Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

·         Work as an autonomous practitioner within nurse led, drop-in clinics and hostel outreach sessions using evidence-based nursing practice and client care.

·         Provide individual health assessments involving holistic consideration for an individual’s physical, mental and emotional health.

·         Produce patient specific care plans, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating in collaboration with the client and other professionals.

·         Assessment and management of complex wounds including those requiring compression bandaging

·         Perform doppler measurements as part of assessment of patient’s with leg ulceration

·         Identify, manage and refer appropriately, service users at risk of potentially life-threatening conditions including sepsis, acute alcohol withdrawal and suicide.

·         Provide emergency care to patients on and off-site including liaising with emergency medical services and supporting non-clinical staff.

·         Safe Administration of PGD medication including IM Naloxone as required.

·         Administer appropriate immunisations in line with PGD’s (Patient Group Directions)

·         Keep accurate, confidential and contemporaneous records of interventions.

·         Ensure prompt referrals to appropriate services e.g. GP, A&E, AWP, Blood Borne Virus (BBV) Nurse.

·         Participate in partnership working with statutory and voluntary staff e.g. BBV team, St Mungos, Housing and One25.

·         Effective liaison and communication with clients, carers, primary and secondary health services and other agencies.

·         Participate in clinical, team and other meetings as appropriate to services.

·         Maintain clinics and other work places and ensure adequate stocks are available at all times

Education and Health Promotion

• Act as a facilitator to student nurses and medical students who spend time with the team.
• Develop and participate in health promotion initiatives with team members and other agencies as appropriate.
• Help to educate local and statutory organisations to the needs of the homeless and to facilitate the assimilation of clients who are homeless into mainstream services.

 Prescribers Only

·         Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and practice protocols, and within scope of practice

Communication

·         Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment

·         Communicate with and support patients who are receiving ‘bad news’

·         Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background, languages, and preferred ways of communicating

·         Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication

·         Maintain effective communication with all multi-disciplinary team members, as well as with external stakeholders

·         Act as an advocate for patients and carers

·         Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (e.g., PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate

·         To be able to maintain accurate electronic written patient records for users of services provided

·         To be aware of responsibilities under the Data Protection Act

Other responsibilities

The primary focus of this role is to provide clinical services to patients, however there are a wealth of opportunities to engage with and drive initiatives, take leadership development roles and contribute to service improvement.

·         Ability to adhere to organisational policies

·         Maintain active NMC or HCPC registration

·         Continue to develop and expand own personal clinical expertise as autonomous/independent practitioner.

·         Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time

·         In partnership with others, challenge and critically evaluate the boundaries of autonomous practice, such that patient access, choice and outcomes will improve

·         Help in the development and evaluation of clinical guidelines, policy, competency tools and continuous improvement opportunities to support in the expansion of Health care professional roles in the delivery of optimal care

·         Identify and perform audit relevant to clinical area in order understand current practice, review evidence-based research and drive improvement

·         Develop own areas of specific clinical expertise to link acute, primary, community and emergency care sectors in expanding nursing and AHP practice across BrisDoc

·         Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients

Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines