Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe and effective nursing care to the whole practice population. As the team leader for the GPN team, the post holder is accountable for nursing service delivery. They will lead and manage all the nursing resource, working closely with the practice manager and GPs to deliver the practice priorities. Clinically, the focus of the role is the delivery of evidence-based practice for patients with long-term conditions and management and preventative nursing interventions to all patients. As autonomous practitioners the nurse is responsible for the care delivered, demonstrating critical thinking and skills in clinical decision-making. They will work collaboratively with the whole general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures, and providing leadership and direction for the nursing team.
Clinical Practice
Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with a known long-term condition that promote health and well being
Proactively identify, diagnose and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition
Work with other health care professionals to diagnose, monitor, manage and treat long-term conditions, including using non-drug-based treatment methods, in line with national and local policies and practice needs
Review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs.
Work with patients in order to support adherence to prescribed treatments
Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care
Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote them to live healthily, and apply principles of self-care
Support and manage health needs of women presenting for family planning and cervical cytology consultations
Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children
Advise, support and, where appropriate, administer vaccinations for patients travelling abroad
Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating
Estimate and maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders
Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues
Participate in practice team meetings, delivering the nursing agenda
Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (e.g. PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate delivering a quality service
Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC
Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
Prioritise, organise and manage own and others workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality
Deliver care as an individual and team according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care
Assess effectiveness of care delivery for the nursing team through peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation
Lead on the maintenance of quality governance systems for the nursing team
Lead the quality agenda in responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate
Lead and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation
Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery
Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedure and local guidance
Work within policies regarding family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour, and refer as appropriate
Carrying out home visits
Leadership, personal and people development
Take responsibility for own development, learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model
Support the development of others in order to maximise staff potential
Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice
Act as a clinical leader in the delivery of GPN services to patients, ensuring that the needs of the patient are the priority
Lead in the planning and implementation of changes within the area of care and responsibility
Lead and participate in the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards
Lead the nursing team in the planning and engagement of practice-based commissioning or similar initiatives
Promote the role of the nursing team in the provision of care.
Teamworking
Understand own role and scope in the practice and identify how this may develop over time
Work as an effective and responsible team leader, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working
Delegate appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence of nurses
Ensure clear referral mechanisms are in place to meet patient need
Prioritise own and others workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team
Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery
Lead nursing team activities that create opportunities to improve patient care
Participate in and support local projects as agreed with the practice management team
Management of Risk
Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients
Ensure the safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs. Oversee the monitoring of stock.
Act as a role model to support members of the nursing team to undertake mandatory and statutory training requirements
Apply infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines
Apply policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all
Participate in the local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice
Managing Information
Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information
Review and process data using accurate Read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes
Manage information searches using the internet.
Understand responsibility of self and others to the practice and primary care trust regarding the Freedom and Information Act
Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information to the team
Communicate essential financial restraints with the team and discuss with them ideas for effective and efficient working within these constraints
Learning and Development
Undertake mentorship for more junior staff, assessing competence against set standards
Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (e.g. courses and conferences)
Assess own learning needs and undertake in learning where appropriate
Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning
Equality and Diversity
- Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
- Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture
- Support people who need assistance exercising their rights
- Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies
- Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity good practice
- Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuses care.
- Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care
