HealthJobsUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key results from the job holder
•    To undertake the delivery of evidence based nursing care as delegated by the District Nurse Coordinator/Team Leader.
•    To undertake skilled clinical nursing procedures and provide clinical advice.
•    To provide nursing care and support for patients with complex and continuing health care needs
•    To assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care according to the District Nurse assessment criteria.
•    To inform the District Nurse Coordinator/Team Leader of changes in the patient’s condition.
•    To ensure appropriate delivery of care via referrals to other agencies.
•    To identify and access sources of expert, professional knowledge to positively influence patient care.
•    To support the District Nurse Coordinator/Team Leader in ensuring that the District Nurse Team works collaboratively and cooperatively with clinical colleagues.
•    To participate in research and audit activity as a requirement of practice.

Communications and Key Working Relationships 
•    To provide and receive sensitive or contentious information.
•    To use effective interpersonal skills when communicating with patients, in particular when the atmosphere is hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive.
•    To interpret verbal and written information, from a variety of sources.
•    To communicate with members of the Primary Health Care Team and multi-agencies to provide quality holistic care to meet patient need.
•    To facilitate communication within the organisation by accessing own emails in a timely manner.

Responsibility for Health & Safety
Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.  

Responsibility for Management 
•    To ensure that appropriate management information is available to the Team      Coordinator/Team Leader and Clinical Manager.
•    To ensure that stock control is managed efficiently and effectively.
•    To ensure the repair and maintenance of equipment in the absence of the District Nurse Coordinator/Team Leader.
•    To complete administrative tasks within delegated time scales.
•    To input information onto the computer system in a timely manner.

Education
(A learner can be defined as the patient, relative, carer, student nurse, qualified nurse, home care or any individual or group who can demonstrate a change of behaviour following learning)

•    To act as a mentor, coach, assessor and health educator both formally and informally to all learners.
•    To facilitate effective learning within community practice and nurture reflective practice.
•    To support the District Nurse Coordinator/Team Leader in creating an environment for continuing professional development to facilitate learning to ensure fitness to practice
•    To identify the needs of the learner in terms of their individual learning requirements and set aims and objectives to ensure that their needs are met.
•    To attend mentor updates annually, if applicable.
•    To develop teaching packs, as required, to disseminate evidence based information to patients, carers, nurses and multi-agency professionals.
•    To deliver in-service training, as required, via various teaching methods.
•    To acknowledge the public health role and actively seek out opportunities for improvement and protection of the health and well-being of the wider community

Professional
•    To maintain own development and clinical competencies via on-going Continuing Professional development (CPD) linked to the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF).
•    To maintain a personal, professional portfolio by collecting evidence of personal development through reflective practice.
•    To attend mandatory training in accordance with Trust policies.
•    To work within Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) guidelines and abide by the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
•    To adhere to Trust policies and procedures, NICE Guidelines and NSF initiatives.
•    To comply with Health and Safety policies.  To ensure prompt recording and reporting of accidents/incidents.
•    To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation in line with the NMC Guidelines for Records and Record Keeping.
•    To share best practice and undertake all activity within the framework of Clinical Governance.
•    To participate in the staff appraisal scheme.
•    To report sickness/absence in accordance with the Trust Policy.
•    To provide clinical information to senior nurses to inform the Strategic Development Plan.
•    To bring professional practice issues to the attention of the District Nurse Coordinator/Team Leader.
•    To advise on changes required to policy/procedure due to change in practice and be actively involved in any working parties as requested.
•    To develop partnerships via pro-actively networking with other professionals and agencies to enhance service delivery.
•    To accept responsibility for own professional practice as a reflective, accountable practitioner.