Community Nurse

at  Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

SENIOR COMMUNITY NURSE – BAND 6 - 30 hours per week
An opportunity has arisen within the Downham and Swaffham Community Nursing Team for a senior nurse position, working within a friendly and supportive team of other nurses, assistant practitioners, healthcare assistants and phlebotomists. All with the additional support of an experienced Clinical Lead Nurse and Clinical Operations Manager.
The service operates 7 days a week over the hours of 08:00 - 20:00, and operates to provide high quality nursing care to patients who are housebound within the community and also the leg ulcer clinic.
Previous applicants need not apply.
Holistic patient assessment
Basic observations
Wound care including leg ulcer management
Palliative care and syringe drivers
Long term condition advice and management; including insulin administration
Catheter care including female, male and suprapubic.
Care of drains
Venepuncture
Pressure ulcer risk screening, prevention advice and treatment
Vaginal Pessary
Ear Irrigation
ECGs
As this is a more senior role you will need to be able to demonstrate some leadership qualities:
Acting as case manager for a designated caseload.
Provide advice and clinical supervision to other staff within the team.
Staff appraisals
Acting as supervisor and assessor of students.
Please note that if you do not have all of the above skills it is something NCHC offer via training, on the job learning though a competency based programme. This includes the Trusts Leadership Roadmap that offers resources and a programme for developing leadership skills.
Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust places emphasis on a learning culture, with importance on improving quality, enabling our people and securing the future.
Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.
Key Areas of Responsibility
To assess, prescribe and deliver care packages for patients, for example with long term conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation needs, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.
To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital
To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital
To work with all health care professionals, and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.
Clinical

THE POST HOLDER WILL:

Assess, plan, implement and evaluate all aspects of patient care, and develop care plans, using clinical reasoning skills that may need to be delivered from a range of options.
Following a holistic assessment, devise an individualised, evidence-based care programme for each patient, modifying it as required.
Assess patients’ holistic needs, communicating complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan.
Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance.
Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patient’s co-operation in their care management plan.
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.
Be aware of assistive technology and utilise where appropriate.
To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework.
Ensure own caseload is planned and prioritised according to service targets and patient need.
Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis.
Demonstrate dexterity and co-ordination when using specialist equipment and fine tools, advanced sensory skills, manual and mobilising skills.
Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.
Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions.
Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.
Trust Values
Trust Behaviour Framework
All post holders are required to adhere to the Trust’s Behaviour Framework in the undertaking of their duties.
Research & Development
May be required to undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to own work; may occasionally participate in R&D, clinical trials or equipment testing.
Safeguarding Clause
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Rigorous recruitment checks are carried out and where applicable to the role successful applicants will be required to undertake a criminal records check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Infection Control
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust staff are responsible for protecting themselves and others against infection risks. All staff regardless of whether clinical or not are expected to comply with current infection control policies and procedures and to report any problems with regard to this to their managers. All staff undertaking patient care activities must attend infection control training and updates as required by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust.
Health and Safety
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), to ensure the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.
To ensure that the Trust’s Health and Safety Policies are understood and observed and that procedures are followed.
To ensure the appropriate use of equipment and facilities and the environment is maintained in good order.
To take the necessary precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of themselves, patients, staff and visitors, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
To undertake appropriate Health and Safety training to support safe working practice including, where appropriate, its management.
General
All staff are required to respect confidentiality of all matters that they learn as a result of the employment with the Trust, including matters relating to other members of the staff and members of the public/patients.
Maintain appropriate patient and clinical records in line with the Trusts policies and procedures, and in line with the agreed service specification.
The post holder will be expected to participate in an annual appraisal of their work where the job description will be reviewed and objectives set. In line with the annual personal development plan the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfil their role.
Ensure that all patients, clients and colleagues are treated at all times in an equitable manner, respecting diversity and showing an understanding of diversity in the workplace.
The post holder must carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the Trust’s Equality and Diversity Policies, Procedures and Schemes and must ensure that equality is promoted at all times

Please refer the Job description for details