District Nursing Sister

**Job Advert**:
Community Specialist Practitioner required within the Kirkham District Nursing Team. This is a full-time position working across a 7 day service. If you would like to discuss this post further we would like to hear from you, please contact:
The post holder should possess good communication skills both written and verbal, have evidence of ongoing professional development and be able to work independently.

Driving license and access to a car essential.

PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS OF THE DISTRICT NURSING SISTER/CHARGE NURSE

Holds delegated 24 hr continuing responsibility for a caseload, co-coordinating admissions and discharges, for patients registered to specific GP surgeries. Provide clinical leadership at weekends and bank holidays for staff within specific geographic area, and for partnered teams as required.

**Assess patients**: plans, implements & evaluates, and reassesses care of patients in their own home. Establishes and maintains associated records.

Provides leadership and operational management of district nurse team, supporting, supervising and managing staff.

Liaise with other services within health and social services, voluntary and private sector.

Provide direct patient care.

Contribute to the development of the nursing service within the division.

**Organise community schedule for students**: provide induction training and clinical supervision.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a large, integrated provider of acute and community services to the 445,000 population of the Fylde coast health economy and the estimated 11 million visitors to the seaside town of Blackpool. With patients and families at the heart of all we do, we are committed to creating a culture that empowers our staff and inspires us all to deliver first class clinical care. We form a central part of the Healthier Fylde Coast Integrated Care Partnership and our progressive approach to partnership working in the area provides an enviable opportunity to redesign and deliver services that meet the challenges of today’s health system.

We are not underestimating the challenges facing today’s health system but believe there are the foundations here in Blackpool to deliver truly excellent, integrated services that can make a major impact on the lives of the thousands of people we serve.

To assess, plan and evaluate the individual requirements of patients and carers referred to the District Nursing Service. Diagnose specific conditions including venous insufficiency, skin conditions, fungal infections, constipation; recognise uncontrolled symptoms - especially in palliative care, and implement treatment regimes using prescribing when appropriate.

To provide and document a high standard of evidence based nursing care to patients in the Community.

To delegate work to members of the Nursing Team, taking into account Scope of Professional Practice, and nursing skill mix.

To work within NMC. Guidelines relating to Code of Conduct, Confidentiality, Accountability and Scope of Professional Practice.

To facilitate effective communication, written, verbal and electronic, whilst acting as the patients advocate. Be able to communicate empathetically, sensitive potentially controversial, and/or distressing information to patients and their carers, e.g. relating to patients entering the end stage of life.

Liaise and communicate with own and the wider Primary healthcare team, outside Agencies and voluntary organisations in the delivery of care.

Having knowledge of human rights and cultural issues actively seek to promote health, to patients ,carers and work colleagues by providing evidence based information in a sensitive and empathetic manner.

Administers drugs in line with NMC Policy, including controlled drugs.

To attend Team Briefing and Staff Meetings and disseminate the information and implement changes when appropriate within the team.

Prescribes in line with Trust guidelines, prescribing protocols and Nurse Prescribing Formulary.

To keep Nurse Management aware of any factors which may affect the treatment given to patients and produce appropriate written reports when requested. To report and assist in investigation of patient complaints.

To facilitate achieving measurable standards of care and to participate in clinical audit and participate in caseload review.

To establish and maintain accurate records in line with NMC guidelines and local policy using paper based and electronic system.

To be responsible for the assessment and prescribing of, and planning for the efficient and safe use of nursing loan equipment, assessment and provision of continence products. Responsible for facilitating the maintenance and decontamination of small pieces of specialised equipment.

To implement policy changes within own area of practice and represent the team or service if requested on policy groups relating to the service, e.g. clinical governance, record keeping, Palliative Care group.

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