Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The Post Holder will work as part of the memory service and provide high quality clinical assessments for people experiencing memory problems, including provision of a formal diagnosis of dementia where appropriate.

The post holder will practice as an independent non-medical prescriber in accordance with; the Trusts non-medical prescribing policy and The Code for nurses and midwives (NMC).

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with ongoing service developments.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

The postholder will:

1.1 Care/service/function provision:

• Develop therapeutic relationships in which people using services are empowered and enabled to make informed choices about their health and healthcare.

• Demonstrate clinical leadership through participation in; the management of referrals, provision of clinical supervision to community memory service nurses and, facilitating case review discussions when required.

• Provide a diagnosis of dementia where appropriate following completion of a comprehensive clinical assessment and within the bounds of the agreed protocol and/or pathway within the service.

• Ensure the diagnostic assessment undertaken in cases of suspected dementia includes; comprehensive history taking, review of radiological reports, cognitive blood screening test results and ECG, as appropriate for the individual being assessed.

• Communicate the diagnosis sensitively to the person with dementia and relevant others. Inform the referring clinician of the diagnosis, including subtype, through provision of effective clinical reports.

• Promote health through provision of health education information and advice

• Prescribe medication as an independent nurse prescriber within their own sphere of competence and the bounds of their approved prescribing status in accordance with the Trust non-medical prescribing policy.

• Work as an independent non-medical prescriber within areas as required and designated, taking responsibility for the clinical assessment of the patient, establishing a diagnosis and a plan for that patients care and treatment.

• Provide comprehensive mental health and social care assessments and provide care, treatment and educational interventions within the bounds of the agreed protocol and/or pathway within the service.

• Review the efficacy of anti-dementia medication that has been prescribed for service users in line with the service pathway & protocol.

• Promote the health needs of clients with complex issues and within their sphere of competence provide interventions for these needs.

• Promote patient choice and understanding when delivering a diagnosis or prescribing medicines, including provision of high quality information both written and verbal to support this.

• Be responsible for ensuring the security and safe handling of FP10 prescription forms and to report any loss or theft as per Trust guidelines

• Negotiate with and motivate clients when working with care plans and treatment processes particularly to socially excluded and vulnerable people

• Provide comprehensive mental health and social care assessments and provide care, treatment and educational interventions within the bounds of the agreed protocol and/or pathway within the service.

• Review the efficacy of anti-dementia medication that has been prescribed for service users in line with the service pathway & protocol.

• Act as care co-ordinator for service users as required.

• Attend multidisciplinary meetings and care programme meetings as required.

• Ensure that carers needs are assessed and appropriate intervention or onward referral is provided depending on need.

1.2 Working as part of a team:

• Recognise the limits of their own expertise and (in line with the local protocol/ pathway for assessment of suspected dementia), request additional assessments from more senior multi-professional colleagues when required in the context of complex case presentations or circumstances of diagnostic uncertainty.

• Access regular caseload and clinical supervision (as identified within the local service protocol/pathway), to summarise, present and discuss diagnostic assessments that have been completed with a senior medical practitioner within the service and/ or nurse consultant (where appropriate).

• Utilise an appropriate range of multi-agency and inter-professional resources in their work and pro-actively develop new partnerships.

• Work collaboratively in partnership with service users and health & social care professionals to provide specific interventions which are evidence based (including consensus best practice), which are most appropriate with regard to context and culture.

• Provide advice and support to other clinicians acting as a source of expertise

• Work in close collaboration with medical personnel regarding prescribing protocols, policies etc.

• Ensure that the patients GP is notified of any changes to that patients prescription, including commencement of any new medication in accordance with Trust policy.

• In the event of adverse drug reaction, to be accountable for ensuring that the GP/Consultant is advised accordingly.

• Appropriately liaise with other services, external health and social care services and provide an expert opinion as required in relation to interventions with this complex client group

• Able to develop good working relationships with key stakeholders medical practitioners, administration staff, senior managers and other services personal, pharmacy staff, external health providers, GP services and other partner agencies whom postholder might come into contact with.

• Participate in relevant research projects as required.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

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Physical Attributes

Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
• Ability and willingness to occasionally work out of hours as and when required.
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
• Willingness to undergo training as required by the post.

Qualifications

Essential

• RN Mental Health.
• Independent Nurse Prescriber.
• Post graduate certificate in dementia for practitioners with a special interest (or equivalent).

Desirable

• RN Adult.

Experience

Essential

• Provision of Clinical Supervision.
• Functioning as an Independent Non-Medical Prescriber within Older peoples Mental health / Memory services (demonstrable).
• Assessment of dementia including use of relevant psychometric assessments (substantial demonstrable at Band 6).
• Care Planning & provision of therapeutic interventions for people experiencing dementia & their carers.
• Provision of therapeutic group work for people experiencing dementia & their carers.
• Provision of professional education on dementia to non-specialist teams.
• Experience of evaluating the efficacy of anti-dementia medication.
• Therapeutic interventions for mental health problems in older people (anxiety, depression & psychosis).

Desirable

• Experience of providing CST or CRT for people experiencing dementia & their carers.
• Experience of MSNAP accreditation process and standards.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Flexible attitude to work.
• Ability to work in a team and independently.
• Ability to prioritise, organise and plan own workload.
• Ability to work efficiently within an environment where the workload fluctuates.
• Effective problem solving skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and ability to adapt style as appropriate.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Self motivated with drive and enthusiasm.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Cultural sensitivity.
• Professional attitude.
• Effective networker.
• Willingness to seek help, advice and support as required.

Training

Essential

• Clinical Risk Assessment.
• MCA/DOLS.
• Must be willing/able to undertake all appropriate Trust mandatory training requirements, and subsequent refresher training relevant to the area.

Special Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Dementia Assessment & Diagnosis.
• Psychopharmacology & dementia.

Desirable

• Post-diagnostic counselling.

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).