Clozapine Community Physical Health Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

To coordinate the physical care of service users titrated and maintained on clozapine. 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 clinic using the policy guidance.

To ensure that the service users physical health care plan is developed to meet the assessed need of the individual and that other staff are delivering care as laid down in the care plan. To ensure that all relevant information with regards to a service users care and treatment is documented accurately and legibly into the health record. To liaise significant others when completing the assessment and treatment of care to the service user.

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

To participate in setting physical health standards for care based on sound evidence based and research findings and up to date guidance for clozapine titration and re-titration.

To participate in the systematic monitoring and evaluation of service users that you have responsibility 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 to impart sensitive information.

To check understanding of information where there are often barriers to effective communications due to distress, mental state or where English is not the first language.

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

To take responsibility for the safe administration of medication to service users ensuring that the Trust 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 is documented accurately and legibly into the health record. To supervise and monitor the entries made by unqualified staff.

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

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 any follow up action is taken.

To actively participate in service user reviews ensuring that service user needs are met and that the 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 of health and well-being to help them to obtain their optimum health.

To react pro-actively in cases of service user physical health crisis and put in place immediate plans 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 from medical staff as appropriate.

To actively participate in team meetings in order to positively influence team working and the development 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse.
• Degree Level - or a commitment to work towards
• Mentorship/teaching qualification

Desirable

• Phlebotomy training
• Physical health monitoring
• Previous experience of working with service users on Clozapine.

Skills

Essential

• Able to communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally.
• Demonstrate a good knowledge of The Code it's the nurses' responsibility to identify gaps in their knowledge base.
• Car driver or access to a transport method that fits with clinical requirements of the service which involves visiting patients across diverse locations within a designated timeframe

Desirable

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

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.
• Experience of working with people in the community.

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rathbone Hospital

Mill Lane

Liverpool

L13 4AW

Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)