Job responsibilities
Duties:
11.1. To maintain accurate records, which are confidential, contemporaneous, and legible, and all care given to be documented. These records may be paper or IT based system and must be maintained as specified in the organisation Policies, NMC guidelines and Government directives. The post holder will be expected to oversee the standard of patients records by audit or peer review and have a regular open discussion with team members.
11.2. To report and record incidents and near misses relating to health, safety, security, fire, physical violence, aggression and verbal abuse.
11.3. To have a working knowledge and be responsible for ensuring nursing and patients equipment is in safe working order, disposed of or returned as per Policy and inform Line Manager if any problems occur.
11.4. To provide holistic evidence-based/best practice care to patients in accordance with National and organisation approved policies/procedures and individual care plans.
11.5. To undertake specific clinical tasks as delegated by the District Nurse or Caseload Holder or members of the Nursing Team having once undertaken relevant training and deemed competent.
11.6. To provide appropriate support and advice to family and carers, demonstrating tact and sensitivity in dealing with complex and sensitive information and negotiating a positive outcome.
11.7. To recognise and respond to any changes in patient care situations, which might include risks to self and others including adult and child protection concerns. The post holder must inform the most appropriate professional at the earliest opportunity.
11.8. To ensure privacy, dignity and human rights are respected for patients and Carers.
11.9. To participate in long term condition management and monitoring programmes, such as NSFs which include diagnostic tests following the relevant training.
11.10. The post holder is required to comply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager (if no action or explanation received, then it is the individuals responsibility to escalate to Director of Operations/ Chief executive office)
11.12. To contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of standards.
11.13. Be conversant with the Safeguarding adult and child protection procedures and policies of LWSW.
11.14. To be responsible for organising own time management on a daily basis in line with caseload demands balancing patient needs with the administrative aspect of the role.
11.15. To work within challenging and unpredictable environments e.g. patients homes which may have constraints and require adaptability.
11.16. To provide basic education and continuing support to patients, family and carers.
11.17. To identify areas of concern regarding practice and communicate to the Caseload Holder.
12. Management & Leadership:
12.1. To undertake designated duties as required by the Registered Nurse or Assistant Practitioner.
12.2. Only undertake work which is within own competence and to identify any work required to be undertaken by more senior staff.
12.3. To be responsible for using own initiative and be flexible when organising own workload on a day to day basis, which is often unpredictable in order to respond to the needs of the service.
12.4. Preserve confidentiality and be aware of the Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment.
12.5. Complete on time and submit all necessary forms, documentation, including IT data and forward as required by the manager/organisation.
12.6. To maintain confidentiality at all times, and be aware of the Data Protection Act, Access to Health records and Consent for treatment.
12.7. To complete and submit any necessary documentation as required by the District Nurse/Caseload Holder and Community Matron.
12.8. To undertake clerical duties which may include ordering of stores and stationery, storage of patient records, photocopying, shredding of paper, maintenance and monitoring of equipment.
12.9. Monitoring and ordering of stock levels and to utilise resources economically and effectively and promote cost consciousness throughout the service.
12.10. To share knowledge and information to promote a cohesive team.
12.11. To act as a role model for all staff and students demonstrating clinical skills and high standards of practice and professional conduct.
12.12. To participate in team activities so as to develop and consolidate a cohesive and supportive team ensuring openness within the team.
12.13. The post holder will be required to use a computer, being responsible for timely recording patient activities for IT data collection, dealing with e-mail queries, stock and equipment ordering.
13. Communication:
13.1. To demonstrate effective communication with patients, staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. When communicating with patients it should be at the appropriate level for patients to understand such as patients suffering from terminal illness, dementia, disability, visually impairment and/or hearing impairment.
13.2. To take written and oral referrals from members of the Primary Health Care Teams and other agencies.
13.3. Able to communicate the role and eligibility criteria of the District Nursing Service.
13.4. Maintain accurate and up to date patient records and inform other professionals about changes in patients condition.
13.5. Act as a patient advocate as required ensuring individual needs, preferences and choices are delivered by the Service.
13.6. The Post Holder to be supplied with mobile telephones and lone working devices for work purposes and be expected to abide by LWSW policy.
14. Education & Training:
14.1. Maintain own clinical expertise by attending meetings, study days and in-service training and learn new specialist skills required for service development. To maintain an up to date personal competency portfolio.
14.2. To attend and participate in meetings as negotiated within the team and to provide relevant timely feedback.
14.3. To participate in Reflective Practice, Clinical Supervision and Appraisals as per Trust policies.
14.4. Participate in the provision of community experience for all nurse learners and other professionals as appropriate.
14.5. To undertake opportunistic health promotion whenever possible and also contribute to planned health promotion activities.
14.6. To be encouraged to organise informed training sessions on behalf of the team using a variety of resources.
14.7. Driving in all weather in heavy traffic to unknown areas on a daily basis, in the dark and adverse weather conditions.
15. Emotional Effort:
15.1. At every patient contact Community Nurses deal with emotional issues of patients and relatives.
15.2. At each visit staff may need to care for Patients with degenerative terminal conditions and their carers who may be children or adults within their home.
15.3. Need to deal with highly distressing and difficult family situations frequently such as grief, crisis care management with unpredictable care conditions.
16. Mental Effort:
16.1. Continuously interrupted, multi-tasking e.g. writing notes, answering mobile telephone call. Staff to carry a mobile telephone and are expected to be available to other staff and professionals and can be interrupted at any time.
16.2 Driving in all weather in heavy traffic to unknown areas on a daily basis, in the
dark and adverse weather conditions.
17. Physical Effort:
17.1. Use of hoists and other lifting equipment often in a confined space in the patients home on difficult floor surfaces e.g. carpet.
17.2. At each visit staff risk assess the need to move light furniture in patients home to allow nursing procedures to be carried out often within a confined space.
17.3. Regularly carry and transport District Nurse equipment e.g. Nursing bag, documentation, phlebotomy equipment, sphygmomamometers and blood sugar machines.
17.4. Driving for periods of time between patients homes and requiring lifting nursing bags and equipment from the car boot on each visit.
17.5. The job involves several times in a day exposure and contact to highly unpleasant working condition such as secondary smoking, bodily fluids, including sputum, vomit, blood, urine and faeces, soiled linen, fleas, lice, scabies poor hygiene standards and communicable diseases.
17.6. Occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression and dangerous pets.
17.7. Daily working in cramped conditions within patients own homes.
17.8. Frequently exposure to heat and cold in patients homes.
17.9. Mobile phones may not work in areas where there is poor network reception.
