Return to Practice Nurse / AHP

Qualifications, training, knowledge and experience

• Have a previous UK NMC registration with no previous NMC sanctions
• Have previously been registered with the HCPC or have an approved qualification and never been registered. Not be part of any fitness to practise proceedings or sanctions.
• Evidence of education achievements
• Experience of working in health or social care setting
• Ability to undertake the return to practice training programme.

Communication skills

• Provide information to patients and their significant others with regards to their care and treatment under the supervision of registered AHP or Nurse.
• Communicate with patients/clients and carers, using empathy and reassurance and where there are barriers to understanding learning to manage these accordingly, e.g. learning disabilities or language
• To maintain accurate and confidential patient health care records
• To build effective working relationships with the multi-disciplinary teams within and across providers, to meet patient and service needs
• To provide, receive, interpret and communicate information with a range of health care professionals and personnel
• To attend and participate in departmental meetings, handovers, ward rounds and care planning meetings as required

Analytical and judgemental skills

• To recognise any limitations in own practice or theoretical knowledge base and to seek support as required to become competent
• Using own judgements based of facts or situations. Assess patient/client condition through observations/ test results, assess comfort of patient/client, instigate emergency procedures

Planning and organisational skills

• Organise own day to day work tasks or activities
• To be accountable for own professional practice and be responsible for acquiring, developing and maintaining competencies and skills
• To be accountable for completion of Return to Practice competency portfolio / practice Assessment Document

Physical skills

• Developed physical skills e.g. for use of test equipment including blood pressure, blood glucose equipment.  Demonstrating and assisting patients with physical therapy.

Responsibility for patient care

• Undertakes a limited range of delegated clinical duties relevant to work area; record patient observations, e.g. taking blood pressure, blood glucose monitoring, implement treatments within physio programme of care, facilitates group therapy sessions, provides individual support.
• To demonstrate a range of clinical skills evidenced in a Return to Practice competency portfolio / Practice Assessment Document.

Responsibility for policy and service development

·       To work within national legislation and follow policies in codes of practice

·       To practice in accordance with local policies and guidelines relevant to practice

Financial and physical resources

·       To be responsible for equipment and resources used in the course of their work, including equipment for patient use.

Human resources

• Assist in the development of clinical skills in practice to promote patient well-being and care
• Support the work of supervisors/assessors in practice through working alongside learners
• Support the work of Support Workers

Information resources

• Undertake contemporaneous documentation within scope of practice maintaining confidentiality at all times
• Contributes to updating patient records
• Report and breaches of Information Governance in accordance with Trust policies

Research and development

• Occasionally participate in research and audit activities that enhance, evaluate and influence patient care as required and when the opportunity presents itself

Freedom to Act

·       To practice within own sphere of practice and seeking support as needed

·       To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the care of patients, to meet their specific needs, under the supervision of registered AHP or Nurse

Effort factors

Physical effort:

Requirement for moderate physical effort on a frequent basis e.g. moving patients using mechanical equipment, re-positioning patients in awkward positions, pushing and pulling wheelchairs and trollies

Inputting at keyboard daily/use of VDU continuously

Mental effort:

Frequent concentration required for report writing, coaching, carrying out clinical interventions/treatment

Work pattern planned however on occasion unpredictable depending on patient needs

Emotional effort:

Frequent exposure to distressing circumstances e.g. dealing with upset patients and family members in community or inpatient setting, safeguarding issues

Dealing with staff and patients with emotional or challenging behaviour/situations

Occasional exposure to aggressive and/or verbal behaviour

Working conditions:

Frequent exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions e.g. bodily fluids, fleas, foul linen

Travelling to various sites across the organisation