Job summary
You will be working as a band 5 Staff Nurse within our Assessment and Treatment Inpatient Service for adults with Learning Disabilities based at Lexden, Colchester. This is a post suitable for newly qualified Learning Disability Nurses. We offer a preceptorship programme for newly qualified registered nurses that allows you to develop your clinical, communication and leadership skills with excellent support.
The Assessment and Treatment service (A&T) provides a specialist health service for up to six adults with a learning disability, who require an admission to a specialist learning disability unit. This is usually due to a decline in their mental health and/or behaviour that cannot be safely met within the community, and the level of support they require not being appropriate for mainstream mental health services. Nurses are involved in all aspects of service user care on the unit, supporting individuals towards recovery and a discharge back to the community.
You will need to be flexible in your working hours to work shifts/unsocial hours, weekends and bank holidays as required.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work in close collaboration with other professionals, including the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team .
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Fulfil the role of Named Nurse, actively supporting adults with a learning disability who have been admitted on the unit to improve their physical, mental and emotional health. This is delivered through person-centred assessment and treatment, which will subsequently be evaluated for achievement of identified goals.
2. Improve the lives of people with a learning disability by minimizing the impact of their condition through the delivery of excellent services to promote recovery and wellbeing.
3. Professionally accountable and responsible for patient care, undertaking a range of clinical/therapeutic interventions in hospital.
4. Support others in the team including associate practitioners, healthcare assistants and students as appropriate, to develop competence by providing leadership, day to day supervision and clinical advice.
5. Advocate for and promote a positive image of people with a learning disability.
6. Ensure statutory requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act are observed and applied.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.
The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Our Trust values are:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Fulfil the role of Named Nurse, actively supporting adults with a learning disability who are residing on the unit to improve their physical, mental and emotional health. This is delivered through person-centred assessment and treatment, which will subsequently be evaluated for achievement of identified goals.
7. Improve the lives of people with a learning disability by minimising the impact of their condition through the delivery of excellent services to promote recovery and wellbeing.
8. Professionally accountable and responsible for patient care, undertaking a range of clinical/therapeutic interventions in hospital.
9. Support others in the team including associate practitioners, healthcare assistants and students as appropriate, to develop competence by providing leadership, day to day supervision and clinical advice.
10. Advocate for and promote a positive image of people with a learning disability.
11. Ensure statutory requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act are observed and applied.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
12. Develop effective working relationships with other professionals and nursing staff within the service, service users, carers and any other internal or external stakeholders.
13. Maintain links with various external agencies associated with the support of people who use our services and their care package.
C OMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS
14. Utilise effective and appropriate methods of communicate with service users, carers and other professionals.
15. Chair meetings when required.
16. Maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries with service users.
17. Demonstrate de-escalation skills in managing aggression exhibited by service users.
18. Bridge the gap between primary care and secondary care services, to enable better communication and better access to health care for people with learning disabilities.
19. Work effectively and collaboratively with staff from other provider and commissioning organisations.
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITY
20. Work collaboratively with service users, carers and families to deliver nursing assessment and then plan, implement and evaluate identified interventions, with a view to improving physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
21. Carry out clinical nursing procedures/techniques in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
22. Implement and promote evidence-based clinical processes and standards of practice within the inpatient unit.
23. Facilitate individual therapeutic sessions to achieve identified health outcomes for service users in accordance with assessed needs.
24. Develop and review a range of comprehensive and evidence-based clinical risk assessments and associated care plans. Ensure these plans have meaningful service user, carer and interdisciplinary involvement throughout the process.
25. Provide written reports as necessary for service user reviews and MHA Tribunals.
26. Ensure the administration and safe custody of drugs and medications in accordance with Trust policy and procedure, as well as NMC guidelines.
27. Regularly assess and report on the side effects experienced by service users.
28. Comply with and promote the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct.
LEADERSHIP AND STAFF MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY
29. Lead by example, promoting positivity, commitment and motivation within the wider team and those working closely with.
30. Act as a role model to service users, carers and other professionals.
31. Provide clinical supervision as per Trust policy.
32. Support both the mentorship of student nurses and the preceptorship of newly registered nurses in accordance with the NMC and university requirements.
33. Participate in the induction and training of others, including the mentoring/co-mentoring of students.
34. In consultation with the Charge Nurse and Team Leader, set and review performance objectives for Health Care Assistants and other staff where appropriate, which includes supporting staff in their ongoing personal development.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
35. Assist in the care and safe custody of service users monies and property in accordance with the Trusts standing financial arrangements.
SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT
36. Comply with the Trusts requirement in attending all relevant mandatory training.
37. Actively participate in quality and safety improvement initiatives.
38. Advise senior management on current issues and new developments with the service area field.
39. Develop and deliver in-service training for nursing staff working in the service area and business unit, in conjunction with members of the management team.
40. Maintain evidence of continuing professional nurse development.
41. Develop and maintain own professional profile.
For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications &Training
Essential
42. Relevant Professional Registration with Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
43. Demonstrable commitment to ongoing training and development
Desirable
44. Mentorship Training
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
45. Knowledge of common physical, mental and emotional health needs experienced by people with a learning disability
46. Experiencing of assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care according to assessed need using person-centred approaches
47. Experience of working with people with learning disabilities or complex health needs
48. Working knowledge of legislation and policy relating to learning disabilities
49. Experience of maintaining high standards of recordkeeping consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
Skills
Essential
50. Competent IT skills and an ability to adapt to various systems
51. Record keeping and report writing skills
52. Skills in recognising and reflecting on barriers to effective communication, modifying communication in response
53. Skill and confidence to verbally de-escalate service users who may exhibit violence and aggression, as well as using approved physical intervention techniques as necessary
54. Ability to positively embrace and promote change acting as a professional and positive role model
55. Contribute to a culture that promotes equality and diversity, including recognising and reporting behaviour that undermines this