Community Psychiatric Nurse

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice, including professional development
 To be a core member of the team, using specialist health assessments.
 To provide a highly specialised range of clinical interventions relevant to the care group
and have knowledge of evidence based models of practice.
 For MH posts, care will be delivered under the Care Programme Approach and with
support from colleagues within the Assessment and Treatment Centres. Taking on the role
of care co-ordinator and working within the CPA policy delivering standards set out in the
CPA policy.
 For LD and SMS, posts case co-ordination will be a central part of the role, in line with
team processes.
 To manage a caseload of clients with complex health needs.
 To work in partnership with the individual service user and their families and carers as
appropriate to ensure the delivery of the care plan, and to enable the development of a
plan to facilitate their safety, promote their well being and support their independence and
inclusion in the community, by using recognised age appropriate self management tools
where applicable. This may include working closely with partner agencies such as
voluntary sector agencies, schools and colleges which may be able to more appropriately
help the service user complete these tools.
 To develop care plans that meet the needs of the individual and their family/carers as
appropriate and that are focused on strengths and are outcome based.
 To plan and implement client centred individual, family and group interventions, using
graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
 To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure
effectiveness of intervention.
 To administer and monitor medication prescribed to individual service users, providing
information and advice.
 Maintain the safe custody and control of medication.
 Ensure safe disposal of clinical waste.
 Implementation of all nursing policies and procedures.
 To discuss with the service user and when appropriate, with their carers, their health
problems and how they see and understand them, facilitating a process of developing their
understanding and maintaining their hope for the future.
 To promote the empowerment of individual service users to manage their health as much
as possible and use Self Directed Support / direct payments as indicated.
 To work with carers and family members, offering carers assessments and providing
support and information to them as indicated. Signposting to third sector agencies to
ensure they receive appropriate advice and support. Advising them about the triggers
around risk factors relating to the service user, within the boundaries of confidentiality.
 To assertively engage with service users, striving at all times to develop good therapeutic
relationships.
CAJE Ref: RW8_1731
Generic Community Nurse, Band 6
Page 3 of 9
 To monitor; risk, progress and where necessary compliance including the service users
views to their care and treatment and when appropriate to work in partnership with the
service users family and carers. To explain and discuss medication with the service user,
including side effects they may experience and the role that the medication may have in
their recovery or ongoing care.
 To carry out assessments of clients work/educational / vocational and housing
needs/aspirations and ensure that these are met where appropriate.
 To carry out carers assessments and implement a plan of care accordingly.
 To work closely and in partnership with colleagues in the Assessment and Treatment
Centre and other services within the Trust in a collaborative way, ensuring that decisions
are made that ensure the best care for service users and that there is a seamless pathway.
 To develop professional networks and keep abreast of local resources; third sector
partners, primary care, housing, education, social care and other statutory organisations in
order to ensure that the service user is able to navigate the full health and social care
system.
 To establish robust communication networks with clients’ carers and other health workers
and agencies.
 To promote awareness of the professional role within the team and across the service.
 To demonstrate effective communication skills with people in an age appropriate way and
those whose understanding may be impaired.
 Communicate effectively with junior staff on a timely basis ensuring systems exist so that
staff, are informed.
 To apply highly specialist skills and knowledge in order to establish professional
competence and fitness to practice.
 To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and
external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.
 To administer medication within NMC guidelines and the Trusts Medicines Code.