Admiral Nurse

Job responsibilities

Main Duties

1. Clinical

1.1 To meet the multiple and often complex needs of families affected by dementia through ongoing assessment of health and wellbeing, including risk assessment; developing, implementing and evaluating intervention plans.

• To advise on, recommend and provide a range of effective evidence-based interventions at all stages of the familys experience of dementia, paying particular attention to loss, transitions and changing relationships.

1.3. To assist clients i.e. families affected by dementia and /or colleagues, to develop skills and competencies in understanding and coping with challenges and difficulties they may face, in both individual and group situations. For example managing complex conditions, adapting responses when supporting the person with dementia, changes in relationships, distressed behaviour.

1.4. To provide a range of psychological and social interventions to promote health and assist with the alleviation, prevention and management of stress, depression, anxiety and other mental health needs of carers

1.5. To maintain clinical records using Compass and SYSTMONE (or the relevant clinical patient information system) and provide verbal and written feedback appropriately and as required, to carers, persons with dementia (as appropriate), referring agencies and professional colleagues.

1.6. To liaise with GPs, case managers, primary health care practitioners, statutory and voluntary agencies regarding the best possible care for the family affected by dementia.

1.7 To promote the health and wellbeing of families affected by dementia in line with health and social care policy, guidelines and legislation.

1.8. To act as advocate for family carers (with permission) to facilitate access to services and influence care provision

1.9 To identify development options for addressing inequality and to contribute to strategies designed to improve access to services for people with dementia and carers who are socially excluded.

1.10 To ensure that care is delivered in accordance with Admiral Nurse Service Standards and other relevant local and national standards such as those recommended in NICE guidelines, national dementia and carer strategies/ plans and all relevant local CNWL policies.

1.11 To recognize the limits of own competency and professional boundaries and to make appropriate and timely referral in respect of clients needs

1.12 To facilitate and participate in case conference meetings, network meetings and similar, giving feedback and liaising with all concerned.

1.13 To provide consultancy and guidance to those working in dementia care and to work collaboratively with health/social services and the voluntary and independent sector (as appropriate) to support best practice in dementia care.

1.14 To promote the rights, interests, needs and choices of carers and people with dementia in the planning, delivery and evaluation of care and services.

1.15 To facilitate consultation with carers about care and service delivery; to evaluate and provide feedback.

1. Professional

2.1 To deliver nursing practice in accordance with the agreed policies and procedures of CNWL, Dementia UK, the NMC Code of conduct and other relevant nursing policy.

2.2 To attend and actively participate in monthly practice development days, including clinical supervision; recommended training/education, including the Admiral Nurse Competency module and the Admiral Nurse Forum at least once a year, as supported by Dementia UK.

2.3 To maintain professional registration in line with NMC guidance including re-validation and use of the electronic portfolio, Pebblepad, as provided by Dementia UK.

2.4 To participate in practice-based evaluation, audit and research and to disseminate findings.

2.5 To contribute to the development of practice, policies, procedures and protocols relevant to Admiral Nursing and the health and well - being of families affected by dementia.

2.6 To work positively with colleagues to maintain clinically effective relationships.

2.7 To participate in local clinical supervision / mentoring; providing clinical supervision to others, where appropriate.

2.8 To work with CNWL to manage demands placed on the service.

1. Education

3.1 To participate in and/or lead, where appropriate, formal training events such as courses, conferences, seminars and workshops at all levels, maintaining and contributing to higher level educational programs in dementia care, disseminating Admiral Nursing work, and promoting best practice in dementia care.

3.2 To integrate into practice current knowledge of dementia and caring, informed by research and other forms of evidence.

3.3 To act as a clinical role model to others and take an active role in student nurse placements, including mentoring as appropriate.

3.4 To develop their own competence to practice through use of the Admiral Nurse Competency Framework, Pebblepad e-portfolio development, Personal Development Planning and continuing professional development

3.5 To comply with CNWL arrangements for continuing professional development, including being aware of own development needs and how they can be met.

3.6 To maintain up to date knowledge base of resources, service provision, policy context, new approaches, interventions and treatments in dementia care and contribute to local policy and procedure development and review.

3.7 To contribute to a learning environment, working closely with the Admiral Nurse Directorate at Dementia UK, liaising with researchers, practice developers and educational providers.

1. General

4.1 To contribute to the development of policies, procedures and protocols relevant to Admiral Nursing and the health and well being of the client group.

4.2 To promote equality of access and opportunity in all aspects of the work.

4.3 To undertake appropriate risk and other assessments in a timely manner in accordance with CNWL policy.

4.4 To take all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment which is free from discrimination,

4.5 To comply with CNWL policy on confidentiality, and the Data Protection Act 1998 as amended, relating to information held manually or on computerised systems.

4.6 To respect the confidentiality and privacy of clients (families affected by dementia) and staff at all times.

4.7 To maintain a constant awareness of health, welfare and safety issues affecting colleagues, patients, visitors and themselves, reporting any accidents or fault in line with CNWL policies.

4.8 To participate in personal training, development, appraisal, and attend all relevant mandatory and statutory CNWL training courses as required.

Work Experience & Attainments

Essential

• Post-registration clinical experience of working with people with dementia and their carers/supporters in different settings
• Experience of recent involvement in practice/ service development.
• Experience of working with groups and individuals in a variety of roles and settings
• Demonstrated experience of working as an autonomous practitioner

Desirable

• Experience of professional supervision/ mentoring of staff
• Experience of working with patients/ clients to develop practice
• Experience of audit/ evaluating clinical practice

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (RMN)
• Formal knowledge of dementia/ older people acquired through clinical postgraduate training/ education

Desirable

• Additional nursing qualification.
• Diploma / Degree/ level qualification in dementia / older people's care
• Mentorship Qualification
• Relevant teaching qualification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate all of the 6 Admiral Nurse competencies including personcentred care, therapeutic skills, triadic relationship, sharing knowledge, best practice, and critical reflective practice at specialist level.
• Ability to use a range of therapeutic skills
• Effective role-modelling
• Understanding practice and promoting person-centred and relationship- centred care
• Collaborative and multi-agency working
• Hold a sound knowledge of dementia and therapeutic working with families and organisations
• Understand sources of research and critically apply them within practice

Desirable

• Knowledge of research methods and methodologies.
• Understanding of competency frameworks
• Experience of supporting systematic practice development/ quality improvement

Aptitudes & Attributes

Essential

• Good communication skills.
• Flexibility and creativity
• Ability to provide supervision, critical companionship and support to team members.
• Ability to operate effectively with a constantly developing relationship with key stakeholders and associated agencies.
• Able to work on own initiative.
• Ability to work in groups/one to one.
• Ability to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy.
• Ability to treat families affected by dementia with respect and dignity, adopting a culturally sensitive approach that considers the needs of the whole person
• Positive mental attitude and a willingness to discuss and negotiate issues and ideas with the appropriate team / individual
• Ability to learn through practice

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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