Trusted Assessor Band 4

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communications    

• To communicate effectively with patients and carers, members of the multi-disciplinary team, healthcare colleagues and other agencies.
• To work as a member of the Discharge to Assess and Active Recovery and wider multi-disciplinary team, participating in discussions and decisions regarding patient care and treatment programmes.
• To be able to establish a rapport and give effective advice within your competency framework to patients, staff, and carers.
• To communicate with patients to gain consent to assessment and outcomes of generic Discharge to Assess assessment.

• Provide information to enable clinicians to evaluate the treatment being delivered.
• To provide support and education regarding aspects of the Discharge to Assess pathway 1.
• To be able to maintain paper and electronic records, adhering to Trust and departmental standards.
• To have competent IT skills, as required, for electronic records and communication. To ensure confidentiality of all records and information

• Use available resources i.e., interpretation services to meet the differing communication needs of the population e.g., Ethnic minorities, the hearing impaired.

• To record personally generated clinical observations based on skills within your competency framework and complete accurate records.

• To be familiar with the Active Recovery/Discharge to Assess organisational structure and communication links, including professional meetings.

Responsibility for Patient Care

·        To comply with Trust Values and Behaviours.

·        To identify potential therapy goals and nursing needs, within a competency framework in collaboration with the patient and with onward referrals to the appropriate professionals within the team. 

·        To assess the patient’s understanding of treatment proposals; gain valid consent and work within the legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

·        To carry out home assessment/environmental visits as appropriate within the remit of the Trusted Assessor role.

·        To contribute to the safe discharge of patients from hospital and to provide timely assessment and intervention to enable a smooth transition between services.

·        Assess for and make referrals for appropriate equipment and minor adaptations within your competency framework to maximise mobility and independence.

• To be able to discharge the patient at an appropriate time and determine the outcome of Holistic management of the patient, within a competency framework and pathway in place with oversight of professionals in the team via huddles.

·        To manage service user risk within own patient caseload and escalate to appropriate professionals.

·        To be legally accountable for all aspects of your own work.

·        To move and handle patients and equipment safely in accordance with Trust and national guidelines.

·        To demonstrate on-going personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio. 

·        Complete training to acquire theoretical knowledge/skills/competencies for specific conditions of client group encountered in their area of work, verified by assessment and observation by qualified staff.

• To help prevent avoidable hospital admission by escalating signs of deterioration or exacerbation of those conditions utilising the MDT.
• To work within the multidisciplinary team, to attend and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings as required. 
• Application of simple dressings as delegated by a registered professional; when competent.
• Administer and supervise self-administration of medication as prescribed including the installation of eye/ear drops, the administration of insulin, immunisation and vaccination, under the direction of the registered professional and non-medical prescribers, when trained and competent.
• Adhere to the trust policies and guidelines in relation to the safe care planning of healthcare professional’s administrating medications within a competency framework

• Be aware of and adhere to local guidelines in relation to patient care.
• Be aware of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy and apply the principles to practice.
• To seek informed patient consent before delivering care.
• Apply the principles of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to all practice.
• Apply principles of positive health and health promotion to patients and carers.
• To maintain accurate records both written and electronic in a timely manner.
• To promote self-care, to teach and advise patients/carers as appropriate within your competency framework.
• To always act professionally, as a representative of the trust and as an advocate for service users and their families.

Responsibilities for Planning and Organising

·        To be responsible for patients and to plan and organise efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management and use of time.

·        To decide priorities for own work area, and to provide cover for other areas within your competence during time of staff pressures through close working with senior staff members.

·        To allocate work to senior support workers

• To seek support from senior staff on duty

Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources

• Responsible for the effective and efficient use of resources taking into consideration financial, personnel and quality components.
• Ensure safe and efficient use of equipment, resources, and consumables at all times.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation

• The post holder will at all times demonstrate a knowledge of and behave in a manner consistent with the trust code of conduct.
• Follow strictly the procedures laid down for the administration of all medication reporting any discrepancies to the senior nurse on duty.
• To be aware of, comment on and/or actively participate in changes on policies, procedures, or service developments.
• To embrace and support line management and the service in making service improvements effective within the workplace.

Responsibilities for Human Resources and Leadership

• To support in the planning, organization, and non- clinical supervision of staff according to competencies and workload.
• Support new or less experienced work colleagues to adapt to the workplace.
• Participate in non-clinical development reviews for self and junior staff.
• Maintain continued professional development
• Being responsible/accountable to his/her own professional development including the review process.

Responsibilities for Teaching and Training

• Participate in training and development activities that are relevant to the job role.
• Participate in induction of new staff including bank and agency staff.
• Act as a non-clinical mentor/preceptor to new staff.
• Attend Mandatory training in line with training schedule.
• Attend all necessary training and updates for safe use of equipment.

Responsibilities for data and information resources

• To participate in the Information Management and Technology (IM&T) Strategy of the Trust and ensure handwritten and electronic patient records are maintained for all aspects of patient care.
• To accurately input patient assessment and contact information via the appropriate IT system.

Research, Development and Audit

• To assist in research, development, and audit. 
• Demonstrate an awareness of how the multidisciplinary team may use current research findings to develop practice and service provision.

Physical Skills and Effort

• Flexibility to change places and areas of work as required by the needs of the service.
• Mental effort to exert frequent concentration where work pattern is unpredictable.
• Emotional effort. The post holder may be exposed to distressing and occasionally highly distressing and emotional circumstances.
• Standard keyboard skills
• May be exposed to highly unpleasant working condition/some exposure to hazards

·        Will be involved in moving and handling patients and equipment daily in line with local and national policy with due regard for own safety, including manoeuvring patients, carrying equipment, pushing wheelchairs.

·        Be competent in the use of a wide range of equipment based on your competency framework, supplemented by training if required.  

·        High level of concentration required throughout the day. This is required to make decisions during all aspects of assessment considering any cultural/ linguistic differences.

·        Need to be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines, and frequent interruptions.

·        Working within infection control and health and safety guidelines to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise, including frequent exposure to body fluids and odours. Potential exposure to unpredictable, stressful, and potentially upsetting circumstances.

·        Requirement to travel between locations and across Stockport in course of duties

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trust’s policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £41.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £13.