Staff Nurse/Clinical Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Overview of Role

To ensure the highest standards of individualised care for patients with life threatening diseases including providing support to their families and carers in a safe, friendly and efficient environment.

To communicate with patients, families and carers in a sensitive and empathetic way maintaining effective communication with multi-disciplinary team members. To work under the supervision and guidance of nurses and medical teams.

Although based on our Inpatient Unit, post holders may occasionally be required to work in other teams to ensure adequate staffing levels and to gain experience of the wider hospice delivery of care (e.g. Community Setting and John Cheverton Centre)

Key Tasks

• To provide the highest standards of care to patients.

• To lead on and coordinate assessment, planning and evaluation of individualised patient centred care.

• Ensuring you always act in the patient’s best interests, taking personal responsibility for actions and decisions taken.

• Provide a holistic approach to all care provisions provided that is both sensitive and responsive to the patients ever changing needs.

• To assist in providing pain and symptom control to patients who require pain relief.

• To provide out of hours specialist advice by telephone to patients, carers and allied professionals as required, alerting them to any significant matters.

• To maintain appropriate written/computer records in all areas of clinical practice.

• To liaise with medical staff to implement treatment and care, ensuring that medical instructions are carried out, monitoring and reporting effectively.

• Give and receive regular reposts on the progress of patients, reporting immediately any changes in the patients’ condition to the senior nurse/medical personnel as duty as required.

• To participate in the checking and administration of prescribed drugs (including controlled drugs) and other substances in accordance with Mountbatten Isle of Wight policy.

• To ensure that all equipment/supplies are safe to use and report any defective equipment/supplies to the senior nurse on duty.

• To notify immediately the Sister or deputy of any untoward events or problems affecting patients or other employees, where appropriate complete an accident/incident form.

• To ensure compliance with Infection Control Standards, in line with Mountbatten Isle of Wight Policy.

Communication aspects of the role

To identify and use the most effective means of communication, appropriate to the situation and individual concerned, using empathy and sensitivity and dealing with barriers to understanding.

• Gives and receives accurate records in all areas of clinical practice.

• Maintains complete and accurate records in all areas of clinical practice.

• To uphold confidentiality always, in accordance with Mountbatten Isle of Wight policy.

• Including awareness and adherence to the legal requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Analysis and judgement will be necessary in the following situations

• Initial assessment of patient’s clinical condition.

• Develops an understanding of pain and symptom control, liaising with senior staff.

• Formulate individualised care plans.

Planning and Organising

• Support in planning, implementing and evaluating nursing/clinical care over each 24 hour period.

• Plans, implements and evaluates nursing/clinical care over each 24 hour period, working closely with Community Nursing, Hospital Palliative Care and District Nurse Teams.

• Liaise with medical staff to implement treatment and care; ensuring medical instructions are carried out.

• Plan for the admission and discharge of patients.

Clinical Practice and Leadership

• Plans and implements patient care plans following initial assessment, evaluating them on a daily or even hourly basis.

• Provides specialist advice to patients/relatives.

• Always ensure compliance with the Mountbatten Isle of Wight uniform policy.

• Abide by the codes of conduct issued by the NMC/HCPC and ensure that you maintain updated registration and revalidation as required by your role, in accordance with Mountbatten Isle of Wight policy.

• Ensure that all safeguarding concerns are reported promptly in accordance with Mountbatten Isle of Wight policy.

Service and Policy Development

• Follows policies and procedures- may comment on proposal for change in practice or procedures.

• To report all accidents/incidents, near misses and complaints in accordance with PCT policy.

• To participate in annual appraisal with line manager.

Managing Financial Resources

• Responsible for the safe use of expensive equipment, e.g. hoists, syringe drivers, mattresses etc.

• Responsible for the maintenance of stock control of drugs being specifically administered by the nurse.

This role will be requiring use of a range of information systems

• Records personally generated information relating to patient care and work activity daily, e.g. progress reports, updating care plans, accident/incident reports, etc.

Information System use and management

• Maintain all patient centred documentation e.g. Care Plans, assessments and letters, within agreed Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC)/ Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Mountbatten Isle of Wight standards

• Ensure all required monthly statistical information is produced and forwarded to appropriate departments. Maintain an official diary of work which is readily available in your absence

• Provide reports as specified/requested by the Director of Nursing, Line manager, etc.

Involvement is Surveys and Research

• Promotes the service and clinical excellence by publishing and presenting innovations, audit and research locally and nationally

• Undertake and encourage research and development activity including the dissemination of information to influence quality care initiatives and ongoing review and audit

• Ensure evidence based practice to instigate and promote a culture of research awareness within the general and specialist palliative care

• Be aware of the research and development agenda for palliative care services.

General

All employees are:

• Required to abide by the Health & Safety at Work Act

• Required to attend mandatory and refresher training annually

• Required to maintain at all time Professional Registration

• Maintain a Disclosure and Barring Clearance, which is required to be renewed every 3 years

• Required to respect confidentiality applying to all Mountbatten Isle of Wight areas

• Required to work within organisational policies and procedures

• Required to participate in and contribute to team meetings

• Required to cooperate and liaise with departmental colleagues

• Expected to promote at all times our philosophy and uphold our core values

• Expected to demonstrate at all times a commitment towards equality and diversity

• Expected to demonstrate a commitment to their own development, to take advantage of education and training opportunities and develop their own competence

• Expected to support and encourage harmonious internal and external working relationships

• Expected to make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the organisation

This role profile is not exhaustive, and all employees are expected to undertake additional reasonable duties as requested. The profile will be subject to periodic review and may be amended following discussion between the post holder and employer.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of dealing with vulnerable adults in a care setting
• Experience of working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams and the ability to form good working relationships at all levels
• Awareness of palliative care issues
• Experience of working in a Hospital/Hospice care setting
• Strong communication skills to explain complex and sensitive information effectively in both written and oral to both patients, families, carers and other professionals
• Have good IT Skills in Microsoft and email applications

Desirable

• Experience of working within palliative care/long term conditions in an oncology setting
• Experience of working in a person centred/personal outcomes approach
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Involvement in training and development of others

Qualifications

Essential

• First Level Registration with Individual regulatory body and in possession of a relevant qualification in Nursing, learning disabilities, mental health or paramedic studies with current registration with NMC/HCPC
• Revalidation of NMC/ HCPC Registration
• Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development
• Clinically up to date in general clinical care

Desirable

• Clinical qualification to degree level or equivalent
• Diploma in palliative care

Skills

Essential

• Understands specific needs of patients requiring palliative or end of life care
• Demonstrate commitment to the patients right to be involved in decision making relating to their health care and ensuring decisions are understood by care teams
• Ability to be an effective advocate for the patient with multi-disciplinary teams across all healthcare settings
• Able to effectively manage own time and case load

Abilities

Essential

• Able to work shift patterns on a rota basis including nights, weekend, bank holidays
• Able to make effective use of available resources to benefit the patients and Mountbatten Isle of Wight
• Ability to deal with complex and difficult emotional situations
• Calm and approachable manner
• Ability to motivate self and others
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Ability to recognise own limitations and when to ask for support
• Ability to instil confidence in others
• Awareness of personal safety issues
• Able to understand and comply with the requirements of Mountbatten Isle of Wights H&S policies (subject to suitable training)

Desirable

• Ability to support change and influence

Other

Essential

• Current Driving Licence with Business Insurance
• Physical capable carrying out manual handling duties as required by this role
• Be prepared to assist with Hospice fundraising
• Support and adopting of Mountbatten Isle of Wight Values
• Willing to undertake further training as required including mandatory
• Willingness to work in other areas of Mountbatten Isle of Wight to support patient care provisions

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).