JOB DESCRIPTION

Post: Staff Nurse Band

Department: Inpatient Unit

Line Managing: Sister Inpatient Unit

Accountable to: Director of Nursing

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (worked on a rota basis)

Salary: Band 5 (Agenda for Change)

1.  Overview of Role

To ensure a high standard of individual care for patients with life threatening disease to include the care of their families within a safe, friendly and efficient environment. To assist in providing a high level of pain and symptom control.

To communicate with patients, families and carers in a sensitive and empathetic way and maintaining effective communication with multi-disciplinary team members. To work under the supervision and guidance of senior nurses on a daily basis, using opportunities to ‘take charge’ as required or as development.

2.  Job Statement

·  To assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care over the 24 hour period.

·  To assist in providing pain and symptom control to patient need for pain relief.

·  To be pro-active in the formulation of care packages.

·  To provide out of hours specialist advice by telephone to patients, carers and allied professionals as required, alerting them to any significant situations.

·  To maintain appropriate written records in all areas of clinical practice.

·  To liaise with medical staff to implement treatment and care, ensuring that medical instructions are carried out, monitoring and reporting effect.

3.  Communication aspects of the role

To identify and use the most effective means of communication, appropriate to the situation and individual concerned, using empathy and sensitivity and dealing with barriers to understanding.

·  Gives and receives accurate records in all areas of clinical practice.

·  Maintains complete and accurate records in all areas of clinical practice.

·  Observes confidentiality of all information within the Multi Disciplinary Team,

·  Including awareness and adherence to the legal requirements of the Data Protection Act.

4.  Analysis and judgement will be necessary in the following situations

·  Initial assessment of patient’s clinical condition.

·  Develops an understanding of pain and symptom control, liaising with senior staff. Formulates care plans.

5.  Planning and Organising

·  Support in planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care over each 24 hour period.

·  Plans, implements and evaluates nursing care over each 24 hour period, working closely with the Hospice@Home, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Hospital Palliative Care Team and District Nurses.

·  Liaise with medical staff to implement treatment and care; ensuring medical instructions are carried out.

·  Plan for the admission and discharge of patients.

5. Clinical Practice and Leadership

·  Plans and implements patient care plans following initial assessment, evaluating them on a daily or even hourly basis.

·  Provides specialist advice to patients/relatives.

6.  Service and Policy Development

·  Follows policies and procedures- may comment on proposal for change in practice or procedures.

·  To report all accidents/incidents, near misses and complaints in accordance with PCT policy.

·  To participate in annual appraisal with line manager.

7.  Managing Financial Resources

·  Responsible for the safe use of expensive equipment, e.g. hoists, syringe drivers, mattresses etc.

·  Responsible for the maintenance of stock control of drugs being specifically administered by the nurse.

8.  This role will be requires uses of a range of information systems

·  Records personally generated information relating to patient care and work activity on a daily basis, e.g. progress reports, updating care plans, accident/incident reports, etc. using appropriate systems.

9.  Information System use and management

·  Maintain all patient centred documentation e.g. Care Plans, assessments and letters, within agreed National Midwifery Council (NMC) and Earl Mountbatten Hospice standards

·  Ensure all required monthly statistical information is produced and forwarded to appropriate departments. Maintain an official diary of work which is readily available in your absence

·  Provide reports as specified/requested by the Head of Community Services and line manager.

10. Involvement is Surveys and Research

·  Promotes the service and clinical excellence by publishing and presenting innovations, audit and research locally and nationally

·  Undertake and encourage research and development activity including the dissemination of information to influence quality care initiatives and ongoing review and audit

·  Ensure evidence based practice to instigate and promote a culture of research awareness within the general and specialist palliative care

·  Be aware of the research and development agenda for palliative care services within the Trust.

11. General

All Earl Mountbatten Hospice employees are

·  Required to abide by the Health & Safety at Work Act

·  Required to attend mandatory and refresher training annually

·  Required to respect confidentiality applying to all Hospice areas

·  Required to work within Hospice policies and procedures

·  Required to participate in and contribute to team meetings

·  Required to cooperate and liaise with departmental colleagues

·  Expected to promote at all times the Hospice philosophy and uphold the Earl Mountbatten Hospice core values

·  Expected to demonstrate at all times a commitment towards equality and diversity

·  Expected to demonstrate a commitment to their own development, to take advantage of education and training opportunities and develop their own competence

·  Expected to support and encourage harmonious internal and external working relationships

·  Expected to make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the hospice

This role profile is not exhaustive. It will be subject to periodic review and may be amended following discussion between the post holder and employer.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Staff Nurse – IPU Band 5 AfC

Criteria / Description / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications / First Level Registration with NMC / P
Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development / P
Clinically up to date in general nursing care / P
Experience /

Recent Palliative Care Experience

Experience of dealing with vulnerable adults in a care setting / ü
Experience of working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams and the ability to form good working relationships at all levels including volunteers / ü
Awareness of palliative care issues / P
Experience of working in a hospice care setting / P

Experience of working in a person centred/personal outcomes approach

/ ü
Skills / Strong communication skills to explain complex and sensitive information effectively in both written and oral to both patients, families, carers and other professionals / P
Have good IT Skills in microsoft and email applications / ü
Understands specific needs of patients requiring palliative or end of life care / ü
Demonstrate commitment to the patients right to be involved in decision making relating to their health care and ensuring decisions are understood by care teams / ü
Abilities /

Physical capability of performing the role and carrying out responsibilities required by the duties of this post

/ P
Ability to be an effective advocate for the patient with multi-disciplinary teams across all healthcare settings / P
Able to effectively manage own time and work load / ü
Able to work shift patterns on a rota basis including nights, weekend, bank holidays / ü
Able to make effective use of available resources to benefit the patients and Hospice. / P
Other / Awareness of personal safety issues / P

CB July 2017