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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide advice to the multi-professional team in the management and care of acutely / critically ill adult patients throughout the Trust.

Assess patients discharged from critical care areas to ascertain progress. Continue to review these patients at least daily until their condition is such that this is no longer required. If necessary, work with the multi professional team to develop care plans with address any developing or potential problems.

Accept patient referrals from members of the multi-disciplinary team, carry out basic assessments and provide advice and support as required

Record personally generated information and clinical observations in patients records in accordance with local policies, NMC guidelines and Caldicott regulations.

Ensure documentation is completed timely and in line with national and local guidance.

Provide care and interventions as defined by, and within the limits of, CCRT competencies and Trust policies/protocols.

Provide advice on the care of patients with tracheotomies and post tracheotomy stomas across the Trust. Give advice to patients and relatives/carers. Liaise with the multi-professional team as appropriate.

Promote and support staff in the use of the National Early Warning scoring system.

Identify patients whose needs cannot be met in ward areas and seek advice regarding admission to an appropriate critical care facility

When required provide care for level 2 or level 3 patients outside of critical care area whilst transfer to a more appropriate area is being arranged. Assist in ensuring that these patients are admitted to a critical care area if required.

Refer patients as necessary to other members of the multi-disciplinary team

Empathetically communicate potentially complex information to patients and their cares in a sensitive and supportive manner. 

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain a safe level of nursing staff, taking remedial and proactive            action   and reporting to the Band 7 when this cannot be achieved

In conjunction with the Band 7,  monitor sickness and absence within the team

Ensure resources are put to the most efficient and effective use to meet the needs of the patients and the service

Act as a deputy for the Band 7s when requested

Challenge, influence and work with the clinical teams for the continual improvement of standards of care under the clinical governance agenda.

Other Duties

The information supplied above is intended to summarise the key responsibilities and duties of the role. The post holder may be required from time to time to carry out other reasonable requests and duties as required, consistent with the responsibilities of their Banding and development as agreed between employee and manager.

Job Design and Review

This job description may be subject to change in the future.  Any proposed changes will normally be discussed fully with the post holder with the AfC job evaluation process applied and confirmed via the issue of an updated job description.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

All employees who have access to personal data in relation to patients or employees will be aware of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1998 and will abide by the eight principles of that Act.  Any breach of the Act could result in disciplinary action being taken and criminal charges being brought against the individual who has breached the Act.

Health and Safety

Individual employees of Walsall Healthcare Trust and other NHS employees contracted to work on the organisations premises have an equal responsibility, along with managers and supervisors, for maintaining safe working practices for the health and safety of themselves and other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. 

All employees must adhere to their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other associated safety legislation, including all new Health & Safety Regulations. In addition employees must comply with all the Trust’s policies relating to Health & Safety and Risk Management to secure a safe workplace and will draw management’s attention to any deficiencies and/or hazards, which might prove detrimental to themselves or others. 

There is a general responsibility for employees to act sensibly and reasonably, and attend mandatory health and safety training sessions.

Clinical Governance

All employees are required to actively contribute towards the organisation’s clinical governance systems, taking responsibility as appropriate for quality standards and work towards the continuous improvement in clinical and service quality.

Safeguarding

Children

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, working with partner agencies, is committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. All employees have a responsibility to ensure that children and young people are safe from abuse and harm, regardless of their role or where they work. Children includes young people up to the age of 18 yrs.

Employees must comply with Walsall Local Safeguarding Board Child Protection Procedures and Trust Child Protection Procedures and recognise the importance of listening to children. All employees must attend child protection training relevant to their role and know how to seek advice or support from their manager or the Safeguarding Children team if required.

Vulnerable Adults

All employees have a responsibility to support the safety and well-being of vulnerable adults and to practice in accordance with legislation. Knowledge, skills and competency are to be maintained according to role and responsibilities in order to fulfil Vulnerable Adults responsibilities.  All employees must comply with organisational and Walsall Local Authority Vulnerable Adults policies and procedures.

Equality and Diversity

The Trust is committed to promoting equality opportunities to achieve equity of access, experience and outcomes, and to recognising and valuing people’s differences.   All employees have an obligation to help achieve this through personal example, open commitment and clear action.

Each individual will take responsibility for promoting inclusive and accessible service provision, employee development and a culture that values and respects difference. All employees should be familiar with, actively promote and work within Equality and Diversity policies at all times ensuring that they do not unlawfully discriminate, either directly or indirectly, on the grounds of race or ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, sex, marital or civil partnership  status, sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, age, pregnancy/maternity or any other grounds. 

This applies to all activities as a service provider and as an employer.

Patient Experience and Public Involvement (PEPI)

The Trust is committed to gaining feedback from all patients using a variety of methods including electronic, paper based and verbal. Within this Trust that feedback is monitored by the patient experience group and used to ensure that future services meet the needs of the patients and demonstrate continuous improvement. Volunteer, staff and families participate in the collection of this data

Customer Care

The aim of the organisation is to provide patients and other service users with the best possible care and service, therefore all out staff are required at all times to put the patient and our service user first and to do their utmost to meet their requests and needs courteously and efficiently. 

Infection Control

Employees will work to minimise any risk to clients, the public and other employees from Healthcare Associated Infection including MRSA and C. difficile by ensuring that they are compliant with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 – Code of Practice (and as amended from time to time) for the prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections (The Hygiene Code); and by ensuring that they are familiar with the organisations Infection Control polices located on the Intranet.

Further responsibilities involve employees in ensuring that service users and members of the public are actively engaged (using a variety of methods) in appropriate service delivery, service development and decision making within their service area and the wider organisation. Determination of these responsibilities should be in conjunction with your line manager and delivered accordingly.

Smoking

The organisation operates a No Smoking policy.

Policies and Procedures

All employees need to be aware of the organisations policies, procedures and protocols relating to their service and work within the guidelines at all times.

Employees have a major role in suggesting and implementing improvement to services and in exercising professional responsibility for both themselves and their peers within an open ‘no-blame’ culture.