Job responsibilities
Key Tasks
To work with, and support, the patient, relatives, and carers; being sensitive to their changing physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs.
To provide skilled nursing care within the care plan of the District Nurse, and in accordance with the medical care prescribed by the GP.
To provide nursing care and support to the families and carers of individual patients in the place they call home across North Derbyshire.
To communicate and liaise with the patients usual care team including District Nurses, other palliative care support such as the DHU/111 Roaming Service as well as the Hospices Roaming Car ServiceManager or deputy, reporting on the condition and needs of the patients and providing and maintaining nursing reports and records, as necessary.
To collect and report any required data to support delivery of the service, documenting directly on to SystmOne or in reporting systems as appropriate.
To attend team meetings on a regular basis, undertaking clinical supervision, mandatory and on-going training and education as required.
To maintain professional confidentiality in all matters relating to patient care.
To be professionally accountable as described in the NMC Code of professional conduct.
Clinical
- To be responsible for the administration of controlled medicines and be aware of current drugs/therapies used in symptom control.
- Demonstrate nursing procedures, where appropriate, to carers or colleagues to assist in promoting and maintaining patient comfort.
- To be competent in the use of syringe drivers, other specialist equipment and aids, and utilise these when appropriate.
- To be competent in all clinical procedures required for symptom management in end-of-life care, following Blythe House Hospicecare & Helens Trust Hospice policies and procedures
- Advise the Hospice at Home team of any equipment and aids required for the provision of efficient nursing care to meet the needs of the patient.
- To be familiar with the procedure in the event of an emergency or death of the patient, including that for the verification of death.
- To conduct the verification of death, if formally trained/qualified and competent to do so once it has been confirmed to verify through contacting DHU overnight.
- To be aware if a DNACPR/ReSPECT order is signed and in place for each patient and take appropriate action when required. Also, to alert the co-ordination team if a DNACPR/ReSPECT Form is not in place.
- To develop, with support where required, a high level of specialist palliative care knowledge which includes key issues relating to the last year of life, such as:
To have the patient and their loved ones at the centre of all decisions
Effective clinical liaison skills
Advanced communication skills
The shape and function of professional services
Symptom management
National frameworks and guidance
Key ethical issues
Prognostic indicator tools
High standard of clinical record writing
- To develop and utilise advanced communication skills with patients, carers and families.
- To develop and deploy a specialist understanding of the complexities of patients requiring end of life care and managing those problems.
- To be both a flexible and adaptable practitioner who works closely and effectively with clinical leads and local teams.
- To ensure patients and their families are protected from harm, in line with the Safeguarding Policy and the Mental Capacity Act.
- To practise in line with the NMC professional code of conduct and act as a role model within Blythe House Hospicecare & Helens Trust.
Management Responsibilities
- To assist the Hospice at Home Roaming Car ServiceManager in the delivery of the service as directed to ensure that the service is efficiently and effectively managed.
- To actively contribute towards the evaluation and development of the service
- To maintain effective communication within your own team, other hospice departments and community colleagues.
- To ensure service sustainability through integrated team working across clinical departments and partner organisations.
- To understand financial implications of service delivery.
Quality and Education
- To contribute to the delivery of ongoing training programmes to ensure the Hospice at Home Roaming Car Serviceteam and HCAs have up to date knowledge and skills relevant to their roles and responsibilities.
- To ensure and record compliance with CQC regulations and contribute to provide evidence of compliance.
- To ensure all significant events, drug errors or service issues are reported in a timely way.
- To ensure issues are raised of alleged wrongdoing or malpractice with the appropriate line manager as well as ensuring that any member of staff who raises such issues will be protected under the Hospice Whistleblowing policy.
- To be responsible for accurate recording of incidents, accidents and complaints in line with Blythe House Hospicecare & Helens Trust policies and procedures.
- To contribute to the further development of methods of data collection in line with national guidance and Blythe House Hospicecare & Helens Trust policies.
- To ensure all confidential information, hard and soft data within the department is managed securely and maintained in accordance with GDPR, relevant policies and procedures.
- To support the process of ensuring the quality of care is measured against agreed standards.
- To input appropriate data/outcomes using audit tools when required.
- To support the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the Hospice at Home service.
Communication and Team Working
- To assess and ensure the patients needs are met by discussing, referring and sharing patient care with key professionals and demonstrates via a high level of communication skills.
- To be knowledgeable, respectful and supportive of all teams within Blythe House Hospicecare & Helens Trust.
- To represent Blythe House Hospicecare & Helens Trust in an enthusiastic, polished and proficient manner in all professional and public forums.
- To have/develop a high standard of written and electronic reporting and presenting.
- To respond collaboratively and supportively to the volunteer workforce of Blythe House Hospicecare & Helens Trust.
