Matron Acute Liaison Learning Disability Services

Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. PROVIDE EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION

1.1 Provide guidance, support and coaching to frontline staff to promote and enable effective change and strengthen their knowledge and skills in caring for people with a learning disability.

1.2 Act as a role model to the learning disability acute liaison nurse team, promoting and demonstrating the standards of care and behaviours expected.

1.3 Responsible for Human Resource issues including performance management, recruitment, complex sickness management, case and complaints investigations and staff utilisation. These situations require the post holder to have exceptional communication, analysis, judgement and synthesis skills.

1.6 Be a visible, accessible and assertive figure to which staff and users can turn to for assistance, expert advice and support.

1.7. Liaise regularly with other Matrons, Nurse Specialists and Education and Practice Development Team in the Directorate and across UHL in order to develop and review policies and procedures, and training across the organisation.

1.8 Participate in policy development, implementation and compliance both at a local and corporate level, collaborating multi-professionally to ensure service development.

1.9 Create a culture based on staff involvement where staff feels valued, supported, developed and able to take responsibility.

1.10 Present, provide, receive, interpret and communicate highly complex information to and from staff and patients.

1.11 Analyse and compare facts and situations that could be highly complex and be able to convey that analysis at all levels within the organisation and beyond. This includes contributing to complaint responses, LeDeR reviews, (Learning from the lives and deaths of people with LD) incident investigations and associated areas.

1.12 Develop and maintain a database of records collated from across the Trust to monitor and analyse learning disability referrals and activity.

1.13 Develop and nurture effective working relationships with the Maternity, Children and Adult Safeguarding teams, to support integrated working, and seamless service provision for patients with learning disabilities.

2. DELIVERY OF EFFECTIVE HEALTH CARE WITHIN THE ORGANISATION

2.1 Take lead responsibility to implement service standards to effectively meet the complex needs of people with learning disabilities and associated strategies. Take actions as necessary to facilitate that standards are reached.

2.2 Contribute to the continual improvement in learning disability care utilising national and local agendas, and also peer review. Ensure timely completion of reports and action plans.

2.3 Lead in raising the awareness in staff that working practices and systemic activities prevent or reduce the risk of harm to patients, with particular reference to use of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA2005) and learning from deaths (LeDeR)

2.4 In co-operation with Head of Safeguarding, participate in the work of the local LDA Collaborative, to support multi agency working and development of effective systems to safeguard individuals with a learning disability.

2.5 Contribute to the completion of Standard Judgement reviews (SJRs) for patients with learning disabilities in line with national requirements and provide relevant information to the national LeDeR review programme

3. CLINICAL GOVERNANCE, REDUCTION OF RISK, AUDIT AND RESEARCH

3.1 Take lead responsibility for developing and leading on auditing standards of care in relation to people with a learning disability.

3.2 Provide managerial and clinical, advice and where necessary practical support with implementation of the Trusts safeguarding and associated policies with particular focus on advocacy and compliance with legal principles.

3.3 Provide managerial, clinical expertise and advice on clinical risk issues associated with people with a learning disability.

3.4 Demonstrate a high level of commitment to and enthusiasm for research, audit and education in the clinical area.

3.5 Regularly undertake reviews of care provision for learning disability patients to enhance continual service improvement and develop reports for presentation and dissemination of data to wards/departments/boards as necessary.

3.6 Promote and maintain an evidence based practice culture for nursing staff.

3.7 Promote culture to ensure patient care is always of the very highest standard.

3.8 Ensure the principles of clinical governance are fully incorporated into the operation of the learning disability team..

3.9 Ensure health and safety is maintained using risk management initiatives, dealing with critical incidents and promoting and providing a safe environment for staff and users.

4. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND EXPERIENCE

4.1 Forge successful relationships with other health care professionals and non-clinical support staff to improve overall patient experience, with particular focus on advocacy and patient rights.

4.2 Be pro-active in seeking out the views of users in order to appreciate and acknowledge satisfaction or areas for improvement.

4.3 In co-operation with the Head of Safeguarding develop a monitoring and action-planning system to ensure that the views of patients and principles of advocacy are fully embedded across the organisation in relation to Best Interests decisions in line with MCA2005

4.4 In collaboration with the Head of Safeguarding design, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies to support patients with learning disabilities.

4.5 Promote the link between users of the service and PALS, providing additional support by using the principals of Ask, Listen, Do a national initiative to provide an easy read accessible complaints service for people with learning disabilities and their carer.

4.6 Deal with concerns or complaints promptly with tact, diplomacy and attention to detail, both verbally and in writing.

4.7 Be visible and accessible to the users of the service whenever possible.

5. MANAGEMENT AND USE OF RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

5.1 Manage delegated budgets effectively, in collaboration with the Head of Safeguarding, and maximise the utilisation of nursing resources.

5.2 Assist Matrons and Heads of Nursing to complete investigations and action plans associated with learning disability practice.

5.3 Contribute to plans for clinical case management that could be complex in nature and require a high level of organisational skills and the interpretation of a broad range of factors or situations.

5.4 Take lead responsibility for monitoring compliance with the NHS England Learning Disabilities Improvement Standards and CQC standards. Conduct comprehensive audits, analysing complex data and ensuring compliance with established standards, preparing reports as indicated highlighting key findings, recommendations and strategic insights.

5.5 Using benchmarking data advise the Head of Safeguarding on the development of investment plans to secure the resources required to continually improve the fundamentals of care across areas of responsibility.

5.6 Co-ordinate and liaise with various different departments and teams, to support the case management of learning disability patients, particularly with regard to complex discharges from hospital and young people in transition from childrens to adult services.

5.7 Liaise with the Head of Safeguarding when services fall below standard and requests for improvement are unsuccessful.

5.8 Co-ordinate the contribution of the learning disability team, to service and budget development plans.

5.9 Participate and support the Head of Safeguarding in the planning and development of services.

5.10 Actively contribute to effective cost improvement initiatives across the Trust. Comply with Trust standing financial instructions and ensure that all accountable staff complies with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions.

6. CONTINUING EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

6.1 Undertake and support the delivery of learning disability training across the Trust, including support for the provision of the new mandatory training in Learning Disability & Autism (Oliver McGowan Training OMMT)

6.2 Take responsibility for ensuring self and all staff comply with mandatory training and NMC professional re-registration requirements. Act as a role model, an expert within the field and act as an ambassador for the nursing profession and UHL at all times

6.3 Teach and assist others to develop professionally, reaching their full potential. Encourage professional accountability in others.

6.4 Actively promote and participate in clinical supervision / mentorship or equivalent support mechanisms.

6.5 Participate in the mentoring and teaching of pre-registration students as required.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal relationships

Chief Nurse

Head of Safeguarding

CMG Heads of Nursing / Deputy Heads of Nursing

Adult, Child and Maternity Safeguarding Teams

Safeguarding Specialist Nurses

Doctors

Matrons & Ward Sisters

Clinical staff across all sites and in all departments

Specialist Nurses across all sites and in all departments

Allied Health Professionals

Education and Practice Development Leads

Equality Service

Patient Experience team

Quality and Safety teams

External relationships

LLR ICB

LDA Collaborative

Adult Social Care

Learning Disability Care Providers

Advocacy Services

Other NHS Trusts

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Learning Disabilities)
• Relevant Teaching Qualification
• Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience
• Evidence of a well-developed portfolio of professional development.

Experience

Essential

• Post registration experience in caring for people with a learning disability at a senior level (Band 7 or above).
• Extensive clinical experience working with vulnerable adults
• Working knowledge of Safeguarding and its application within an acute care Trust
• Experience of leading change in a complex environment.
• Evidence of working in a multi agency arena, within the field of learning disabilities
• Experience of dealing with difficult/sensitive situations
• Experience of working under pressure and to deadlines.
• Experience of managing cases relating to people with learning disabilities.
• Experience of development of policies, procedures and standards.
• Experience of developing and delivering training programmes and presenting formal presentations to staff.
• Experience of assessing mental capacity and facilitating best interests' decision making
• Experience of working in an accessible and meaningful way with service users

Desirable

• Experience of working with partner agencies in relation to learning disabilities
• Experience of contributing to quality assurance frameworks
• Formal leadership development.
• Participation in research.

Skills

Essential

• IT skills - Word, excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Able to problem solve, plan and prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
• Able to chair complex and sensitive meetings .
• Excellent organisational, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to recognise and manage conflict.
• Teaching/assessment skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Evidence of audit and change management ability.
• Ability to motivate self and others and work autonomously without direct supervision.
• Ability to assess, investigate and write detailed coherent reports relating to safeguarding Children cases.
• Able to write strategies, policies and action plans
• Ability to analyse complex data and assess risk.

Desirable

• Experience of policy development.
• Experience of writing reports and undertaking safeguarding investigations

Knowledge

Essential

• Highly developed knowledge of current legislation and policy drivers associated with the care of people with a learning disability
• Knowledge of NHSe Standards for Learning Disabilities & CQC standards relevant to the care of people with learning disabilities
• Evidence of on-going personal and professional development.
• A clear understanding of the multiagency approach to learning disability care & support and the Trust's responsibility within that framework
• Knowledge of the Serious Case Review process

Desirable

• A clear understanding of risk management and quality standards
• An understanding of Root Cause Analysis processes.

Other Requirements

Essential

• Able to travel across sites and to external meetings.
• Able to work flexibly when required

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).