered care with compassion, dignity, and respect.
- Demonstrated empathy in supporting patients through significant lifestyle and clinical changes.
- Skilled in building positive, therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and colleagues.
Personal Competencies
- High level of professional flexibility to meet service demands, including cross-cover, extended hours, and rostering as required.
- Demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and commitment to continuous professional development.
- Proactive approach to learning, innovation, and quality improvement.
This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility and deliverables at the time of its writing. As the Hospital and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the Hospital.
