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Job summary

Main area
Frailty Specialist Nurse
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Includes weekends and bank holidays)
Job ref
216-SF-M6313545-A
Employer
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
The Acute Frailty Unit, Derriford Hospital
Town
Plymouth, Devon
Salary
£35,392 - £42,618 Per Annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
04/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust logo

Frailty Specialist Nurse

NHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, self-motivated nurse to join our growing team and become a member of our frailty service within the same day emergency care service.

As a Frailty Specialist Nurse you will take a lead role in co-ordinating patient care with our multi-professional service working with a 'home first' approach.

We are part of an integrated team with Livewell South West focussing on admission avoidance.  We work closely with acute and community teams in assessing, investigating, planning and treating our patients on the same day.  The post holder will have a range of assessment and clinical skills and show expertise in acute frail aspects of urgent care.

As a service that is going through change, the post holder will have the opportunity to drive forward future developments of the frailty service.

For further information, please contact Julie Ball, Lead Frailty Specialist Nurse.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

 

Main duties of the job

The post holder is responsible for the assessment, planning and delivery of high quality evidence based care for acutely ill patients with the Acute Frailty Unit, with the aim of preventing avoidable hospital admission.

To reduce hospitals admissions and minimise hospital length of stay by providing intensive and specialist nursing input and involving and working very closely with appropriate members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Working for our organisation

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  1. Planning Individualised Patient Care

Responsibility for the specialist assessment, provision, and co-ordination of care to individual patients in conjunction with patients and carers.

Advises and supports other staff in their planning of patient care.

Provides support and advice to patients’ carers and relatives (with consent) on patient’s conditions and prognosis where appropriate.

Responsibility for reviewing care delivery and maintaining records in accordance with local and with NMC guidelines.

Works as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Acts as patient representative to facilitate appropriate care pathways which involves effective communication to peers, other specialist practitioners, GPs, and Consultants.

 

  1. Delivery of Direct Care

To assess, plan and evaluate care provided for patients including those with complex needs. Facilitates the monitoring of evidence-based standards through research, clinical trials, audits, and staff initiatives. Initiates prescribed care in conjunction with Team Manager/Consultant/GP and other clinicians. Without direct supervision, reporting directly to Consultant Physician or AGP undertakes care delivery involving an extensive range of activities acquired through additional short courses or equivalent experience:

 

  • Acute and chronic disease awareness / management
  • Assisting the multi-disciplinary team in palliative care
  • Acute/chronic pain management
  • Facilitating appropriate care for elimination needs
  • Wound assessments and management
  • Blood glucose monitoring
  • Health promotion
  • Acting as a formal mentor to pre-registration nursing students
  • Adopting link roles
  • Intravenous drug, fluid therapy, infusions
  • Administration of Nebulised drugs
  • Administration of oxygen therapy
  • Computer skills
  • Liaising with and referring on to other agencies and professionals
  • Pulse oximetry and interpretation
  • Venepuncture and venous cannulation
  • Management of central and mid lines
  • Performing ECGs
  • In-depth history taking

Develop advanced clinical assessment skills that have the potential to allow for the implementation of appropriate tests and procedures and are pivotal to ensuring that individuals receive the most appropriate plan of care recognising and managing emergency situations e.g. treatment of anaphylaxis and cardiac/respiratory arrest. Undertake and interpret acute observations using an appropriate tool e.g., Mews, ABCDE

  1. Management and Leadership:

Delegation, line management and supervision of workload of junior staff within the team as directed by the Band 7 team manager. Carrying out appraisal and line management of those staff reporting to the job holder as per organisation policy. Participate in the recruitment process. Have on-going responsibility and duty of care for patients, staff, self, and others in all aspects of Health, Safety and Risk.  Act as a role model, promoting good performance and practice. Reporting of all incidents and near misses.  Supporting team manager in investigations of incidents. Inform managers of any on-going nursing/management issues affecting patient care or working capacity.  Act as authorised signatory for expenses as delegated by team manager. Deputise for line manager in absence. Act as shift co-ordinator on a rotational basis.

  1. Professional

To work within the NMC code. To remain updated and competent and ensure that clinical practice is evidence based. To have an up-to-date personal development plan and professional portfolio.

To participate in an annual appraisal of their work in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) where the job description will be reviewed, and objectives set.  In line with the annual development plan the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfil their role.

  1. Education and Training

Support the team manager in providing and maintaining a learning environment and maximise opportunities for education and development in the clinical are to enhance individual development and performance in the delivery of high standards of care.

Take part in the process of clinical supervision and support clinical supervision for junior team members. Take responsibility for your own personal and professional development; maintain competence, knowledge, and skills commensurate with role. To undertake all required training and competencies required for the role.  Maintain attendance at mandatory and statutory training as per organisation guidelines. Integrate theory into practice by bringing new knowledge around acute care from training into the practice environment. Act as a mentor for students and fulfil requirements of a practice placement. To facilitate induction for new members of the team. Act as a link nurse for speciality to enhance team education.

  1. Research

Actively participate in audit as directed by the Team Manager. Collect, collate and evaluate a range of information to support clinical and service audit.  Maintain accurate and up to date patient records, data bases and specialist reporting in accordance with organisation policy and professional guidance. Support the team manager in working towards the achievement of specific performance targets related to the team.

For further details please see attached JD&PS

 

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Proven background knowledge of Government policies relating to ambulatory frailty care.
  • Proven knowledge of Frailty Nurse Competencies
  • Current and up to date proven knowledge of Code of Conduct (NMC)
  • Proven evidence of strong Acute Care background and skills
  • Clinical Risk Management
Desirable criteria
  • *Proven knowledge of Secondary & Primary Care Sector
  • Proven knowledge of local and national frailty agenda *
  • Wound care background

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NMC Registered Nurse (Adult)
  • Teaching or mentorship qualification at degree level or equivalent
  • Proven management and leadership module or study days/evidence of
Desirable criteria
  • Recognised Acute Care Assessments module
  • Recognised Frailty modules

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Clinical and leadership demonstrable experience
  • 3 Years Post Registration demonstrable experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Disability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Julie Ball
Job title
Lead Frailty Speciliast Nurse
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01752 439495
Additional information

Julie Ball, telephone 01752 439495, email [email protected]

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