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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please note that this role outline serves to provide an illustrative example of the duties and responsibilities you may be expected to undertake during the course of your normal duties. It is not an exhaustive list and you will therefore be required to undertake other responsibilities and duties that are considered to be commensurate with the band.

• To deliver a high standard of patient care as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in general practice, using advanced autonomous clinical skills, and a broad and in-depth theoretical knowledge base.
• To manage a clinical caseload, dealing with presenting patient’s needs in a primary care setting and ensuring patient choice.
• Produce accurate and timely documentation, conduct and manage the maintenance of accurate and timely documentation / records on all patients in line with your Professional Code of Conduct and Trust policy
• To use referral pathways to the local acute NHS Trust services, Mental Health Trusts and Diagnostic and Treatment Centres taking into consideration patient choice and ease of access to services.
• Report and document incidents as required and act upon findings as appropriate
• Screen patients for disease risk factors and early signs of illness such as Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) and TB.
• Responsible for administration of medications, assessment of side effects, review concordance and clinical effectiveness of medication regime in line with Trust policy.
• To carry out immunization for Hepatitis A and B and Flu Vaccinations.
•  To educate clients in the use of Naloxone and give take home Naloxone packs
• Promote health and well-being through the use of health promotion, health education, screening and therapeutic communication skills
• Providing education around the medication, prescribed side effects, actions and aids to compliance.
• Contribute to the practice achieving its quality targets to sustain the high standards of patient care and service delivery
• Formulate, deliver and review of individualised evidence based care / care     package according to NICE guidance including non-medication strategies.
• Be competent in use of relevant screening and assessment tools.

Independent Prescribing

• To work as an independent non-medical prescriber taking responsibility for the clinical assessment of the patient. This will include the mini mental health state and physical health checks to establish a diagnosis and clinical management plan, as well as responsibility for prescribing where necessary.
• To prescribe safe, effective and appropriate medication as defined by current legislative framework
• Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings/reports
• Independent prescribers will be responsible for prescribing a range of drugs within their competence in accordance with Trust / Commissioner formulary and British National Formulary
• To write prescriptions in accordance with Trust policy, taking full responsibility for the patient as well as for the medicines prescribed
• Ensure the appropriate records are made in the patient’s healthcare record which identifies you as the independent prescriber.
• To ensure that contemporaneous records which are unambiguous and legible are maintained and kept in accordance with Trust policy and professional Codes of Conduct
• To ensure that you meet the Trust continuing professional development requirements for a non-medical prescriber 
• To communicate fully with those patients who are unable to communicate or give consent ensuring that the benefits of non-medical prescribing are documented fully, and to provide reassurance to both the patient and the carer that you are fulfilling the role of the doctor.
• Where it is recognised that a patient’s needs are outside your clinical and professional experience, to take responsibility to make referrals to a specialist doctor, the multidisciplinary team or other agency.
• Take the lead on policy, procedural development and patient information relating to non-medical prescribing in designated areas of practice.
• To undertake auditing and monitoring of prescribing in your own designated areas of practice.
• To be responsible for ensuring the security and safe handling of FP10 prescription forms and to report any loss or theft accordingly as per Trust policy.
• In the event of adverse drug reaction the Trust’s incident reporting process is followed and the BNF yellow card is completed

Teaching and Training

• Plan and provide teaching and training within the service and elsewhere as required, ensuring that what is offered is appropriate and relevant to the needs of substance misuse staff and other disciplines
• Provide specialist supervision and consultation on matters relevant to the expertise of the Service by arrangement.
• Plan, organise and lead other teaching and training activities of the service such as workshops, conferences and lectures, as required, locally and nationally.
• Ensure that the mentorship of student nurses, social workers and other professionals is appropriate and in accordance with local agreements with education providers.
• Promote the agenda of mentally disordered offenders in a positive manner.

Communications and Working Relationships:

INTERNAL:

• Consultant Psychiatrist, Doctors, Nurse Prescribers and other nurses, Service Manager, associate directors and other Trust colleagues.

EXTERNAL:

• Substance Misuse Partner Agencies, Mental Health Services, GP’s, Prisons, Probation, Police, Primary and Secondary healthcare services, Health and Non Health related professionals, Education, Employment and Training agencies, Housing organisation, service users and their families and Essex County Council colleagues.

Research, Service Development and Audit:

• To contribute to the development of services through participating in research projects.
• Utilise theory, current literature and research, to support evidence-based practice in direct clinical work, supervision, teaching and consultations with other clinicians and staff groups.
• Keep up to date with advanced and specialist research in the field of non-medical/independent prescribing, particularly in relation to the use of effective, evidence-based interventions.

Clinical Governance

• Assist in the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice through active participation in internal and external CPD, training and development programmes and engaging with regular supervision.
• Participate in audit and service evaluation with colleagues within the Service and the Trust to help develop and improve services to clients.
• Work in accordance with the principles and parameters of good practice, in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Trusts Clinical Governance Framework, and, where necessary, seek advice regarding these matters.
  
  

Management and supervision 

• Propose and participate in service development projects with the service where appropriate. Assist in the long term planning and development of the service including operational policies.
• Identify aspects of the service which need to be improved and participate in the implementation of appropriate changes in conjunction with the Team Managers and Service manager.
• Take an active part in the recruitment process of other clinical staff as required, supported by the Team Manager in accordance with Trust Recruitment Policy and NHS Safer Recruitment Guidelines.
• Attend regular Performance Management Meetings when required.
• Ensure the service adheres to local and government initiatives where these affect potholder’s area of clinical speciality
• Manage and supervise other members of staff.
• To identify, assess and manage clinical risks/hazards in your area through the completion of the relevant risk assessments and the implementation of risk treatment plans for inclusion in the local and Trust’s risk registers through the Risk Management department.
• To update the necessary information system (in this case SystmOne)

Please note that this job description serves to provide an illustrative example of the duties and responsibilities the post holder may be expected to undertake during the course of their normal duties. It is not therefore an exhaustive list; the post holder will therefore be required to undertake other responsibilities and duties that are considered to be commensurate with the band.