District Nurse / Caseload Holder

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To work as a member of tissue viability team in providing an effective service to all clients referred to the service, responding to the changing needs of patients and the team.

To competently and accurately assess, diagnose and commence appropriate treatment options for patients at risk of pressure ulceration and for those with existing with pressure ulcers, demonstrating sound analytical and decision making skills.

To refer to, liaise and work in collaboration with other professionals within tissue viability team, and with other relevant colleagues in both primary and secondary care settings to ensure that the needs of clients referred to the service are appropriately met.

To provide up to date specialist evidence-based care, knowledge, advice and education for patients at risk of or with pressure ulcers, as well as support all health professionals within agreed CHS policies and guidelines.

To be responsible on a day to day basis for prioritising, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the nursing needs and interventions of clients at risk of pressure ulceration and for those with existing pressure ulcers in a variety of clinic settings; EG Ward, clients home, with the minimum of supervision.

To act as an advocate for individuals, their families/carers and other groups to influence their use of the service. To use information available and to ensure their pressure ulcer care needs are met, promoting concordance and independence where possible.

To support nurses in all aspects of wound care in a variety of settings.

To participate in the delivery of a robust educational programme to all relevant clinical staff thereby supporting safe and effective clinical practice across CHS.

To participate in clinical trials of pressure relieving and other relevant equipment on behalf of CHS making recommendations and reporting on the clinical effectiveness of said equipment pre procurement.

To participate in clinical audit, screening programmes, safety thermometer, point prevalence and research as necessary to support benchmarking and the teams local and national Clinical Governance agenda. This to include the monitoring of the completion PUP , care plans and any pressure ulcer related documentation ensuring remedial action where necessary.

To work as a key contact with extended stakeholders and uphold internal processes. To participate in pressure ulcer Datix reports and responses, safeguarding and vulnerable adult interventions, root cause analysis and any other required pressure ulcer related processes.

To actively encourage and facilitate patient choice by promoting informed decision making.

Candidates must have experience of managing a team of nurses and a caseload of patients whilst acting as a role model and teacher for students and Unregistered Practitioners.

Qualifications / Education / T

Essential

• Registered General Nurse-Adult.
• Specialist Qualification in area of Practice or significant experience in nursing adults in the community.
• Mentorship qualification.
• Willingness to undertake further training relevant to this post.
• Nurse Prescribing or willingness to undertake
• Live registration as a sign off mentor.

Relevant Knowledge/ Awareness

Essential

• Understanding the role and responsibilities of a Caseload Holder in relation to patients and colleagues
• Must have knowledge and understanding of Health and Safety responsibilities
• Understanding of the need for confidentiality in relation to work activities.
• Understanding of Equality and Diversity in relation to work activities.
• Understanding of the principles of promoting independence
• Awareness of own level of knowledge and competency and of when to seek guidance from senior colleagues.
• Awareness of current issues affecting Community care and the NHS.
• Knowledge of the principles of reflective practice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of management and leadership strategies and styles.
• Demonstrate knowledge of management and leadership strategies and styles.

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of 2 years nursing experience at Band 5 in the Community
• Experience as a Mentor for Student Nurses
• Experience of caseload management.
• Experience as a sign off Mentor for Student Nurses.
• Experience of financial and human resources issues.

Skills / Abilities / Aptitudes

Essential

• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care for patients in their own home.
• Demonstrate a high level of clinical competence.
• Understand the change management process.
• Must be able to demonstrate clear verbal communication skills with patients, carers and staff at all levels including feeding back information
• Ability to prioritise own and teams workload and organise time effectively
• Ability to work without direct supervision, e.g. when in patients home and use initiative.
• Ability to keep calm and logical in emergency and stressful situations.
• Ability to actively plan health promotion and self-care activities with patients.
• Ability to work in partnership with patients and their families, respecting their choices and preferences.
• IT skills (e.g. data entry, Word, email, use of internet)
• Ability to deal with challenge and conflict in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to lead an effective team.
• Ability to maintain accurate, concise and contemporaneous records and other relevant written documentation.
• Ability to work effectively and co-operatively within the primary health care team and with others within a diverse population
• Ability to support, teach and motivate others.
• Knowledge and awareness of the principles of audit and evidence based practice.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the complex issues involved when working across organisations
• Ability to acknowledge own strengths and weaknesses
• Knowledge and awareness of managing complaints

Other Factors

Essential

• Car driver, current full UK licence and access to car for work purposes.
• Ability to work flexibly including unsocial hours and weekends.
• Willingness and ability to actively participate in team and service development activities.
• Evidence of commitment to professional development.

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).