Community Nurse

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a Band 5 Community Nurse to join the Mid-Norfolk Community Nursing Team based in Dereham.

This friendly and busy team requires a keen and motivated Nurse to provide assessment and quality interventions to the population of patients restricted to receiving care in their homes.

You will be a registered nurse with skills in palliative / end of life care, wound care (including management of leg ulcers and pressure ulcers) for this vulnerable group of patients and a strong desire to further develop your community nursing skills and experience.

You will be required to work over a 7 day working week including weekends and be hard working, motivated, with excellent communication skills. You will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in holistic assessment, to demonstrate that you use your initiative and have a keen interest in working with this group of patients. You must hold a full and valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

You will support staff working at a band 3 and 4 level, along with students and apprentices.

This post is suitable for both newly qualified Nurses and experienced Nurses.

Main duties of the job

Job Purpose To contribute in the delivery of high standards of health care to patients within their own homes, care homes, the travelling community and in clinics, by assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating treatments.

Key Areas of Responsibility

To assess, prescribe and deliver interventions for patients, for example with long term conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation needs, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible. · To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital · To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital · To work with all health care professionals, and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical The post holder will: 1. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate all aspects of patient care, and develop care plans, using clinical reasoning skills, that may need to be delivered from a range of options. 2. Following a holistic assessment, devise an individualised, evidence-based care programme for each patient, modifying it as required. 3. Assess patients’ holistic needs, communicating complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan. 4. Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance. 5. Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patient’s cooperation in their care management plan. 6. Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately. 7. Be aware of assistive technology and utilise where appropriate. 8. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework. 9. Ensure own caseload is planned and prioritised according to service targets and patient need. 10. Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis. 11. Demonstrate dexterity and co-ordination when using specialist equipment and fine tools, advanced sensory skills, manual and mobilising skills. 12. Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems. 13. Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions. 14. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.

Professional – the post holder will: 15. Actively contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and other meetings where appropriate 16. Support all team members within the integrated team, respecting them, their roles and contributions 17. Be able to make own travel arrangements to patients’ homes, clinics, base and meetings etc as required 18. Be responsible for safe use and maintenance of equipment and supplies 19. Remain accountable for own professional actions as determined by the professional bodies 20. Provide advice/training to less experienced staff and supervise and support junior members of staff and students where appropriate; contributing to the induction process for new staff / students 21. Follow Trust policies, and local procedures, and use discretion in interpreting them according to the setting and circumstances 22. Comment on draft policies 23. Maintain own continued professional development 24. Ensure own workload is planned and prioritised 25. Be accountable for work delegated to others 26. Attend in-house training as required to develop current job role 27. Demonstrate leadership skills within own competence

Organisational – the post holder will: 28. Undertake mandatory training as required 29. Participate in a Personal Development Review process 30. Undertake Personal Development Plans for more junior staff members 31. Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy 32. Be required to demonstrate own duties to students, new starters and/or less experienced staff 33. Provide mentorship for students undertaking pre/post registration course 34. Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by Team Leader and Trust Policy 35. Contribute to clinical audit as required 36. Complete the staff survey as required 37. Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required