Associate Falls Specialist Nurse

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced clinician to join us in a secondment post for 6 to 12 months. This would be an ideal opportunity for a clinician with a passion for falls prevention who would like to broaden their knowledge and skills in a supportive and friendly team. The successful candidate will ideally already possess adult inpatient falls knowledge and understanding the risks associated with them.

Associate Falls Specialist Nurse sits within the Harm Free Care team in Bedfordshire hospitals.  You will be working within a small team with a cross site lead nurse.  This position is based on the Bedford site but there may be a requirement of working closely with and supporting the team on both sites.

The post holder is expected to work as an autonomous practitioner and effectively co-ordinate and deliver enhanced falls prevention strategies within the field and under the supervision of the Lead Nurse for Falls Prevention.

To liaise in collaboration with other health professionals within Bedfordshire Hospital Trust.

You will disseminate specialist's skills and knowledge through teaching sessions to patients, carers, nurses and managers  as well as assisting in formal study days when needed.

Main duties of the job

To support the Trusts compliance with the National Falls & Fragility Audit programme, RCP and NHS England guidance for acute hospitals.

To support a pro-active multifaceted approach to falls prevention and management primarily within the Trust, liaising with all members of the multidisciplinary team.

To support the delivery of education for the multi-professional staff on falls prevention to ensure implementation of the agreed pathways of care and to reduce the risk/ incidence and management of falls

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To support ward staff in the management and use of assistive technology to reduce falls risk. Through supervision and support develop the skills to analyse and respond to complex situations utilising specialist knowledge to assess a range of options to formulate solutions and recommendations

Adhere to professional code of conduct acting as a role model at all times through the promotion of visible leadership. Under the Lead Falls CNS supervision to support staff to carry out root cause analysis on patient falls.

To provide expert nursing advice and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals. Both at ward level and in clinic settings.

To participate in internal meetings e.g. Trust Falls Steering group, Ward Sisters meetings, Patient Safety group

To participate in relevant forums in the Trust, or at national level to represent the service perspective.