NewportPagnell Medical Centre

Job Description

Job Title: District Nursing Sister

Reports to: Lead Nurse

Job Purpose

The purpose of this post is to manage an integrated community team. This will include day-to-day operational management of the nursing team.

The post holder carries continuing responsibility for the assessment of care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care for the caseload. They are responsible for the performance of the team, and individuals within it.

The person will be pro-active in the management of the Nursing Team this includes promoting and taking responsibility for effective teamwork, the deploymentand supervision of staff where appropriate and participating in development of the service and individuals within the team.

They will be supported by the Lead Nurse and who they will also support in delivering high quality care that delivers best value, and meets the requirements of commissioners.

The post holder will be expected to work in partnership liaising with the rest of the integrated practice team and other organisations to deliver care packages.

Main duties and responsibilities

Professional

  • Work within NMC guidelines and the Code of Professional Conduct (2002)
  • Work as a member of the primary health care team at NPMC PMS+ to provide comprehensive, evidence-based and skilled nursing services to clientswithin their own home or at GP premises, health centres or other communitysettings.
  • Assess and manage patients with complex care needs, for example palliative/terminal care issues.
  • Provide support and advice to patients and informal carers, including theteaching of basic nursing care.
  • Be responsible for ensuring models are used for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care.
  • Identify, prioritise and initiate activities to promote healthy living and theprevention of ill health and disability as a priority of care in the community.
  • Because of the nature of the duties, this post is subject to a Standard/Enhanced Disclosure obtained via the CRB.

Management

  • Manage available resources to ensure an efficient and effective servicewhich is consistent, accessible and relevant to patients’ needs and caseload management.
  • Take continuing responsibility for assessment planning, implementation andevaluation of caseload.
  • Lead and motivate staff, delegate the organisation of work within the team anddetermine priorities within the workload.
  • Co-ordinate and be responsible for the completion of the duty rota to meetservice needs.
  • Be responsible for the development, completion and monitoring of anappropriate induction programme for new staff.
  • Ensure the team works to professional and service standards. This includes:- identifying, prioritising and initiating audit of standards as appropriate.
  • Work in collaboration with GPs, Social Services and other agencies to providecomprehensive packages of care.
  • Provide clinical supervision to other staff through case discussion and take a role in educating students when required.
  • Take an innovative approach to district nursing practice in response to changing service needs e.g. develops community clinics for leg care.
  • Advise the team leader Lead Nurse of any circumstances that give you cause for concern in relation to patient care or GP contact.
  • Support and managecommunity staff nurses, health care assistants or others within the team.
  • Play an active role in selected matrix groups in order to lead in excellence of care.
  • Network within the community in order to achieve joined up care for patients.
  • As part of the integrated nursing team, take an integrated approach to the delivery of services and care for housebound patients and their families.
  • Manage any ad hoc projects that are delegated from time to time, as agreed with the post holder.
  • Ensure that all responsibilities to staff, patients and other Medical Centre visitors under the Health and Safety at Work Act are met.

Education and Development.

  • Keep up to date with current developments in patient care.
  • Facilitate and ensure members of the team have the knowledge and skills tofulfil their roles.
  • Identify, prioritise and initiate, when appropriate, the provision of in-servicetraining of all grades of staff.
  • Organise, evaluate and participate in providing community experience forstudent nurses or other personnel on secondment.

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately;

In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential and information gained must not be communicated to other persons except in the recognised course of duty. Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information will result in disciplinary action and may lead to dismissal.

Health & Safety

The post holder must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to ensure that the agreed procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff.

The post holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:-

  • Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines;
  • Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks;
  • Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills;
  • Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards;
  • Reporting potential risks identified.

Equality and Diversity

The post holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:-

  • Acting in a way that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and recognises the importance of people’s circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation;
  • Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues;

Personal/Professional Development

In addition to maintaining continued education through attendance at any courses and/or study days necessary to ensure that professional development requirements are met, the post holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of

this employment, such training to include:-

  • Participation in an annual individual performance review, annual Appraisalincluding taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development;
  • Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality

The post holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:-

  • Alert other team members to issues of Clinical Governance issues, quality and risk; participate in Significant Event Analysis reviews;
  • Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision;
  • Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team’s performance;
  • Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients’ needs;
  • Effectively manage own time, workload and resources. The post holder will also contribute to the overall team-working of the Practice putting the needs of the Practice first.

Communication

The post holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:-

  • Communicate effectively with other team members;
  • Communicate effectively with patients and carers;
  • Recognise people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Flexibility

This role profile is intended to provide a broad outline of the main responsibilities only. The post holder will be expected to be flexible in relation to duties undertaken and location of work where required by the Practice.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post holder will:-

  • Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance
  • Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
  • Participate in audit where appropriate.
  • Work with the partners and management team to achieve standards of quality, performance standards, budgets and targets without compromising levels of patient healthcare.
  • Contribute towards the development and implementation of new standards,

policies and procedures that are/will be required by GP practices now and in the future.

This job description is subject to regular review.

Feb 2018

Person Specification –District Nurse

All specifications will be identified through application forms, CVs and interview.

High / Med / Low
Qualification / RN 1st Level / √
District Nurse Certificate/Diploma/Degree / √
Evidence of Post Basic Clinical Training / √
ENB 998/City and Guilds 730/or similar teaching qualification / √
Communication skills / Excellent verbal communication skills / √
Excellent written communication skills / √
Excellent record keeping and report writing skills / √
Skills/
Knowledge / Ability to manage a team and caseload / √
Knowledge of up to date evidence based clinical trends and practices / √
Knowledge of current issues pertinent to community nursing / √
Knowledge and application of NMC Code Of Conduct and scope of professional Practice / √
Ability to teach relatives, clients and staff / √
Demonstrate an understanding of and a commitment to holistic care / √
Ability to participate in setting standards and auditing / √
Knowledge of clinical audit and relationship to research / √
Understanding of the needs of ethnic minority clients/carers / √
Ability to generate written communication, which is relevant, concise, accurate and legible / √
Experience / Previous experience at Band 5 within a District Nurse setting / √
Relevant post registration experience / √
Evidence of multidisciplinary working / √
Evidence and experience of working with other agencies in a community setting / √
Personal Qualities / Ability to demonstrate a commitment to team working and self- managed teams. / √
Ability to motivate and monitor staff within the team / √
Ability to manage change within the NHS / √
Maturity of attitude, resilient character / √
Ability to learn and apply knowledge appropriately / √
Freedom to Act / Ability to work as a member of a team and on own initiative / √
Planning and
Organisation skills / Excellent office management and caseload organisational skills / √
As a potential member of the INT, Interested in taking an integrated approach to the delivery of services and support for housebound patients and their families. / √
Shows an ability and interest in playing an active role in matrix groups in order to lead in excellence of care / √
Mental/emotional effort / Able to withstand pressure and meet intensive demands of the job / √
Good history/reliability of attendance at work / √
Physical skills / IT skills / √
Ability to drive and have vehicle available for work / √
Ability to lift and manoeuvre light goods short distances / √
Other requirements / Ability to work flexible hours e.g. weekends/bank holidays / √

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