Senior Community Nurse

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Community Nurse to join the WIN Nursing Team.

We are seeking a keen, proactive and enthusiastic nurse to provide high quality care to our patients. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate effective leadership, team and partnership working and understand the current context and vision of health and social care.

Please use the supporting information space to demonstrate your ability to undertake this role, drawing on your skills, knowledge and experience. This section is used to shortlist your application. Please note people reviewing your application will be seeking evidence that you meet the essential criteria of the person specification in line with the Department of Health guidelines.

The post holder should possess good communication skills both written and verbal, have evidence of ongoing professional development and be able to work independently.

Driving license and access to a car is essential.

Main duties of the job

PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS OF THE SENIOR COMMUNITY NURSE

Holds delegated 24 hr continuing responsibility for a caseload, co-coordinating admissions and discharges, for patients registered to specific GP surgeries. Provide clinical leadership and triage support at The Hub on a rota system, to include weekend and bank holiday working.

Assess patients: plan, implement, evaluate, and reassess care for patients in their own homes. Establish and maintain accurate and thorough clinical records.

Provide leadership and operational management for district nurse team, supporting, supervising and managing staff.

Liaise and work collaboratively with other services within health and social services, voluntary and private sector.

Provide direct patient care.

Contribute to the development of the nursing service within the division.

Organise community schedule for students: provide induction training and clinical supervision.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To assess, plan and evaluate the individual requirements of patients and carers referred to the District Nursing Service. Diagnose specific conditions including venous insufficiency, skin conditions, fungal infections, constipation; recognise uncontrolled symptoms - especially in palliative care, and implement treatment regimes using prescribing when appropriate.

To provide and document a high standard of evidence based nursing care to patients in the community.

To delegate work to members of the Nursing Team, taking into account Scope of Professional Practice, and nursing skill mix.

To work within NMC Guidelines relating to Code of Conduct, Confidentiality, Accountability and Scope of Professional Practice.

To facilitate effective communication, written, verbal and electronic, whilst acting as the patients advocate. Be able to communicate empathetically, sensitive potentially controversial, and/or distressing information to patients and their carers, e.g. relating to patients entering the end stage of life.

Liaise and communicate with own and the wider Primary healthcare team, outside Agencies and voluntary organisations in the delivery of care.

Having knowledge of human rights and cultural issues actively seek to promote health, to patients ,carers and work colleagues by providing evidence based information in a sensitive and empathetic manner.

Administers drugs in line with NMC Policy, including controlled drugs.

To attend Team Briefing and Staff Meetings as required and disseminate the information and implement changes when appropriate within the team.

Prescribe in line with Trust guidelines, prescribing protocols and Nurse Prescribing Formulary.

To keep Nurse Management aware of any factors which may affect the treatment given to patients and produce appropriate written reports when requested. To report and assist in investigation of patient complaints.

To facilitate achieving measurable standards of care and to participate in clinical audit and participate in caseload review.

To establish and maintain accurate records in line with NMC guidelines and local policy using paper based and electronic system.

To be responsible for the assessment and prescribing of, and planning for the efficient and safe use of nursing loan equipment, assessment and provision of continence products. Responsible for facilitating the maintenance and decontamination of small pieces of specialised equipment.

To implement policy changes within own area of practice and represent the team or service if requested on policy groups relating to the service, e.g. clinical governance, record keeping, Palliative Care group.

Initiate and participate in case conferences.

To participate in the selection and appointment of new staff via the short listing and interviewing of candidates. Providing a suitable induction period within the team.

To have an awareness of child protection and a responsibility to act on issues with vulnerable adults working with partner agencies.

To be active in developing own knowledge in line with NMC and PREP; to be aware of current trends, professional matters and new developments in Community Nursing.

To participate in research quality initiatives in areas agreed with the Manager.

To participate in producing and carrying through ideas and plans for the future development of Community Nursing.

To participate in staff training sessions and implement knowledge gained within the team.

To participate in training and formal assessment of undergraduate, diploma, N.V.Q. trainees and others.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.