JOB DESCRIPTION
DATE :
REF NO:
JOB DETAILS:
JOB TITLE: / Nurse Specialist in Occupational Health
BAND: / 6
HOURS: / x WTE
DEPARTMENT: / Occupational Health and Well Being Service
LOCATION:
REPORTS TO: / Lead Nurse Specialist in OH
ACCOUNTABLE TO: / Lead Nurse Specialist in OH
RESPONSIBLE FOR: /

Assisting the Lead Nurse in managing the service and team on an ad hoc basis.

Ensuring that services delivered by the OHWB Service meet recognized standards and that the services received are contributing positively to those standards.

  • Carrying own case load without supervision.

Ensuring that service provision achieves compliance with the corporate and clinical governance standards required of the Trust.

  • To support and maintain productive and collaborative working in the Trust regarding Improving Lives, Choosing Health and other such initiatives.
  • Maintaining an understanding of current Professional and National developments applicable to Occupational Health and Well Being.
  • To contribute to the achievement of the Trust’s objectives.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
INTERNAL: / All Trust Staff and Departments
EXTERNAL: / Other local and National OH Departments, Agencies, Consultant Specialists.
JOB PURPOSE:
The Nurse Specialist in Occupational Health must provide a proactive, evidence based health and well being service to all members of staff, covering all areas of the working environment, working to national guidelines and benchmarks in order to maintain staff well being both physical and psychological as well as supporting the Trust in meeting its responsibilities to the staff who are employed by the Trust and others such a students, volunteers etc.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE:
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Post Holder will be required to be:-
  • A clinical expert in occupational health and wellbeing nursing.
  • Accountable for service delivery, liaising with other departments and agencies as appropriate.
  • Enable staff to stay healthy and at work and when unwell to return to work effectively and efficiently.
  • Working within Trust policies and procedures and assist in working towards SEQOHS accreditation.
  • Assist in the effective management of complaints within the service.
  • Assist in the induction, training and education of students and other staff in this setting as appropriate.
This position requires the post holder to work autonomously without constant supervision in managing own case load.
Main duties and responsibilities:
  • Provide specialist knowledge and advice on professional occupational health matters to all members of the Trust so that policies, procedures and practice in the OHWB Service are relevant and comply with national and local policies and guidance.
  • Support the Lead Nurse and rest of OHWB Service team in maintaining and driving up high standards of clinical advice and care in a framework of continuous improvement and innovation, for professional practice and client service.
  • Take responsibility for all aspects of the clinical environment including Health & Safety, control of infection and standards of cleanliness within area of responsibility as appropriate.
  • Foster and develop good working relations with Health and Safety staff, Infection Control Team and other relevant groups in xxx Healthcare NHS Trust, and to deputise in representing the OHWB Service at appropriate meetings as required.
  • Support the OHWB Team in formulating Trust, as well as departmental policies on occupational/staff health and well being issues.
  • Work with the team to ensure that clinical governance requirements are met. This will include investigation of untoward occurrences, accidents and complaints and taking appropriate action.
  • Contribute in multidisciplinary audit programmes within the OHWB Service.
PROFESSIONAL
  • Must have valid and up-to-date registration with the NMC and comply with NMC guidelines in relation to professional issues, continuing professional development and Clinical Supervision.
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of Trust policies and procedures and adopt these accordingly. Maintain a flexible approach and carry out and develop the role according to professional or service needs.
CLINICAL
  • Undertake pre-placements health assessments for Occupational Health clients, advising managers of a candidate’s fitness for a specific job where required.
  • Support immunisation programmes for all clients which is undertaken in line with the local Occupational Health patient group directives and includes venepuncture.
  • Manage and advise on needlestick / contamination injuries in line with National and Trust policies and procedures.
  • Provide advice to managers, employees and their representatives on issues relating to occupational health and well being.
  • Assess the need for, and undertake periodic health surveillance for the Trust while maintaining a high standard of professional expertise and raise any areas of concern where appropriate.
  • Assist in health promotion activities, advising individuals on issues such as smoking cessation and lifestyle screening/advice.
  • Provide initial confidential support and advice for employees following incidents such as inoculation injuries, substance abuse, bereavement, stress, infection control, violence to staff etc and refer onto appropriate support services.
  • Ordering adequate supplies of vaccines and other sundries are maintained for use within the OHWB Service.
  • Undertake individual health assessments and provide written reports to managers on fitness to work.
  • Undertake health interviews, assessments and counselling situations enabling clients to divulge information of a highly sensitive and personal nature. At times clients may be distressed, occasionally verbally abusive, due to nature of circumstances.
CLINICAL GOVERNANCE
  • Record keeping in line with Legislation to safeguard confidential health records.
  • Contribute to high standards of care and improvements and participate in multi-disciplinary audit within the OHWB Service as appropriate.
  • Comply with Trust policy, clinical guidelines and management instruction with regard to health and safety and fire prevention, and, in particular, not to do anything that endangers yourself and others.
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
  • Develop own skills and knowledge and participate in the education and training of others as appropriate.
  • Must comply with mandatory training and continuing professional development requirements.
  • Assist in developing appropriate training activities to promote health and wellbeing and Health Promotion/Health Education activities related to latest NHS Staff Health and Well Being strategies.
  • You will be required to observe the provisions of, and adhere to, all of the Trust’s policies and procedures.
The above indicates the main duties of the post, which may be revised and amended in the light of experience and development within the organisation. Any review will be undertaken in conjunction with the post holder.
JOB STATEMENT:
Infection Control
Maintain an up to date awareness of the infection control precautions relevant to your area of work and implement these in practice. As a minimum, this must include hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, the use and disposal of sharps and communicating the importance to patients, prison staff and other health care staff you are working with. Details of the precautions and sources of advice and support to assess and manage infection control risks are provided through mandatory training which all staff must attend at intervals defined in the Trust policy on mandatory training and can be found in the Trust’s infection control policies and national guidance, such as that published by NICE.
Learning and Development
As an employee of the Trust, you have a responsibility to participate, promote and support others in undertaking learning and development activities. This includes a proactive approach to ensuring you meet the statutory/mandatory training requirements of your role, and engaging in KSF appraisal processes in line with Trust policy and guidance.
Health and Safety
As an employee of the trust you have a responsibility to abide by the safety practices and codes authorised by the trust. You have an equal responsibility with management, for maintaining safe working practices for the health and safety of yourself and others.
Trainee Status
As an employee of the Trust you have a responsibility to abide by the principles outlined within this job description, you are afforded Trainee status in recognition of the need to work towards attainment of the competences assigned to the role.
Constitution, Competence and Capability
As an employee of the Trust you have a responsibility to promote and abide by the rights and responsibilities outlined in the NHS Constitution. You are additionally expected to adhere to Organisational/National/Regulatory Codes of Practice relevant to the role you are employed to undertake. At all times it is expected that you will limit the scope of your practice to your acquired level of competence and capability.
Dignity at Work Statement
We are committed to treating all of our staff with dignity and respect. You are responsible for behaving in a way that is consistent with the aims of our Equality and Diversity Policy. This includes not discriminating unfairly in any area of your work and not harassing or otherwise intimidating other members of staff.
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
All Trust employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards (and promotes) the health and well being of children and vulnerable adults. Familiarisation with and adherence to Trust Safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training.