1.  JOB IDENTIFICATION

Job Title: Staff Nurse Band 5
Reports to : Clinical Area Manager
Department, Ward or Section: New Craigs
Last Update : Jan 2005 Uploaded April 2014
CHP, Directorate or Corporate Department: New Craigs
Job Reference: SEMENTNEWCTORV03
No of Job Holders: 10

2. JOB PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Clinical Area Manager and the Nursing Team Leader, further develop the concept of psychiatric nursing within Older Adult Mental Health Services by assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating individualised programmes of care for allocated patient group, determining and influencing attitudes and fully participating in multi-disciplinary approach to patient care.
3. DIMENSIONS
The In-Patient service has 60 acute beds over 3 wards which includes 6 detoxification beds in 1 ward
12 functional elderly beds
12 intensive psychiatric care beds
8 secure rehabilitation beds
11 slow stream rehabilitation beds
15 rehabilitation beds in community facility
20 older adult assessment beds
12 continuing care and challenging behaviour older adult beds
Acute day hospital providing seven day service to Inverness and Nairn

4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION


Clinical Area Manager
Nursing Team Leader
This PostNursing/ Rehabilitation Assistant

5. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT

The Adult Mental Health Service in the Highlands provides specialised assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services for adults with mental ill health within a variety of care settings in both Hospital and Community

6.  MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Clinical Area Manager/ Nursing Team Leader
1.  Work as a named nurse for a group of patients assessing, planning, and implementing individualised care plans, risk assessment and management plans and treatment programmes in response to patient needs, in consultation with other team members.
2. Manage ward staff (including other disciplines/agency staff etc) on a shift to shift basis in the absence of the Clinical Area Manager/ Nursing Team Leader on a regular basis. For nursing staff this includes induction, appraisal, and performance management.
3. Support the Clinical Area Manager/ Nursing Team Leader to ensure that all members from the ward team work in an environment which fulfils the requirements of the PIN policies.
4. Participate in the education and development of nursing staff, under the direction of the Clinical Area Manager, using New Craig’s Mental Health Core Competencies & NHS Highland Personal Development Planning & Review process.
5. Support, teach and supervise allocated students in line with NHS Education for Scotland Quality Standards/University of Stirling Competencies.
6. Monitor and mentor newly recruited nurses, and assist in the provision of induction training under the direction of the Clinical Area Manager. Participate in the preceptorship of newly qualified nurses, following the New Craig’s preceptorship policy, under the direction of the Clinical Area Manager.
7. Contribute as part of the multi-disciplinary team to the development of policies, implementation of policies, procedures, standards, and protocols of the clinical area and across New Craig’s site & NHS Highland.
8. Initiate and participate in audit within ward area, hospital wide, NHS Highland.
9. Maintain a research orientated, evidence based, individualised approach to patient care, so that change and progress is encouraged and expected.
10. Maintain the clinical areas standard's clearly by role modelling. Ensure that all duties are carried out in accordance with N.H.S. Highland Policies and the N.M.C. Code of Practice on a shift to shift basis.
11. Comply with the legal requirements of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984, Mental Health Care & treatment Act(2003), the Criminal Procedures Act(1995), and the Adults with Incapacity Act (2000),Human Rights Act, Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act (2002), Data Protection Act (1998) to ensure high standards of practice.
12. Comply with and act on all matters affecting clinical area safety in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, and Local Fire Regulations, to ensure a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors on a sift to shift basis. Responsible for taking necessary action for health, safety and security in the absence of the Clinical Area Manager/ Nursing Team Leader.
13. As a primary nurse, develop, facilitate and maintain effective communication networks with all disciplines/users/carers both within public private and voluntary sector to encourage the free flow of information - 1:1 basis, at meetings, written, telephone, email etc.
14. When in charge of the ward, support & manage nursing staff within the clinical area, thereby ensuring that patients needs are assessed, care planned, implemented & evaluated with consultation & involvement of patients/carers.
15. Be responsible for the safe management of in-patients property, on a shift to shift basis, in accordance with Adults with Incapacity Act (2000) and NHS Highland Standing Financial Procedures.

7a. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

Computer(internet, intranet, xcel,word,groupwise, PowerPoint) / Communication,research,writingdocuments, networking
Burlodge Trolley / Bringing food to temperature
Oxygen equipment / To give correct prescribed oxygen concentration
Nebulisers / To give respiratory therapy
Monitoring equipment for blood pressure, temperature, pulse, blood glucose / To measure and observe patients condition and act appropriately on changes in condition
Pinpoint barrel / Staff attack and assistance alert system
Vehicles, private and NHS / Transportation of staff and patients for meetings and appointments
Pinpoint Test / For testing of pinpoint barrels
Manual handling equipment e.g. hoists, wheelchairs
Etc / For the safe moving and handling of patients
Resuscitation equipment including suction, defibrillator / The safe and effective resuscitation of patients in an emergency
Telephone/ Fax Machine / Transfer of information from ward to other relevant parties
Safe / Secure storage of patient/ ward cash and valuables
Pressure relieving equipment, Pegasus beds, Spenco
Mattresses etc / Maintenance of healthy patient tissue
I.V Fluids / Adequate patient hydration
Urinary catheters / To drain urine, promote continence
Alcometer/ Drug testing equipment / Monitoring of patient alcohol/illegal substance usage
Bathing Aids / Safe bathing of patients
Syringes, needles / To ensure the safe administration of prescribed intramuscular, subcutaneous medication
7b. SYSTEMS
1. Maintains patient’s records in accordance with Nursing & Midwifery Council Guideline and NHS Highland standards.
2. Ward communication systems-hand over reports, communication book, e-mail, ward meetings, allocation meetings
3. Ensures correct use of computerised systems i.e. Patient Administration System, Immediate Discharge Letter, Results Reporting on a shift to shift basis
4. Personal Development Plans
5.  Staff rotas.
6. Awareness of expenditure with regard to staffing costs, replacement costs.

8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK

1. Work will be assigned and reviewed by the nurse in charge on a shift to shift basis The staff nurse is supervised by a more senior nurse during the discharge of their duties. When in charge of the ward on a shift, the staff nurse will assign work to the nursing team for that shift.
2. Act as prime provider of care for patients by assessing, implementing, planning and evaluating plans of care in consultation with other disciplines, patient and carers.
3. Works within statutes and guidelines of the Nursing & Midwifery Council, National, Highland and local agreed policies, protocols and procedures.
4. Be responsive to the needs of junior staff.
5. Participate in Personal Development Planning and Review of junior members of staff.
9. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
1. Staff nurse can make decisions on day to day basis regarding changing patient care.
2.When in charge of ward/area the staff nurse will be required to both make decisions regarding
operational management of the ward and supervise others in their decision making process.
3. When in charge of the ward the staff nurse will be required to make decisions regarding staffing issues within the limits defined by New Craigs and NHS Highland policies.
4. Will be required to regularly make judgements involving a range of facts or situations, which require the analysis, or comparison of a range of options.

10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB

1. Manage the ward area for the shift when rostered to take charge, providing a degree of flexibility in practice dependant of current patient care needs.
2. Manage expectations of patients, carers and staff on a shift to shift basis.
3. Manage staff when in charge and ensure compliance with national and NHS Highland policies and procedures, including maintaining safe practice and environment due to resource problems on a shift to shift basis.
4. To ensure Human Rights principles (lawful, legitimate and proportionate) are applied into all practice while employed by NHS Highland.
5.  To maintain a positive attitude to the care of patients when challenged by negative attitudes and behaviours from some patients.
6.  Organising at short notice urgent patient escorts, which may require to be from any part of NHS Highland area to New Craigs Hospital and complexities involved in arranging staff cover, co-ordinating ambulance service, police service and both NHS and Local Authority community staff.
7.  Escorting patients, who are informal, detained under the Mental Health Act or are subject to the Criminal Procedures Act (1995) within the hospital and in the wider community.
11. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
1. Internal-nursing staff (professional), other disciplines as part of multidisciplinary team(clinical care,), patients, carers and all other departments within health, Human Resources(personal advice, support,)Occupational Health (personal advice)Clinical Effectiveness (audits) Care Programme Approach (patient care, advice) etc
2. External-PFI partners (hotel and facilities), statutory and non-statutory agencies (in relation to patient care) e.g. police, voluntary agencies, Mental Welfare Commission, Quality Improvement Scotland, University of Stirling(education),
3. Communication difficulties with others out with office hours (9-5 Mon-Fri), Scope of Confidentiality (restriction of sharing information with carers).
4.  Communication difficulties due to perception and understanding of patients due to mental ill health and complexity of problems such as suicidal ideation, psychosis, deliberate self harm, substance misuse, etc.
12. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
PHYSICAL-Manual handling skills, including patient moving and handling (daily) manual dexterity (continually throughout the day)e.g. administering oral/Intra-muscular medication, management of violence and aggression including control and restraint(formal 3 day restraint training)- (erratic frequency from daily to weekly dependant on patient population), breakaway techniques(infrequent), driving (daily), keyboarding skills,(frequently throughout the day)
MENTAL- Concentration (prolonged periods throughout the shift on a daily basis), decision making and organisational skills to cope with competing demands (frequent episodes on a daily basis) be aware of and act on changes in patient condition (frequently throughout the day), personnel issues with staff (occasionally when in charge of shift); frequent interruptions from staff/patients/carers when carrying out major parts of the job(frequently throughout the day); reading and checking documents(frequently throughout the day)Diplomacy(frequent, daily),empathy(continually),knowledge of when to appropriately challenge(frequently throughout shift), motivational skills (encouragement, empowerment) (daily) . Constant awareness of responsibility and accountability for all allocated patient issues(daily) and staff related issues when in charge(weekly)
EMOTIONAL- Frequent and prolonged exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances due to the backgrounds and presentations of many of the patients and carers. (frequently throughout the shift minimum daily) Exposure to highly emotional and distressing circumstances when dealing with personal issues of staff. (occasional) This can present exceptional challenges both in working with staff, patients and carers and in managing personal and emotional responses to work. Having to work within the parameters/restrictions of PFI/Hotel and Facilities contract as there was no clinical input to its development.(daily)
ENVIRONMENTAL-Unavoidable exposure to frequent verbally and physically aggressive behaviour from patients and carers and the risk of being assaulted by a patient (daily). Unavoidable exposure to passive smoke. (daily)Requirement to work in areas with exposure to unpleasant working conditions e.g. body fluids, soiled linen, offensive graffiti, (daily) poorly ventilated/lighted work area (daily). Poor access to cold drinking water.

13. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB

RMN 1st Level and able to demonstrate knowledge, skills and experience appropriate to the post.
14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
I agree that the above Job Description is an accurate reflection of my duties and responsibilities at the date of signing.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Manager’s Signature: / Date:
Date: