Admiral Nurse

Job overview

• Registered Nurse with a valid NMC registration.
• Experience in Dementia Care: Demonstrable experience working with people living with dementia and their families.
• Strong Communication Skills: Ability to convey complex information sensitively and clearly to patients, families, and healthcare teams.
• Compassionate and Empathetic: A commitment to person-centered care with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those affected by dementia.
• Team Player: Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and contribute to a supportive working environment.

Training and support for this role is provided in conjunction with Dementia UK.

Main duties of the job

• Provide specialist dementia nursing support to families, working in partnership with them to improve their quality of life.
• Offer psychological support to families and individuals, helping them cope with the emotional impact of dementia.
• Educate and support healthcare professionals, enhancing their skills in dementia care.
• Lead on the development and implementation of care plans that are tailored to individual needs.
• Advocate for families affected by dementia within healthcare settings, ensuring their voices are heard and needs are met.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• Advise on the care of people with dementia and their carers/families with complex care needs from peri diagnosis to post bereavement support.

• Provide specialist nursing assessment, using the Admiral Nurse Assessment Framework for carers/families affected by dementia during hospital admission.

• Support identification and management of co-morbidities and frailty for people living with dementia and their carers/families.

• Develop and support person-centred care plans for people with dementia including positive risk management (e.g. falls, delirium, depression, incontinence).

• Deliver relationship and family-centred approaches to care, which meet the needs of people with dementia, carers/families and staff.

• Provide a range of psychosocial interventions and emotional support to promote health and wellbeing for people living with dementia and their carers/families.

• Support people living with dementia, carers/families and staff to understand and respond to changes in behaviour and relationships as a result of dementia.

• Ensure that all legal requirements relating to mental capacity, safeguarding and mental health are considered and adhered to in relation to patient care.

• Act as an advocate for people with dementia and their carers/families to promote their rights and best interests.

• Participate in case conferences and best interest meetings where required.

• Work collaboratively with health, social and voluntary sector services to achieve coordinated care.

• Manage care transitions and support effective discharge for people living with dementia and their carers/families in order to reduce frequency of admissions and length of stay.

• Ensure that care is delivered in accordance with relevant local and national guidelines and all relevant University Hospitals of Leicester policies and guidelines.

• Recognise the limits of own competency and professional boundaries and make appropriate and timely referrals to other services where required.

Education & Support

• Support innovative dementia training and education to staff within the Trust at all levels, to improve staff attitudes, knowledge, skills and confidence, in line with best practice and guidance.

• Participate in and/or support formal training events promoting best practice in dementia care and disseminating Admiral Nursing work.

• Provide advice on the delivery of evidence based best practice in dementia care.

• Act as a clinical role model to others, including student nurses, and mentoring other staff as required.

• Support the development and delivery of work streams as part of the Trusts Dementia Strategy.

• Provide mentorship and offer clinical expertise to the staff in the departments caring for people with dementia and their carers/families within University Hospitals of Leicester.

• Work in partnership with colleagues to provide support and information to families, particularly around advance care planning, best interest decisions and end of life care.

• Work proactively with key local and national stakeholders to develop more integrated care pathways and holistic models of care, through dissemination of specialist skills and knowledge.

• Support delivery of the dementia care policy for University Hospitals of Leicester to improve identification, assessment, ongoing support and effective discharge for people with dementia and their family carers.

Evaluation and Audit

• Support the audit and evaluation of quality improvements and initiatives aimed at improving the delivery of dementia care within University Hospitals of Leicester.

• Collect quantitative and qualitative data to support the evaluation and audit of the Admiral Nurse Service.

• Maintain clinical records using the Admiral Nurse data recording system and provide verbal and written feedback appropriately and as required.

• Ensure recorded information and data recorded is relevant, accurate, and complete and captured in a contemporaneous manner.

Professional

• Ensure all nursing practice is carried out in accordance with the agreed policies and procedures of University Hospitals of Leicester, Dementia UK and the NMC Code.

• To attend and actively participate in monthly practice development days, clinical supervision, and continuing professional development, including the Admiral Nurse Competency module and the Admiral Nurse Forum, as supported by Dementia UK.

• To develop own competence through use of the Admiral Nurse Competency Framework, portfolio development, and ‘PebblePad’ (e-portfolio).

• To maintain professional registration in line with NMC guidance, including re-validation.

• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures and protocols relevant to dementia and Admiral Nursing within University Hospitals of Leicester.

• Ensure compliance with Trust clinical governance requirements.

• Participate in clinical supervision / mentoring within University Hospitals of Leicester where required.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of evidence-based recommendations on supporting people with dementia and their carers/families.