JOB DETAILS JOB TITLE: Senior Community Mental Health Nurse BAND: 6 HOURS: 37.5 DEPARTMENT: Dementia Assessment and Support Service LOCATION: As per contract of employment REPORTS TO: Operational Lead ACCOUNTABLE TO: Service Manager RESPONSIBLE FOR: Working in an identified dementia community mental health pathway, with the flexibility of working across other mental health pathways, dependent on skill and service need. Delivering a high quality clinical service to patients and their families. Managing a complex caseload and responsible for clinical and caseload supervision of other team members where identified. The post holder will be responsible for providing the nursing process to a specialist clinical pathway. Delivering nursing interventions, in accordance with an agreed care plan, to an identified group of people experiencing mental health related difficulties. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS INTERNAL: Multi-disciplinary team members, adult mental health pathway team members. EXTERNAL: Service users, carers, relatives, local authority, police, primary care staff, charitable and voluntary organisations and other healthcare providers, employment and education providers. JOB PURPOSE The post holder will be responsible for working in the dementia community mental health pathway, with the flexibility of working across pathways, dependent on skill and service need. They will be responsible for care coordination of an identified caseload. The post holder will be responsible for undertaking clinical assessments, in accordance with the clinical pathway, in order to establish the person’s needs, goals, risks and strengths in order to generate a formulation-based care plan agreed with all involved. They will be responsible for delivering nursing interventions, in accordance with an agreed care plan, to an identified group of people experiencing mental health related difficulties. The post holder will also be expected to be available for consultation, support and clinical supervision to other health professionals working within the Community Mental Health Pathway Service and other areas of the Trust where identified as appropriate. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE Operational Lead / Quality Lead Band 7 Senior Community Mental Health Nurse Band 6 Community Mental Health Nurse Band 5 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Main duties and responsibilities Take responsibility, for the management of a complex caseload, which includes, specialist assessment (within service specification), care planning in conjunction with service user and carer, evaluation of individual treatment plans (Care Programme Approach and Single Assessment Process). Responsible for participating in the setting of quality standards, including the auditing, monitoring and reviewing of practice in line with current clinical guidance practice and policy. Administer medication, complying with relevant Trust procedures and NMC Guidance. Assess patient's individual care needs, develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care. Deliver a range of interventions in accordance with the agreed plan of care and Pathway guidance including; pharmacological and psychologically informed interventions. Complete and contribute, where appropriate to robust risk assessments and risk management plans. Deliver and promote positive risk taking, where appropriate, to improve quality of life and maximise occupational performance/independence. Maintain an effective reporting system by observing and reporting verbally and in writing on patient conditions. Utilise agreed outcome measures to review the effectiveness of interventions, as part of the care planning and evaluation process. Participate in the development of the service to ensure clinical governance processes are actively implemented at team level. Assist in ensuring that the aims and objectives of the ward/department (as set by the responsible nurse) are fulfilled and to identify factors which may inhibit these from being achieved. The post holder will be required to work within the NMC Code of Practice and professional guidelines. Maintain an up-to-date level of professional competence within the specific environment. Assist in the implementation of evidence-based nursing practice and participate in research and other projects as required. Research and Service Development Identify and highlight to the Operational Lead relevant issues in relation to the needs for people and their carers; assessed using best practice evidence, in order that these are reflected in service planning, development and future provision. Develop efficient and relevant health promotion activities to promote health education and ensure that preventative approaches and interventions are used to maintain independence. Actively engage in the organisations clinical governance initiatives, for example to participate and lead in audit, clinical supervision and bringing critically evaluated evidence and research into practice. Participate and lead on research within area of clinical expertise where possible to raise understanding and awareness of the benefits of Mental Health Nursing. Participate in the development of the service to ensure clinical governance processes are actively implemented at team level. Human Resources and Training As required, supervise junior staff; provide clinical advice/supervision support, leadership and professional supervision, in line with Trust Policies. Support in the provision of formal and informal training of pre/post registration students, staff members, carers and service users. Participate in staff appraisal and performance reviews as identified. To participate, when required, in the recruitment, selection and induction of junior/support staff. Provide a learning environment to support students (multidisciplinary) undergoing training and assist new and junior members of staff, peers and other disciplines to develop professional competence. Lead on the development and delivery of specialist Mental Health Nursing education and training to: clients, carers, families’ staff, students and other relevant organisations. Promote mental health education to reduce stigma within the community and support relatives of sufferers of all types of Mental illness. Systems and equipment Maintain timely data collection and regular inputting of information through the use of data collection systems e.g. daily diaries/RIO, Safeguard, ensuring that confidentiality is maintained at all times in accordance with legislation and Trust policy. Return accurate Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS) data to Planning and Information Department as required. Ensure all key targets are met and entered on the computer system as per Trust policy. To work in partnership with other service providers to access and provide equipment and opportunities for service users to maximise functioning where possible. Responsible for ensuring actions are carried out where safety alerts are issued regarding equipment. Decisions and judgements Undertake specialist nursing assessments of patients with complex mental health, physical health and social problems to ensure appropriate treatment support and management. Undertake a comprehensive and specialist nursing mental health assessment resulting in an individualised care plan. Facilitate the discharge or transfer of the patient to other services where appropriate. Ensure that practice is evidence-based paying particular attention to the Trusts guidelines, policies, protocols and pathways. Be available for individual supervision with agreed clinical supervisor in line with Trust policies. Implement, review and maintain Trust Policies and Procedures and propose changes to working practices within the ward area. Communication and relationships Communicate sensitive diagnosis and treatment related information with patients, utilising highly developed communication skills to overcome barriers to understanding. Establish therapeutic relationships with service users, and implement evidence based therapeutic interventions with appropriate boundaries in accordance with professional code of conduct. Ensure that all members of the multi-disciplinary team, their colleagues, service users and appropriate others are informed/updated of changes involving current care plans, progress, mental state and psychosocial factors in line with best practice. Liaise with and advise service users and carers, local authority and other statutory bodies and third sector agencies. Communicate sensitive information to carers and relatives. Use a range of communication styles and channels as appropriate to the task. General Responsible for the promotion of carer and service user involvement within the service and for its provision. Responsible for participation in the Trust appraisal process, identifying own/others mandatory professional, supervisory, personal development and training needs and in supporting the provision of induction, mentorship, appraisal and clinical supervision to colleagues as appropriate. Responsible for the effective utilisation of clinical/financial resources to ensure adequate clinical care is provided with a requirement that all incidents, which may compromise care, are reported immediately to a senior manager, and clinicians involved in their care as appropriate. Responsible for accessing and participating in clinical, managerial and caseload supervision. Responsible for understanding and meeting own professional responsibilities under Child Protection legislation and Adult Safeguarding policies. Physical demands of the job The post holder will be expected on a daily basis to implement highly developed physical skills pertinent to the area of specialism, for example, injection administration, manual handling, de-escalation skills and driving. Standard keyboard skills required for inputting data onto RiO. Most challenging/difficult parts of the job The nature of the client group is such that the post holder will be required to concentrate when assessing / implementing programmes of care and will need to be able to address interruptions from other patients / staff as necessary. The post holder will be frequently exposed to emotional or distressing circumstances. The post holder will frequently be exposed to potential incidents of physical and non- physical assault.