NHSJobs.com

Swydd ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

The Assistant Practitioner will function at a higher competency level than that of other  Health Care Support workers with responsibility for actively participating as part of  the Multi Disciplinary Team within the ward/dept, to provide a seamless service to  patients with proximal supervision from a registered nurse/practitioner.

The Assistant Practitioner will provide general/specific care as specified below for a specific client group and will be competent to work across professional disciplines, referring patients for Allied Health Professional assessment and treatment or to other agencies as required.

The post holder will be required to play an integral role in the delivery of safe and high quality care and will be expected to observe the patient and 
react appropriately to any changes.

The post holder will contribute to the planning of care for patients and work in support of qualified nurses, doctors and allied health professionals within an acute in patient setting. Supervision and teaching of junior staff will be part of the role.

Clinical responsibilities
• Deliver clinical and therapeutic care, within the clinical setting within set protocols and within scope of Assistant Practitioner remit. 
• Organise and prioritise time effectively.
• Perform patient assessment (under supervision and after appropriate delegation from the registered practitioner),and deliver high standards of care in line with the Plan of care
• Implement and evaluate individual care/treatment plans. Ensure care is 
documented accurately and in a timely manner as per Trust Policy.
• Coordinate and undertake the safe admission, transfer and discharge of patients in accordance with trust policies. Perform effective and timely discharge planning.
• Provide high quality patient care, appropriate to patient need.
• Take responsibility for the delivery of care to a group of patients. .
• Assist patients in maintaining their personal hygiene, grooming and dressing needs with respect for culture and religious needs ensuring privacy and dignity at all times.
• Contribute to a therapeutic environment to aid patient rest and sleep.
• Utilise knowledge in the prevention of pressure sores and risk assessment tools e.g. waterlow score, use prescribed pressure-relieving equipment appropriately.
• Implement and evaluate the plan of care for wound management as directed by a registered practitioner.
• Undertake MUST assessment and ensure the appropriate nutritional intake of all patients with due consideration to dietary and cultural needs. 
• Assist and support patients with elimination as required. Measure and record body waste/fluid accurately.
• Take personal responsibility for ensuring that patients are treated with courtesy at all times, the individual needs of the patients are respected, and confidentiality is maintained at all times.
• Promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people
Team working.
• Coordinate a team of support workers in care delivery and where appropriate other students.
• Work effectively as part of a multi disciplinary team recognising the contribution of all team members in meeting patients’ needs.
• Actively participate in team development and make suggestions to the team onservice improvements.

Additional Clinical responsibilities.
Utilizing Trust policies and protocols, under the proximal supervision of the 
Registered Nurse, the assistant practitioner will: 
• Undertake and interpret a range of patient observations as required in clinical area e.g. temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, neurological observations, Modified Early Warning Score [MEWS], oxygen saturation levels, ECG. Reporting adverse signs to registered Nurse/Doctor/Therapist.
• Obtain requested specimens and ensure transportation to appropriate 
department – urine, faeces, sputum, and exudates e.g. swabs from nose, eye, wound.
• Order routine bloods/investigations if required and have a basic understanding of normal and altered values, report adverse results.
• Assist with basic and where agreed intermediate cardio-pulmonary resuscitation procedures
• Maintain intravenous therapy safely as per Trust policy, report abnormalities to registered Nurse. The Assistant Practitioner will not alter infusion rates but will perform second checks for infusion fluids without drug additives. 
• Assist in the administration of medications under the direction of the Registered Nurse.
• Be responsible for and demonstrate competence utilising mechanical infusion pumps devices. Perform equipment and alarm checks at shift change. 
• Undertake a range of procedures relevant to area of work e.g. venepuncture, cannulation, catheterisation, bladder scanning and complex dressings following assessment of competency.
• Undertake clinical audit for example, infection control audits.
Environmental Responsibilities.
• Ensure the maintenance of a safe environment at all times.
• Ensure the safe custody of patients’ valuables and property.
• Ensure the most effective and economical use of all supplies and equipment.
• Escort patients to other wards and departments as required.
• Be aware of Manual Handling regulations, particularly with regard to the moving and handling of patients, and attend both theoretical and practical training provided by the Trust

Educational Responsibilities.
• Demonstrate procedures to and supervise unqualified staff. Contribute to the learning environment on the ward and team mentoring at an optimum level.
• Supervise, assess and mentor Trainee Healthcare Support workers, Trainee Assistant Practitioners, assist in the supervision and learning of other students with the exception of their assessment.
• Undertake A1 assessors award to assess up to NVQ level 3.
• Participate in the induction of new members of staff to impart specific local knowledge of the ward/dept.

• Promote and participate in the Health Education both personally and with all patients and relatives as appropriate.

Professional responsibilities.
• Exhibit professional behaviour and attitude at all times, and demonstrate 
excellent customer care skills.
• Recognise the level of competence to ensure safe practice.
• Be familiar with and abide by Trust policies and procedures to ensure to ensure optimum patient care and safety of patients and staff.
• Adhere to trust uniform policy.
• Take personal responsibility for keeping up to date with new developments and participate in research/ clinical audit. Attendance at annual update sessions is mandatory.
• Act as a role model by upholding and implementing good practice in the 
workplace, always ensuring the highest standards of evidenced based care.
• Take every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge.
• Identify objectives within a PDP that support the delivery of high standards of clinical care

Communication.

• Provide verbal reports and maintain written reports on the patients’ condition for professionally qualified workers. Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt communication style to the situation/person.
• Provide concise handovers to other members of the MDT.
• Communicate effectively with patients, staff and relatives.
• Report all accidents and incidents involving self, patients, staff or visitors 
according to procedure.
• Participate in ward/unit and multi-disciplinary meetings.
• Use of IT. Communicate effectively using computer systems within the Trust i.e. PAS, E-Mail.
* The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues.
* The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation.