Nursing Associate Complex Physical Health

Job overview

The Nursing Associate will deliver high quality, compassionate care, for people with learning disabilities to ensure their physical health needs are met. The Nursing Associate will work alongside the Complex Physical Health Nursing Team, based at Queen Mary’s Hospital and in close partnerships with the Multi-disciplinary Team, primary and secondary care services.

The Nursing Associate will be competent to carry out tasks independently, within the scope of their registration. They will be supervised by the Registered Nurse. The Nursing Associate will have completed a set of competency assessments that supports their practice and will also further develop their knowledge and skills in line with the Health Education England Competency Framework for Physical Health (2020).

Main duties of the job

The Nursing Associate will support the Complex Physical Health nursing team to meet the needs of adults with a learning disability. They will develop their clinical skills with a focus on compassionate and person-centred care.

The Nursing Associate will carry out comprehensive nursing assessments with the nursing team, along with a thorough medical history, and will assess vital signs as well as become familiar with completing MUST forms when assessing BMI.

The Nursing Associate will support in developing person centred plans for service users, taking into consideration any risks associated with their physical health, and support the service user to access health services relevant to their individual needs.

The Nursing Associate will work independently under the leadership of the registered nurses working to their nationally recognised code of conduct at all times, as well as complying with trust policies and procedures.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• The post holder will help develop and deliver physical health clinics with a focus on compassionate and personalised care.
• Ability to complete comprehensive physical health assessments and be competent to assess BMI, vital signs such as: blood pressure and complete monitoring forms such as MUST screening.
• The ability to take a medical history, including family history and enquire about lifestyle issues such as smoking, alcohol and non-prescribed drug use.
• The ability to enquire and to follow up where needed on uptake of national screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel screening where indicated.
• The ability to follow up on personalised care planning, engagement and psychosocial support and discuss with the team the challenges if this is not being met.
• Ability to provide quality care that is responsive to service user’s needs, with supervision available but not always present, and acting on own initiative, within policies and protocols.
• Administration tasks including recording on clinical records and communicating with primary and secondary care.
• Involvement in group work, activities, and workshops, holding a small caseload.
• To work independently under the leadership of registered nurses, working to their nationally recognised code of conduct and Standards of Proficiency for Nursing Associates. To work as part of the multidisciplinary team.
• To communicate effectively, with sensitivity and compassion, and to manage relationships with people, making reasonable adjustments where necessary.
• Ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times.
• Monitor the condition and health needs of people within their care on a continual basis in partnership with the members of the MDT team, families and carers.
• To complete nursing risk assessments using recognised risk assessment tools.
• Contribute to the planning of care delivery in association with the Registered Nurse.
• Demonstrate the ability to recognise changing priorities seeking advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating, or handing over responsibility for care.
• Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
• Identify risks to safety or experience and take appropriate action, putting the best interests, needs and preferences of people first.
• Assist in the implementation of appropriate action to meet the specific physical, emotional and psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of individuals and carers
• Demonstrate good understanding of principles of consent and ensure valid consent is obtained  prior to undertaking nursing and care procedures.
• Support people to improve and maintain their mental, physical, behavioural health and wellbeing
• Be actively involved in the prevention of and protection against disease and ill health.
• To work flexibly to meet critical short term and long-term deadlines.
• To act sensitively at all times in ensuring that concerns of staff, patients and relatives are dealt with sympathetically.
• Use frequent moderate effort when undertaking carrying out the manual handling of individuals and equipment in line with organisational guidelines
• Use skills of manual dexterity and manipulation of clinical equipment
• Use a combination of standing, walking and bending throughout the shif