Memory Service Nurse

Job overview

The post holder’s primary responsibilities will be to take the lead in the locality to encourage early diagnosis and management of individuals with a dementia.

The post holder will be responsible for working with consultants in old age psychiatry and colleagues in the memory clinic service based at Brentwood and Basildon Memory Service to provide triage, treatment, assessment and follow up to individuals prescribed anti- dementia treatments within agreed local protocols.

The post holder will provide a liaison and screening service to Primary care working closely with GP’s, and the Neighbourhood Locality Hubs.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to demonstrate a person centered care approach at all times, and be mindful of all physical health needs and social inclusion ensuring that anti stigma is upheld. A good knowledge and skills in medication management is a key expectation of the role. The post holder will also be expected to undertake the Identification of a dementia syndrome module or already hold the qualification.

The role will also involve assisting with the development of a fully integrated care pathway for dementia care, review of existing shared care guidance, and assistance with the development of education programmes for GP’s, other primary care workers and care providers (time allowing) in the diagnosis, care and treatment of individuals with a diagnosis of dementia. The post will also be responsible for the collation and analysis of local activity data to assist with service planning and developments around dementia care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Responsible for monitoring the quality of the service within their catchment area and participate in agreed clinical quality assurance activities, leading on clinical audits when required, practice development and innovation to improve services and apply evidence based practice.
• Act at all times in accordance with:

Ø  Midwifery and Nursing Council Code of Professional Practice 2008 Ø  Scope of Professional Practice Ø  Standards for Medicines management 2008 Ø  Guidelines for Records and Record keeping 2007 Ø  PREP and you updated 2008 Ø  NMC Record Keeping 2008

• In liaison with the service manager and Dementia Lead achieve the agreed performance and activity targets for the service and ensure all required DDS and other performance and activity data are submitted on time.
• To review at regular intervals with the Dementia Lead, the overall nature of the workload to ensure and effective workload management system is in place and that there is an equitable distribution of work, effective work methods and techniques and evaluating clinical practice as a whole.
• Provide accurate returns, statistics and reports as required by the Trust and Line Managers.
• Develop innovative practice to deal creatively with service demands.
• Ensure that referral, assessment and workload allocation happens in a timely, flexible and responsive manner, taking into account the wishes of the individual and their carer’s.
• On a daily basis manage all incoming referrals coming effectively, providing appropriate prioritisation of the work load within agreed time frame e.g. urgent or non-urgent depending on the nature of the presenting needs and risks.
• Participate in Team Meetings, initiating and discussing new methods/models of care and contribute in the introduction of research or trials within the area.
• Participate in the multi-disciplinary and multi-agency decision making process, through team meeting, team building and team maintenance.
• Undertake and be proactive in own Clinical and Managerial supervision in accordance with Trust Polices at regular intervals with the Team Manager.
• Produce relevant reports as and when requested. In co-operation with the Team Manager report and investigate incidents such as complaints/accidents and that appropriate documentation is completed and returned to the Team Manager as soon as possible following the incident and in line with Trust Policy and Procedures.
• Be mindful and uphold all infection control policies and procedures