Senior District Nurse

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical
The post holder will need:

1.     To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the post holder’s work.

2.     Assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of all aspects of patient care, and development treatment/care plans that may need to be delivered from a range of options.

3.     Review patients’ holistic needs, communicating highly complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan using advanced skills in both verbal/non-verbal communications.

4.     Be aware of Assistive Technology and utilise it in patient care where appropriate.

5.     Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance.

6.     Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patient’s co-operation in their treatment/care/management plan.

7.     Liaise with GP’s, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and car eco-ordinated appropriately.

8.     To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework.

9.     Plan and organise specialist services within the integrated team.

10.  Provide clinical expertise and advice to others, including Social Services, GP’s and other agencies.

11.  Ensure activity data and clinical information is recorded on SystmOne and completed on a daily basis.

12.  Demonstrate dexterity and co-ordinate when using specialist equipment and fine tools, advanced sensory skills, manual and mobilising skills.

13.  Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.

14.  Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions.

15.  To support staff to achieve and ensure competencies are maintained within the Place, working with Clinical Education to deliver training sessions as required.

16.  To provide professional and clinical leadership within the Place and for the trust wide District Nurse cohort.

17.  To work with clinical education to scope and develop the role of the District Nurse and identify opportunities within the trust To maintain clinical credibility by acting regularly as a clinical practitioner in own area of expertise.

18.  To provide patient focussed education, training and advice to patients, carers, other professionals and voluntary organisations. 

19.  To monitor, evaluate and modify intervention in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness. To supplement this with the use of an outcome measure where appropriate.

20.  To be responsible for the equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to department and Trust manual handling policies, and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others.

21.  Monitoring equipment and supplies via the electronic ordering systems & request new equipment as appropriate.

22.  To maintain an up to date record of equipment loaned or prescribed to patients ensuring Trust’s policies and procedures are adhered to.

23.  To use and develop independent prescribing skills in the day to day management of patients.

Professional

The post holder will:

1.     Demonstrate leadership skills.

2.     Accepts responsibility for the delivery of the service, to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

3.     Remain accountable for own professional actions as determined by the professional bodies.

4.     Be accountable for work delegated to others within the team, ensuring staff are competent to undertake the delegated work.

5.     To maintain waiting lists in accordance with the services procedures and actively work to reduce these through innovative changes to service delivery and appropriate challenge.

6.     To inform the Place  senior leadership team of any variations to service delivery, changing priorities and needs, and their likely impact in relations to the need for service development. To work to resolve these issues with relevant others.

7.     Be required to undertake risk assessments and act upon them appropriately.

8.     To participate in Clinical Governance, Research and Development and Audit activities as required.

9.     Participate in evidence-based practice, using research methodology.

10.  To assist in the development of clinical standards, policies, procedures and further service developments.

11.  To participate in the operational development, planning, and implementation of policy and service development as part of the services Clinical Governance Group, leading on delegated projects as required.

12.  Actively contribute to integrated team meetings and other meetings where appropriate, and chair meetings as required

13.  Develop and maintain effective working relationships and communication with all members of the organisation, other professional and agencies.

14.  Contribute to working groups within the Place and organisation.

15.  Ensure effective use of resources, both financial and human, by members of the team.

16.  Be aware of budget and ensure all effort is made to work within this.

17.  Ensure own paperwork and records are maintained, and also those maintained by the team.

18.  Support all team members within the integrated team, respecting them, their roles and contributions.

19.  Participate in the recruitment process, using the opportunity to skill mix to meet the demands of the service.

20.  Attend REAL and management Essential training as required to develop current job role.

21.  Ensure working environment is conducive for learning and an appropriate learning experience for students.

22.  Provide mentorship for students undertaking pre/post registration course.

23.  Provide advice/training to team members.

Organisational

The post holder will:

1. Undertake mandatory training as required.
2. Partake in the Personal Development Review process.
3. Follow Trust policies, and local procedures.
4. Be aware of Trust’s behaviour framework and ensure behaviours are embedded in role.
5. Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by Team Leader and Trust Policy.
6. Contribute to clinical audit as required.
7. Complete the staff survey as required.
8. Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required.
9. Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.