Senior District Nurse

Job responsibilities

Principal duties to include. Communication Effective communication with Primary Care, social services, acute and community hospital staff, borough council and local voluntary sector Utilises a range of effective communication skills, tools and techniques that meet the needs of the patients and carers and is able to effectively overcome any barriers to communication and understanding. Takes appropriate action on potential complex and conflicting perspectives of choice of care options between staff, patients, carers and other disciplines or agencies. Actively participates in relevant professional and organisational networks and contributes to meetings and working groups. Ensures daily team hand-over is effective within across a defined locality so that changes in patient condition are discussed and junior staff or students are supported. Communicates effectively with other professionals across agencies and disciplines where information sharing agreements are in place and as agreed by the patient. Chairs and facilitates team meetings to ensure effective cascade of information. Ensures contemporary and accurate record keeping within the locality whilst adhering to confidentiality and information governance. Utilises technology to support communication channels whilst adhering to confidentiality and information governance.

Patient Care. Responsible for gathering, interpreting and acting upon complex information. Able to triage appropriately within referral centres and during handover and MDTs to ensure that nursing care is delivered in line with identified clinical need. Acts as a patient advocate and works to achieve the best outcomes for patients at all times. Undertakes and documents holistic nursing assessments of patients, including those with multiple pathology and complex health and social needs with a plan of care agreed with the patient. Recognises own limitations in the provision of clinical care and refers on to others accordingly. Provides skilled and effective nursing care in a compassionate, caring and professional manner. Required to undertake physical examination of the circulatory systems, undertaking Doppler assessments, venepuncture, catheterisation, rectal examination etc., and to use concentration when undertaking calculations e.g. for administration of medication or supervising administration of medication

Personal and people development. Oversees induction programmes and orientation for new staff and students aligned to the local District Nursing standards and service principles. Maintains an overall view of competencies for nursing staff across defined DN teams and takes an active role in peer review, observing and signing off competencies for nurses. Responsible for ensuring clinical supervision, peer reviews and appraisals have been accessed across a defined locality. Provides clinical training and education and participates in the development of work based learning across the District Nursing service. Maintains effective learning environment in line with University guidelines and NMC requirements. Acts as a role model demonstrating a level of knowledge, competence and the highest professional and personal standard in which the District Nurse is required to emulate. Specialist resource for palliative care across the locality

Service Development. Manages change and implements strategy and new developments across defined DN teams especially regarding palliative care. To be responsible and accountable for all aspects of performance within the community nursing teams in regard to delivery to service users. Works collaboratively with community nurse colleagues to ensure equity of service provision, promotion of good practice and the sharing of resources. Supports the development and implementation of technology and new ways of working within teams Contributes to the future development of District Nursing by participating in working groups, committees and planning groups as required. Actively participates, advocates and help design. local improvement initiatives that drive forward leadership and change strategies within the service e.g. Service Improvement Facilitator Projects, Community Nursing Innovation Programme, local leadership initiatives. Line manage specifically identified projects within a locality.

Quality. To work alongside Clinical Leads, Team Leaders and District Nurses to monitor the quality of nursing service delivered. Participates in setting standards of care and implementing other quality initiatives. Participates in the local implementation of organisational, professional and national policy and guidelines. Responsible for monitoring and promoting effective and efficient use of resources such as equipment from the community equipment store, dressings and nurse prescribed medication. Monitors the safety of equipment /environment etc and ensure that all areas of clinical risk are identified and reported in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.

Human resources. Supports staff on any work related issues and feedback to Clinical Leads. First line management and clinical leader to District Nurse teams within a defined neighbourhood. Effectively manages sickness and absence and HR issues within a defined locality. Participates in disciplinary matters and investigations as required.

Research / Clinical Audit. Responsible for auditing own practice and for undertaking audits in line with annual clinical audit plan, and national requirements including environmental audits (infection control), NICE etc. Promotes personal, professional and clinical expertise through regular evaluation and updating practice, research and audit findings. Disseminates research findings and the application / relevance to clinical practice Ensures findings and recommendations from clinical audits are shared and supports strategies for implementing required actions are in place and monitored.

Freedom to Act. Acts as an independent decision maker, accountable for own clinical decision making, and is able to justify all actions and non action.s Accountable for delivering skilled nursing care in accordance with national and local priorities and the NMC Code of Professional Practice Organises and manages own daily workload with minimal supervision. Works to corporate objectives and the needs of the service. Responsible for identifying risk, making rapid autonomous decisions and taking appropriate actions to reduce risk, escalating where required Responsible for organising and managing allocation of duties and resources for defined DN teams. Participates in budget review meetings for defined DN teams alongside the Clinical Lead

Skills

Essential

• Ability to work across a seven day week
• Ability to delegate nursing care and to prioritise visits in accordance with patient care needs
• Ability to travel within the locality and occasionally across Surrey

Experience

Essential

• Broad range of clinical skills relevant to District Nursing
• Ability to undertake full assessments of patients, including those with multiple pathology and complex health and social needs
• Experience of staff management and appraisal
• Evidence of professional development
• Demonstrable evidence of service improvement and implementing local change
• Clinical audit and why this is important
• Computer literate and able to use Word, emails etc.
• Good understanding of current nursing workforce issues
• Clear understanding of community services, NHS policy and future
• implications
• Understanding of organisational strategies and policies
• Good knowledge of health and safety and risk management

Communication

Essential

• Excellent Communication and interpersonal skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Good presentation skills
• Facilitating teams, including daily handover and clinical supervision groups

Other

Essential

• Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day
• Committed and passionate about Community Nursing and the innovation to move to Neighbourhood based care delivery

Qualifications

Essential

• 1st level nurse registration
• District Nursing qualification - diploma or degree
• Nurse prescriber (V100)
• Clinical Assessor

Desirable

• Educated to Master level
• Physical Assessment Module

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).