Clinical Lead Learning Disability Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

1. To ensure that the overall client care within the nursing team is carried out and the quality and effectiveness of clients programmes of complex health and care packages are regularly reviewed through close liaison with the multi-disciplinary team, other relevant service providers, carers and the clients appropriate social network.
2. To triage new nursing referrals for eligibility for a specialist learning disability service, considering the impact of any diagnosis of Learning Disability upon the stated need and desired outcome, using the principals ofRights, Independence, Choice, and Inclusion (Valuing People DoH 2001). This will include consideration for reasonable adjustments to access mainstream services and occasionally involve negotiation as a professional advocate with those services.
3. To provide professional leadership and direction to the nursing staff within the team.
4. To provide regular supervision to the nurses within the team and keep up-to-date records of this activity.
5. To undertake and facilitate assessments of service users who present with complex needs.
6. To use specialist skills and knowledge to analyse the impact of any sociocultural, environmental, biological or psychological needs which could cause the potential for diagnostic overshadowing.
7. To ensure that accurate clinical notes, including electronic information systems are kept well-organised and regularly updated or audited to ensure compliance with records keeping standards of the Trust and the Community Learning Disabilities Service.
8. To take responsibility for ensuring that all clinical practices are in keeping with relevant legislations and policies.
9. To ensure an adequate supply of nursing equipment is maintained and to replenish and order stock as required.
10. To provide appropriate support and engagement with service users, considering their health, social and cultural needs, through a thorough assessment and bespoke planning of their care needs.
11. To ensure that clients are both involved and consulted about their care at all times, and are part of the decision-making concerning their care.
12. To carry out risk assessments for clients in line with the Trust and other relevant policies and procedures.
13. To develop and maintain bespoke innovative and creative ways of working with clients including those who are difficult to engage.
14. To ensure that all plans are drawn up in conjunction with service users, and are designed to work towards achievable goals.
15. To be able to use a variety of effective communication methods which maximise the service users engagement.
16. To weigh up and manage various sources of information which may at times be from different places/ people and with perspectives it may also be contradictory, whilst remaining person centred, and outcome focussed.
17. To promote customer care at all times by treating service users, carers, referrals and other agencies with respect and courtesy and maintain their dignity.
18. To ensure that service users are at the centre of care planning, and their families are fully involved in the provision of care and services.
19. To respond sensitively to the needs of relatives.
20. To be professionally accountable for their own practice.

Professional

1. To assist with the setting and maintenance of high standards of care and clinical practices within the multi-disciplinary team environment.
2. To work closely with the senior management team to ensure the continual development of the Learning Disabilities Service.
3. To develop a positive and effective liaison with services, agencies and individuals as identified and ensure that any service interface problems identified are promptly notified to the health team manager.
4. To support and maintain systems for relevant service data gathering for auditing and service performance monitoring purposes.
5. To ensure that client care is based on the best available evidence.
6. To undertake and lead on relevant research and service development activities.
7. To participate in clinical audit to monitor clinical effectiveness and identify any potential learning.
8. To ensure the maintenance of effective systems of communication within the team and with other health services, with relatives and other agencies.
9. To support the development and positive promotion of Learning Disability nursing and the Service, within both with the Trust and externally.
10. To assist in the regular review, prioritising and targeting of the service resources, ensuring effective responses to the changing needs/demands of service users.
11. To actively encourage and support the representation and participation of service users in service delivery planning and reviews.
12. To ensure that the service provision responds adequately to the specific needs of a local population.
13. To promote and undertake research, audit projects and disseminate such activities within the team, working in close liaison with the Trust committees and audit department as appropriate and in line with local service priorities and individual professional research strategy.

Training & Professional Development

1. To maintain a commitment to learning, professional development and contribute to building a culture of shared learning within the team.
2. To keep abreast with developments in practice and research in the field of Learning Disability.
3. To continue to improve and develop own professional knowledge and skills through attending relevant professional training programmes, professional group discussion forum or meetings.
4. At all times maintain professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) regulatory professional body and abide by the code of practice, registration requirements, for example: practice portfolio, continuous professional development.
5. To participate in service-based training and development events organised in-house.
6. To liaise actively with lead professionals within the multi-disciplinary health and social care team to ensure adequate up-date knowledge on professional issues for practice enhancements.
7. To prepare for and undertake regular professional supervision in line with the Trust and other relevant policies.
8. To be the contact point with the local University for the development of the service as training service area for learners and be co-ordinate the training of students with the nursing team, in line with the current requirements of the relevant learning bodies.
9. To undertake own administrative duties, using the organisations network systems.
10. To use the available resources, provide written reports, case summaries, to a high professional standard in relation to allocated cases, and also to support junior members of staff directed in their work.
11. To assist the team manager in implementing agreed service changes and in managing such changes effectively.
12. To deputise for the Team Manager in their absence as required.
13. To keep abreast of organisational and other relevant protocols, policies and procedures.
14. To provide leadership in the development of a team approach, team building processes, team meetings and represent the team in meetings within the service line, Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust (NCH&C) and elsewhere.
15. To prepare for and participate in regular managerial supervision and performance appraisal meetings with Supervisor.
16. To maintain regular dialogue with the manager and senior practitioners within the team keeping them informed of any significant developments or concerns regarding staff or service users.
17. To undertake any other appropriate duties, specific tasks or assignments as directed by the manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oRegistered nurse RN-LD
• oEvidence of post-registration qualification

Desirable

• oLeadership qualification
• oMentorship/Teaching & assessing qualification
• oEducated to degree/Diploma level

Experience

Essential

• oSignificant experience post registration and/or experience of working with a learning disability service at band 6
• oHighly specialist knowledge of the user group in the learning disabilities agenda
• oExperience of leading and managing a clinical staff team
• oExperience of multi-professional collaboration, partnership working with other statutory and voluntary agencies
• oExperience of setting, monitoring and evaluating standards of care in community settings
• oExperience of working with people with complex comorbidities associated with a learning disabilities (e.g. mental health and/or complex physical health)
• oAble to evidence change practice, culture and outcomes of nursing teams
• oExperience of managing service users who exhibit challenging and high-risk behaviours, that require advanced interventions to enable effective de-escalation
• oExperience of using creative and sophisticated interventions with service users in distress

Desirable

• oParticipation in audit cycle
• oProject Management
• oExperience of working in a multi-cultural environment and knowledge of methods to develop culturally sensitive practice
• oPhysical Intervention trained

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

Essential

• oKnowledge/understanding of the complex physical and mental needs of service users being cared for within this service
• oUnderstanding of de-escalation techniques
• oKnowledge of risk assessments and audit/research, ability to implement and teach others
• oKnowledge of clinical supervision process and the ability to train others
• oKnowledge of current professional developments in nursing
• oAble to facilitate multidisciplinary debriefing, critical analysis meetings
• oAble to manage time and changing and competing demands constructively and effectively
• oAble to negotiate constructively and effectively with all professionals at all levels
• oAble to analyse and solve problems in a professional nursing context
• oAble to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team and integrated community team
• oAble to develop training packages that are innovative, creative and in line with current service needs
• oPositive role model with clinical credibility - evidence of recent clinical practice
• oAble to utilise a range of assessment and therapeutic interventions and frameworks to improve practice and service delivery
• oAble to communicate with service users, and/or family members who are distressed, angry and have difficulty in communicating
• oCompetent IT skills that demonstrate the ability to work across multiple electronic nursing systems
• oAbility to provide leadership to staff.
• oAbility to motivate staff to provide a quality health service to users and carers alike.
• oAbility to prioritise staff resources to target those areas of greatest need.
• oProven ability to provide clinical supervision, to challenge and commend as required.
• oAbility to evaluate services.
• oGood written and verbal skills
• oUnderstanding of CQC processes and requirements

Other

Essential

• oMust hold full and valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle
• oDemonstrate a passion and commitment to working with people with learning disabilities.
• oDemonstrate a commitment to client centred, non- discriminatory practices

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

Attleborough Community Hub

Station Road

Attleborough

NR17 2AT

Employer's website

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