Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Duties

• To act as a professional role model at all times

• To develop and maintain expertise, practice and competence in the role of nurse advisor.

• To provide skilled and effective assessment of patients presenting clinical need, through telephone consultation, with the support of the clinically based software, throughout which the clinical advisor is required to be accountable for using professional judgement at all times

• To apply critical analysis to a range of complex information during the care process to provide accurate advice and health information to patients in order to empower them to act upon advice given.

• To actively work independently and is responsible and accountable for managing own approach to workload, risk assessment and risk management.

• Competent communication skills are required to negotiate and provide support to patients. To utilise advanced listening and probing skills over the telephone when there no non-verbal cues.

• Establish and maintain positive working arrangements and communications with other agencies/services within the community to facilitate effective response and delivery of care.

• Assist with setting objectives and performance targets in conjunction with team members.

• Assist the Clinical Manager and Administrator on audit within the service.

• Work with other agencies/health care professionals to identify pathways/services to prevent patients’ admission to hospital.

• To actively refer to appropriate clinician as necessary for advice but maintains accountability and responsibility for decisions made.

PROFESSIONAL

• To remain responsible for own self-reflection and personal development requirements to meet individual education and developmental needs in line with service requirements.

• To maintain high professional standards, within the NMC Professional Code of Conduct.

• Continue to extend the scope of own professional practice by improving and enhancing knowledge and competence.

• Develop standards of care, in conjunction with colleagues and demonstrate and encourage good practice.

• Meet the requirements of the Clinical Governance Agenda.

• Be responsible for ensuring all interventions/recommendations are recorded and documented.

EDUCATION

• Act as a mentor for other team members.

• Participate in Clinical Supervision.

• Participate in educational activities that support the development of the team and the induction of new staff.

• Knowledge of community services would be desirable.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

All Trust employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults. Familiarisation with and adherence to Trust Safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees, as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training.

Equality and Diversity

It is the responsibility of every member of staff to understand our equality and diversity commitments and statutory obligations under current equality legislation including the Equality Act 2010 and to:

• Act in ways that support equality and diversity and recognises the importance of people’s rights in accordance with legislation, policies, procedures, and good practice.

• Valuing people as individuals and treating everyone with dignity and respect, consideration and without prejudice, respecting diversity and recognising people expressed beliefs, preferences and choices in working with others and delivering appropriate services.

• Recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality under Trust policy.

• Be consciously aware of own behaviour and encourage the same levels of behaviour in colleagues.

• Acknowledge others’ different perspectives and recognise the diverse needs and experiences of everyone they come into contact with.

• With the support of managers develop an equality and diversity objective through the personal development review process.

Health and Safety

All staff will be expected to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, safety and security and assist in maintaining a healthy, safe and secure working environment for everyone. They must not intentionally misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health and safety e.g. misuse of equipment. It is a legal requirement that all employees attend training provided by the employer and report to their manager without delay, any accidents, incidents, and defects in equipment, place of work or system of work which might endanger safety, health or security of which he/she becomes aware.

Data Protection

It is a requirement of employment within Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust that all staff must comply with the obligation of confidentiality to person identifiable information. The Data Protection Act 1998 safeguards the handling of information held in both electronic and manual filing systems and it is the duty of all staff employed by MCFT to uphold the principles of the Act.

Freedom of Information

Act The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires all public organisations to provide any member of the public, upon receipt of a written request, with the information they require, subject to certain exemptions. Every member of staff employed by MCFT must take responsibility for any request for information that they receive and respond in line with MCFTs Freedom of Information Policy and guidance.

All staff employed by MCFT must adhere to the standards of record keeping outlined in MCFT’s Records Management Policy and guidance documents.

Appropriately qualified medical and non-medical prescribers will be supported by the Trust to maintain their competence and undertake relevant continuing professional development as identified in their Performance Appraisal. You are responsible for evidencing competence in relation to your prescribing. Qualified medical and non-medical prescribers are required to maintain the necessary standard of practice and failure to do so may result in the removal of prescribing responsibilities.