Band 6 Community Nurse

Job responsibilities

Key Areas of Responsibility

• To assess, prescribe and deliver care packages for patients, for example with long term conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation needs, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.
• To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital
• To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital
• To work with all health care professionals, and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.

Clinical

The post holder will:

1. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate all aspects of patient care, and develop care plans, using clinical reasoning skills that may need to be delivered from a range of options.
2. Following a holistic assessment, devise an individualised, evidence-based care programme for each patient, modifying it as required.
3. Assess patients holistic needs, communicating complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan.
4. Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance.
5. Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patients co-operation in their care management plan.
6. Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately.
7. Be aware of assistive technology and utilise where appropriate.
8. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework.
9. Ensure own caseload is planned and prioritised according to service targets and patient need.
10. Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis.
11. Demonstrate dexterity and co-ordination when using specialist equipment and fine tools, advanced sensory skills, manual and mobilising skills.
12. Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.
13. Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions.
14. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.

Trust Values

Trust Behaviour Framework

• All post holders are required to adhere to the Trusts Behaviour Framework in the undertaking of their duties.

Research & Development

• May be required to undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to own work; may occasionally participate in R&D, clinical trials or equipment testing.

Safeguarding Clause

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Rigorous recruitment checks are carried out and where applicable to the role successful applicants will be required to undertake a criminal records check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Infection Control

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust staff are responsible for protecting themselves and others against infection risks. All staff regardless of whether clinical or not are expected to comply with current infection control policies and procedures and to report any problems with regard to this to their managers. All staff undertaking patient care activities must attend infection control training and updates as required by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust.

Health and Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), to ensure the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.

To ensure that the Trusts Health and Safety Policies are understood and observed and that procedures are followed.

To ensure the appropriate use of equipment and facilities and the environment is maintained in good order.

To take the necessary precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of themselves, patients, staff and visitors, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To undertake appropriate Health and Safety training to support safe working practice including, where appropriate, its management.

General

All staff are required to respect confidentiality of all matters that they learn as a result of the employment with the Trust, including matters relating to other members of the staff and members of the public/patients.

Maintain appropriate patient and clinical records in line with the Trusts policies and procedures, and in line with the agreed service specification.

The post holder will be expected to participate in an annual appraisal of their work where the job description will be reviewed and objectives set. In line with the annual personal development plan the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfil their role.

Ensure that all patients, clients and colleagues are treated at all times in an equitable manner, respecting diversity and showing an understanding of diversity in the workplace.

The post holder must carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the Trusts Equality and Diversity Policies, Procedures and Schemes and must ensure that equality is promoted at all times.

Personal Attributes / Behaviours (linked to the Trust's Behaviour Framework)

Essential

• Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults.

Qualifications

Essential

• 1st Level Degree or equivalent experience
• RN Qualification
• Assessor/Mentorship preparation; ENB 998 or equivalent
• Current NMC registration

Desirable

• Independent/supplementary prescribing qualification
• Assessment Skills

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Evidence of working at band 5 level within the community setting
• To facilitate/develop Preceptorship Nurses

Desirable

• Management and leadership experience

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of additional specialist areas through in-house training & short courses
• Leg Ulcer Management
• Insulin Management/ Administation
• Catheter Care
• Palliative care including syringe drivers
• Good communicator
• Highly motivated
• Able to provide high standards of care
• Tact & diplomacy
• Empathy & sensitivity
• Ability to use own initiative
• Good observational & reporting skills
• Ability to manage stressful situations
• Concentrate when undertaking patient care & inputting data/patient records
• Good interpersonal skills
• A team player
• Work flexibly to accommodate patient/service needs

Communication

Essential

• Supporting Statement showing personal qualities (tact, diplomacy, flexibility, adaptability, initiative, good communicator)

Personal and People Development

Essential

• Ability to manage stressful situations
• A team player

Other

Essential

• Must hold a full and valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle
• Moving and Handling Experience

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).