Senior Triage Nurse / Paramedic

Job overview

Senior Triage Nurse/Paramedic - An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Senior Triage Nurse/ Paramedic to work within the Urgent Community Response Team  (UCRT) Assess and Clinical Triage Team.

UCRT refers to a combination of community admission avoidance teams across Mid and South Essex provided by EPUT, NELFT and Provide, working in collaboration with each other. The UCRT Access and Clinical Triage team is responsible for the triaging and acceptance of referrals and is currently hosted by EPUT.

UCRT services provide specialist care in patients own homes. They make contact with patients within two hours of receiving a referral to stabilise their immediate health and social needs and plan ongoing care and intervention as appropriate.

Main duties of the job

In the role of Triage Nurse/Paramedic, you will work to support the triage function of the UCRT access team by undertaking telephone assessments of referrals from the Ambulance Service, Primary Care and other health and social care professionals. You will determine the suitability and safety of patients for assessment by local UCRT services or coordinate a response by another appropriate community based team or service.

In this role, you will support cover of a rota to undertake triage within the UCRT Single Point of Access, but also in an integrated/in-reach function within 111 and 999 control centres to ‘pull’ referrals that are deemed as safe and appropriate for a UCRT response – known as Hear & Treat.

In addition successful applicants will be required to support and manage the Band 6 staff within the team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To undertake the clinical triage of referrals received in the UCRT Single Point of Access.

To provide clinical assessments and advice to patients who call 111 and 999, utilising clinical triage to ensure appropriate outcomes and onward pathway/referral to meet clinical need and to avoid admission to acute hospital where clinically safe to do so.

To take clinical responsibility for patients calling 111 and 999 with whom you are involved.

To work as an autonomous practitioner and provide high quality complex clinical triage using knowledge, skills, critical thinking and professional judgement.

To be a central resource for clinical expertise and knowledge providing information on evidence-based healthcare to other MSE Health and Social Care, EEAST and IC24 colleagues.

To consult on patient symptoms to provide a wide range of health and social care options and coordinate the most appropriate community intervention and response, as required for the patient.

Ensure that advanced skills and knowledge are utilised to make a comprehensive and focussed assessment of needs to maintain safe admission avoidance.

Work in partnership with referrers to ascertain diagnosis, care plans and planned treatment.

Utilise AOC software systems (such as CAD, MPDS, Lowcode and Directory of Services) and process information received from callers/patients into the computer systems ensuring the veracity of data at the point of input.

To liaise and communicate clinical information verbally and via technical links with health economy partners to ensure continuity of care.

Liaise with other UCRT and community services and ensure continuity of care as appropriate, effective and safe for the patient.

To work towards service delivery targets, clinical indicators and national and locally negotiated targets, including taking responsibility for the collating and reporting of data.

To maintain absolute professionalism, integrity and confidentiality for all patients, their families, Trust staff and those from other organisations and agencies.

At all times, provide specialist, clinical, social and holistic care to patients in a pre-hospital environment.

Provide appropriate advice and guidance including worsening advice and safety netting to patients.

Support the management of a high quality service to individuals, families and other agencies across Mid and South Essex.

Ensure the safeguarding agenda is implemented with effective systems throughout the service including effective liaison with other agencies as required.

In collaboration with the senior management team, support the Directorate’s approach to improving compliance with NHSLA standards, CQC registration and other regulatory requirements.  Ensure that staff contribute to the information required to support the Care Quality Commission inspection visits and that staff are aware of the standards and are able to provide accurate information to inspectors.

Work with the senior management team to ensure the delivery of the Directorate and Corporate Objectives.

Maintain accurate and up to date clinical records/care plans and staff records in accordance with policies and procedures, professional guidelines, legislation, best practise and patient confidentiality.

Establish and maintain effective communications and relationships with statutory and voluntary agencies, promoting and collaborating working and effective coordination of services for individuals.

Support the Clinical and Operational Lead to organise staff rotas and adjust as necessary to ensure adequate cover for the service.

To undertake clinical duties within the UCRT service on an ad hoc or rotational basis to maintain clinical skills.

To perform other tasks in keeping with the post as required by their Line Managers that span the Community Collaborative and Mid and South Essex services.

To participate in the development of an effective team and the development of productive working relationships across the Community Collaborative.

To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines.

To work with external agencies to increase successful Hear & Treat (111 and 999) outcomes within own competencies, recognising own limitations and seeking advice when necessary. This will include continuously evaluating and acting on outcomes.

The post holder may be required to work at either Chelmsford AOC or Southend EEAST base (any of the Trust’s sites) in line with service needs.

Provide clinical leadership and support to UCRT Clinical Triage Team.

Support the ongoing transformation of the Single Point of Access

Complete 1 to 1 Support and Appraisals for Band 6 Triage Nurses.

Deputise for the Clinical Manager