Community Learning Disabilities Nurse

Job responsibilities

Clinical / Professional

1. To undertake a care coordination role when it has been identified and agreed that the patient has complex health needs and will require ongoing regular specialist health monitoring to provide preventative and proactive intervention if the person health needs increase or behaviour deteriorates. This may include an annual review with patient, annual carers review, supporting the patient to review and in arranging the use their personal budgets.

2. Using a range of specialist assessment tools such as create appropriate intervention plans.

3. To provide advice and direction on learning disabilities and its effects on the management of complex health issue.

4. Undertake assessment of risk and facilitate effect risk management strategies.

5. To hold a time limited caseload of people with learning disabilities who require services in line with the appropriate Health pathways.

6. To contribute to multi-disciplinary assessment and the overall team care plan for the individual.

7. To disseminate patient focussed advice effectively to people with learning disabilities and to their carers (paid or unpaid) and staff (qualified/unqualified) an in their chosen and appropriate format.

8. To research and recommend the prescription of appropriate equipment.

9. To contribute to and participate in review meetings, including strategy meetings for vulnerable adults.

10. To inform General Practitioners of specialist learning disabilities recommendations.

11. Undertake appropriate risk assessments for moving and handling.

12. To ensure timely and appropriate referral to other specialists.

13. To contribute to the provision of a seamless service between acute and community services.

14. To work with parents who have a learning disability including the participation in Child Protection meetings, complying with all relevant guidelines and legislation.

15. To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework where people lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

16. To apply a good level of understanding of the effect of disability, and provide training and expert advice to individual patients, family and paid carers, and Multi-Disciplinary team colleagues on complex specialist health.

17. To attend and participate in review meetings, taking formal minutes as necessary.

18. To promote access to mainstream services, supporting other professionals understanding of learning disabilities and reasonable adjustments.

19. To support individuals to complete their health books or health passports as required.

20. To be responsible for the equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to department and Trust manual handling policies, and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others.

21. To be able to communicate with people who do not use speech, using alternative forms of communication.

22. To establish good communication networks with people who use the service, carers and other health workers and agencies.

23. To promote awareness of the nursing care pathways within Learning Disabilities Services, the Trust, other professionals and with people with learning disabilities and their carers.

Professional

24. Accept responsibility for the delivery of the service, to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

25. Adhere to the Trusts supervision policy and provide regular clinical supervision, if required, for the band 3 Specialist Community Support Workers.

26. To participate in Clinical Governance, Research and Development and Audit activities as required by line manager.

27. To provide observation, supervision and teaching for prospective nursing students.

28. To inform the Operational Health Lead of any variations to service delivery, changing priorities and needs, and their likely impact in relation to the need for service development. To work to resolve these issues with relevant others.

29. To monitor equipment levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate. To maintain a yearly stock-take of equipment in conjunction with local managers as required.

30. To be part of team duty coverage, as required.

31. To assist in keeping assessment, treatment and information materials and equipment up-to-date, safe (following infection control procedures) and in good order, informing the Operational Health Lead of needs and opportunities identified.

32. To assist in maintaining an up to date record of equipment loaned or prescribed to patients ensuring Trust's policies and procedures are adhered to.

33. To assist in the development of clinical standards, policies, procedures and further service developments.

34. To act as CPA coordinator as appropriate.

35. To supervise and/or administer prescribed medication where necessary and to monitor its efficacy. To maintain safe custody of drugs whilst in the community.

36. To be aware of and adhere to services policies, procedures and system to be used.

37. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with professional and NCHC/NCC standards, and these are reviewed regularly as part of the clinical supervision sessions.

38. To maintain waiting lists in accordance with the services procedures and actively work to reduce these through innovative changes to service delivery and appropriate challenge.

Management and Leadership

39. To deputise for the Band 7 Nurse at appropriate meetings as requested.

40. To provide if required, effective guidance, supervision and appraisal for Community Support Workers band 3, in order to manage their performance and ensure they provide the highest quality of service.

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant degree/Diploma within nursing or equivalent experience.
• NMC registration.
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
• Up to date manual handling training for the lifting and manoeuvring of patients and equipment during treatment sessions.

Desirable

• Leadership and first line management experience.
• Practice placement qualification and postgraduate training relevant to learning disabilities.
• Additional training in Mental health.
• Additional training in palliative care.

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post registration Experience.
• Experience of supervision.
• Experience of working with people with learning disabilities and their carers.
• Relevant experience in working with individuals with Mental Health needs.

Desirable

• Experience of community working.
• Experience of research or audit.
• Advice and support of junior staff and/or students.
• Experience of OLD.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• An appreciation and understanding of people who have a learning disability and the role of Mental health, Epilepsy and Continence nursing in this field.
• Knowledge of mental health legislation.
• Current practice knowledge of breakaway/de-escalation techniques.
• Knowledge of valuing people objectives and the principles and ability to apply them to practice.
• Good presentation and training skills.
• Knowledge of Deprivation of Liberty (DOLS).
• Ability to plan interventions in a collaborative way.
• Knowledge and application of standardised assessments.
• Understanding of nursing outcome measures.
• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues.
• Ability to reflect on critically appraise own performance.
• Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information.
• Good computer skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships.
• Knowledge of the pillars of clinical governance and its application.
• Knowledge of manual handling legislation and risk assessment.
• Knowledge of specialist equipment provision.

Communication

Essential

• Able to communicate effectively using the English language in both verbal and written forms.

Personal & People Development

Essential

• Proven ability to work well in a team, and in multi-agency collaboration in particular.
• Ability to actively seek ways for children to access service.
• Ability to adapt to changing work patterns to accommodate patient/service needs.
• Be willing to undertake further training and development.
• Ability to attend relevant meetings and training.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Demonstration of commitment to continuing development.
• Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults with learning disabilities.

Other

Essential

• Commitment to patient centred, non-discriminatory practice and lifelong learning.
• An understanding of hazards associated with lone working in the community.
• The post holder will need to be passed fit to perform full duties of the post through occupational health with any reasonable aids and adaptations if necessary.
• DBS clearance check.
• Must hold full and valid and driving licence and have access to a vehicle or independent travel.

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).