Job summary
Aspire Registered MSc Learning Disability Nurse Apprenticeship (2 years)
This is a career progression opportunity with AWP (Avon & Wiltshire Partnership NHS Trust). It is a work-based learning, two year vocational education program, working towards becoming a Registered Learning Disability Nurse (RNLD) with an MSc qualification in Learning Disability Nursing (with Neurodiversity).
The course combines work-based and academic learning between AWP and Plymouth Marjon University. This position is paid at Band 4 Agenda for Change salary, and on successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will be offered a substantive band 5 nurse role with AWP.
You will need to provide proof of the following qualifications in order to meet NMC requirements for this course:
- A previous degree with a minimum of a 3rd classification or a foundation degree.
- Level 2 Maths and English qualifications, i.e. GCSE grade C/4 or level 2 Functional Skills certificates.
Interviews will be held the weeks commencing 26th February and 4th March 2024 via Teams
To meet university course entry requirements you must be a UK resident (not on a visa). Unfortunately sponsorship is not available for this position.
PLEASE DO NOT APPLY IF YOU DO NOT MEET THESE CRITERIA AS WE WILL UNFORTUNATELY NOT BE ABLE TO CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION.
Main duties of the job
- Work under the guidance and support of the team or identified nurse to assist the service in delivering their clinical day-to-day activities and overall service protocols, and processes.
- To participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and planned activity programmes to improve the quality of life and mental state of the person using services.
- To communicate any changes in the persons presentation to immediate senior person or appropriate professional in a timely manner.
- To communicate effectively with people using our services, considering any communication difficulties they may have and responding appropriately.
- To offer emotional support, advice, information, and education to people using services, carers and their family including signposting them to other services.
- To foster and maintain good working relations with acute care services, community teams, health and social care workers and mental health services. Receiving and sharing information from GPs, carers and other agencies.
- Giving information and assistance to people using services and their carers so that they are aware of their rights, entitlements and the contents of their care plan.
- Deal with general enquiries from other professionals, patients and members of the public.
Be involved in service user or other engagement groups as directed.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical Responsibilities
- To be involved in the assessment and implementation of individual care plans and treatment programmes under the supervision of registered / qualified staff.
- Working under the guidance and support of the team or identified nurse, to assist the service in delivering their clinical day-to-day activities, overall service protocols and processes.
- To participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and planned activity programmes to improve the quality of life and mental state of the person using services.
- To take part in the constant assessment of risk and management of risk in conjunction with the registered / qualified staff.
- The post holder will be aware of and work within their own limits, and competencies.
- The post holder will implement clinical care under the direction of a registered / qualified practitioner and will provide advice in relation to the care of individual clients as required.
- To monitor physical and mental health through observations and report changes to line manager / supervisor / qualified staff so that the care plan can be kept fully up to date. Be aware of fluctuations in physical / mental health presentation.
- To monitor basic health e.g. diet, hygiene and sleep and assist in addressing identified needs.
- To work with people using services and their carers to achieve the objectives of the care plan.
- To encourage social / physical activities as identified within the care plan.
- To promote independence and recovery / wellness.
- Where appropriate and assessed support care planning and intervention within a Positive Behavioural Support and/or Trauma informed approach
- Deliver person centred care in a reasonably adjusted approach and taking into account any communication and/or sensory needs for individuals.
- Be able to recognise signs of abuse and know procedures they need to follow to escalate their concerns.
- To participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and planned activity programmes to improve the persons quality of life.
- To record all contacts, interventions and observations on the electronic care record and seek appropriate professional validation.
- To keep up to date with clinical knowledge pertaining to the role, relevant to the sphere of learning disabilities and in accordance with practice developments.
- To work independently and based on Risk Assessment with people in their own homes, inpatient ward and other settings in the community (with daily supervision from an identified learning disability and/or autism practitioner/supervisor where available or an identified registered practitioner availability of access to a learning disability and/or autism practitioner/supervisor as required for additional support).
- Communication & Working Relationships
- To communicate effectively with people using services, taking into account any communication difficulties they may have and respond appropriately.
- To offer emotional support, advice, information and education where appropriate to people using services, carers and their family including signposting them to other services.
- To foster and maintain good working relations with members of other community teams, health and social care workers and inpatient services. Receiving and sharing information from GPs, carers and other agencies.
- To give information and assistance to people using services and their carers, so that they are aware of their rights, entitlements and the contents of their care plan.
- To communicate any changes in the persons presentation to immediate line manager or appropriate professional in a timely manner.
- To maintain accurate and complete records consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
- To communicate in a professional manner that is consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
- To take, record and report telephone messages.
- To provide and receive routine information to assist in undertaking the role.
- To participate in ward / team meetings and discussions.
- Other
- To take part and be aware of Health and Safety matters as appropriate.
- To complete statutory, mandatory and essential training requirements and other appropriate training courses pertinent to the role, to maintain individual professional development, as agreed by line manager.
- To work within the standard operational procedures of the team and use own initiative in delivering patient care whilst receiving supervision from the team.
- To assist in maintaining safety and security of the environment.
- To help to maintain cleanliness and tidiness of the environment (including equipment).
- Report any observed incidence of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences or faulty equipment to the Line Manager / Senior Practitioner.
- To participate professionally in service development and proposed service changes e.g. learning disability awareness training for staff.
- To participate in audits and surveys relating to nursing practice or patient satisfaction as required.
- To actively participate in regular supervision and an annual staff appraisal, which includes service objectives and individual learning and development needs in accordance with Trust policy.
- To participate in and support student learning along with other members of the team.
- To effectively use the Trust's IT systems, including the electronic patient recording system RiO, Health Roster for annual leave requests / recording of TOIL, LEARN for learning and development (E-learning) online and any other IT systems either current or in the future as commensurate with the role.
Any Other Specific Tasks Required
- The post holder should ensure their fitness to undertake the post; they should be able to demonstrate they are able to undertake the level of general training and personal safety training appropriate to their role and work area, and keep this training up-to-date.
- If a requirement of the role is the ability to support the prevention and management of violence and this might on occasion require the use of physical interventions (such as safe holds or restraint). Staff receive training before they can use any physical interventions and the post holder must declare physical fitness to undertake such a role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical Responsibilities
- To be involved in the assessment and implementation of individual care plans and treatment programmes under the supervision of registered / qualified staff.
- Working under the guidance and support of the team or identified nurse, to assist the service in delivering their clinical day-to-day activities, overall service protocols and processes.
- To participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and planned activity programmes to improve the quality of life and mental state of the person using services.
- To take part in the constant assessment of risk and management of risk in conjunction with the registered / qualified staff.
- The post holder will be aware of and work within their own limits, and competencies.
- The post holder will implement clinical care under the direction of a registered / qualified practitioner and will provide advice in relation to the care of individual clients as required.
- To monitor physical and mental health through observations and report changes to line manager / supervisor / qualified staff so that the care plan can be kept fully up to date. Be aware of fluctuations in physical / mental health presentation.
- To monitor basic health e.g. diet, hygiene and sleep and assist in addressing identified needs.
- To work with people using services and their carers to achieve the objectives of the care plan.
- To encourage social / physical activities as identified within the care plan.
- To promote independence and recovery / wellness.
- Where appropriate and assessed support care planning and intervention within a Positive Behavioural Support and/or Trauma informed approach
- Deliver person centred care in a reasonably adjusted approach and taking into account any communication and/or sensory needs for individuals.
- Be able to recognise signs of abuse and know procedures they need to follow to escalate their concerns.
- To participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and planned activity programmes to improve the persons quality of life.
- To record all contacts, interventions and observations on the electronic care record and seek appropriate professional validation.
- To keep up to date with clinical knowledge pertaining to the role, relevant to the sphere of learning disabilities and in accordance with practice developments.
- To work independently and based on Risk Assessment with people in their own homes, inpatient ward and other settings in the community (with daily supervision from an identified learning disability and/or autism practitioner/supervisor where available or an identified registered practitioner availability of access to a learning disability and/or autism practitioner/supervisor as required for additional support).
- Communication & Working Relationships
- To communicate effectively with people using services, taking into account any communication difficulties they may have and respond appropriately.
- To offer emotional support, advice, information and education where appropriate to people using services, carers and their family including signposting them to other services.
- To foster and maintain good working relations with members of other community teams, health and social care workers and inpatient services. Receiving and sharing information from GPs, carers and other agencies.
- To give information and assistance to people using services and their carers, so that they are aware of their rights, entitlements and the contents of their care plan.
- To communicate any changes in the persons presentation to immediate line manager or appropriate professional in a timely manner.
- To maintain accurate and complete records consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
- To communicate in a professional manner that is consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
- To take, record and report telephone messages.
- To provide and receive routine information to assist in undertaking the role.
- To participate in ward / team meetings and discussions.
- Other
- To take part and be aware of Health and Safety matters as appropriate.
- To complete statutory, mandatory and essential training requirements and other appropriate training courses pertinent to the role, to maintain individual professional development, as agreed by line manager.
- To work within the standard operational procedures of the team and use own initiative in delivering patient care whilst receiving supervision from the team.
- To assist in maintaining safety and security of the environment.
- To help to maintain cleanliness and tidiness of the environment (including equipment).
- Report any observed incidence of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences or faulty equipment to the Line Manager / Senior Practitioner.
- To participate professionally in service development and proposed service changes e.g. learning disability awareness training for staff.
- To participate in audits and surveys relating to nursing practice or patient satisfaction as required.
- To actively participate in regular supervision and an annual staff appraisal, which includes service objectives and individual learning and development needs in accordance with Trust policy.
- To participate in and support student learning along with other members of the team.
- To effectively use the Trust's IT systems, including the electronic patient recording system RiO, Health Roster for annual leave requests / recording of TOIL, LEARN for learning and development (E-learning) online and any other IT systems either current or in the future as commensurate with the role.
Any Other Specific Tasks Required
- The post holder should ensure their fitness to undertake the post; they should be able to demonstrate they are able to undertake the level of general training and personal safety training appropriate to their role and work area, and keep this training up-to-date.
- If a requirement of the role is the ability to support the prevention and management of violence and this might on occasion require the use of physical interventions (such as safe holds or restraint). Staff receive training before they can use any physical interventions and the post holder must declare physical fitness to undertake such a role.
Person Specification
Planning and Organising Skills
Essential
- Able to plan and prioritise work, good time management, completing records and recording observations etc. To take leadership and direction from qualified staff. To participate in unsupervised tasks and provide accurate feedback to relevant parties, working within own scope of practice
Communication Skills
Essential
- Effective communication skills, demonstrating fluency, clarity and ability to engage; good listening skills. Demonstrate an ability to make and sustain professional therapeutic relationships Good written communication
Desirable
- Effective influencing skills
- Ability to work with people in a group and on an individual basis and act as an advocate when appropriate
- Able to work well in a team
Qualifications
Essential
- A previous degree with a 3rd classification or a foundation degree
- Level 2 Numeracy and Literacy qualifications i.e., GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths & English (or equivalent level 2 Functional skills or Key skills certificates)
- Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within learning disability settings
Physical Skills
Essential
- To demonstrate an ability to provide practical support with daily living activities, and physically perform nursing duties. Can undertake flexible, rotational placements as needed. Able to work in other areas, external to host placement and travel where necessary. Able to undertake residential learning blocks at Plymouth Marjon
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of learning disabilities and a basic understanding of physical / mental health presentations. Some knowledge of the support needs of people with a learning disability, or autistic people
- Able to demonstrate a basic understanding of relevant legislation Equality Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act.
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the role
- Some experience of working in a health or social care provision - e.g., healthcare assistant, schools (SEND), personal carer
- Experienced in a range of administrative practices including using Microsoft outlook, PowerPoint, Excel
- Experience in working clinically in an acute/hospital/community care setting
Person Specification
Planning and Organising Skills
Essential
- Able to plan and prioritise work, good time management, completing records and recording observations etc. To take leadership and direction from qualified staff. To participate in unsupervised tasks and provide accurate feedback to relevant parties, working within own scope of practice
Communication Skills
Essential
- Effective communication skills, demonstrating fluency, clarity and ability to engage; good listening skills. Demonstrate an ability to make and sustain professional therapeutic relationships Good written communication
Desirable
- Effective influencing skills
- Ability to work with people in a group and on an individual basis and act as an advocate when appropriate
- Able to work well in a team
Qualifications
Essential
- A previous degree with a 3rd classification or a foundation degree
- Level 2 Numeracy and Literacy qualifications i.e., GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths & English (or equivalent level 2 Functional skills or Key skills certificates)
- Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within learning disability settings
Physical Skills
Essential
- To demonstrate an ability to provide practical support with daily living activities, and physically perform nursing duties. Can undertake flexible, rotational placements as needed. Able to work in other areas, external to host placement and travel where necessary. Able to undertake residential learning blocks at Plymouth Marjon
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of learning disabilities and a basic understanding of physical / mental health presentations. Some knowledge of the support needs of people with a learning disability, or autistic people
- Able to demonstrate a basic understanding of relevant legislation Equality Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act.
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the role
- Some experience of working in a health or social care provision - e.g., healthcare assistant, schools (SEND), personal carer
- Experienced in a range of administrative practices including using Microsoft outlook, PowerPoint, Excel
- Experience in working clinically in an acute/hospital/community care setting
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).
Additional information
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).
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