Job Description
We are looking for enthusiastic, innovative and engaging individuals, who have a passion for the delivery of high quality patient care within the community. The candidates will have to be able to prioritise their own workload without supervision, have an excellent patient focussed approach and be able to use their initiative as well as work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Our General Acute Medicine and Frailty Virtual Ward is a new and innovative Service, that has an agreed admission criteria and works in partnership with supporting care services to deliver acute care in the patient’s own home. The aim of a virtual ward is to reduce length of acute hospital stay and/or avoid hospital admission; this leads to quicker recovery and reduces disruption to patients’, and their carers’ lives. This means we can proactively manage people living with frailty at home, and for those that have a sub-acute episode we can improve a patient’s experience and outcomes. In addition, this means we have more space in our hospitals for acutely unwell patients and reduces the pressure on urgent care.
As part of the Virtual Ward Team the post holder will be responsible for the clinical assessment of the needs, development of programmes of care, and for the implementation and evaluation of these programmes for patients and their relatives.
To provide a high standard of clinical nursing within the ward / department
To manage a group of patients
To take charge of the ward when rostered and assessed as competent to take on the roles and responsibilities of leadership and supervision
To act as a role model to Nursing Associates, Healthcare Support Workers, students and trainees To present a positive, professional image of the organisation and of the nursing team. Participate in MDTs and Board Rounds
May supervise / assess clinical support workers
May participate in case review meetings
This post is part of the Acute Care at Home service which is responsible for the Unscheduled Care Co Ordination Centre (UCCC), Community Rapid Intervention Service (CRIS) and the Community Virtual Ward Service (CVWS)
Key Areas/Tasks• Communicating using a range of methods to ensure a caring, sensitive and empathetic manner to patients and their relatives.
- Communicating sensitive information about patients to other members of the health care team and with the consent of the patient to their relatives.
- Demonstrating excellent communication skills when dealing with difficult situations provide clear and concise patient handover to other members of the team.
- Escalating concerns in a patient’s condition to senior members of the nursing team, medical staff Initiate referrals to other members of the healthcare team.
- Reporting Virtual Ward and departmental affairs to the Senior Nurse Coordinator/Practitioner or the Advanced Clinical Nurse Practitioner and to participate in discussions and ward meetings.
- Ensuring that patients concerns are addressed through liaison with senior staff.
- Communicating in a professional manner with all patients and visitors to the ward /department.
- Promoting equality and diversity ensuring that the individual needs of the patients and their families are recognised.
- Taking personal responsibility for ensuring communication relating to patient discharge is accurate.
- It is expected that ALL employees of the Trust will take part in the appraisal process each year with the first appraisal taking place within the first 6 months from appointment
- The post hold will demonstrate the skills for assessing and interpreting specialist, acute and other patient conditions, initiating actions as appropriate.
- Can prioritise workload to manage the care of a group of patients.
- When rostered in charge, to take action to ensure safe staffing levels on each shift.
- Undertaking Digital Assessments in the patients that will support with remote monitoring and supporting the patients
- When rostered in charge have an overview of all patients on the ward, receiving handover on all patients and able to give advice to other staff member
- Having digital dexterity to manage fine movements regarding treatments and equipment such as cannulation, medication administration and clinical procedures.
- Be responsible for the assessment of needs, development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of patient care in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of Professional Conduct and reflect the Trust’s policies, procedures, standards and guidelines.
- To facilitate the admission and discharge of patients liaising with other agencies to ensure continuity of care between hospital and community.
- Ensure the delivery of holistic patient care recognising the individual needs of patients and their relatives.
- To have a working knowledge of the policies and procedures of the University Hospitals of North Midlands (NHS) Trust, and an ability to perform against those policies Responsible for the security, proper and safe use of all Trust equipment.
- To be responsible for the maintenance of equipment within the ward or department with regular checking of all equipment and ensuring that repairs are performed as soon as possible.
- Assisting in the management of resources by participating in the selection, ordering and monitoring of departmental stock items, keeping within the financial constraints of the allocated budget.
- Ensuring the safe keeping of patients property and valuables inline with Trust Policy.
- Participating in clinical supervision and reflective practice participate in teaching and supervision of students, nursing assistants, apprentice nursing assistants, Trainee Assistant Practitioners and Trainee Nursing Associates
- As a shift leader provide support, supervision and direction to clinical colleagues by acting as a professional, credible role model.
- Maintain accurate records relating to a patients condition.
- Ensure that nursing activities are evidence based.
- Undertaking surveys as necessary to own work / complex surveys relating to the project.
- Participating in maintaining and monitoring standards of care to the optimum level
- Working autonomously. Required to act independently within appropriate guidelines, deciding when it is necessary to refer to their manager.
- Will be required to be able to undertake a range of manual procedures including assistance with the movement of patients and equipment
- To be able to manoeuvre between patient’s quickly to ensure emergency situations can be attended in a timely fashion.
- Concentration for writing care plans. Ability to interpret complex information when there may be frequent, unplanned interruptions throughout the shift.
- May be exposed to distressing circumstances around breaking bad news, dealing with bereaved relatives.
- Office conditions / VDU use.
- Frequent exposure to body fluid and unpleasant odours during the delivery of direct patient care
- Taking every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competence
- Maintaining your live NMC registration and revalidation
- Be expected to work in other areas within the Trust as required to support staffing issues.
Person specification
Essential Qualifications
Essential criteria• Registered Nurse on NMC register
Desirable criteria• Recognised qualification in teaching and assessing
Knowledge Skill, Training & Experience
Essential criteria• Good communication skills
- Experience of conducting clinical assessments, providing treatment to patients as outlined in the patients Treatment/Care Plan
- Has experience as a student or registered nurse in an Acute hospital setting or community setting
- Is able to recount / discuss the requirements for high standard of care
- Ability to use a computer to record and save patient information
Desirable criteria• Experience of multidisciplinary working
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria• Able to use own initiative
- Ability to work as part of a team and working autonomously
- Good communication skills
- Reliability
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