Job responsibilities
Clinical
Leading in the assessment, admission and management of service user care needs.
Ensuring that service users fundamentals of care needs are met - including nutrition, hydration, hygiene, and comfort
To be aware of, and ensure that, the care team support the holistic needs of all service users, such as psychological, social, physical, recreational and spiritual needs.
Co-ordinating and evaluating collaborative patient centred care, getting feedback and improving plans with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
Bed management and coordination of patient flow in: monitoring waiting lists, liaising with health and social care teams, collating background information, complete nursing assessments, provide recommendations to referring teams and coordinating admissions.
Bed management and coordination of patient flow (discharge): support with discharge processes, identifying barriers to discharge at point of admission, maintaining regular communication with health and social care teams and actively involve MDT and external professionals in discharge planning.
Complete monthly reports on patients progress and treatment update that are to be shared with local Integrated Care Boards as part of the ongoing commissioning of inpatient treatment.
Carrying out nursing procedures that give safe and effective care, observations of physical and mental state, and ensuring escalation of concerns as appropriate if deterioration is observed.
Administering and monitoring the side-effects of medication and monitoring service user compliance.
Undertaking and interpreting physical health care assessments, on-going physical health monitoring and reviews of service users. Recording any changes in the service users physical health and acting appropriately. Promoting healthy lifestyles and giving health promotion advice and support.
Providing accurate information about care in an accessible format to patients and their relatives and carers.
Liaising and working positively with members of the multi- disciplinary team and partner organisations.
Working safely to ensure safe custody of medicines, sharps, and clinical equipment, and reporting of all incidents following trust policy.
Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance of maintaining respect and dignity at all times and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.
Encouraging and empowering service users to have an optimum level of responsibility for their individual programme of care and with their consent, where appropriate, seek the cooperation of friends, relatives and carers, following recovery principles and approaches.
Maintaining accurate patient written and electronic records, in line with Trust Policy, procedure and protocols. Use and complete care plans, pathway documents and progress notes appropriately and in a timely manner.
Contributing towards the on-going quality of service and care, to identify any risk issues in relation to the service users health and social care and responding appropriately if there are any changes, significant factors relevant or incidents related to the service user.
Understanding and ensuring adherence to the Trust risk assessment policy, including being aware of the need to follow all safeguarding procedures, reporting concerns, making referrals and documenting clearly. Being aware of the necessity to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults at all times when working with service users.
Helping maintain a clean, safe environment and assist service users in maintaining their own rooms (as necessary and appropriate). Ensure that Trust policy is followed in respect of care and custody of service users valuables and personal property.
Demonstrating an awareness and understanding of relevant and up-to-date Mental Health Law and other legislation (e.g. MCA); always ensuring adherence to legislation.
Engaging in practice reflection through the utilisation of clinical supervision and reflective practice groups, and to contribute to the delivery of clinical supervision to junior staff where appropriate.
Leadership and Management
Acting as a point of contact for all enquiries, working in partnership with the team manager and the wider MDT to coordinate the activities of the unit.
Deputising for the team manager in their absence and be accountable for the nursing care and management of the unit, including maintaining communication with the modern matron and senior nursing staff.
Assisting the team manager in ensuring the unit is safely staffed, prioritising and deploying resources within budgetary parameters and escalating concerns to senior nursing staff where appropriate in accordance with HR policies and procedures.
Have oversight of staffing numbers to ensure they are in line with safe staffing requirements by reviewing and managing Health Rosters, addressing and/or escalating any issues.
Managing and supporting the team through difficult and challenging situations.
Supporting the team manager to investigate incidents and complaints: compile reports and disseminate this information to senior management.
Practice in a way that encourages openness towards incident reporting and support individuals and the team when incidents do occur.
Recognising nursing practice that needs improvement and to work in partnership with the team manager to ensure appropriate action is taken to address it.
Promoting a high standard of written communication and record keeping in accordance with local and national policies.
Communication
Maintaining confidentiality of information, in accordance with Trust Policy.
Contributing to effective communication process with service users, carers, family, friends and staff colleagues.
Communicating appropriate and accurate information to and from other departments / service lines as required.
Leading and participating in team meetings and contributing ideas to multi-professional team discussions. Support shared responsibility within the team, demonstrating respect and courtesy towards colleagues.
Ensuring that all complaints or compliments received are dealt with in accordance with Trust policy.
Work across the team and organisation in a way that demonstrates Kindness, Respect and Togetherness.
Role model high standards of communication and hold to account and support others when concerns in communication arise.
Education and Training
Working within the remit of the trusts knowledge skills framework and national policy, professional and legal frameworks.
Undertake Competency Assessments for Band 2-5 nursing staff as part of all nursing staffs annual and bi-annual training.
Identify and address learning needs through providing shadowing opportunities, informal teaching, bitesize teaching sessions or signposting to Trust provided training.
Linking with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to ensure delivery of care is in line with current teaching standards for both pre-registration and post registration nursing.
Demonstrating awareness and engagement with the SLMH&CP programme to develop the band 2-5 clinical workforce. This will include support of junior staff to undertake and complete apprenticeships as part of their career progression and development.
Facilitating the induction of new staff and students.
Supporting the team manager to ensure all newly qualified band 5 registered nurses have undertaken their preceptorship.
Supporting the team manager to ensure all registered nurses are engaged with the revalidation process.
Overseeing the formal and informal supervision and appraisal of clinical work in group settings and individually.
Supporting the team manager to ensure mandatory and statutory training are up to date for all staff.
Maintaining your status as a Practice Assessor and participate in training of student nurses.
Attending and participating in regular personal development, ensuring compliance with all mandatory training requirements. Maintaining a work development portfolio and complying with all requirements of NMC revalidation.
Demonstrating own role to others and acting as role model to others at all times in accordance with Trust values.
Attending appropriate training courses and keeping up to date with developments within the practice area, including evidence-based practice.
Delivering Personal and Development Reviews / Appraisal process for Healthcare Support Workers, Nursing Associates and Registered Nurses (Band 5) where appropriate and act as a supervisor for designated staff.
Research and Quality
Measuring and developing standards of care through collection of benchmarking data where appropriate and undertake audits to ensure care meets the requirements of the CQC and Service Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Actively contribute to clinical or governance reviews of the teams activity and the monitoring of performance in line with trust directives and audit programs.
Contributing to the strategic targets of the trust directorate and wider workforce development.
Participating and encouraging research within the clinical environment and ensure knowledge of it is widely disseminated throughout the team, trust and wider stakeholders.
Contributing to service development through awareness and engagement with trust policy and wider national standards of care.
Contributing to service improvement (Quality Improvement and Innovation) and developments, benchmarking exercises.
Contributing to research and audit activities, disseminating knowledge and results and contributing to relevant audit practice development and research activity that may be taking place in the work area.
