Sister/Charge Nurse Royal Orthopaedic Community Scheme (ROCS)

Job overview

To act as nursing lead (in the absence of ROCS Manager) to the interdisciplinary team.  To work to an extended scope of practice providing advanced nursing assessment and treatment of orthopaedic patients both within the domiciliary setting and clinics associated with the Bone Infection Service.

• To provide advanced Nursing assessment and treatment for ROCS patients in the domiciliary and clinic settings acting as nursing lead when required.
• To liaise with ROCS Manager, ROCS team and members of the multidisciplinary team regarding coordinated service delivery and contributing to the development of the department.
• To work in an extended role delivering basic physiotherapy treatments as per competency framework ensure seamless and holistic care for ROCS patients.
• To support the ROCS Manager in the operational management of ROCS.

Main duties of the job

• To be professional and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of own work, including the management of patient care.  To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management, and support Physiotherapy and Technical Instructor staff to do likewise when carrying out nursing procedures.
• To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with diverse or complex presentations, using analytical skills and manual assessment techniques to determine a clinical diagnosis as an autonomous practitioner.

• To work in an extended scope of practice beyond that of the usual Staff nurse, in order to provide treatments such as basic physiotherapy treatments such as gait re-education, teaching appropriate exercises and use of new equipment to patients.  To develop and maintain skills required to practice in an interdisciplinary manner.

• To undertake comprehensive social and physical assessment of patients within their own homes and in the ward setting in order to assess their suitability for transfer to the scheme and to ensure that relevant occupational therapy equipment is in place making referrals to OT where appropriate.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To act as nursing lead (in the absence of ROCS Manager) to the interdisciplinary team. To work to an extended scope of practice providing advanced nursing assessment and treatment of orthopaedic patients both within the domiciliary setting and clinics associated with the Bone  Infection Service.