Community Nurse

Full Job Description provided in supporting evidence Key Tasks and Responsibilities of the Post To embed competency frameworks To provide holistic evidence based / best practice care to patients in accordance with National and Trust approved policies/procedures and individual care plans. To be responsible for specialist assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation of care packages on a day-to-day basis with support from the Clinical Nurse Specialist/Team Manager/Team Leaders and in her/his absence. The work may be unpredictable and often of a sensitive nature. To problem solve and liaise as soon as possible with the Community Team Manager/Team Leaders any problems that may arise.

To be involved in triaging referrals, preventative strategies and maintenance of lower limb health and discharge planning. To maintain accurate records, which are confidential, contemporaneous, legible, and all care given to be documented. These records may be an IT based system and must be maintained as specified in the Trust Policies, NMC guidelines and Government directives. The post holder will be expected to oversee the standard of patients' records by audit or peer review and have a regular open discussion with team members including caseload supervision.

To undertake comprehensive risk assessments of all situations associated with the care of patients in order to ensure nurses' and patient safety. This might include the assessment and provision of equipment ensuring it is used safely. The post holder is required to comply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager (if no action or explanation received, then it is the individual's responsibility to escalate to Director of Operations/ Chief executive office) Monitor and maintain the health, safety and security of self, others in the team and patients. Be conversant with the vulnerable adult and child protection procedures and policies of Livewell Southwest.

To be responsible for organising own time management on a daily basis in line with service demands, balancing patient needs with the administrative aspect of the role. To work within challenging environments across varying localities within the Livewell footprint. To act as a clinical advisor on health care issues within their area of expertise and act as a Link Nurse. To provide education and continuing support to patients, family and carers.

To identify areas of improvement of practice and communicate to the Community Team Manager/Team Lead. To undertake health promotion as requested to all age groups and contribute to planned health promotion activities e.g. NSF's, smoking cessation and long-term conditions in association with the health improvement team and sports therapist. To be aware of organisational, professional and national developments within primary care and work within these guidelines e.g.

NSF/ NICE/ NMC. Initiate and participate in Clinical Supervision and mentorship. To be involved in audit and research. To be aware of and abide by Livewell Southwest approved policies, patient group directives, standards and quality assurance initiatives.

To be involved in all aspects of clinical governance including audits and effective and safe use of resources and equipment. Management & Leadership: To share knowledge and information to promote a cohesive team. To be responsible in the absence of the Community Team Manager/Team Leader to manage own workload and delegate nursing care to appropriately skilled staff and ensure that these are supported. To act as a role model for all staff and students demonstrating specialist clinical skills relating to complex lower limb conditions and high standards of practice and professional conduct.

To participate in team activities so as to develop and consolidate a cohesive and supportive team ensuring openness within the team. To contribute to national and local Trust wide policy development. To utilise resources economically and effectively and promote cost effectiveness throughout the service. In collaboration with the budget holder may be an authorised signatory for ordering stores, equipment and stationery.

Ensure that all loans of equipment are monitored and maintained in good working order as per operational policy. Complete on time and submit all necessary forms, documentation, including IT data and forward as required by the manager/organisation. All patient notes must be contemporaneous. The post holder will be required to use a computer, being responsible for timely recording patient activities for IT data collection, dealing with e-mail queries, stock and equipment ordering.

Preserve confidentiality and be aware of the Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment. To have a flexible approach to the working day in order to meet the needs of the patient/service. To report to the line manager any untoward incidents e.g. complaints, accidents, defective equipment and take appropriate action and reporting to ensure safety of patients, relatives, self and colleagues.

To be aware of pressures facing your work colleagues and offer support and ensure they are aware of Livewell Southwest support services available to them. Communication: Reporting and recording of all incidents and near misses relating to health, safety, security, fire, physical violence, aggression and verbal abuse. To develop and maintain effective and appropriate communication networks with other members of the Primary Health Care Team and other agencies. Have good communication skills as to effectively communicate with patients and their carers, including sensitive and accurate information about their condition.

The post holder will have to provide and receive complex, sensitive and confidential information and over come potential barriers to communication, such as language, disability as well as dealing with concordance and barriers from patients to the prescribed treatment. Able to communicate the role and eligibility criteria of the Wellbeing Lower Limb Service. Maintain accurate and up to date patient records and inform other professionals about changes in patients' condition and make appropriate referrals. Act as a patient advocate as required ensuring individual needs, preferences and choices are delivered by the service.

Professional: Works within the NMC Code. Remains updated and competent and ensure that clinical practice is evidence-based. Has an up to date personal development plan and professional portfolio. To participate in an annual appraisal of their work in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) where the job description will be reviewed and objectives set.

In line with the annual development plan the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfill their role. Education & Training: Maintain own professional expertise by attending meetings, study days, conferences and in-service training and learn new specialist skills required for service development. To attend and participate in working groups and research projects as required. To participate in Reflective Practice, Clinical Supervision and Appraisals as per Trust policies.

Assess, teach, support, and supervise colleagues including Pre-registration nursing students and medical students. To take responsibility for own personal professional development and education. Emotional Effort: At every patient contact Nurses deal with emotional issues of patients and relatives. Mental Effort: Need to concentrate on a continual basis throughout the day performing in-depth assessments on complex care, problem solving skills and decision-making.

Continuously interrupted, multi-tasking e.g. writing notes, answering mobile telephone call. Staff are expected to be available to other staff and professionals and can be interrupted at any time. Continually re-prioritising workload due to the unpredictability and demands for urgent visits.

Driving in all weather in heavy traffic to and from clinic locations on a daily basis and in winter in the dark. Physical Effort: Daily there is likelihood to exert moderate physical effort for several long periods during a shift e.g. bandaging and diagnostics which require nurses to kneel, bending, sit on knees, bending or lifting of limbs or buckets of water to wash patient's feet and legs (up to 40 minutes per leg); this involves manual handling of equipment. A risk assessment may be required to move light furniture to allow nursing procedures to be carried out possibly within a confined space.

Regularly carry and transport Nursing equipment e.g. nursing bag and doppler equipment, clinic stock. Working Conditions: Potential exposure to verbal and physical aggression. The job involves several times in a day exposure and contact to highly unpleasant working conditions such as bodily fluids, including wound exudate, sputum, vomit, blood, urine and faeces, soiled linen, fleas, lice, scabies, poor hygiene standards and communicable diseases.