Physical Health Clinic Nurse - Clozapine

Job responsibilities

To coordinate the physical care of service users titrated and maintained on Clozapine and Lithium. To manage blood results and actions needed when results are outside normal parameters by following policy and national guidance. To escalate concerns around service users physical health to the MDT and primary care services if needed.

To offer ECGs and Venepuncture to all service users using the clinic or referred into the clinicusing the policy guidance.

To ensure that the service users physical health care plan is developed to meet the assessedneed of the individual and that other staff are delivering care as laid down in the care plan. Toensure that all relevant information with regards to a service users care and treatment isdocumented accurately and legibly into the health record. Supervise and monitor the entriesmade by junior team members, through performance management and audit.

To liaise significant others when completing the assessment and treatment of care to theservice user.

To direct other staff in order to ensure delivery of a high standard of physical care to serviceusers.

To participate in setting physical health standards for care based on sound evidence based andresearch findings.

To participate in the systematic monitoring and evaluation of service users that you haveresponsibility for with guidance from a supervisor.To communicate with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure the communication of any relevant information that has an impact on the service users physical care.

To use verbal and non-verbal communication skills gained through training or experience toimpart sensitive information.

To check understanding of information where there are often barriers to effectivecommunications due to distress, psychiatric symptoms or where English is not the first language.

To use skills gained through training and experience to give and receive information to otherindividuals with regards to a service users care in the reviews and multi-disciplinary meetings.These individuals may be external to the Trust.

To provide and co-ordinate the provision of a range of therapeutic activities for service users andmonitor their effectiveness.

To take responsibility for the safe administration of medication to service users ensuring that theTrust policies and procedures and the Nursing & Midwifery Councils regulations are adhered to.

To ensure that all relevant information with regards to a service users care and treatment isdocumented accurately and legibly into the health record. To supervise and monitor the entriesmade by unqualified staff.

To under the guidance of a supervisor provide reports both in written and verbal formats asrequested e.g. for a service user multi disciplinary team meeting or CPA review.

To contribute to teaching sessions in order to pass on knowledge and skills.

To ensure that all incidents or near misses are documented as per Trust policy and that anyfollow up action is taken.

To actively participate in service user reviews ensuring that service user needs are met and thatthe team has all the relevant information on which to base their clinical decisions.

To develop care plans that enable service users to reach and maintain their optimum level ofhealth and wellbeing to help them to obtain their optimum health.

To react pro-actively in cases of service user physical health crisis and put in place immediateplans to resolve the situation with supervision and guidance as appropriate.

To assist in the assessment and supervision of nursing and other students.

To assess and monitor the physical health of service users, seeking advice and support frommedical staff as appropriate.

To actively participate in team meetings in order to positively influence team working and thedevelopment of research based practice.

To participate in the induction of new staff.

To maintain safe custody of medicines, sharps and other clinical equipment.

To manage own time and workload, prioritising work appropriately.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse.
• Degree Level - or a commitment to work towards
• Mentorship/teaching qualification
• Continuing professional development
• Supervision of junior staff.

Desirable

• Non Medical Prescribing qualification
• Phlebotomy training
• Diabetes Care
• Health promotion experience.
• Previous experience of working with service users on Clozapine.

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

• Significant Experience of working in a clinical area providing physical health care and assessment .
• Demonstrable experience of working with people who experience serious on-going mental health problems
• Knowledge and experience of Clozapine, effects ,side effects and patient management.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Cardio Metabolic risks in clients with Severe and Enduring mental health conditions. LESTER Tool and NHS Plan.
• Knowledge of substance misuse and associated risks.

Values

Essential

• Continuous Improvement
• Accountability
• Respectfulness
• Enthusiasm
• Responsive to service users
• Engaging leadership style
• Strong customer service belief
• Transparency and honesty
• Discreet

Skills

Essential

• Able to communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally.
• Possess excellent listening and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of clinical risk and Health & Safety Management.
• Demonstrate knowledge in the concepts of mentorship, preceptor ship and supervision and ability to provide education and supervision to qualified and unqualified staff.
• Demonstrate a good knowledge of The Code it's the nurses' responsibility to identify gaps in their knowledge base.

Desirable

• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Compassionate and motivated about the needs of mental health clients.
• Knowledge of Substance Misuse Nursing interventions.

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).