Job summary
Up to hours per week.
This is a rolling advert.Please contact the Recruiting Manager before applying.
The role requires positivity and excellent communication, leadership, and caseload management abilities. You will need to demonstrate integrity and initiative, sound clinical knowledge with evidenced based practice and the ability to support the team, approaching your work in a coordinated way
We work integrated with primary care, adult social care, therapists, urgent & intermediate care services alongside our specialist services informing our ageing well MDTs which facilitates shaping our future to deliver great quality care for housebound individuals.
We strive to maximise wellbeing, improve health outcomes and patient experience, and support people to remain at home. Through expert advice and clinical support and treatment, promoting the optimum quality of life. Whilst providing an effective and efficient service delivery, utilising health promotion, wound, medication, and continence management
If you have an interest in community nursing, preventing hospital admissions, and caring for people with complex long-term disease, through to the last stages of their life, this role is for you
We provide opportunity for continued learning and career progression, if this ignited your interest we would like to hear from you.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.
All LW staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
Main duties of the job
To be a Nurse Associate your role is vital in terms of coordinating peoples care through holistic evidence-based best practice in accordance with National and Organisational approved polices/procedures.
You will be required to be an autonomous practitioner and a role model. Supporting the Community Registered Nurses and Sister/Charge Nurse in their absence.
Manage sensitive issues and overcome obstacles in communication.
You be required to undertake a robust induction, allocated a mentor to support your learning to develop in your role.
We offer training in line with the required competencies for you to build on your knowledge, experience, and skills. You will be expected to undertake continued learning with accessibility to accredited courses.
You will need to provide a high standard of nursing care within their scope of practice as delegated by the Senior Nurse on duty.
To work under the indirect supervision of a Registered Nurse and continue to develop and undertake a range of delegated tasks independently.
Have sound knowledge and judgement providing evidence-based medicine and wound management. Pressure ulcer prevention and continence management, palliative, and end of life care.
Have a full driving licence and the ability to travel across Plymouth.
Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise providing integrated health & social care services for people across Plymouth, South Hams & West Devon, as well as some specialist services for people living in parts of Devon & Cornwall. With teams in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, health & wellbeing hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we always value being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. Transforming services to make them sustainable, ensuring that we value, support & empower each other.
We are committed to involving the people we care for, families & carers in everything that we do, working towards co-production where we can. Helping us to deliver the right care for people, in the right place & at the right time. By putting people at the centre of what we do, we ensure to support people to lead, healthy independent lives & be the very best at helping people to live well.
Valuing our employees making an investment in their development a priority. We offer:
Protected CPD time for registered staff
Various development pathways and ongoing regular training packages for all staff
Leadership & mentoring programmes
Access & funding for training including Care Certificate, Assistant Practitioners Course & Scholarship Into Nurse Training
A Robust Preceptorship
A bespoke induction programme
Existing members of the NHS Pension Scheme can continue their membership when they join the organisation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
1. The Nursing Associate will work as part of a team, delivering health and social care that focuses on the holistic needs of service users.
2. They will carry out specific clinical tasks and responsibilities as delegated by registered practitioners
Job Summary
3. Manage a defined group of patients under the indirect supervision of a Registered Nurse, using evidence based/client centred principles to undertake a range of delegated tasks independently: assess, plan, implement, evaluate interventions and contribute to the service provision.
4. To take responsibility for planned/defined tasks as required.
5. To plan and undertake clinical tasks guided by standard operating procedures and protocols.
6. To delegate work to support worker staff as required.
7. To supervise and line manage band 2/3 staff and undertake the ongoing supervision of the routine work of others.
8. Take responsibility for the training of others and may be required to deliver training
Tasks:
9. To be responsible for the comprehensive assessment, planning, treatment and evaluation of a group of patients under the appropriate delegation from a registered practitioner and in close liaison with patient/carer.
10. To give compassionate, holistic evidence based practice to patients in the Community in line with national and organisational approved policies / procedures and individual care plans.
11. Undertakes delegated clinical skills within their role having once undertaken relevant training, deemed competent and adhere to standard operating procedures.
12. Monitor the condition and health needs of people within their care on a continual basis in partnership with people, families, and the Multidisciplinary Team
13. To demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of conditions relevant to the clinical area.
14. Observes any changes in the patient’s condition, manages these changes in line with scope and competence, reporting findings to the most appropriate clinician in a timely manner. In the event of a change in patient status, is able to safely decide whether to proceed with treatment (including medicines administration) and/or seeks support from a registered nurse to decide.
15. Safely uses a range of non invasive and invasive interventions whether therapeutic, technological or pharmacological, within the defined scope of the role
16. Implements the goal planning process and outcome measures used in the clinical area to review progress of the patient.
17. Administers medication within scope of practice, competency and as delegated by the registered nurse.
18. Support people to improve and maintain their mental, physical, behavioural health and wellbeing
19. To educate patients and carers regarding the impact of cognitive, perceptual and physical deficits on patient’s safety and independence
20. active involvement in the prevention of and protection against disease and ill health
21. To plan, organise and lead when delegated both formal and informal treatments and health education activities for both patients and carers.
22. contribute to ongoing assessment recognising when it is necessary to refer to others for reassessment
23. Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions
24. recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes
25. Prioritise the day to day management of own caseload/ workload delegating activities to junior staff as appropriate
26. engage in public health, community development, and in the reduction of health inequalities and increased self-management
27. To act as the patient's advocate and, by providing information and support, facilitate the patient's own choices in conjunction with carers and other agencies where relevant.
28. To undertake specifically identified administrative and clerical tasks associated with patient care which facilitate the efficient running of the ward/department.
Service specific tasks and responsibilities.
This should align with the service essential skills framework and relevant clinical competencies which can be located via the link below :
29. Assessment and holistic patient centred care
30. Wound Care including pressure ulcer management
31. Bowel/ continence management
32. Medicines management
33. Ear syringing
34. Care of the dying patient end of life
This list is not exhaustive and aligns with clinical competency and role specification as above.
Knowledge, training and experience
(See person specification for qualifications/equivalent experience)
35. Demonstrate knowledge of the scope of practice of the Nursing Associate role within different care settings
36. Identify personal development needs that ensure acquisition of knowledge, skills and competency to undertake the care and treatment responsibilities assigned
37. Carry out Continuing Professional Development by seeking to develop and improve practical and theoretical knowledge, competence and skills
38. Maintaining Nursing & Midwifery Council registration by adhering to all requirements regarding Standards, Proficiencies and the revalidation process.
Communication and relationships
39. Communicate in a clear manner that is consistent with relevant legislation, policies, procedures and service needs.
40. Communicate effectively across a wide range of channels and with a wide range of individuals, the public, health and social care professionals, maintaining the focus of communication on delivering and improving health and care services
41. Liaise and communicate effectively with others of different backgrounds and levels of understanding
42. Demonstrate those inter-personal skills that promote clarity, compassion, empathy, respect and trust
43. Contribute to team success and challenge others constructively
44. Report to appropriate registered care professional information received from the individuals, carers and members of the team
45. Ensure all patient related information is treated sensitively and adhere to the principles of confidentiality at all times
46. Report any accidents or incidents as per organisational policy
47. Ensure clear, concise, accurate and legible records and all communication is maintained in relation to care delivered adhering to local and national guidance
48. To record and report regularly on patient progress and treatment to the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) and handovers.
49. Constructively manage barriers to communication.
50. To attend and participate in case conferences, ward meetings, handovers and forums appropriate to the clinical setting / role / service needs.
51. Liaise with and ensure good communication with statutory/voluntary bodies to establish a comprehensive package to ensure continuation of care.
52. Provide an opportunity and respond to patients and carers to enable them to express their feelings and whilst encouraging acceptance and adjustment to their new circumstances.
53. To communicate effectively with patients and carers recognising the need for a wide range of verbal and non verbal communication methods with patients who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating and who may be low in mood and lack insight.
Improving safety and quality of care:
54. Improve the quality of care by helping to monitor people’s experience
55. To maintain an up to date record of all patient contact, MDT care plans, assessments and reports whilst ensuring confidentiality at all times.
56. To comply with legislation, policies, procedures and other quality approaches relevant to the work being undertaken.
57. To use and maintain resources efficiently and effectively.
58. Works within the limits of own competence and responsibility and refers issues beyond these limits to the relevant people
59. Ensures problems are reported in a timely manner whilst being solution-focused.
60. To demonstrate leadership skills and role modelling through the management of designated projects.
61. To contribute to the safety and quality agenda including research, audit and service evaluation.
62. To actively contribute to service development / improvement plans.
63. Contribute to the improvement of service by reflecting on own practice and supporting that of others
64. Regularly attend workplace and staff engagement meetings and contribute positively to discussions about the improvement of care
65. Contributes to reporting caseload management
66. When indicated, carries out whistleblowing or activities designed to safeguard vulnerable individuals in line with best practice, policy and legislation
67. Advocate the role of the Nursing associate
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
68. Experience of and the ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
69. Ability to work independently with a delegated caseload, use initiative whilst understanding limits of scope
70. Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information
71. Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
72. Conducts clinical tasks within Nursing Associate scope of practice to a high level of competency
73. Ability to support the development of less experienced staff
74. Fully Competent
75. Line manages and supervises day to day activity of support workers
76. Provides clinical supervision for less experienced staff
Qualifications
Essential
77. Registered Nursing Associate on the NMC register
78. Foundation Degree (FdSc in Healthcare Practice (Nursing Associate)
79. Care Certificate or equivalent
80. GCSEs Grade A-C (Grades 4-7) in Maths and English or Functional Skills level 2 in Maths and English
Behavioural Attributes & Competencies
Essential
81. Ability to work on own initiative
82. Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload
83. Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
84. Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues
85. Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
86. Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting.
87. Courteous, respectful and helpful at all times
88. Evidence of time management skills and ability to prioritise
89. Commits to maintaining personal development and meeting requirements of revalidation
90. Meets requirements of all Nursing & Midwifery standards
91. Ability to communicate with members of the public and health care providers
92. Ability to deal with non-routine and unpredictable nature of the workload and individual patient contact
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
93. Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice contained within The Code, including requirements for professional Revalidation.
94. Understanding of evidence based practice
95. Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans
96. Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice
97. Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
98. Intermediate IT skills
99. Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing
100. Evidence of recent work-based learning or self-directed learning