Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities Visiting Service
In addition to the full scope of Practice Nurse duties, the post holder will:
- Undertake home-based and care-home-based QOF reviews for patients with long-term conditions including:
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- COPD
- Hypertension
- Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
- Dementia
- Mental health conditions
- Complete learning disability annual health checks in patients place of residence.
- Undertake mental health annual reviews in line with national and local guidance.
- Provide home-based vaccinations, including seasonal influenza and other vaccinations in line with PGDs.
- Develop, update and review personalised care plans following clinical assessments.
- Identify deterioration or unmet needs and escalate appropriately to GPs or community services.
- Promote self-management, lifestyle modification and health education for patients and carers.
Practice Nurse Clinical Responsibilities
- The post holder will maintain full competence in Practice Nurse duties, including:
- Assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care.
- Recording and monitoring:
- Height, weight, BMI
- Blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature
- Pulse oximetry
- Urinalysis
- ECG recording
- Phlebotomy and specimen handling
- Wound care and dressings
- General injections and immunisations (including flu and pneumococcal)
- Health promotion and lifestyle advice
- Telephone advice and triage
- Accurate and timely electronic documentation using clinical systems with appropriate coding, recalls and GMS/QOF data entry.
Extended Clinical Responsibilities
- Diabetic interim and annual reviews in line with practice protocols.
- Asthma and COPD annual reviews in line with practice guidelines.
- Mental health annual review checks.
- Depo-Provera administration.
- Doppler assessments (under supervision of the Lead Nurse).
- Strict adherence to infection prevention and control policies.
Medicines Management
- Administer medicines and vaccinations safely in accordance with PGDs, PSDs and cold-chain requirements.
- Identify issues relating to concordance, side effects and polypharmacy and escalate as required.
- Work collaboratively with GPs, pharmacists and the wider MDT to optimise medicines management.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
- Recognise, respond to and escalate safeguarding concerns relating to adults at risk and children.
- Work in accordance with safeguarding legislation, local safeguarding policies and practice procedures.
- Maintain mandatory safeguarding training appropriate to the role.
Lone Working and Personal Safety
- Adhere to lone-working policies and personal safety procedures at all times.
- Undertake dynamic risk assessments before and during home visits.
- Use agreed check-in/check-out systems and report incidents, near misses or safety concerns promptly.
Multidisciplinary & Integrated Working
- Work collaboratively with GPs, community nursing teams, social care, care-home staff and other agencies.
- Participate in MDT discussions and contribute to holistic patient care planning.
- Support anticipatory care, frailty management and admission avoidance initiatives.
Quality, Governance and Audit
- Contribute to clinical audit, quality improvement and service development initiatives.
- Participate in clinical governance meetings, significant event analysis and learning reviews.
- Maintain high standards of care, identifying risks and contributing to continuous improvement.
Communication and Working Relationships
- Communicate effectively and compassionately with patients, relatives and carers, including when conveying unwelcome news.
- Maintain effective professional relationships with colleagues across the PCN and wider health and social care system.
- Provide education and support to patients and colleagues within agreed competencies.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
- Maintain strict confidentiality of patient, staff and business information.
- Handle personal and sensitive data in accordance with data protection legislation, practice policies and professional standards.
Health & Safety
- Promote and maintain health, safety and security for self and others.
- Use infection control measures appropriately.
- Identify, report and manage risks in the working environment.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Act in accordance with equality legislation and practice policies.
- Treat all patients, carers and colleagues with dignity, respect and fairness.
- Deliver non-judgemental, inclusive care tailored to individual needs.
Personal and Professional Development
- Maintain professional registration and undertake continuous professional development.
- Participate in annual appraisal and performance review.
- Take responsibility for maintaining and evidencing competence and development.