Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key results from the job holder

• Advise on the care of people with dementia and their carers/families with complex care needs from peri-diagnosis to post bereavement support.

• Provide specialist nursing assessment, using a recognised Framework for carers/families affected by dementia during hospital admission.

• Support identification and management of co morbidities and frailty for people with dementia and their carers/families.

• Develop and support person-centred care plans for people with dementia including positive risk management (e.g. falls, delirium, depression, incontinence)

• Deliver relationship and family-centred approaches to care, which meet the needs of people with dementia, carers/families and staff.

• Provide a range of psychosocial interventions and emotional support to promote health and wellbeing for people with dementia and their carers/families.

• Support people with dementia, carers/families and staff to understand and respond to changes in behaviour and relationships as a result of dementia.

• Ensure that all legal requirements relating to mental capacity, safeguarding and mental health are considered and adhered to in relation to patient care.

• Act as an advocate for people with dementia and their carers/families to promote their rights and best interests.

• Participate in case conferences and best interest meetings where required.

• Work collaboratively with health, social and voluntary sector services to achieve coordinated care.

• Manage care transitions and support effective discharge for people with dementia and their carers/families in order to reduce frequency of admissions and length of stay.

• Ensure that care is delivered in accordance with relevant local and national guidelines and all relevant WWL policies.

• Recognise the limits of own competency and professional boundaries and make appropriate and timely referrals to other services where required.

• To maintain professional registration in line with professional body guidance

• Support the band 7 dementia lead with the development of a new service and patient pathways.

Planning and Organisational Duties

• Ensure all practice is carried out in accordance with the agreed policies and procedures of WWL,  and your professional body.

• To attend and actively participate in practice development days, clinical supervision, and continuing professional development.

• To develop own competence .

• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures and protocols relevant to dementia care within Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Foundation.

• Ensure compliance with Trust clinical governance requirements.

• Participate in clinical supervision / mentoring within WWL where required.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of evidence-based recommendations on supporting people with dementia and their carers/families.

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• Support the audit and evaluation of quality improvements and initiatives aimed at improving the delivery of dementia care within WWL.

• Collect quantitative and qualitative data to support the evaluation and audit of the dementia Nurse Service.

• Maintain clinical records using the dementia Nurse data recording system and provide verbal and written feedback appropriately and as required

• Ensure recorded information and data recorded is relevant, accurate, and complete and captured in a contemporaneous manner.

• Work in partnership with colleagues to provide support and information to families, particularly around advance care planning, best interest decisions and end of life care.

• Work proactively with key local and national stakeholders to develop more integrated care pathways and holistic models of care, through dissemination of specialist skills and knowledge.

Responsibility for Teaching

• Support innovative dementia training and education to staff within the Trust at all levels, to improve staff attitudes, knowledge, skills and confidence, in line with best practice and guidance.

• Participate in and/or support formal training events promoting best practice in dementia care.

• Provide advice on the delivery of evidence based best practice in dementia care

• Act as a clinical role model to others, including student nurses, and mentoring other staff as required.

• Support the development and delivery of work streams as part of the Trust’s Dementia Strategy

• Provide mentorship and offer clinical expertise to the staff in the departments caring for people with dementia and their carers/families within WWL

• Support delivery of the dementia care policy for WWL to improve identification, assessment, ongoing support and effective discharge for people with dementia and their family carer.