Specialist Public Health Nurse - health visitor or school nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for their own caseload as an autonomous practitioner. In doing so, they will assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care to a specialist level ensuring that they practice within their sphere of competence and knowledge. The post holder will work to NMC standards and guidance at all times ensuring that their practice is grounded in evidence based theoretical and practical knowledge.

Key Responsibilities

1. Clinical

1.1. Demonstrates a detailed theoretical and practical knowledge of common aetiologies, pathologies, conditions and presentations – involving a critical understanding of theories and principles

1.2. Demonstrates innovative and specialist skills to select methods and tools to holistically assess, plan, implement and evaluate in a complex and specialised field of work.

1.3. Demonstrates highly developed physical skills where dexterity and accuracy are important e.g. syringe pumps and infusions, manual treatments

1.4. Makes consistent judgements requiring complex fact analysis, interpretation and comparison of options and ensures clinical reasoning is reflected accurately in case records

1.5. Engages and actively involves the individual and, if appropriate, their family/carer, in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes of treatment and/or care by using person-centred techniques to promote a culture of involvement and empowerment

1.6. Works to standards of proficiency identified by their professional and regulatory bodies performing clinical treatments/procedures to a competent standard

1.7. Prioritises their own workload, and that of the wider team, within agreed objectives deciding when to refer to others as appropriate.

1.8. Provides and receives complex, sensitive or contentious information where motivational, persuasive, empathetic, negotiating and reassurance skills are required whilst demonstrating an understanding of barriers to communication

1.9. Approaches each individual with care, compassion and sensitivity ensuring that these values are reflected in all areas of practice including the management of any complaints and compliments.

1.10. To comply with the organisations’ Infection Prevention and Control requirements, including “bare below the elbows” dress code for staff with a direct care delivery role

2. Leadership

2.1. Ensures that a professional service and image is maintained at all time, thereby acting as a role model to all staff

2.2. Provides a leadership style which is underpinned by strongly held values around equality, diversity and openness; effectively builds and maintains relationships with direct reportee(s), management teams and other key individuals across the organisation.

2.3. Manages team and resources on a day-to-day basis in an unpredictable environment that require solutions to complex problems where there are many interacting factors

2.4. Demonstrates the ability to delegate, organise and prioritise workload to ensure the safe delivery of the service including the management of referrals and discharges utilising locally agreed support mechanisms e.g. on call manager and making judgements in complex situations

2.5. Demonstrates clinical leadership, initiative and creativity in developing projects inspiring others to be positive in their contribution to continuous improvement

2.6. Demonstrates resilience when responding to challenge, change and complex or difficult situations

2.7. Clearly articulates the expected clinical standards of the service, monitors and identifies where standards are not met and takes action to address

2.8. Ensures that all objectives, for self and those directly responsible for, are clearly defined within the wider Directorate framework and in line with Trust’s objectives, using the appraisal process as a vehicle for this.

2.9. Takes responsibility for their own and others’ health and safety in the working environment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional degree or diploma in relevant field
• Post Graduate qualification in specialist field
• Appropriate statutory professional body registration
• Must be willing to participate in any relevant training identified to develop skills required to carry out duties

Desirable

• Supporting Learning in Practice (SLIP) or equivalent
• Leadership and management training ILM 3 or equivalent

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Specialist assessment, planning and evaluation skills
• Complex analytical and creative problem solving skills in unpredictable situations
• Workload management including delegation of tasks and day-to-day team leadership
• Competent IT skills in order to collect and interpret data, present reports and compile simple presentations
• Effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex or potentially distressing information to patients / carers and managing conflict when appropriate
• Risk assessment skills
• Reflective practice skills able to give clear and effective feedback
• Able to research, understand and evaluate evidence in order to contribute to practice development
• Displays care, compassion, sensitivity and responsiveness to other peoples feelings and needs
• Able to work as part of a team, co-operating to work together and in conjunction with others and willing to help and assist wherever possible and appropriate appreciating the value of diversity in the workplace
• Able to develop, establish and maintain positive relationships with others both internal and external to the organisation and with patients and their carers
• Able to work under pressure, dealing with peaks and troughs in workload managing unpredictable service demands
• Positive and flexible attitude to dealing with change; able to respond to the changing needs of the patient in an appropriate and timely manner
• highly motivated and reliable
• Has a strong degree of personal integrity
• Demonstrates values consistent with those of the Trust

Desirable

• Experience in research and/or clinical audit

Experience

Essential

• Experience in the clinical field as part of a wider multidisciplinary team
• Experience in supervising and delegating to other members of staff

Desirable

• Experience of managing staff

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

Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Stockdale House, Headingley Office Park

Victoria Road

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS6 1PF

Employer's website

https://www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/join-our-team1/ (Opens in a new tab)