Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Principal Responsibilities:

 Clinical 

1.    Practices in accordance with the regulatory bodies professional code and Trust policies, protocols and guidelines. Is accountable for own practice and for appropriate delegation of care to colleagues, support workers and students.

2.    To support the Learning disability service to deliver the objectives of the Trust safeguarding team.  In the absence of the Learning disability lead nurse, be responsible for ensuring that all patients in the given clinical area receive safe, competent nursing care.  

3.    Utilises a wide range of well-developed communication methods to establish and maintain effective two-way communication channels with individuals and groups.

Ensures communications methods are adapted to ensure effective communication with individuals who have communication difficulties or impaired cognitive ability. Supports less experienced / junior staff to develop and enhance communication skills.

4.    Demonstrates the ability to provide and receive sensitive / complex or contentious information with a range of individuals including patients, relatives, carers and other member of the multi-professional team in an empathetic and reassuring manner. Utilises negotiation, persuasion and motivational techniques effectively.

5.    Demonstrates the ability to recognise and intervene in situations which have the potential to escalate seeking to de-escalate / diffuse potential conflict / complaints.

6.    Utilises expert clinical knowledge to support all staff in the assessment, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care, guiding less experienced / junior staff and students to deliver high quality, evidence based, effective and holistic person-centred care. Demonstrates sound analytical and critical thinking ability to effectively manage clinical and operational issues in complex and rapidly changing situations. Provides specialist nursing advice to other members of multi-professional team as required.

7.    Maintains concise, accurate and timely records of care in both digital and written records

8.    Utilises well developed communication skills to assertively challenge others when the rights of the patient and others may be infringed

9. Support clinical teams during admissions to plan and prepare for treatment, this includes inpatient admission, outpatient clinics across the RBFT sites, and adhoc arrangements for patients with learning disability eg blood tests, or attendance to the Emergency Department.

10. Maintain an overview of in-patients with a learning disability and their clinical progress.

11. Communicate appropriately with families and carers about the clinical condition of patient and facilitate meetings with other health professionals as appropriate. 

12. Work with professional groups and other agencies in both primary and secondary healthcare settings.  Assume a central role in problem solving and service co-ordination to ensure patients and carers receive high standards of seamless quality care.

13. Liaise with health and social care professionals in community learning disability teams with outpatient follow up, during in-patient stays and when preparing for discharge and facilitate communication with ward staff.

14. Support the transition processes for young people with a learning disability and complex neurodisability and be a point of contact and support to their families/carers.

15. Work as an excellent role model for professional practice.

16. Practice in accordance with the professional, ethical and legal codes of the professional body the registration is under, and Trust’s protocols and guidelines. Be accountable for own practice and for the delegation of tasks to more junior colleagues, support workers and students.

17. Demonstrate expert ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care, guiding more junior staff to deliver effective, holistic, person-centred care. Display sound analytical and critical thinking ability in complex and rapidly changing situations.

18. Provide guidance for healthcare professionals and patients with complex needs, who may require reasonable adjustments to access hospital care.

Leadership

1.    Utilises effective leadership skills to actively promote excellent team working and positive interdisciplinary relationships.

2.    Provides advice and guidance to other healthcare professionals across the Trust on issues related to the care of patients with learning disabilities, including participating in multi-disciplinary meetings, discharge planning meetings and any safeguarding adults strategy meetings

3.    Actively participates in strategy meetings, including the writing of or contributing to reports.

4. Maintain visibility and a high profile in clinical areas, acting as a role model for good practice.

5.    Demonstrates the ability to help, support and deliver culturally sensitive, respectful, non-judgemental patient care utilising both pre-determined and individualised care plans to a group of patients with a wide range of needs. Strives to maintain an inclusive environment where there is equal opportunity and commitment to anti-discriminatory and inclusive practices.

6.    Acts as role model to others ensuring own practice complies with Information Governance /Data Protection/ Confidentiality/Caldicott Principles at all times. Supports ward / department manager to ensure compliance is maintained at all times.

7.    Deputises for the Lead learning Disability nurse in their absence, demonstrating a sound problem solving approach to clinical and management issues, seeking advice from the Associated Director of Nursing for Safeguarding as needed.

8.    To work across organisational and external agency boundaries focusing on the quality of care, patient experience and facilitating equitable access for patients with learning disabilities who use the acute and specialist healthcare services provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

9.    To represent the Trust and participate in the Learning Disability Partnership Boards across Berkshire West geographical area. This may include membership of health sub committees as appropriate.

10. To provide specialist advice and support to staff in relation to patients with learning disability of all ages and working with the multiagency team patients with complex disability

11. To work in partnership with young people and adults with learning disabilities, their families and carers and colleagues within the Trust, Integrated Care Board and community NHS trusts and Local Authorities, including support at diagnosis and transition to adult services.

12. To identify and together with colleagues meet the training needs of Trust staff in relation to patients with learning disabilities.

Education

1. Work alongside the Lead Learning Disability nurse and safeguarding team to contribute and deliver Learning disability awareness within safeguarding, trust induction for allied health professionals, nursing, midwifery, professional support workers and additional training for doctors, departments and governance.

2. Assist in the development and provision of specialist learning disability teaching to nursing, midwifery, medical staff and other health professionals.

3. Contribute to the delivery of multi-agency training where necessary

4. Assist in the monitoring, audit and review of training delivered to ensure a high, accurate standard of training is maintained and that it meets the needs of the staff and organisation. 

5. Demonstrate practical application of specialist knowledge of learning disability

6. Develops clinical, technical, leadership and management skills appropriate to role, taking responsibility for continuing professional development and performance, maintaining own professional portfolio in accordance with post registration / revalidation requirements. Works to achieve competencies appropriate to grade. 

7. Works in partnership with manager to identify own development needs in relation to current practice and future plans. Works in partnership with manager to develop and deliver on Specific, Measurable, Achievable and Time framed (SMART) objectives at annual appraisal which are reflective of development areas.

Research

1. Support the lead learning disability nurse to arrange, develop and co-ordinate systems of audit in order to monitor the agreed local learning disability and LeDer policies, benchmarking and procedures.

2. Support the lead learning disability nurse with monitoring, auditing and review training delivered to ensure a high, accurate standard is maintained and that it meets the needs of the staff and organisation.

3. Contribute to the implementation of the development of the learning disability service. Be aware of new evidence and research in both general and specialist fields.   Work creatively to develop practice and new ways of working, taking the lead in the change management process when appropriate.

This job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to periodic review in association with the post holder.