Job responsibilities
CLINICAL AND OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITES
1.Undertake responsibility for a delegated caseload under the supervision of the District Nursing Sister and in the absence of the District Nursing Sister, carrying out initial assessment of care needs and the provision and evaluation of individual patient programmes of care including prescribing equipment and the discharge of patients from the caseload.
2. Assume delegated responsibility for holistic assessment and the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes of care/ care packages, contributing to complex assessment/ care packages.
3. To provide high quality palliative care to patients and their families, as required.
4. Maintain clinical competency in a range of extended skills as required to meet the needs of patients on the caseload.
5. Work with other health care colleagues, voluntary and statutory organisations to ensure that the holistic needs of patients are met wherever possible.
6. Where the post holder is a non-medical prescriber, practice responsibly and maintains competence to effectively prescribe from the relevant Prescribing Formulary.
7. To carry out clinical risk assessments within sphere of competence as required.
8. Work as an effective team member to actively contribute to public health initiatives including health needs assessment and projects to meet needs identified.
9. To promote health education and healthy lifestyles within the community, including use of motivational interviewing and negotiation skills where appropriate.
10. To demonstrate to patients and unpaid carers in their homes the safe use of equipment prescribed by the District Nursing team.
11. To act as an advocate to facilitate the views and choices expressed by patients and their carers.
12. To refer people to other practitioners when needs and risks are beyond ones own scope of practice or require longer term support
COMMUNICATION
1. Maintain effective communication both within and outside of the clinical team to ensure that patient needs are met by the most appropriate agency.
2. To communicate with patients and carers to maximise their involvement and understanding of their condition, care and treatment.
3. Provide effective skilled communication of sensitive issues, counselling and reassurance to maximise patient and carer well being.
4. Maintain competence in IT skills and make best use of IT systems to enhance patient care.
5. Maintain contemporaneous clinical records in line with trust Clinical Records Policy.
6. Identifying potential opportunities to influence the development of knowledge, ideas and practice and prioritising those that have the most potential for success
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENT CARE
1. Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates an appropriate plan of care for patients, reporting to the District Nurse caseload holder.
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
1. Undertake mandatory training in line with trust policy and attend updates and study days as appropriate to the post.
2. Provide mentorship to pre-registration student nurses within the team on an on-going basis, ensuring that their learning needs are being met.
3. Foster and encourage a learning environment conducive to student education and continuing professional development of the team.
4. To participate in the trust staff KSF review process ensuring objectives are met and a personal development plan is maintained and evaluated.
5. To be responsible for his or her continuing professional development and meet PREP requirements maintaining a professional portfolio and demonstrating evidence of reflective practice.
6. To be willing to become a Mentor within 12 months of commencement.
7. To be willing to become a nurse prescriber within 12 months of commencement.
RESEARCH AND AUDIT
1. Support and participate in research as appropriate, ensuring that the research governance principles are met.
2. Ensure that practice is evidence based by initiating literature searching and critical appraisal as appropriate. Support changes in clinical practice in line with best practice.
3. Develop own research awareness skills and support the development of appropriate skills with other team members.
4. Participate in clinical audit and essence of care / clinical benchmarking as required
CLINICAL LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
1. Support the team to ensure that practice is evidence based and in line with local and national Clinical Guidelines and Policy
2. Support the monitoring of quality and practice standards within the team. Identify and report any issues relating to poor clinical standards / clinical risk to the district nursing sister.
3. To be aware of and adhere to policies and procedures relating to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
4. Ensure that the service is delivered in line with trust policies in relation to health and safety and infection control.
5. To have in depth knowledge of NMC standards and guidance, understand implications for and be able to apply to practice
6. e.g.: Code of Professional Conduct, standards for conduct, performance and ethics- Records and Record Keeping,- Standards of proficiency for nurse and midwife prescribers- Standards to support learning and assessment in practice
7. Participate in quality initiatives to promote the development of community nursing
8. To monitor outcomes and propose changes to working practice e.g. wound care groups, diabetic link nurse, infection control link nurse and essence of care benchmarking groups.
9. Participate in clinical supervision in line with trust policy
10. To delegate work appropriately within the competency framework
MANAGEMENT
1. Provide operational management cover in the absence of the district nursing sister.
2. Support the district nursing sister to effectively allocate staff according to their skills and competencies to meet caseload / patient care needs.
3. Regularly attend and contribute to team meetings and relevant professional forum.
4. To be aware of Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, ensuring adherence to these at all times.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
1. Support the effective use of staff within the team, promoting flexible deployment of staff across the service.
2. Maintain minimal clinical stock levels and the effective use of clinical stock, e.g. dressings.
3. To complete timely returns on an individual level relating to activity and performance.
4. Manage time and resources effectively with an ability to prioritise workload and be flexible in response to changing or urgent needs when required.
5. Raise resource concerns with the District Nursing sister to ensure that client needs can be met as effectively as possible.
STRATEGIC SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
1. To contribute to new ways of working and the modernisation of nursing / public health agenda.
2. To support the formulation of policies/protocols/ guidelines within sphere of work.
PHYSICAL EFFORT AND SKILLS
1. Frequently necessary to change priority of daily work in response to patient needs.
2. Responsible for maintaining nursing bag with equipment required to deliver care eg. dressings, syringes and needles. Occasionally required to carry emergency loan equipment to patients homes eg. commode.
3. Works within different environments throughout the shift - clinics, GP surgeries, patients homes and residential care settings.
4. Attends in-service meetings to disseminate information between specialist staff and the team.
5. Regularly involved in moving of patients by hoisting, moving of patient on bed by rolling or use of slip sheet, manually moving equipment.eg. commode.
6. Drives between work locations and works alone for most of the day.
7. Often gives advice and psychological support to seriously ill and dying patients and their carers.
