Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key responsibilities

• To deliver evidence based individualised patient care according to patient’s changing health care needs. Providing leadership and specialist advice to ensure effective continuity of care delivery.

• Be recognised as a clinical expert in the management of  neurological conditions, to set standards and engage in autonomous high-level decision making.

• To manage a significant caseload of patients with  neurology conditions, managing complete programmes of care. Working with patients and carers to empower them to make informed decisions about their health, in particular, those at high risk of developing complications that require intensive therapies, technology, or education and support.

• To promote and contribute to the clinical governance agenda.

• To lead on the development of standards and protocols that concerns the nursing care of people with neurological  conditions.

• To promote a culture of clinical excellence in neurology care throughout the Trust.

• To act as a resource for health care professionals and other agencies and voluntary organisations i.e. GP’s, Consultants, junior doctors, qualified nurses, allied health professionals and nursing and residential homes.

• To diagnose and prescribe treatment/medications as an independent nurse prescriber in line with the BHT Guidelines and other policies/protocols.

• To prescribe and initiate intravenous and oral therapy for patients where indicated by the Trust’s  neurology guidelines supported by an appropriate individualised education programme.

• Works autonomously (with clinical supervision, when required, by the Clinical Lead), plans and prioritises own workload. There are broad guidelines but the post holder decides how best these will be acted upon in each individual circumstance and with each patient.

• To refer to other health care professionals independently.

• Involve patients and carers/relatives in the planning and delivery of care and in the development of services to enhance the patient/carer experience.

Communication and relationship skills 

• To work as the ‘team leader’, sharing knowledge and information and supporting colleagues to promote a cohesive team and the achievement of objectives for the service.

• Contribute or lead on the investigation of complaints, PISRF and untoward incidents within the ward/ department in line with Trust Policies and procedures and in conjunction with the ward or department manager and implement recommendations for action.

• Ensure that people with neurological conditions are aware of and receive the full range of information, support and resources available to them both internally and externally. When necessary facilitate communication and decision-making between them and the inter-disciplinary team.

• To network with multi-professional colleagues within and outside the Trust, to champion sound clinical leadership and develop support mechanisms for sharing good practice across the clinical arena. Be visible in relevant clinical areas to act as a resource for both staff and patients.

• Act as a communications ambassador and deploy advanced communication skills ensuring effective communication with patients and relatives. Champion effective communication with all members of the MDT, wards and departments, to provide seamless and effective care management for patients with cardiac conditions.

• Enable staff to exercise professional judgment within a framework of accountability.
• Actively promote the Trust’s neurology nursing service to other NHS/health organisation.

Leadership and management 

• Provide 1:1’s to all the nursing staff as necessary, annual appraisal and PDP for staff under your direct supervision. Ensure that they do the same if they supervise staff.

• Ensure that all specialist nurses have up to date job plans and that these are reviewed annually or as the needs of the service changes.

• Delegate tasks and activities to a range of team members, recognising their development needs, ensuring that staff have the appropriate training and coaching to take on projects. Ensure that all projects are facilitated and outcomes are evaluated. This will impact on succession plans.

• To be aware of the change management process and take on expert role within this process.

• Where appropriate contribute to the investigation and management of staff issues that relate to sickness and absence, poor performance, harassment, disciplinary and grievance issues using the relevant Trust policies and in liaison with your Directorate management team, implement recommendations for action focusing in particular on learning contracts and action plans.
• To support flexible working practice, in line with Improving Working Lives Standards and Trust Change Management Policy

Education and Training

• Provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge to colleagues, patients and carers/relatives both within and outside the Trust.

• To ensure that training needs analysis are undertaken. Plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified need. Implement agreed teaching programmes in line with Trust objectives and key neurology related training initiatives.

• To ensure that a suitable learning environment is maintained based on the principles of a learning organisation. Ensure staff have effective orientation, preceptorship, supervision and in-service training. Develop  neurology nursing competence and self-assessment where appropriate.

• Develop and participate in the education of pre and post-registration health care professionals/medical staff.

• Participate in curriculum planning and development of in house courses relevant to area of expertise.

• Ensure team compliance with mandatory training.

• Address specific health targets related to own area of practice, e.g. NICE, NHS England guidelines.

• Maintain up to date skills and knowledge and maintain awareness of professional issues within a professional portfolio.
• In collaboration with line manager ensure the recruitment and retention of staff is within the budgeted establishment.

Financial

• To manage the financial budget for the service along with the service manager.

• To supervise staff, ensuring that they have systems in place to manage the efficient and effective use of supplies, provisions and equipment of the Department within the designated budgets. This includes management of temporary staff.

• Identify clinical risks and ensure that appropriate action is taken, in accordance with the Trust Risk Management policy, providing expert advice and focusing on principles of learning organisation.

• Ensure provision of a suitable, clean, uncluttered and safe environment for the physical and psychological wellbeing of staff, patients/patients and their relatives.

• In conjunction with General Manager and senior nursing teams, contribute to the identification, analysis and discussion of cost pressures and financial constraints in a timely manner.

Research, Audit and development 

• Identify the need for, and undertake, research, clinical audit, benchmarking, in order to improve effectiveness of patient care.

• Contribute to relevant research projects in specialist area being conducted at Trust, network or national level.

• Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publication.
• Evaluate service delivery; identify areas for improvement and initiate change.

Policy and Service development

• Responsible for proposing and drafting changes or implementing policies and guidelines that impact on the neurology service.

• The post holder will need to maintain a good knowledge of emerging policies from national sources and promote the implementation of them locally as appropriate.

• Contribute to the strategic planning of service improvements for the service

Financial and Performance Management

• Personal duty of care in relation to Trust equipment and  resources.

• Make autonomous decisions regarding prioritisation and utilisation of resources within own service, seeking support and escalating for authorisation of the service manager where it exceeds personal authority.

Risk Management

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to address complaints and incidents appropriately.

• Ensure that the approach to risks and incidents is supportive, transparent and focused on learning, applying the principles of duty of candour and patient and relative involvement at all times.

• Be a resource for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. Assist with any safeguarding investigations.

• Support the development of professional forums in CSLs and other trust-wide forums.

Application of Knowledge

• The post holder should use their professional management knowledge and experience to assess, plan, evaluate and judge the appropriate interventions

• The post holder should maintain their knowledge of changes in the NHS and wider industry to enable and direct services to respond to changing requirements and securing best practice.