District Nursing Team Leader

Job responsibilities

The post-holder is responsible for the ongoing assessment of care needs and the development, implementation, and evaluation of care. The post holder will carry out all relevant forms of care and will take responsibility for caseload holders in their absence. Professional/Ethical Practice

Ensuring that the community nurses within the team practice within a legal and ethical framework that adheres to The Code and local Trust Policies and Procedures.

Focusing resources to ensure equity of access for all individuals and groups within the locality.

Being personally accountable for professional and ethical actions and ensuring compliance with The Code.

Maintaining confidentiality, while communicating patient information, in such a way that preserves the dignity and privacy of the patient and family/carers.

Working in a non-judgmental anti-discriminatory way, with regard to cultural and religious beliefs of individuals and groups.

Ensuring that prior to any course of action involving individuals/groups has their informed consent.

Acting as an advocate for individuals and groups.

Bringing to the attention of team members when they are acting outside of the Code, Trust Policies and Procedures and identifying actions to rectify any professional issues. Patient Care Delivery/Communication

Developing, maintaining, and identifying problems with effective locality communication networks with other health professionals, statutory and voluntary agencies and helping to improve its effectiveness. To manage a caseload of patients with a broad range of complex and specialist needs, using evidence based and client centred principles to assess plan implement and evaluate interventions.

Accurately and timely recording of all care given to the patients and report any changes in the patients condition to the general practitioner or other members of the health/social care team and that may be used for investigations/serious incident reporting.

Attending and participate in staff meetings, MDTs and other meetings as required.

Ability to verbally explain complex issues in formal situations such as investigations.

Ability to formally present and discuss to individuals and groups ideas and issues pertinent to Community Nursing.

Identifying and allocating responsibility for the assessment of particular client groups.

Having responsibility for the health assessment of adults within the population as their needs arise.

Using the knowledge and skills necessary to assess individuals and groups, identifying the multiple needs of the patient, family/carer providing holistic care taking into consideration cultural differences.

Working within the Community Division as a member of the integrated community nursing team, participating in activities, which address the health needs of the general population.

Providing and maintaining a high standard of skilled nursing care for patients in their homes, health clinics and Care Homes using an evidence-based model of care, that is consistent with NICE guidelines, within own scope of practice and legislation.

Ensuring that nursing procedures are taught to relatives/carers so that the care of the patients may be continuous over 24 hours, and guidance is given on carrying out all treatments.

Ensuring the changing needs of individuals and groups are identified timely and adjustments to programmes of care are made.

Promoting and maintaining optimum health by identifying, planning, and undertaking specific health promotional activities with identified individuals and target groups.

Following Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust guidelines in all suspected and confirmed emotional, sexual, and physical abuse.

Ensuring that concerns and identified potential risks are referred to the appropriate General Practitioner (GP)/Multidisciplinary team immediately.

Care/Caseload Management

Responsibility for the co-ordination in monitoring the care of patients with long term conditions, disease management and supporting clinical staff ensuring continuity and continuing care

Being responsible for the development of an annual caseload profile to identify the health needs and necessary resources to meet service needs, using the information to inform other professionals and to direct development of services.

Responsible for the setting of team objectives in conjunction with the Operational Lead.

Ensuring that all Human Resources policies are adhered to including the recruitment and employment of staff, the management of sickness absence.

Using own expertise and experience to present recommendations for service development.

Responsible for ensuring that all data relating to the patient activity of the team is input onto the information system accurately and on time as required by Trust policy.

Having delegated responsibility for budget management operating with constraints identified by management, and acts as an authorise signatory for goods and services.

Allocating work to make best use of the knowledge and skills of team members.

Having responsibility for ensuring that annual PACE are carried out within the team and the information collated.

Co-operating with Trust management and others in meeting statutory and local requirements of the Health and Safety Policy.

Identifying strategies aimed at minimising risks to staff, patients, clients, and others that use the health service.

Having the responsibility for accident/incident reporting.

Developing systems and processes that engage with users of the service ensuring services are designed to meet need.

Valuing the contribution that users of the service can make in shaping services.

Leading by example to inspire others with the values and vision for the present and future of Community Nurses nursing patients with long term conditions/acute disease management highlighting to individuals, the team, and the Trust the benefits of new ways of working

Having the ability to constructively challenge current working practices and overcome barriers during times of change.

District Nurse Team Leader Role:

To promote the attainment and maintenance of optimum health of patients who have long term conditions and acute disease management through predictive and proactive case management of an identified caseload of patients.

To formulate care plans that address the expressed health, social and cultural needs of the patient as an individual through working in partnership with the patient, the GP, specialist nurses and other stakeholder providers.

To promote patient centred care by integrating and co-ordinating the activities of the patient, relatives and carers, the individual practitioners, and teams in the provision of an efficacious management strategy for managing an individuals long-term condition.

Values

Essential

• Continuous Improvement
• Accountability
• Respectfulness
• Enthusiasm
• Support
• High professional standards
• Responsive to service users
• Engaging leadership style
• Strong customer service belief
• Transparency and honesty
• Discreet
• Change oriented

Qualifications

Essential

• First level Registered Nurse
• First level qualification in District Nursing / specialist Practitioners qualification in District Nursing
• Nurse Prescriber V150/300
• Evidence of Post registration education in related areas

Desirable

• Practice Teacher willingness to undertake
• Previous management course/qualification

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

• Evidence of leadership & management qualities
• Experience at Band 6 level in community nursing setting
• Demonstrable contribution to practice developments in community care /chronic disease management/long term conditions/palliative, end of life care
• Evidence of collaborative working with multi-professional colleagues
• Evidence of effective communication across all levels of the organisation and with all stakeholders
• Awareness of current initiatives within the local & National health economy and of applicable guidelines, protocols, and frameworks
• Knowledge and experience of budget management
• Up to date knowledge of current Government and Local agendas and how these translate into local practice
• Evidence of providing professional/clinical leadership at postgraduate level
• Good working knowledge of the clinical governance agenda/National & Local priorities

Desirable

• Research & Development experience
• o Experience of managing complaints

Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate highly complex information where there may be barriers to understanding
• Ability to exercise critical thinking skills
• Ability to analyse date and present information to various audiences
• Ability to implement programmes or work streams leading to service changes
• Demonstrates up to date evidence based clinical knowledge in relation to community nursing
• Forward thinking able to identify opportunities for improvement in service development
• Motivated - able to motivate self and others to deliver a quality service
• Operational planning and delivery of care for complex caseloads including chronic disease management/Long term conditions/palliative care
• Computer literate - ability to use software programmes designed to maximise the contribution to the post
• Must have access to a vehicle & be able to commute to meet the demands of the role and remain flexible - to meet the demands of the service

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).