Nurse Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key duties and responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities, which follows, represents a broad range of activities, which may be required to be undertaken either routinely or periodically under delegated authority and within a structured competency framework.

Key working relationships:

Patients, carers and families

GPs, nurses and other practice staff including Pharmacists, Social Prescribing Link Workers, reception staff, Practice Managers

RHA Primary Care Nurses

Care Home Staff

Integrated Neighbourhood Teamsnursing and other health & social care professionals.

Single Point of Access Service

RHA Management Team

Responsibilities underpinning the role:

To support the PCN Nurses in delivery of Enhanced Access

Undertake Basic Assessments, Phlebotomy, Urinalysis as required.

Assessment and planning of delegated care

Monitoring of long-term conditions and well-being of service users including escalation of interventions, when necessary, in accordance with competency framework

Assist with the implementation and monitoring of clinical care and monitor outcomes

Contribute to ongoing assessment, recognising when it is necessary to refer to others for reassessment

Ensure infection control guidelines are maintained.

Communicate effectively with other members of the primary care nurse team.

Pro-actively prevent and protect against disease and ill health and act in the best interests of residents and Staff within Care Homes

Recognise and work within the limits of their competence

Maintain accurate records in line with RHA policies and NMC Guidelines using appropriate computer software.

Contribute to the assessment of service needs.

Responsible for the maintenance of equipment and stock control: single use equipment and stock and equipment where required.

Attend staff meetings, training and development sessions as required.

Preserve confidentiality of information always gained.

In conjunction with the Senior Clinician, identify personal development and training needs and participate in an annual individual performance review

Participate fully in audit and quality development programmes.

Any other duties considered relevant to the post that support primary care.

Codes of Conduct:

The post holder will have completed their Nursing Associate training and be actively registered with the NMC and works independently under the leadership of registered nurses, working within the sphere of nursing and care, and within all aspects of the nursing process. Nursing associates are equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours relevant to employment as a nursing associate and will work to a nationally recognised code of conduct (Nursing and Midwifery Council 2015).

Equal Opportunities:

RHA is committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity. All staff have a personal responsibility to contribute towards an inclusive and supportive environment for patients, carers, visitors and other colleagues from all the equality strands (race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability).

Staff have a personal responsibility to:

Ensure their behaviour is not discriminatory

Does not cause offence

To challenge the inappropriate behaviours of others

Adhere to the Federations values, including Respecting Everyone, as well as the Staff Conduct Policy and the Equal Opportunities policy

Health and Safety:

Under the provisions contained in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is the duty of every employee to:

Take reasonable care of themselves and for others at work

To co-operate with the RHA as far as is necessary to enable them to carry out their legal duty

Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with anything provided including personal protective equipment for Health and Safety or welfare at work.

Management is responsible for the implementation of suitable arrangements to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all employees at work and the health and safety of other persons who may be affected by their activities. Where health and safety matters cannot be resolved the Chief Officer must be notified.

Managers are responsible for the health and safety management of all activities, areas and staff under their control. This includes responsibility for ensuring risk assessments are completed and implementation of suitable and sufficient control measures put in place. Health and safety issues are dealt with at the lowest level of management practicable. Where health and safety matters cannot be resolved at a particular management level the appropriate Senior Manager must be notified.

Everyone has a responsibility for contributing to the reduction of infections.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults:

All employees have a duty to protect and safeguard children and adults at risk. RHA staff must be aware of child and adult protection procedures and who to contact within RHA for further advice. All staff must complete adult and child safeguarding training in line with RHA policy.

Quality and Clinical Governance:

Quality in Health Care delivery has three core dimensions: Patient Safety, Patient Experience and Clinical Effectiveness.

Clinical Governance is about the systems, processes and behaviours to ensure that high quality services are provided to patients. Every member of staff has a role to play in striving for excellence: it is important that everyone is aware of and follows policies and procedures that govern their work; and if something goes wrong, everyone has an obligation to report it so lessons can be learned from mistakes, incidents and complaints.

If any member of staff has concerns on any clinical governance matters, they should raise them with their line manager, professional adviser, or a more senior member of management.

Reference should be made to the federations guidance on Raising Concerns about provision of patient care.

Information Governance:

It is the responsibility of all staff to respect the confidentiality of patients and staff, as specified in the Caldicott Principles, Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. It is the duty of every employee to:

Only access person identifiable information as required in the execution of their duties.

Disclose information appropriately, in line with the Data Protection Act 1998.

To ensure good quality data by recording, promptly and accurately, clinical and

non- clinical information within agreed timescales to PAS, the health record or the appropriate clinical or non-clinical information system

Maintain the confidentiality of their password / username and if in possession of a Smartcard abiding by the terms and conditions of its use.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Nursing Associate Foundation Degree qualification
• Level 2 / GCSE or equivalent English and maths or Functional Skills

Experience

Essential

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of appropriate procedure and treatment plans.
• Ability to participate in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities.
• Ability to recognise own limitations in the context of the nursing associate role.
• Experience of working with patients with long term conditions.
• Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role contributes to Quality Improvement.
• Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice contained within The Code.
• Manage the boundaries of the patient / associate nurse relationship effectively, and to behave professionally at all times.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload
• Understands the importance of team working, yet able to work on own initiative

Desirable

• Experience of working within Primary and/or Community Nursing Sector.
• Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to trainee Nursing Associates other learners and care support workers as required within clinical settings.
• Able to work with patients and staff in emotional circumstances e.g. terminal illness or bereavement.
• Experienced in using Emis and has good IT skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Rochdale Health Alliance

Address

The Old Post Office

No 2 The Esplanade

Rochdale

Greater Manchester

OL16 1AE

Employer's website

https://rochdalehealthalliance.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)