Nursing Associate

Job summary

TheNursing Associate reports into the Clinical lead for Community Services and is amember of the multi-disciplinary team, working across health and social careboundaries. A nursing associate is a member of the nursing team that helpsbridge the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses.

Main duties of the job

The Nursing Associatedelivers compassionate, high quality, and patient-centred care to individualsfacing life limiting illnesses. The role involves supporting the nursing teamin providing holistic care that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritualneeds of patients and their families. The Nursing Associate is responsible forassisting with day-to-day clinical tasks, ensuring comfort, dignity, andrespect for patients in their final stages of life. By working collaborativelywith multidisciplinary teams, the Nursing Associate helps to create asupportive and nurturing environment, enhancing the quality of life forpatients and providing crucial support to their loved ones.

About us

St Giles Hospice is a registered charity founded in 1983 by the Reverend Paul Brothwell, originally to improve the care of local people dyingwith cancer. We now support people in our community whose illnesses may not be curable such as cancer, motor neurone disease, heart failure, MS and respiratory disease. We also offer support for families and helpers.

Our dedicated team provides individually-tailored care either at the hospice or in patients own homes across our communities.

The range of specialist services is provided free of charge to those who need it. Although St Giles receives some funding from the Government, we rely heavily on donations and fundraising.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role entails but is not limited to:

Clinical/Service Specific

Make judgements on patients response to prescribed treatment/care plans, and report findings to a qualified professional in line with competency framework.

Overcome barriers to understanding, patients with hearing or cognitive impairment.

Communicate with patients/carers by exchanging factual information, reassurance, tact and empathy.

Establish and maintain appropriate working relationships with colleagues, patients, carers and other health care professionals.

Be responsible for ensuring equipment is used safely, following relevant training and that it is maintained appropriately.

Work under guidance on specified tasks, taking direction from registered and non-registered staff as appropriate, with regular clinical support and supervision by a qualified practitioner.

Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of consent and gain consent as appropriate following organisational policies.

Attend relevant external and internal courses to extend knowledge or gain relevant skills to improve clinical practice as identified in the appraisal process.

Utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies at all times, including when exposed to bodily fluids, infected material and blood products.

Attend meetings as required.

Ensuring patients personal care is provided and highlighting areas of concerns such as pressure areas and reporting any changes to professional.

Work within the wider disciplinary team and recognise own role within it.

Promote patient independence and self-management.

Provide and maintain a safe, comfortable and dignified environment for all patients and carers.

To practice the principles and philosophy of individualised patient care in accordance with St Giles Hospice policy, procedures and regulatory bodys guidelines.

To maintain appropriate and timely documentation of each patient contact (ensuring these are recorded on the electronic patient record within 24 hours).

Plan and prioritise own visits to delegated patients, (and ensure these are documented on the electronic patient record).

Ensuring patients personal care is provided, as appropriate.

To assist in the implementation of audit processes under direction from registered staff.

Triage and coordinate referrals to the Hospice at Home Service.

Review patient needs and plan care for the individual requirements of patients referred to the service.

Coordinate Hospice at Home visits to patients, ensuring individual care plans are communicated to staff, patients and their family/carer.

Consider any reported risks, document clearly on the patient record and update staff before visits, providing appropriate guidance.

Evaluate the outcome of visits, amend care plans as necessary and inform relevant staff of any changes to care needs.

Liaise with internal and external colleagues regarding the Hospice at Home service, Marie Curie, Care agencies, District Nurses, Community Team etc

Complete CQC notification of any patient death where Hospice at Home have been present.

Alongside the Clinical Lead, agree, coordinate and communicate any amendment to the staff duty rota in order to ensure provision of service is maintained.

Health and Safety

To take responsibility for the health & safety of themselves and other persons who may be affected by their omissions or actions at work.

To promote St Giles Hospice Health and Safety policy and ensure matters are managed in accordance with it.

To cooperate with St Giles Hospice to ensure that statutory and departmental regulations are adhered to.

Report accidents, incidents and near misses, implementing corrective action where necessary.

Infection Control and Hand Hygiene

To comply with St Giles Hospice policies for infection control such as hand hygiene, decontamination policy, uniform and work wear code and standard precautions policy to reduce the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs).

Employees with clinical responsibilities must incorporate into their clinical activities up to date evidence that supports safe infection control practices and procedures, such as the use of aseptic techniques and the safe disposal of sharps.

Training and Development

Participate in regular supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines and policy.

Attend all relevant mandatory training as appropriate.

Quality and Patient Safety

Promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Implementation of NICE guidance and other statutory/best practice guidelines (if appropriate).

Contribute to the identification, management and reduction of risk in the area of responsibility.

Ensure day-to-day practice reflects the highest standards of governance, clinical effectiveness, safety and patient experience.

Ensure monitoring of quality and compliance with standards is demonstrable within the service on an ongoing basis.

Be aware of the responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff.

Just so you know:

We may review applications before the applicationreview date, however, if you apply after the application review date, yourapplication may not be considered. We will accept applications until we havesuccessfully filled the role, this may be earlier than the closing date.

If you have not heard within 14 days of theapplication close date, then please consider that your application has beenunsuccessful at this time.

As part of your application your data will bemanaged in line with St Giles Hospice Privacy Policy and kept for 6 months. Ifyou would like to see this in full, please visit

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision Good communication skills Ability to use a range of communication strategies Ability to record messages and information in an accurate and concise way Work flexibly to accommodate patient/service needs Ability to work well within a team as well as individually Willingness to lone work in a community setting and adhering to the relevant policy Identify and manage risk for self and patient Well organised Observational skills Ability to manage self and workload Basic computer skills Professional attitude Caring, approachable and courteous manner Punctual and reliable Maintains confidentiality Honest Team Player Recognises peoples right to privacy and dignity, treating every person with respect

Other Requirements

Essential

The ability to kneel, bend & stoop, and work in cramped environments The ability to manoeuvre limbs The ability to manoeuvre patients using handling aids Able to travel around their work base locality Willingness to embrace integrated model and new ways of working Valid driving licence Eligibility to work in the UK Please note that St Giles Hospice does not hold a sponsorship licence and is therefore unable to accept sponsorship requests

Qualifications

Essential

NMC Registered Nursing Associate

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in a healthcare environment or care environment with palliative care

Desirable

Experience of using SystmOne or similar systems

Personal Attributes

Essential

Empathetic Positive approach to adult and older people Willingness to embrace integrated model and new ways of working Team player Able to work under pressure Collaborative Ambassador for St Giles Hospice

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