Dementia Assessment Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Liaising and working in partnership with acute inpatient services, in-patient and community medical staff, pharmacy practitioners, psychological therapists. A range of community mental health teams within and outside the organisation, out of hours GP service, Emergency Duty Team, Community Directorate, housing providers, voluntary agencies, Adult Social care, substance misuse services, the police other emergency services, the Probation Service, NHS Direct and the Safeguarding Children Team.

Working with carers and significant others and members of the community with connections to people who use the service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Responsibilities

Undertaking memory assessments using clinical tools and assessment/observation of patients.

Establishing, maintaining and ending purposeful, therapeutic relationships with people experiencing serious mental health difficulties. Practice will be creative and underpinned by knowledge of, and skills in evidence-based practice and psychosocial interventions.

Delivering services using a recovery and strengths approach where solution focused intervention, motivational interviewing and communicating hope are central. Using persuasive, negotiation and re-assurance skills to facilitate and enable engagement.

Assessing risk in collaboration with people experiencing mental health difficulties, significant others and other workers/professionals, alongside use own professional judgment and team processes. This involves exploring individual's risk of harm to themselves and/or others and may involve working with challenging, hostile and distressing behaviour.

Identifying and agreeing personalised care plans, taking responsibility for ensuring the communication of care plans and other important information to relevant people, professionals and agencies as appropriate. Encouraging individuals to take the lead in sharing information wherever possible.

Communicating complex information to a range of people and professionals with a wide range of levels of understanding. Identifying barriers to understanding and using creative methods to overcome them.

Communicating complex information between mental health practitioners including medical staff such as clinical information and investigations.

Identifying changed level of risk in relation to clinical investigations and mental state and distinguishing critical information that requires urgent action or rapid onward referral.

Providing and receiving highly complex and sensitive information in relation to Safeguarding and Child Protection work and taking appropriate action. This includes identifying and appropriately reporting concerns to Children's Social Care while using communication skills in order to maintain a professional working relationship with parents and significant others in often hostile and highly emotive situations.

Communicating highly complex, sensitive and emotive information at Child Protection Conferences.

Identifying adult protection concerns, raising alerts and participating in Safeguarding Adults processes.

Providing and receiving information from carers, significant others and members of the community. Communication can be highly emotive and there can be significant barriers to acceptance of the approach and intervention of mental health services, for example when requests conflict with the rights and wishes of an individual experiencing mental health difficulties.

Using a systemic approach to working with individuals, their families and significant others. Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with carers and significant others.

Identifying and engaging with practitioners with specialist knowledge, for example by requesting specialist knowledge or clinical supervision sessions where appropriate.

Working without direct supervision within levels of own competence. Using team processes and supervision appropriately and being accountable for own actions.

Constructive use of own supervision sessions, engagement in reflective practice, commitment to continuously develop self-awareness and work appropriately within professional boundaries.

Management responsibilities

Providing advice and support for unqualified members of the team.

To develop an area of specialist practice and knowledge within the team and to provide advice and information (according to level of competence and experience) for other team members. To act as a team representative and to develop and maintain links with other professionals and other agencies in relation to this area of specialist practice.

Contributing to the promotion of staff wellbeing and morale in the Team through developing and maintaining supportive relationships, acting as a role model and demonstrating hope and inspiration.

Supporting the Team Manager to achieve team objective, targets and quality standards.

Participating in development initiatives within the Team and the Trust as agreed with the Team Manager.

Professional Responsibilities

The post holder will work within the nursing professional code of conduct and with Trust policies and procedures. This will support safe, quality practice. The post holder will be aware their actions reflect upon themselves, their professional and the Trust and will recognise this corporate responsibility.

As a member of the Team, the post holder will be a role model for high professional standards of behaviour and attitude within the Team and with people using the service, other professionals and agencies.

The post holder will manage their time and workload effectively and efficiently.

The post holder will participate in internal and external audit and evaluation in order to support the provision of high quality care and services.

The post holder will keep up to date with new developments in mental health practice and policy.

The post holder will keep up to date clinical records on the Trust's RIO system.

The post holder will respect the confidential nature of clinical information and adhere to Trust policy.

The post holder will engage in monthly management supervision and annual appraisal.

The post holder will consider engaging in additional professional nursing supervision or specialist clinical supervision as agreed with the Team Manager.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Required to spend a considerable period of a working day sitting in front of a VDU

May on occasion work with clients whose behaviour can be challenging and who exhibit aggressive

This post will require travel by car.

There is an opportunity to work from home on some occasions after discussion with senior staff.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• RMN, RGN or RGLD
• Relevant degree or equivalent qualification or experience.
• Appropriately registered with the NMC as per post requirements.

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of working with older people with Mental health problems.
• Knowledge of NMC guidance and professional guidance for practice
• Experience of working with families, carers and significant others
• Ability to carry out assessments and psycho-social interventions
• Required to develop the knowledge base in line with the KSF requirements for the post.

Desirable

• Knowledge of mental health and community care legislation and policy

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
• Compassionate - Open minded, treats colleagues, patients, carers and relatives with dignity and respect.
• Intuitive and caring nature.
• To be able to demonstrate an awareness and responsibility whilst recognising the impact frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
• Compassionate - Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives remaining sensitive and empathetic.
• Listens to others' views respecting and valuing individual patient needs.
• Professional and patient focussed approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
• Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities for staff and patients.
• Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
• Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team.

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

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

WIllow Bank

Glastonbury Road

Wells

Somerset

BA5 1TH

Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)