Job summary This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced nurse with an excellent knowledge of community services to join the Single Point of Access team within CDDFT community services. We are a friendly and busy team based in the Seaham area taking electronic referrals and telephone calls for a range of community services. Our clinical SPA runs 7 days a week, 365 days a year providing a nurse triage service from 8am till 9pm. Our administrative staff work over a 24 hour period and we have core day and overnight teams to support this. Full training and support will be provided within the role. Our SPA team have adopted the technology to provide a hybrid working arrangement once training has fully been completed and signed off. Within the clinician role the successful candidate will provide safe, effective triage to our patients, ensuring the correct clinical advice has been explained to the patient, along with an onward referral to the most appropriate team ensuring the patients needs have been addressed. Main duties of the job The SPA clinical team is responsible for the safe and effective triage of referrals. Where appropriate indicators are met, referrals are passed to SPA clinicians to carry out triage and further investigation. This can range from discussions with patients, family members, GP's, NEAS paramedics, 111 call handlers, acute sites and other health care professionals. You will also provide support and guidance to the larger SPA administrative team who answer the incoming calls. You should have excellent communication and investigatory skills to carry out the role as SPA clinician. Within SPA we also have additional platforms for referrals to be received from care homes and these referrals are received through a digital platform and triaged as necessary. The SPA clinician is also responsible for ensuring referrals are sent in a timely manner to ensure urgent crisis response visits are allocated within the national guidance. We are a friendly growing and changing team whose workload is diverse and fast paced with the patient at the centre of everything we do. About us If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented From April 1 2024 we are unable to offer sponsorship for healthcare roles that do not meet the minimum salary, If you are in the UK on a VISA please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post. Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success Date posted 12 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 5 Salary £29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum, pro rata Contract Fixed term Duration 11 months Working pattern Part-time Reference number C9439-2425-1359 Job locations Spectrum 8 Spectrum Business Park Seaham SR7 7TT Job description Job responsibilities To provide a first point of contact into community services, undertaking a high standard of referral that accurately records clients level of needs, as well as mandatory data required for external and internal standards. Provide clinically safe, robust, and effective triage in line with SPA & CDDFT SOP's, policies and procedures. Respond to all telephone enquiries in an efficient, responsible, and timely manner in line with operating standards, heading all enquiries with diplomacy, sensitivity and reassurance. To examine facts or situations, particularly around redirecting enquiries to other agencies and converting enquiries into referrals to operational teams. The successful candidate will be guided through the standard operating procedures for emergency and crisis situations. To record accurate and factual information, ensuring it is passed to the appropriate team/individual in a timely manner, maintain concentration during unpredictable demand within the service. To respond to all incoming telephone calls from a diverse range of people some of which may have a wide range of communication difficulties or may be telephoning regarding distressing or emotional information. Some calls may require tact or persuasive skills, barriers to understanding to provide and receive complex or sensitive information. To be responsible for monitoring and processing digital platform alerts from care homes, triaging and passing relevant information to the professional on duty. Monitor own performance and develop the knowledge and skills needed to achieve the best evidence-based knowledge to apply to the role. To follow policies and procedures in the SPA and CDDFT. Ensuring the best possible outcome for service users in line with operational procedures and best practice by escalating complaints, queries, concerns and feedback effectively. Ensure that any issues which may impact upon the business continuity of the service are escalated. Partake in the development of the SPA services. Support administrative staff within the SPA as needed Provide business continuity support to locality teams as and when required. Job description Job responsibilities To provide a first point of contact into community services, undertaking a high standard of referral that accurately records clients level of needs, as well as mandatory data required for external and internal standards. Provide clinically safe, robust, and effective triage in line with SPA & CDDFT SOP's, policies and procedures. Respond to all telephone enquiries in an efficient, responsible, and timely manner in line with operating standards, heading all enquiries with diplomacy, sensitivity and reassurance. To examine facts or situations, particularly around redirecting enquiries to other agencies and converting enquiries into referrals to operational teams. The successful candidate will be guided through the standard operating procedures for emergency and crisis situations. To record accurate and factual information, ensuring it is passed to the appropriate team/individual in a timely manner, maintain concentration during unpredictable demand within the service. To respond to all incoming telephone calls from a diverse range of people some of which may have a wide range of communication difficulties or may be telephoning regarding distressing or emotional information. Some calls may require tact or persuasive skills, barriers to understanding to provide and receive complex or sensitive information. To be responsible for monitoring and processing digital platform alerts from care homes, triaging and passing relevant information to the professional on duty. Monitor own performance and develop the knowledge and skills needed to achieve the best evidence-based knowledge to apply to the role. To follow policies and procedures in the SPA and CDDFT. Ensuring the best possible outcome for service users in line with operational procedures and best practice by escalating complaints, queries, concerns and feedback effectively. Ensure that any issues which may impact upon the business continuity of the service are escalated. Partake in the development of the SPA services. Support administrative staff within the SPA as needed Provide business continuity support to locality teams as and when required. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Clinicial skills qualification or equivalent experince Teaching certificate or equivalent experience Evidence of continuing professional development at post graduation level IT skills Knowledge of issues in community nursing Knowledge of continuing care Special Skills & Knowledge Essential In-depth and up to date knowledge and skills in community nursing assessments Good communication and interpersonal skills Organisation skills Leadership skills Team working Special Requirements Essential Ability for independent travel to fulfil requirements of post Experience Essential Community experience Experience of clinical supervision Desirable Experience in audit/research Statutory Registration Essential 1st level registration NMC Person Specification Qualifications Essential Clinicial skills qualification or equivalent experince Teaching certificate or equivalent experience Evidence of continuing professional development at post graduation level IT skills Knowledge of issues in community nursing Knowledge of continuing care Special Skills & Knowledge Essential In-depth and up to date knowledge and skills in community nursing assessments Good communication and interpersonal skills Organisation skills Leadership skills Team working Special Requirements Essential Ability for independent travel to fulfil requirements of post Experience Essential Community experience Experience of clinical supervision Desirable Experience in audit/research Statutory Registration Essential 1st level registration NMC 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). 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 County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Address Spectrum 8 Spectrum Business Park Seaham SR7 7TT Employer's website https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)