Job responsibilities
Job Title - Practice Sister
Reports to - Lead Nurse Manager
Work Base/Location - Greenhill Health Centre, Lichfield /Shenstone Surgery
The post holder is responsible for the delivery of practice nursing services and care to the practice population. Supported by senior clinicians within the practice, they will deliver care within the boundaries of their role, focusing upon supporting patients to be healthy, monitoring of long-term conditions, health prevention and screening activities.
To work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.
Key Responsibilities:
To have a thorough knowledge of all Practice procedures and protocols, working within them all times, providing a high standard of nursing services to patients.
Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate programmes to promote health and well-being, and prevent adverse effects on health and well-being
Implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with a known long-term condition
Identify, and manage as appropriate, treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition
Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care
Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side effects and interactions
Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote patients to live healthily, and encourage principles of self-care
Assess and care for patients presenting with a variety of different types of wounds.
Support and advise women requesting information relating to family planning needs, assisting with IUCD and contraceptive implant fitting.
Support and manage health needs of women presenting for cervical cytology consultations
Recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs in accordance with the National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health
Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children, including annual weekend and weekday flu and COVID-19 clinics.
Participate in Flu and COVID-19 immunisations for housebound patients.
Advise, support and, where appropriate, administer vaccinations for patients travelling abroad
Promote and deliver evidence-based care for patients presenting with aural conditions
Confidentiality:
In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
- In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
- Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
Health & Safety:
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:
- Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
- Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
- Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
- Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
- Reporting potential risks identified.
Management of risk:
- Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients
- Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines
- Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs is undertaken. Where appropriate, oversee the monitoring, stock control and documentation of controlled drug usage according to legal requirements
- All employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults. Familiarisation with and adherence to Safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training.
- Administration of drugs by agreed protocols and advising and offering immunisations to the practice population.
- Undertake mandatory and statutory training
- Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines
- Participate in the local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice
Equality and Diversity:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
- Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
- Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Personal/Professional Development:
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
- Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
- Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
Quality:
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
- Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct
- Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
- Deliver care according to the NSF and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines and evidence-based care
- Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation
- To participate in research and audit within the Practice.
- To participate in the education and training of students of all disciplines within the practice.
- Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
- Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
- Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
- Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
- Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
Communication:
The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will:
- Communicate effectively with other team members
- Ensure access of NHS email on regular basis as part of practice communications strategy
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers
- Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
The above list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive. The post holder may from time to time be asked, by the Partners or their representatives, to undertake other tasks commensurate with their grade and post.
No Smoking Policy:
Staff may not smoke whilst in Health Centre or Practice premises. Full support will be given to any member of staff wishing to cease.
Flexibility:
Flexibility is essential at all times. Staff may be required to work at the Shenstone branch surgery from time to time. Hours of employment may incorporate extended access hours.
Uniform:
A uniform will be provided and worn by all staff whilst on duty. A name badge will also be worn at all times. Please refer to uniform policy for more information.
