Memory / Dementia Nurse

Job responsibilities

Main Duties

1. Clinical

To meet the multiple and often complex needs of families affected by dementia through ongoing assessment of health and wellbeing, including risk assessment, developing, implementing and evaluating intervention plans.

To advise on, recommend and provide a range of effective evidence-based interventions at all stages of the familys experience of dementia, paying particular attention to loss, transitions and changing relationships.

To assist clients i.e. families affected by dementia and or colleagues, to develop skills and competencies in understanding and coping with challenges and difficulties they may face, in both individual and group situations. For example, managing complex conditions, adapting responses when supporting the person with dementia, changes in relationships, distressed behaviour.

To provide a range of psychological and social interventions to promote health and assist with the alleviation, prevention and management of stress, depression, anxiety and other mental health needs of carers

To maintain clinical records using local information systems and provide verbal and written feedback appropriately and as required, to carers, persons with dementia (as appropriate), referring agencies and professional colleagues.

To liaise with GPs, case managers, primary health care practitioners, statutory and voluntary agencies regarding the best possible care for the family affected by dementia.

To promote the health and wellbeing of families affected by dementia in line with health and social care policy, guidelines and legislation.

To act as advocate for family carers (with permission) to facilitate access to services and influence care provision

To identify development options for addressing inequality and to contribute to strategies designed to improve access to services for people with dementia and carers who are socially excluded.

To ensure that care is delivered in accordance with nation and local standards such as those recommended in NICE guidelines, national dementia and carer strategies/ plans and all relevant Raven PCN policies.

To recognise the limits of own competency and professional boundaries and to make appropriate and timely referral in respect of clients needs

To facilitate and participate in case conference meetings, network meetings and similar, giving feedback and liaising with all concerned.

To provide consultancy and guidance to those working in dementia care and to work collaboratively with health/social services and the voluntary and independent sector (as appropriate) to support best practice in dementia care

To promote the rights, interests, needs and choices of carers and people with dementia in the planning, delivery and evaluation of care and services.

To facilitate consultation with carers about care and service delivery; to evaluate and provide feedback.

2. Professional

To deliver nursing practice in accordance with the agreed policies and procedures of RAVEN PCN, the NMC Code of conduct and other relevant nursing policy.

To development/training days as agreed with RAVEN PCN.

To maintain professional registration in line with NMC guidance including re validation.

To participate in practice-based evaluation, audit and research and to disseminate findings.

To contribute to the development of practice, policies, procedures and protocols relevant to the position and the health and well - being of families affected by dementia.

To work positively with colleagues to maintain clinically effective relationships.

To participate in local clinical supervision / mentoring, providing clinical supervision to others, where appropriate.

3. Education

To participate in and/or lead, where appropriate, formal training events

To integrate into practice current knowledge of dementia and caring, informed by research and other forms of evidence.

To act as a clinical role model to others and take an active role in student nurse placements, including mentoring as appropriate.

To develop their own competence to practice through use of Personal Development Planning and continuing professional development

To comply with RAVEN PCN arrangements for continuing professional development, including being aware of own development needs and how they can be met

To maintain up to date knowledge base of resources, service provision, policy context, new approaches, interventions and treatments in dementia care and contribute to local policy and procedure development and review.

To contribute to a learning environment within RAVEN PCN.

4. General

To contribute to the development of policies, procedures and protocols relevant to post and the health and wellbeing of the client group.

To promote equality of access and opportunity in all aspects of the work.

To undertake appropriate risk and other assessments in a timely manner in accordance with RAVEN PCN / GP practice policy.

To take all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment which is free from discrimination,

To comply with policy on confidentiality, and the Data Protection Act 1998 as amended, relating to information held manually or on computerised systems.

To respect the confidentiality and privacy of clients (families affected by dementia) and staff at all times.

To maintain a constant awareness of health, welfare and safety issues affecting colleagues, patients, visitors and themselves, reporting any accidents or fault in line with trust policies.

To participate in personal training, development, appraisal, and attend all relevant training courses as required. This includes RAVEN PCN mandatory training.

Health & Safety at Work Act

The post holder must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety Act 1974 to ensure that agreed procedures are carried out and that a safe working environment is maintained for patients, visitors and employees.

Professional Conduct

The post holder must comply with their appropriate professional body and code of conduct e.g. NMC Code: Professional Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses and Midwives.

Responsibility for data quality

All staff that record information have a responsibility to ensure that the data is relevant, accurate, complete and captured in a timely manner so that it is fit for purpose. Staff must follow the agreed RAVEN PCN / GP Practice policies and procedures. A data subject e.g. an employee/patient, has a right to expect this under the Data Protection Acts fourth principle - Personal data shall be accurate and where necessary kept up to date

Safeguarding

All PCN staff have a responsibility to themselves, patients, service users and other staff in ensuring the effective Safeguarding of Children and Adults and must follow the agreed local policies and procedures in both these domains

Please note that this job description serves to provide an illustrative example of the duties and responsibilities the post holder may be expected to undertake during the course of their normal duties. It is not therefore an exhaustive list; the post holder will therefore be required to undertake other responsibilities and duties that are considered to be commensurate with the band.

Qualifications

Essential

• - Registered Nurse
• (RMN/RGN/RNLD)
• - Post registration qualification/ training in dementia and/or care of older people with mental health needs
• OR Post registration clinical
• - Experience of working with people with dementia /older adults with mental health needs (as below)

Desirable

• -Additional nursing qualification
• -Relevant teaching qualification
• -Mentorship Qualification
• -Additional level qualification in Dementia / Older Persons Mental Health
• -Qualification in group / individual counselling skills

Experience

Essential

• - Post registration clinical
• - Experience of working with people with dementia /older adults with mental health needs
• - Experience of working with family carers/ supporters/ of people with dementia in different settings.
• - Experience of working with groups and individuals in a variety of roles and settings
• - Experience of working as an autonomous practitioner
• - Experience of working with service users to develop practice

Desirable

• - Experience of professional supervision of staff
• - Experience of evaluation or audit.
• - Experience of casework coordination

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• - Knowledge about dementia and how this affects individuals day to-day life, relationships, family and support networks
• - Advanced assessment and counselling skills
• - Knowledge and experience of delivering a wide range of Therapeutic interventions in dementia care
• - Knowledge of carers needs and carers experience
• - Understanding of the process of promoting best practice and contributing to multi- disciplinary team working
• - Ability to evaluate clinical practice
• - Understanding of ethical and legal issues relating to dementia care
• - IT literacy
• - Facilitation skills
• - Knowledge of relevant national policy and practice initiatives
• - Knowledge of research methods and methodologies
• - Presentation and teaching skills
• - Proven ability to learn through practice
• - Evidence of recent continuing practice development

Desirable

• - Understanding of competency frameworks and systematic practice development within healthcare cultures
• - Research skills and application to practice

Other Requirements

Essential

• - A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 and a reasonable adjustment can be made)
• Flexible approach to meet the needs of the service

Aptitudes and Attributes

Essential

• - Excellent communication skills
• - Ability to provide support to team members
• - Positive mental attitude and a willingness to discuss and negotiate issues and ideas
• - Ability to operate effectively with a constantly developing relationship with key stakeholders and associated agencies
• - Able to work on own initiative
• - Ability to work in groups/one to one
• - Ability to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy.
• - Ability to treat clients with respect and dignity, adopting a culturally sensitive approach which considers the needs of the whole person
• Good understanding of role, and of wider operational / organisational networks
• - Creativity and openness in own practice

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).