Job summary
Virtual Ward Norfolk Integrated Care System has main aim of keeping patients at home during acute illness and therefore avoiding unnecessary hospital admission. This is a technological assisted approach with remote monitoring capabilities with a focus on patients with respiratory disease, frailty and heart failure.
The Virtual Ward Hub will be the first point of contact for our referrers. Clinicians across Norfolk and Waveney will be referring to the Virtual Ward and as the Triage Nurse you will support this process by providing appropriate clinical triage and the ongoing management of each referral. Some of our patients will be medically unstable and you will be supported by the Clinical Lead Manager for the more complex referrals. As this is a 7 day service you will also share the responsibility of the remote monitoring systems that our patients will be assigned to. Regular contact with patients is essential and the ability to trouble-shoot and provide a calm yet responsive approach is vital.
As the Virtual Ward Triage Nurse, you will be a key member of our Virtual Ward Hub team providing important clinical triage for our referrers and clinical advice and support directly to our patients.
This is an exciting post for a brand new service bringing urgent care in the community to the forefront of our service provision at Norfolk Community Health and Care with growth for development both internally as a service and externally with our system partners
Main duties of the job
To triage incoming referrals assessing the patient's needs, determining the priority of care and processing the referrals accordingly. To contribute to the delivery of high standards of health care to patients by overseeing and responding to the remote monitoring systems supported by the senior clinical team
To communicate regularly with patients and their carers, triaging clinical concerns and presentations as they arise and liaising with community clinicians assigned to Virtual Ward across the sector.
To have awareness of the Virtual Ward demand and capacity across the sector by developing knowledge and skills in SystmOne ledger management with the ability to highlight areas of escalation that could affect capacity.
This is predominantly a non-patient facing role but with regular opportunities to maintain clinical competencies
About us
NCH&C is proud to be the first standalone NHS community trust in the UK to achieve an 'Outstanding' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our focus is on continually improving the quality of care we offer to local people and on improving access to that care, helping people to move seamlessly from one service to another. Praising NCH&C's "compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels", the CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations.
Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is committed to continuing to create a modern and inclusive work environment. As part of this commitment we actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible, to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce to maintain and improve their wellbeing. The trust offers a range of flexibility, including flexible working patterns, and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate all aspects of patient care, and develop care plans, using clinical reasoning skills, which 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 impairments, 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 patients co-operation 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. Have the ability to use the remote monitoring facility for Virtual Ward patients, understanding escalation points and when further clinical support is required.
8. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate
9. Ensure own caseload is planned and prioritised according to service targets and patient need.
10. Be accountable for work delegated to others within the team.
11. Ensure that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis.
12. Demonstrate dexterity and co-ordination when using specialist equipment and fine tools, advanced sensory skills, manual and mobilising skills.
13. Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.
14. Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions.
15. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.
16. Demonstrate the necessary IT and keyboard skills.
17. Process referrals by evaluating the information received and allocating to the appropriate service indicating the priority response necessary.
18. Document triage notes in order that the patients record is complete and for audit purposes.
19. Use information technology to process and triage referrals.
20. Liaise and communicate with the general public, other health care professionals, and multi-agencies on a daily basis.
21. Will be able to make own travel arrangements to patients homes, clinics, base and meetings etc, as required.
Professional
The post holder will:
22. Actively contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and other meetings where appropriate.
23. Support all team members within the integrated team, respecting them, their roles and contributions.
24. Will be able to make own travel arrangements to patients homes, clinics, bases and meetings etc, as required
25. Be responsible for safe use and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
26. Remain accountable for own professional actions as determined by the professional bodies.
27. Provide advice/ training to less experienced staff and supervise/support students where appropriate, contributing to the induction process for new staff/students.
28. Follow Trust Policies, and local procedures, and use discretion in interpreting them according to the setting and circumstances.
29. Comment on draft policies
30. Maintain own continued professional development
31. Ensure own workload is planned and prioritised
32. Be accountable for work delegated to others
33. Attend in-house training as required to develop current job role
34. Demonstrate leadership skills within own competence
Organisational
The post holder will:
35. Undertake mandatory training as required
36. Participate in a Personal Development Review process
37. Undertake Personal Development Plans for more junior staff members
38. Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy
39. Demonstrate own duties to students, new starters and/or less experienced staff
40. Provide mentorship for students undertaking pre/post registration course
41. Contribute to clinical audit as required
42. Complete the staff survey as required
Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
43. oRegistered Adult Nurse Qualification
44. oDiploma or 1st level degree
45. oCurrent NMC registration
46. oEvidence of continuing professional development
Experience
Essential
47. oExperience in of working within a multidisciplinary team
48. oExperience of working with patients with multiple pathologies and delivering care plans to meet their needs
Desirable
49. oExperience of working within a community setting
50. oKnowledge of SystmOne
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential
51. oExcellent communication skills
52. oHighly motivated
53. oAble to provide high standards of care
54. oTact & Diplomacy
55. oEmpathy & sensitivity
56. oAbility to use own initiative
57. oGood observational & reporting skills
58. oAbility to manage stressful situations
59. o Work flexibly to accommodate patient/ service needs
60. oA team player
61. oGood interpersonal skills
62. oGood time management skills
63. oConcentrate when undertaking patient care & inputting data/patient records
Communication
Essential
64. oAble to communicate effectively in written and verbal English language
Personal and People Development
Essential
65. oEvidence of relevant experience and development
66. o Support other staff
Personal Attributes / Behaviours (linked to the Trust's Behaviour Framework)
Essential
67. oAble to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults.
68. o Support other staff
69. oSelf awareness
Other
Essential
70. oBe able to kneel, bend and stoop and work in cramped environments
71. oThis is a 7 day a week service and some weekend working will be expected. Hours of service delivery, 8am-6:30pm
72. oThe post holder will need to be passed fit to perform full duties of the post through occupational health with any reasonable aids and adaptations if necessary. Some roles require additional level of checks as part of the employment process, roles which come into contact with children, vulnerable adults or their families
73. oBe able to make own travel arrangements to patients, clinics, base and meetings as required
74. oMust have full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle
75. oAble to manoeuvre patients using handling aids
76. oAble to manoeuvre limbs of around 5kg - 6kg