Job summary Are you a dedicated healthcare professional with a passion for improving the quality of care for older people? Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to join our team as a Dementia Specialist Practitioner. In this pivotal role, you will work in a multi-professional Dementia Team and collaborate closely with the Lead Nurse for Dementia & Older People to enhance and sustain high-quality demetia care and education. As a Dementia Specialist Practitioner, you will contribute to a culture of continuous quality improvement and participate in monitoring activities related to dementia, delirium, risk reduction and other fundamentals of care. You should have a minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience in an acute hospital setting, along with professional registration and a bachelors degree in a healthcare-related subject. If you are ready to make a positive impact on the care of older people and meet the qualifications and experience criteria, we look forward to hearing from you. Main duties of the job To work as part of a multidisciplinary team providing specialist support within the Acute Trust in relation to the care and treatment of patients with older people and those with dementia and/or delirium. To deliver formal and informal staff training and education. To contribute to the organisation of dementia patient centred care. To provide expert relevant clinical advice and support to other health professionals, patients and their carers. To support the development and implementation of best practice within evidence-based dementia care. To provide a specialist role in the assessment and management of patients with dementia and/or delirium. To provide key support and an educational resource for any qualified and unqualified nursing staff, allied health professionals, junior doctors and students Trust wide. To manage a patient caseload where patients require specialist clinical input to support their journey. To engage in local and national audits related to dementia care. To play a key role in ensuring that national and local targets for dementia/delirium are met. About us Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond. The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them. We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do. Our objectives are simple: Best services for local people Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients Best use of resources Best people Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system. We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer. Date posted 22 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time Reference number C9365-25-0031 Job locations Charles Hastings Way Worcester Worcestershire WR5 1DD The Alexandra Hospital Woodrow Drive Redditch Worcestershire B987UB Job description Job responsibilities Post Title: Dementia Specialist Practitioner Pay Band: 6 Hours:Full Time 23.5 hours per week Contract: Permanent Location / Department:Dementia Team, Corporate Nursing Accountable to:Deputy CNO Reports to:Lead Nurse for Dementia & Older People Key Working Relationships: Line Manager Matrons Geriatricians and their medical teams Divisional Directors of Nursing Nursing staff Trust wide Multidisciplinary Professionals including Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Dieticians and Social Workers Onward Care Team Adult Safeguarding Team Patient Experience Team, patients, relatives and carers Older Adult Mental Health Liaison Nurses Clinicians and managers within Acute Trust IT, Information, Estates and Catering within Acute Trust External Worcestershire Health & Care Trust Memory Services Health & Social Care Professionals working in the Primary Care, Community Hospitals and Social Services. General Practitioners and members of their multi-professional teams Professionals and carers working in the community including residential settings Patients, carers and relatives attending the outpatient setting and for ongoing support following discharge from hospital Voluntary organisations University of Worcester, Association for Dementia Studies Royal Colleges Risk Assessment: This post requires some manual handling activities e.g., assisting patients with sitting up, moving up the bed, and sitting out in a chair, physical support when walking. Assessing patients with dementia/delirium requires advanced communication skills and empathy. It is emotionally distressing at times. Frequent use of VDU. Job Purpose: To work as part of a multidisciplinary team providing specialist support within the Acute Trust in relation to the care and treatment of patients with older people and those with dementia and/or delirium. To deliver formal and informal staff training and education. To contribute to the organisation of dementia patient centred care. To provide expert relevant clinical advice and support to other health professionals, patients and their carers. To support the development and implementation of best practice within evidence-based dementia care. To provide a specialist role in the assessment and management of patients with dementia and/or delirium. To provide key support and an educational resource for any qualified and unqualified nursing staff, allied health professionals, junior doctors and students Trust wide. To manage a patient caseload where patients require specialist clinical input to support their journey. To engage in local and national audits related to dementia care. To play a key role in ensuring that national and local targets for dementia/delirium are met. Key Duties: Clinical/Professional: To identify those patients with dementia, cognitive impairment and delirium who require further investigation. To ensure staff are educated to commence patients diagnosed with dementia and/or delirium is commenced on the Dementia/Delirium Care Bundle. To ensure medical staff and practitioners completing electronic discharge summaries for patients with suspected dementia, make a referral for further investigation made to their GP on discharge. To promote a culture that encourages families / carers to work in partnership with staff, to enhance the wellbeing of the person in support of Johns Campaign. To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with complex and multi-pathological presentations of dementia/delirium using specialised skills. To act as a source of information and provide advice regarding patients care and management to medical, nursing and therapy colleagues within the health care setting. To contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and support patients journeys through and discharge from the acute setting. To proactively engage in the development of care of older people and dementia in line with the Trust Dementia Strategy. To deliver dementia training in accordance with the NHS England Dementia Core Skills Education and Training Framework to all staff groups via appropriate training sessions e.g Trust Induction, Nurse Preceptorship, Care Certificate, other study days and conferences. To assess patients mental capacity, gain valid consent and work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment e.g., when prescribing or discussing future care options To ensure that there is clear and concise reporting, oral and written information regarding the care and wellbeing of patients. To discuss with senior colleagues the development and changes, both nursing and medical, which affect patients directly and indirectly. Establish and maintain communication with people about routine and daily activities over coming any differences in communication between the people involved. To liaise effectively with other members of the multi-professional team to ensure a high standard of co-ordinated care to the patient To engage with patients and carers to ensure a high standard of co-ordinated patient care and improved patient experience. To lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and skills in the clinical area To attend professional meetings and study sessions as appropriate and keep an up to date professional portfolio. To maintain NMC registration and achieve any related competencies To maintain own continuing professional development in line with clinical governance, local guidelines and national standards To work within the regulations contained in the professional code of conduct To be responsible for maintaining own competence through self-directed learning and reflective practice To be legally and professionally accountable for all aspects of own work To develop plans to gain patients and carers views on service provision and to ensure that these inform future service development initiatives To participate in research, audit and clinical effectiveness projects, in particular Royal College of Psychiatrists National Audit of Dementia and Trust internal audits. To ensure that patient confidentiality, privacy and dignity are maintained at all times. Education: To contribute to and support the Lead Nurse for Dementia & Older People in policy writing, review and service development. To be appraised by the Line Manager at least once a year, agree personal objectives to be achieved and formulate a personal development plan. To keep up to date with new developments within dementia and delirium care, evidence based practice, ensuring that staff caring for people with dementia are kept informed. To take an active part in multi-professional staff development and assist in developing robust in-service training programmes both as a provider, and when appropriate as a participant To educate patients, and where indicated, their relatives or carers, regarding their diagnosis, management plan and any self-help strategies To participate in all annual mandatory training provided by the Trust To develop/review care pathways to ensure timely progression of patients through from the acute hospital assessment and discharge. To identify training needs, develop and implement training programmes for health care professionals Clinical Governance: In conjunction with other members of the Dementia Team, set, maintain and monitor standards of patient care. To support the development, implementation and review of policies and procedures related to dementia/delirium, delivering a consistent evidenced based approach to care of older people in Worcestershire in line with NSF and NICE guidelines Participate in clinical audit including the Royal College of Psychiatrists National Audit of Dementia (NAD). To maintain own professional development working at all times within the professional codes and hospital guidelines To monitor dementia care standards at WAHT, problem solve, action plan and escalate issues Patient/Carer Support/Involvement Develop close working relationships with voluntary groups e.g. The Alzheimers Society, Admiral Nurses, Worcestershire Association of Carers Provide support to lay people involved in Patient User Groups Personal/Professional Responsibilities: To ensure the health and safety of staff, patients and visitors, reporting actual or potential problems promptly To identify actual or potential clinical risks and take appropriate action, using the appropriate reporting structures when appropriate To ensure that policies and procedures are adhered to, clinical guidelines and care pathways are followed To ensure that patient records and documents are kept and maintained in line with NMC and Trust standards To undertake continuing professional development to ensure both clinical and specialist skills are updated Leadership/Management: To play a key role for Dementia care within WAHT supporting others in caring for patients with dementia, assisting in the delivery of the organisational and National agenda. To participate in clinical audit, service audits, research and development, to progress services delivery as appropriate To advise ward staff on ordering and use of appropriate equipment Strategic/Service Development: Review/development of evidence based care underpinned by national guidelines in Dementia Participate in service development meetings. Job description Job responsibilities Post Title: Dementia Specialist Practitioner Pay Band: 6 Hours:Full Time 23.5 hours per week Contract: Permanent Location / Department:Dementia Team, Corporate Nursing Accountable to:Deputy CNO Reports to:Lead Nurse for Dementia & Older People Key Working Relationships: Line Manager Matrons Geriatricians and their medical teams Divisional Directors of Nursing Nursing staff Trust wide Multidisciplinary Professionals including Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Dieticians and Social Workers Onward Care Team Adult Safeguarding Team Patient Experience Team, patients, relatives and carers Older Adult Mental Health Liaison Nurses Clinicians and managers within Acute Trust IT, Information, Estates and Catering within Acute Trust External Worcestershire Health & Care Trust Memory Services Health & Social Care Professionals working in the Primary Care, Community Hospitals and Social Services. General Practitioners and members of their multi-professional teams Professionals and carers working in the community including residential settings Patients, carers and relatives attending the outpatient setting and for ongoing support following discharge from hospital Voluntary organisations University of Worcester, Association for Dementia Studies Royal Colleges Risk Assessment: This post requires some manual handling activities e.g., assisting patients with sitting up, moving up the bed, and sitting out in a chair, physical support when walking. Assessing patients with dementia/delirium requires advanced communication skills and empathy. It is emotionally distressing at times. Frequent use of VDU. Job Purpose: To work as part of a multidisciplinary team providing specialist support within the Acute Trust in relation to the care and treatment of patients with older people and those with dementia and/or delirium. To deliver formal and informal staff training and education. To contribute to the organisation of dementia patient centred care. To provide expert relevant clinical advice and support to other health professionals, patients and their carers. To support the development and implementation of best practice within evidence-based dementia care. To provide a specialist role in the assessment and management of patients with dementia and/or delirium. To provide key support and an educational resource for any qualified and unqualified nursing staff, allied health professionals, junior doctors and students Trust wide. To manage a patient caseload where patients require specialist clinical input to support their journey. To engage in local and national audits related to dementia care. To play a key role in ensuring that national and local targets for dementia/delirium are met. Key Duties: Clinical/Professional: To identify those patients with dementia, cognitive impairment and delirium who require further investigation. To ensure staff are educated to commence patients diagnosed with dementia and/or delirium is commenced on the Dementia/Delirium Care Bundle. To ensure medical staff and practitioners completing electronic discharge summaries for patients with suspected dementia, make a referral for further investigation made to their GP on discharge. To promote a culture that encourages families / carers to work in partnership with staff, to enhance the wellbeing of the person in support of Johns Campaign. To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with complex and multi-pathological presentations of dementia/delirium using specialised skills. To act as a source of information and provide advice regarding patients care and management to medical, nursing and therapy colleagues within the health care setting. To contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and support patients journeys through and discharge from the acute setting. To proactively engage in the development of care of older people and dementia in line with the Trust Dementia Strategy. To deliver dementia training in accordance with the NHS England Dementia Core Skills Education and Training Framework to all staff groups via appropriate training sessions e.g Trust Induction, Nurse Preceptorship, Care Certificate, other study days and conferences. To assess patients mental capacity, gain valid consent and work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment e.g., when prescribing or discussing future care options To ensure that there is clear and concise reporting, oral and written information regarding the care and wellbeing of patients. To discuss with senior colleagues the development and changes, both nursing and medical, which affect patients directly and indirectly. Establish and maintain communication with people about routine and daily activities over coming any differences in communication between the people involved. To liaise effectively with other members of the multi-professional team to ensure a high standard of co-ordinated care to the patient To engage with patients and carers to ensure a high standard of co-ordinated patient care and improved patient experience. To lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and skills in the clinical area To attend professional meetings and study sessions as appropriate and keep an up to date professional portfolio. To maintain NMC registration and achieve any related competencies To maintain own continuing professional development in line with clinical governance, local guidelines and national standards To work within the regulations contained in the professional code of conduct To be responsible for maintaining own competence through self-directed learning and reflective practice To be legally and professionally accountable for all aspects of own work To develop plans to gain patients and carers views on service provision and to ensure that these inform future service development initiatives To participate in research, audit and clinical effectiveness projects, in particular Royal College of Psychiatrists National Audit of Dementia and Trust internal audits. To ensure that patient confidentiality, privacy and dignity are maintained at all times. Education: To contribute to and support the Lead Nurse for Dementia & Older People in policy writing, review and service development. To be appraised by the Line Manager at least once a year, agree personal objectives to be achieved and formulate a personal development plan. To keep up to date with new developments within dementia and delirium care, evidence based practice, ensuring that staff caring for people with dementia are kept informed. To take an active part in multi-professional staff development and assist in developing robust in-service training programmes both as a provider, and when appropriate as a participant To educate patients, and where indicated, their relatives or carers, regarding their diagnosis, management plan and any self-help strategies To participate in all annual mandatory training provided by the Trust To develop/review care pathways to ensure timely progression of patients through from the acute hospital assessment and discharge. To identify training needs, develop and implement training programmes for health care professionals Clinical Governance: In conjunction with other members of the Dementia Team, set, maintain and monitor standards of patient care. To support the development, implementation and review of policies and procedures related to dementia/delirium, delivering a consistent evidenced based approach to care of older people in Worcestershire in line with NSF and NICE guidelines Participate in clinical audit including the Royal College of Psychiatrists National Audit of Dementia (NAD). To maintain own professional development working at all times within the professional codes and hospital guidelines To monitor dementia care standards at WAHT, problem solve, action plan and escalate issues Patient/Carer Support/Involvement Develop close working relationships with voluntary groups e.g. The Alzheimers Society, Admiral Nurses, Worcestershire Association of Carers Provide support to lay people involved in Patient User Groups Personal/Professional Responsibilities: To ensure the health and safety of staff, patients and visitors, reporting actual or potential problems promptly To identify actual or potential clinical risks and take appropriate action, using the appropriate reporting structures when appropriate To ensure that policies and procedures are adhered to, clinical guidelines and care pathways are followed To ensure that patient records and documents are kept and maintained in line with NMC and Trust standards To undertake continuing professional development to ensure both clinical and specialist skills are updated Leadership/Management: To play a key role for Dementia care within WAHT supporting others in caring for patients with dementia, assisting in the delivery of the organisational and National agenda. To participate in clinical audit, service audits, research and development, to progress services delivery as appropriate To advise ward staff on ordering and use of appropriate equipment Strategic/Service Development: Review/development of evidence based care underpinned by national guidelines in Dementia Participate in service development meetings. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Professional Registration (NMC, HCPC etc) First Degree in clinically relevant subject Evidence of post graduate qualification (or willingness to undertake) Dementia/Older Adults related study Desirable Post graduate Teaching/education qualification. Advanced health assessment qualification Non-medical prescriber Experience Essential Recent and relevant experience in Dementia care Working within a multidisciplinary team Experience and training of staff Desirable Involvement in clinical audit/research Evidence of advanced clinical assessment/decision making and care delivery skills. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Professional Registration (NMC, HCPC etc) First Degree in clinically relevant subject Evidence of post graduate qualification (or willingness to undertake) Dementia/Older Adults related study Desirable Post graduate Teaching/education qualification. Advanced health assessment qualification Non-medical prescriber Experience Essential Recent and relevant experience in Dementia care Working within a multidisciplinary team Experience and training of staff Desirable Involvement in clinical audit/research Evidence of advanced clinical assessment/decision making and care delivery skills. Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Address Charles Hastings Way Worcester Worcestershire WR5 1DD Employer's website https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)