Job responsibilities
Clinical Practice ManagementTo act as a Clinical Leader with continuing clinical responsibility within the designated clinical areas, ensuring that services provide high quality evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, interventions and evaluations for patients. This will include:
Confidential, sensitive and comprehensive, person-centred mental health nursing assessment that includes a Risk Assessment and ICPA/SAP to people who present with mental health problems.
Contributing to the professional development and the clinical supervision of team members on a formal and regular basis to maintain and develop quality standards of practice in accordance with appropriate professional guidelines, Trust Policies and level of responsibility of the post.
Enable service users by providing accurate and appropriate information, offering choices and involving them as fully as possible in the care process.
To demonstrate a working knowledge of the key elements of relevant Mental Health Legislation.
Ensure the ordering, storage, administration and disposal of medication complies with relevant Trust and legislative guidance e.g. NMC Standards for Medicines Management 2010, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and MHA (1983).
Demonstrating knowledge, experience and competence specific to the area of practice.
Enabling staff to use evidence-based strategies and person-centred/psychosocial interventions in the care and treatment of people with mental health problems.
Leading by example, motivating and empowering others and promoting positive attitudes, mutual understanding and collaboration between services involved in the care process.
To provide a source of information on how to best meet the mental health needs of service users and their carers.
Pursue legitimate patient concerns, resolving problems on their behalf in an efficient and effective manner.
To ensure that all staff are familiar with all clinical and other policies and procedures operational within the Trust, and evidence this.
Teaching, Education & Health PromotionTo use the Practitioners specialist skills, knowledge and resources to provide learning opportunities for staff within designated areas. This will include:
Regular provision of advice and training to staff.
Contribution to the provision of an appropriate learning environment for pre- and post- registered students, novice practitioners, new team members. This may include formal teaching sessions.
Evidence of promotion of positive attitudes towards mental health.
To promote a culture of learning within the designated clinical areas.
Continuing Professional DevelopmentTo maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure that practice reflects best practice, remains evidence based, is current and responsive to meet changing patient and NHS service needs, as outlined in the NHS Plan (2000).
Abide by the legal rules, statutory regulations and professional responsibilities relating to practice as outlined in the NMC's 'The Code': Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives.
Take responsibility for post-registration education and for continuing professional development as outlined in NMC Standards.
To receive clinical supervision in accordance on a contracted and regular basis from an identified Senior Practitioner, as per trust Clinical Supervision Policy.
To be aware of the need for appropriate management support and supervision from the line manager, and to maintain records of these meetings.
To maintain Health and Safety in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).
To work to the Clinical and Personnel Policies and Procedures of AWP Trust.
Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant medicines, related medication management issues acting in accordance with the appropriate NMC standards and Trust policy, and ensure that staff also work within these guidelines.
Finance and WorkforceTo manage the all budgets within the post holders span of control and make best use of available workforce resources based on agreed staffing models.
To agree and manage all pay and non pay budgets for area of responsibility.
To ensure that PEAT and environmental risk assessments are completed on a regular basis so that best use is made of non pay/capital resources.
To work with the Estates and Facilities team to monitor all appropriate contracts including those directly managed, outsourced, PFI and SLAs. Ensure specified standards are met.
To manage all staffing resources in line with AWP best practice guidance
To regularly review skill mix and staffing resource and skill mix, ensuring that service provision is both safe and therapeutic.
To develop staff rosters in line with AWP guidance utilizing electronic rostering systems (Rosterpro)
To ensure structured appraisal systems are in place for all staff.
Record Keeping and Administration
To maintain standards of record keeping and associated administration in accordance with AWP Trust Policy and local joint arrangements and professional guidelines. This will include:
The upkeep of contemporaneous, chronological and accurate mental health records in accordance wit relevant NMC Guidelines and Trust Policy, and Trust guidance. Ensure that staff are working within the NMC and Trust guidance and provide evidence of adherence.
To establish comparison groups and clinical benchmarking activity concerning documentation as outlined in The Essence of Care, and to work under the direction of Essence of Care lead.
To contribute to the achievement of Controls Assurance Standards relating to Records Management within their span of control.
Abide by all Trust and Service Policies and Procedures relating to health and safety at work and to ensure that all staff are aware and compliant. To maintain safety of clients and staff within the Unit and ensure legal obligations are fulfilled.
Evidence-Based Nursing, Practice Development& Clinical Audit
To contribute to practice development activity and evidence-based mental health nursing. This will include:
To lead relevant practice development/research activity.
To put in place a rolling programme of audit.
To lead clinical benchmarking activity as outlined in The Essence of Care.
To keep up to date with national audits and research regarding people with mental health needs specific to the posts requirements.
To work within the framework of AWP and Department of Health Research Governance.
Service Overview and Planning
To contribute to the development and planning of services specific to the posts designated areas. This will include:
To participate in and contribute to the planning and development of clinical services, including the review of team establishments, grade mix and skill mix, and to be actively involved in the recruitment, selection and interviewing process for all staff.
To contribute to clinical policy development and clinical governance functions, working collaboratively with Clinical Leads, Lead Nurses, Service Users, Carers and local Managers.
Work with the line Manager to develop effective and innovative ways of delivering integrated mental health services which reflect the principles of best value, advising them about ways of using budgets and resources that safeguard users and promote professional standards. Monitor budgets and contribute to the delivery of cost effective nursing services.
To initiate and support the development of quality improvements in the nursing service, consulting with service users, their carers and service staff.
To provide line management functions to identified staff that will include ward managers for the designated areas, including the development of appraisal and performance management systems.
To respond to the objectives outlined within the Trusts Nursing Strategy.
Contribute to the development of Patient Forums and associated PPI requirements.
Professional Nursing AdviceTo provide professional nursing advice within the post-holders area of responsibility. This will include:
To be actively involved in giving professional advice relating to nursing issues.
Involvement in nursing disciplinary and grievance procedures and investigations.
To give accurate advice around nurse grading and associated appeals.
Standards for better health (S4BH)
Assess and monitor service provision against S4BH standards (e.g. healthcare, associated infection control, health and safety, catering and food hygiene, fire safety and emergency planning) and contribute to the development of services that meet these standards.
To chair PEAT groups within span of control and ensure this meets regulations with appropriate membership, and that it works to an action plan.
To monitor and enhance standards of cleanliness The national specifications for cleanliness in the NHS: a framework for setting and measuring performance outcomes, April 2007) the quality of hospital food, ward environments and the prevention and control of hospital acquired infection as outlined in HSC 2001/010.
.png){kind=logo}
