The Role Purpose
There is strong evidence that having a long term mental health condition can be a significant risk factor for the development of physical ill health. Conversely long term physical health conditions can lead to people suffering poor mental health.
A holistic approach to managing mental and physical health is needed. Physical and mental health are inextricably linked, and it is detrimental to a person’s overall wellbeing to regard these as two separate entities.
Mental health practitioners have unparalleled opportunities to help people improve their physical health alongside their mental health, both in inpatient settings and in the community. This role will support our frontline practitioners to build on their physical health knowledge and skills in practice.
The post holder will work closely with our Lead Nurse for Physical Health and our Physical Health Clinical Training Manager. The role will also include working alongside colleagues within the wider physical health team and other corporate colleagues, including the wider Nursing and Quality Directorate.
The Physical Health Practice Development Nurse, is a substantive band 6 full-time post, based within our Nursing and Quality Directorate’s small and friendly Physical Health Team.
We are looking for a credible, passionate and enthusiastic registered nurse, with demonstrable knowledge and experience in leading clinical standards with a passion to improve physical healthcare for those under our care in AWP. This is an exciting opportunity to gain corporate experience; you will be supported to develop your knowledge and skills by being involved in the development and delivering of training, quality improvement, reviewing and developing procedures and guidance, and involvement in Trust wide projects.
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

Working alongside the Lead Nurse for Physical Health and Physical Health Clinical
Training manager, to educate and support registered and unregistered healthcare staff with the delivery of physical health care across the organisation.
Create and develop strong engagement and clinical expertise with staff and patients, to help grow the understanding of physical health in order to inform and measure future improvements across the Trust.
To promote equality and diversity in all aspects of physical health service delivery.
To support discussions (including with, clinicians, staff and patients) to progress the Trust position on physical Health and align with the trusts Physical Health
Strategy.
Promote a learning environment within the nursing forums and actively encourage quality improvements and innovations in clinical practice.
Remain current and up to date with physical health agendas both nationally and locally to be able to work alongside staff to facilitate the development and enhancement of clinical skills and assist in the achievement and monitoring of appropriate levels of competence.
Be instrumental in the identification, development and implementation of policy, procedure, guidelines and audit in relation to local, national and professional agendas and monitor adherence taking appropriate action in line with Trust
Governance structures.
Contribute towards the overall organisational development by being involved in the development and delivery of physical health training alongside a range of colleagues and with oversight from the Lead Nurse Physical Health.
Ensure all communication is cascaded across the organisation and work closely with the communications department to facilitate this.
Act as a professional role model promoting evidenced based high quality patient care.
Act as a resource for physical health matters to multidisciplinary staff, using physical health knowledge, to aid decision making about patient care.
Provide managerial and clinical supervision as required ensuring best and safest practice is fully undertaken at all times.
Remain competent in all the clinical skills required for the role and all mandatory training.
Take part in risk assessments as requested, so that best use is made of resources.
Work within the team and maintain the smooth daily operation to provide the physical health service and use IT and monitoring systems to support this i.e. Health Roster.
Remain current and up to date on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code and
Practice Standards and advise accordingly.
Remain current and up to date on any change in NICE (National Institute for Clinical
Excellence) and be involved in updating Trust policy and procedures accordingly.
The key skills and attributes we would be looking for is someone who considers themselves:
Highly organised
Have a flexible approach to work
Have professional curiosity to develop and support implementation of clinical quality standards with their colleagues, including review of policies and procedures
Have a passion to improve own and other healthcare workers physical health skills and knowledge
Enjoys delivering training on a range of subjects, using a variety of mediums
Good communicator, who works well as part of a team
The Physical Health Practice Development Nurse (PDN) will support the Lead Nurse Physical Health in all aspects of physical healthcare and be influential and dynamic in working on local and national agendas as part of the senior nursing team within the Nursing and Quality Directorate (NQD).
They will work closely with the Lead Nurse Physical Health and Physical Health Clinical Training Manager, in supporting physical healthcare across all areas of the Trust and be responsible for delivering evidenced based practice and developing networks to share good practice and learn from each other across the trust.
They will teach and deliver learning to the highest standard and quality through different platforms and environments, including clinical practice-based work.
As the Physical Health Practice Development Nurse in the organisation, the post holder will work with many people who already have specific physical health responsibilities and they will support and oversee work to make physical health care a core element of training for every member of staff in the Trust.
The post holder will work as part of a wider team to ensure that physical health is appropriately prioritised and considered in the work of the organisation. They will build and maintain good working relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders on issues relating to physical Health.
They will support their organisation’s ‘Physical Health Strategy.

Please refer the Job description for details