Lead Nurse- Learning Disabilities and Autism [NMC] (XR08)

Job responsibilities

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical

To fulfil the requirements as directed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) to maintain and revalidate registration

Act as an expert practitioner demonstrating advanced skills, knowledge & decision making beyond those associated with nurses and other non-medical clinicians in the clinical areas.

Maintain & further develop own expert clinical practice skills & abilities & through effective role modelling ensure that the practice of colleagues is continually developed & enhanced.

Using expert knowledge, practice & critical judgement skills continually seek to identify areas of care where current practices could be changed or modified to improve patient outcomes.

Develop & facilitate others in promoting an evidence-based learning culture & practice.

Utilise expert communication skills to support staff working with patients & families with learning disabilities and autism.

Work with Adult Health and Social Care providers across the city to develop and implement strategies to improve patient outcomes and the patients experience of LTHT.

Develop and implement a Trust-wide strategy for the Learning disabilities and autism.

Actively seek and identify opportunities for new ways of working to improve efficiency.

Act in accordance with the NMC/HCPCs Professional Code of Conduct.

Ensure clinical and non-clinical incidents are reported in accordance with Trust policy and agree actions in response to these.

Undertake Root Cause Analysis to investigate incidents, and complaints recommendations and share learning relating to learning disabilities and autism.

Be responsible for setting and monitoring standards of care in respect to learning disabilities and autism.

Prepare regular reports for the organisation on the development of learning disability and autism health outcomes.

Proactively promotes and uses the Leeds Improvement Method to improve the quality and safety of our services.

Work closely with Research and Innovation to promote research, disseminate outcomes and findings to support evidence-based practice.

Lead on audit and research on the care and management of patients with a learning disability and autism.

Act in such a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults at all times. Is familiar with and adheres to, the LTHT safeguarding policies.

Undertake duties within the head of nursing portfolio as and when required by service demands or patient need.

Leadership

Provide a positive role model to staff.

Lead and promote change in nursing and clinical practice in order to improve the recognition and management of the patients with a learning disability and autism.

Provide a positive role model to clinical staff.

Work in partnership with ward/department teams to bring about organisational change.

Line manage the Quality improvement clinician and Senior Clinical Educator within the team, including recruitment, performance management, workforce planning and delegated budgetary responsibilities

Undertake appraisals of senior staff.

Provide leadership to the clinical team and working with the HoN develop new roles/ways of working.

Delegate and empower staff without abdicating overall, continuing responsibility.

Raise concerns with regards to risk, danger, malpractice or wrong doing by following the LTHT Whistleblowing policy and supporting processes.

Represent LTHT at local, regional or international events and meetings to support improvements in the body of knowledge in providing support and care to our current and future patients.

Education

Provide expert specialist advice to patients, carers and staff in the healthcare setting.

Act as a mentor and teacher, providing mentorship and support and demonstrate exemplary practice to all members of the healthcare team.

Advise on training and education necessary for staff at individual and team level in the specialty and contribute to the training and education needs of the organisation as required.

In collaboration with academic institutes, contributes to the development in the curricula relating to the specialty.

Promote evidence-based practice within wards and departments.

Ensure self and staff undertake mandatory and priority training within the required time scales.

Ensure continued personal development of knowledge and expert skills.

Promote and contribute to a positive learning environment.

5. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred

Collaborative

Fair

Accountable

Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values.

6. WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT)

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.

By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.

WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition.

7. INFECTION CONTROL

The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment.

8. HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system

9. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

10. TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

11. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Corporate Nursing Team

Heads of Nursing

Senior Nurses

Head of Training & Development

Matrons

Safeguarding, Learning Disability and Autism Governance Groups

Safeguarding Leads

Clinical Educators

Senior Sisters/Charge Nurses

Human Resources

UMedical staff

CSU triumvirate teams

Head of patient experience

External HealthCare and Education partners

12. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:

The job holder will have to:

Lift and move training equipment as required.

To spend long periods of time operating a computer, using keyboards on both hand held and static computers. Required input data using a variety of technologic methodologies.

To move & handle -patients and equipment on an infrequent basis,

o Patients 10-120kg (with lifting aids)

o Equipment medical equipment, specialised mattresses (weight 1-20kg)

Frequently stand, sit, walk, kneel and crouch to attend to patient needs.

Be able to have dexterity and manipulation when undertaking procedures such as administration of medications and intravenous drugs, complex dressings.

ii) MENTAL EFFORT:

The job holder will:

Have continuous mental effort/concentration in relation to responding to and meeting patients nursing care needs (e.g. for 8-12 hour shift).

Respond to changing circumstances (e.g. changes in patient condition, prioritisation of workload).

Deal with complex and changing care needs of patients within an acute hospital environment (includes communication with relatives/carers).

Be able to concentrate and produce reports under a variety of situations including very short notice.

Be able to read and analyse DoH, RCN, NMC policy and guidance pertinent to Nursing and Midwifery and LTHT. Be able to incorporate and disseminate information.

Facilitate training sessions - requires careful planning and is time consuming. May be required to deal with difficult subject matter and people.

iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT:

The job holder will:

Observe working practices in a wide range of clinical environments. This will include end of life care.

Make verbal and written recommendations about changes required in clinical environments. This includes informing the ward team about poor performance or clinical issues.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Health Professional Recognised Teaching qualification
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Demonstrable evidence of working at Masters Level.
• Willing to undergo training in relation to post
• Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

• Masters level degree

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in the specialist area in order to act as expert practitioner.
• Experience of managing staff & Line Management.
• Project Management
• Recruitment and Retention of staff.
• Service Development
• In-depth specialist knowledge of Respiratory Care
• Current issues in Healthcare
• Recognition and management of the dying patient
• Evidence of management and leadership development and managing change
• Knowledge of clinical audit methods
• An understanding of the organisational structure and working practices of the organisation.
• Understanding of the local and national nursing agenda.
• Awareness of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies.
• Awareness of the Trusts Quality Goals
• Knowledge of the national care standards.

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Assertive
• Enthusiastic
• Flexible
• Compassionate
• Organisational skills
• Ability to communicate to large groups complex messages
• Time management skills
• Prioritising skills
• Conflict management
• Uses initiative to resolve issues within their own control
• Ability to make effective connections with all levels within the organisation
• Ability to manage data from a variety of sources and formulate into user friendly information
• Ability to respond positively to change, modernisation and new ways of working

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Leadership skills
• Influencing & Negotiation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to organise and prioritise own and others workload
• IT Skills
• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for post
• Requirement to travel between Trust sites as well as local, regional and national events

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).