District Nurse

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and clinically direct the professional team to ensure the implementation and monitoring of standards of care and efficient management of finite resources, supporting and coordinating the teams workload. The post holder will have a responsibility to empower team members to develop within the organisation by demonstrating the principles of leadership through collaboration, assertiveness and risk taking
• Act as an autonomous practitioner, assessing patients physical, social, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs to develop a holistic health care plan, working in collaboration with other health and social care professionals, and voluntary agencies to provide a high quality service. If legally authorised, prescribe medications from the agreed formularies, based on efficacy, safety and cost
• Using information from laboratory results agree treatment options in discussion with the patients, GP and secondary care Consultant as appropriate
• Initiate and contribute to strategies designed to promote and improve health and prevent disease working proactively and collaborating with other agencies
• Maintain record keeping competencies, and patient confidentiality, in accordance with Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust policies and the Nursing and Midwifery Code of Conduct. The post holder must be able to structure and write clear records in an accurate contemporaneous manner
• Demonstrate awareness of wider issues affecting patients, e.g. adult protection, anxiety management, alcohol and drug dependencies, together with strategies and support mechanisms to address these
• Identify issues pertinent to the patient groups served and advocate on their behalf to promote health and well being
• Discuss with the patient negotiating with health and social care colleagues, the most appropriate settings in which care can be provided, accessing services as appropriate and giving consideration to other alternatives in the patients journey
• Ensure equipment is obtained, used and maintained in accordance with Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust requirements
• Achieve excellent and effective communication & relationships with all care providers/service users. This requires the post holder to be diplomatic and able to interact with service users/carers in such a way as to gain co-operation and avoid conflict. He/she should act as a positive ambassador for the practice and Trust. The post holder must be able to demonstrate a range of interpersonal skills relating to all staff and services users/carers in a confident manner. The post holder must also be able to maintain good relationships with colleagues and work effectively as part of a team
• Able to communicate verbally by presenting information in a coherent manner in both formal and informal arenas
• Demonstrate diplomacy and be able to deal with staff and patients in such a way as to avoid conflict
• Act as a source of advice of local, regional and national issues relating to the health needs of the population within the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust area demonstrating effective leadership skills which expand and develop good practice
• Be aware of the limitations of own competencies and undertake further education and development to enhance these
• Ensure participation of self and team in clinical supervision ensuring that practice is maintained at a high level and is evaluated utilising a variety of mechanisms
• Support and promote a clinical environment which fosters a culture of lifelong learning. Provide learning opportunities for a range of students, other nurses and colleagues in relation to the patient groups served
• Undertake performance development reviews in line with the KSF to facilitate effective learning experiences and achieve clinical outcomes
• Facilitate effective learning experiences for students through preceptorship, mentorship, clinical supervision and the provision of an educational environment
• Facilitate the investigation of complaints, accidents and incidents and assist in the compilation of reports taking recommended action as supported by line manager
• Lead and initiate change within the team within the context of the current political climate, working closely with the modernisation lead
• Facilitate change in practice that will improve clinical outcomes and meet the needs of patients and care givers that are consistent with national standards and current research
• Demonstrate awareness and application of clinical governance with particular attention to clinically effective practice, clinical audit, and risk management. Comply with the Trusts clinical and non-clinical policies and guidelines
• Responsible for recognising ethical and legal issues which have implications for nursing practice and take the appropriate action.
• Ensure adherence to the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust key performance indicators/targets especially in relation to reducing hospital admission and length of stay. Reporting these as required
• Responsible for self and team to be competent in the use of information reporting systems as appropriate
• General administrative skills - effectively carry out administrative tasks associated with the administrative systems

Knowledge and Awareness

Essential

• Awareness of own limitations.
• Teaching and educating skills and facilitating the learning of others
• Knowledge of relevant government policy

Desirable

• Knowledge of long term conditions

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Has a caring, compassionate and sympathetic nature
• Ability to work closely with work colleagues and within a team
• Demonstrates self motivation, common sense and organisational skills
• Reliable and punctual
• Understands the need to work in a multicultural environment and non-discriminatory way

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse
• Diploma/ Degree in District Nursing/Specialist Community Practitioner
• Extended and supplementary prescribing qualification or a willingness to undertake
• Evidence of recent and relevant continuous professional development
• Willingness to undertake further professional development
• Teaching and assessing qualification
• NMC Registration

Desirable

• Management qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant post registration nursing experience
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working
• Demonstrate recent experience of managing change in both processes and patient behaviour
• Ability to establish good working relationships

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Extended clinical skills
• Ability to assess, plan, implement programs of care for patients with complex conditions
• Excellent communication skills
• Demonstrate confidence and ability in written and verbal reporting
• Interpret guidelines and policies and implement into practice
• Understanding and experience of inter-agency working and services available within primary and secondary care
• Evidence of ability to act on own initiative and work autonomously
• Leadership skills
• Organisational skills

Desirable

• Presentation skills

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).