Bank RN Advice Line and Community

Job responsibilities

Job Description and Person Specification

Job Title: Bank Registered Nurse Advice Line

Line Manager: Lead Nurse Community Services (East)

Professionally Accountable to: Head of Nursing Services

Job Purpose

The role is primarily advice line based, with the requirement of providing community visits at weekends / bank holidays when required.

To support the 24/7 service by providing appropriate clinical and non-clinical palliative care advice and support for patients, carers and health care professionals, within the boundaries of the service, which includes the Out of Hours Advice line and 7 day working.

To provide advice and information to patients and carers with the aim of maintaining patients in their own homes and enabling them to enjoy maximum independence and optimum quality of life, in their preferred place of care.

Provide specialist palliative nursing care for patients that is patient centred, holistic and quality driven if visits are needed at weekends or bank holidays.

Provide appropriate support and advice for families and carers working alongside the inpatient and/or community multidisciplinary team.

Clinical responsibilities

Advise patients and families on aspects of care.

Offer advice and support to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological and social needs of families, carers and bereaved relatives.

Promote as much patient independence as possible within the limits of disease progression.

Provide appropriate clinical care as per St Margarets operational guidelines and policies.

To be a safe practitioner and work within the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct, also ensuring that all staff within their sphere of responsibility follow the code.

Undertake the safe administration and recording of drugs in accordance with hospice policy or the just in case box guidelines and adhering to the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) Guidelines for the Administration of Medicines.

Promote the use of Patient Own Drugs (PODS) and the practice of Self-Administration of Medicines as appropriate.

Undertake symptom control (for less complex patients).

Maintain accurate documentation including Crosscare and any handover processes.

Referral to other health care professionals and services as appropriate.

Visit patients/carers out of hours if required.

Assessment and Planning

To provide initial and ongoing assessment of nursing needs of patients and carers via the advice line ensuring a management plan is in place.

Able to work as an autonomous practitioner in the planning and implementation of nursing treatment programmes and follow agreed reporting mechanisms.

Understand the care options available both external and internal.

Organise patient care, assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating and documenting care in accordance with hospice philosophy.

Make initial and maintain ongoing assessments of the physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological and social needs of patients.

Identify, when fast track CHC applications are required in partnership with DNs.

Health Promotion/Education

To promote health education and wellbeing when visiting patients and other relatives.

To increase awareness and understanding and to enable patients and carers to maximise independence, by encouraging the use of self-care strategies.

Integrated Nursing team

To continue the liaison between hospice, GP practices and community teams.

Able to discuss in depth patient care and treatment options, progression of treatment regimens and identify changes in condition, able to refer on as required and adhere to confidentiality practices.

Work in partnership with District Nurses.

Personal and professional development

Participate in a structured self-development programme.

Participate in the Performance Review process of yourself and others and take responsibility for achieving the objectives identified in the Personal Development Plan.

Maintain professional competences.

Participate in Clinical and Health and Safety mandatory training programmes.

Participate in appropriate internal and external training sessions.

Participate in the setting of nursing standards and contribute to the clinical audit programme.

Have awareness of own wellbeing and liaise with line manager.

Professional responsibilities

Work in accordance to organisational policies and procedures

Maintain confidentiality

Act as a role model for junior colleagues, embracing the ethos of hospice care

Participate in induction programmes and provide effective and supportive mentorship for new/junior members of staff

Participate in regular clinical supervision as provided by the organisation

Ensure Health and Safety Polices are adhered to and report any accidents, incidents and complaints to the Deputy Director Clinical Services or Community Palliative Nurse Specialist case manager.

All staff are responsible for ensuring they follow good infection control practices at all times and that they are familiar with infection control policies, procedures and guidance. Undertaking the necessary level of training relevant to their area of work.

Governance

Be aware of and comply with all relevant Hospice policies, practices and procedures

Ensure confidentiality in respect of staff, volunteer and client information

Be aware of the procedure to report any incidents, risks and safety concerns regarding patients, families or colleagues

Participate in the development of clinical standards, within the governance of the Hospice

Communication and people skills

Liaise with all members of the multidisciplinary team in the provision of specialist palliative care for patients, families and carers

Liaise with external agencies, such as the Primary Care Team, Hospital Team, EOLCC, DN Teams, OOH GP Teams, Social Services etc to promote seamless care

Liaise with specialist nurses, Hospice on call doctors, for advice and guidance on best practice

Liaise with team members in a constructive and positive manner, adhering to best practice when giving and receiving feedback

Develop and maintain regular opportunity for team discussion regarding service development and decision making. Promote and maintain a culture of multidisciplinary team working, identifying new ways of working.

Establish and maintain effective communication with patients, families and carers including those with communication difficulties. Deliver bad news with sensitivity and empathy.

Provide and receive information from a variety of sources connected with patient information concerning situation, diagnosis and treatment options.

Able to pass information onto others that may be informing of serious illness of death of a patient or potentially contentious issues

Liaises with patients or relatives who could be unpredictable in their responses through stress related problems due to their or their relatives condition.

Additional Job Facts

All staff are responsible for ensuring they follow good infection control practices at all times and that they are familiar with infection control policies, procedures and guidance. Undertaking the necessary level of training relevant to their area of work.

Equality and Diversity

• Recognise the importance of peoples rights and act in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures
• Support people who may need assistance enabling them to make best use of their abilities
• Acknowledge and recognise peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices, respect diversity, value people as individuals and encourage others to do so
• Promote a can do approach and an open and fair culture throughout the organisation.

Health & Safety And Risk Management

In order to protect the safety of the public, patients and staff, it is the responsibility of all employees to be aware of their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act and under specific local or departmental Health and Safety Policies and to maintain a working environment that promotes health and safety.

In addition managers and individuals are responsible for considering the various activities of their department, so as to:

1. Manage risks within their area of influence
2. Implement control measures and contingency plans
3. Report risk management activities and concerns to the Director of Nursing and Patient Services.

Data Protection

Personal identifiable data is collected and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Policy. Data is kept up to date, limited to what is necessary and held securely. Data is only accessed by and shared with those who need it and only used for the purpose it was collected. Data is disposed of in line with the Records and Document Management Policy.

Personal Development Review

The Hospice is committed to ensuring all staff receive an annual review, participate in the review scheme, and develop, in conjunction with their line manager an agreed personal development plan. All staff are expected to participate in the review scheme.

Changes To The Job

This job description is not restrictive and needs to be flexible to cope with the changing needs of the job and the Hospice. It should be taken as the current representation and consequently will be subject to review no less than annually. Any changes to the job description will be made following consultation with the individual before changes are made.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

Qualifications

Essential

• RN1 or equivalent

Desirable

• Diploma/ Degree in Health studies.
• Specialist Palliative Care qualification- ENB931, ENB 285 or equivalent.
• Working towards a Diploma/ Degree in Palliative Care.
• Teaching qualification.
• Mentorship qualification.

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post-registration experience.
• Experience of working in a variety of Healthcare settings, including in the community.

Desirable

• Previous experience in palliative care/ Oncology/ Life limiting conditions.

Communication and People Skills

Essential

• Ability to effectively communicate both in writing and verbally across all disciplines and external agencies including out of hours advice.
• Good interpersonal skills including listening, conflict resolution and negotiating skills.
• Ability work as an effective team member.
• Assertive and excellent listening skills.
• Ability to manage own time and that of others.

Desirable

• Experience of providing health care advice and support in a call centre setting.

Organisational skills

Essential

• Ability to work without direct supervision.
• Committed to self development.
• Reliable and punctual.

Special Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of current NHS and independent sector issues facing nursing and palliative care.
• Understanding the challenges and risks of caring for patients in the community.
• Willing to gain competences essential to the community RN Role, for example management of syringe pumps, catheters, IV and peg feeds, nasogastric tubes.

Desirable

• Venepuncture.
• Symptom management in specialist palliative care.

Other requirements

Essential

• Ambitious / Enthusiastic / Pro-active / Motivated.
• Uses initiative.
• Flexible approach to working arrangements.
• Positive attitude towards equal opportunities and towards working in a multi-cultural/multi-disciplinary environment.

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).