Community Learning Disabilities Nurse

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit a highly motivated Band 5 Registered Learning Disability Nurse. The post holder will be a member of a specialist multi-disciplinary learning disability health team, working with a team of learning disability nurses. We aim to provide a high-quality nursing service across the county of Buckinghamshire, providing care in line with our clinical care pathways. This post is suitable for newly qualified nurses.

Main duties of the job

Identify the health needs of people with learning disability referred to the service, using specialist clinical skills and knowledge in the following areas: epilepsy, dementia, mental health, behaviour difficulties, autism, syndrome specific health needs, medication and complex health needs associated with learning disability.

Undertake nursing assessment, specialist mental health and learning disability assessments (initially under supervision), care planning and evaluation, and risk assessment and management.

Provide a range of clinical interventions and treatments appropriate to the individual needs of service

Deliver care that is person centred and recovery focused, reflecting current best practice.

Provide education, advice and guidance to service users and their carers, and other professionals.

Responsible for the administration, carriage, storage and safe disposal of medication and equipment used in the community, in accordance with Trust

Participate in developing health promotion initiatives, working towards reducing health inequalities.

Take appropriate action in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults, where necessary.

Participate in the Trust's adverse incidents reporting systems and comply with the Trust's procedure and techniques for managing

About us

Hertfordshire Partnerships University Foundation Trust

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an exceptional organisation with big ambitions, our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

With a workforce of around 3,500 people and an annual income of some £330million this year, the Trust provides integrated health and social care services through a network of community and inpatient settings, serving diverse communities across Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Norfolk. As a university NHS foundation trust, HPFT continues to develop strong links with the University of Hertfordshire, providing excellent learning and development opportunities, as well as strengthening our clinical research capability.

Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT following our CQC rating of Outstanding awarded to us in April 2019. We are on our "Good to Great" journey as we continue to innovate, improve, transform and ultimately deliver the very highest standards of care to the service users and communities that we serve.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibility

Identify the health needs of people with learning disability referred to the service, using specialist clinical skills and knowledge in the following areas: epilepsy, dementia, mental health, behaviour difficulties, autism, syndrome specific health needs, medication and complex health needs associated with learning disability. Undertake nursing assessment, specialist mental health and learning disability assessments (initially under supervision), care planning and evaluation, and risk assessment and management. Provide a range of clinical interventions and treatments appropriate to the individual needs of service Deliver care that is person centred and recovery focused, reflecting current best practice. Provide education, advice and guidance to service users and their carers, and other professionals. Responsible for the administration, carriage, storage and safe disposal of medication and equipment used in the community, in accordance with Trust Participate in developing health promotion initiatives, working towards reducing health inequalities. Take appropriate action in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults, where necessary. Participate in the Trusts adverse incidents reporting systems and comply with the Trusts procedure and techniques for managing Demonstrate a high standard of record keeping and documentation with adherence to Trust Demonstrate a working understanding of the legal and ethical issues in providing learning disability, and mental health In particular having a good knowledge of the Mental Health Act, the Mental Capacity Act, LeDeR and the Care Act. Respond to any crisis that a service user may Work autonomously and be responsible for the management of a caseload and delegation of work to support staff, as agreed through supervision.

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

To provide advice, guidance and support to nursing support workers. To be a clinical supervisor for and to provide supervision for nursing support workers, as agreed through supervision. To support Student Nurses on placement with the team, and to be a Practice Supervisor or Practice Assessor, as agreed through supervision.

Service Development and Improvement

To be involved in Service Evaluation, Audit and Service Development initiatives.

Communications

Maintain an excellent level of communication with service users and carers, using a range of verbal and non-verbal approaches and to respond sensitively to their needs. Maintain positive working relationships and clear communications with team colleagues, other professionals, and agencies. Provide a high standard of verbal and written communication. Adherence to all aspects of patient confidentiality, documentation and record keeping according to Trust and national

Health and Safety

The post holder has a duty of care to themselves and to others with whom they come into contact in the course of their work as laid down in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and any subsequent amendment or legislation.

Infection Control

All Trust staff will:

Act as a role model and champion for the highest standard of all aspects of infection prevention and control and implementation of all Infection Prevention and Control Trust polices and guidelines.

Demonstrate respect for the roles and endeavours of others, in implementing good standards of hand hygiene.

Value and recognise the ideas and contributions of colleagues in their endeavours to reduce the incidence of healthcare associated infection.

Equality and Diversity

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing an environment where all staff, service users and carers enjoy equality of access, provision, opportunity and outcomes.

The Trust works to eliminate all forms of discrimination and recognise that this requires, not only a commitment to remove discrimination, but also action through positive policies to redress inequalities.

Providing equality of opportunity means understanding and appreciating the diversity of our staff, service users & carers and ensuring a supportive environment free from harassment. As a result Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust actively encourages its staff to challenge discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for all.

Confidentiality

Employees must maintain confidentiality of staff, patients and Trust business and have a responsibility to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018 and be aware of the Caldicott principles. If you are required to process information, you should do so in a fair and lawful way, ensuring accuracy is maintained. You should hold information only for the specific registered purpose and not use or disclose it in any way incompatible with such a purpose. You should disclose information only to authorised persons or organisations as instructed. Breaches of confidentiality in relation to information will result in disciplinary action, which may include dismissal. Employees are expected to comply with all Trust policies and procedures and to work in accordance of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018. For those posts where there is management or supervision of other staff it is the responsibility of that employee to ensure that their staff receive appropriate training.

Standards of Business Conduct and Conflicts of Interest

The Trust has adopted a Standards of Conduct Policy, which reflects NHS Management Executive Guidelines. It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure that they act as a role model, by upholding the principle of a leading mental Trust. Staff should be informing their line manager if they are working for any other organisation to ensure that this Trust complies with the Working Time Regulations.

Information and Records Management

The post holder must be competent in using IT and have the relevant skills to carry out the activities required for the post.

To comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Department of Health Code of Confidentiality in line with Trust procedures.

To adhere to the Trusts policies on records management including creation, use, storing and retention and disposal of records.

Adhere to the Trusts Corporate Identity (using the standard templates available on the Trust intranet HIVE).

Safeguarding Adults and Children

The Trust is committed to ensuring adults and children are protected and come to no harm from abuse. All employees have a responsibility to be aware of national and local policies, their individual responsibilities with regards to the protection and safeguarding of both adults and children, and must adhere to them at all times.

Organisational Change

As services develop and change, the post holder may be required to undertake other responsibilities within the Trust.

Flexible Working

The Trust believes that its staff members are its most valuable asset and is committed to attracting and retaining the very best, and utilising all the talent and experience available. The Trust recognises the importance of helping its employees balance their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements that enable them to balance their working life with other priorities, including parental and other caring responsibilities, life-long learning, charity work, leisure activities and other interests.

Health and Safety

Health and Safety at Work In accordance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) and other relevant Health and Safety legislation, staff have a duty to take responsible care to avoid injury to themselves and others by their work activities, to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees and to co-operate in meeting statutory requirements

Review

This job description is an outline, which reflects the present requirements of the post and is not intended to be an inflexible or finite list of duties and responsibilities. As these duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

Essential

Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse (RNLD) qualification. Registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council

Desirable

ENB 998 or Mentorship and Support in Professional Practice. Post-graduate qualification related to a specialist LD clinical area of practice.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Essential

Experience of working with people with learning disabilities.

Desirable

Experience of working as part of a team.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY

Essential

Ability to complete Nursing Assessment and formulate Care Plans. Ability to provide advice and support about various health care needs to people with a learning disability, their carers and other professionals Ability to prioritise, manage and organise workload effectively and efficiently. Knowledge of current developments in meeting the health needs of people with learning disabilities. Knowledge of relevant legislation, research and developments in relation to learning disability.

Desirable

Mental health knowledge/experience.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Essential

The ability to interact and communicate effectively, positively and productively with service users, carers and other professionals, both verbally and in writing.

---