Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Ensure nursing practice is in accordance with the NMC Code of   Professional Conduct and Mental Health Legislation, which incorporates and respects differences in respect of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, culture and disability.
• To participate in effective nursing assessment, providing high standard of care to patients on the ward engaging with the philosophy and operational policies of Vincent Square Eating Disorders Service, in addition to Trust policies and procedures.
• Be responsible for the auditing of patient assessments including care plans, risk assessments and Mental Health Act status ensuring documentation is in line with trust policy and acting to resolve any issues that arise.
• To act in accordance to excellent working knowledge of the mental health act, ensuring all patients are aware of their rights and supporting communication with advocates or other disciplinarians who may be of help.
• To liaise with the Multidisciplinary Team at Vincent Square Clinic Eating Disorder Service and other stakeholders involved in patient care, to facilitate the smooth transition of care for patients across the service and local teams.
• To collaborate closely on clinical and managerial matters with the Ward Manager.
• To act as primary or secondary keyworker for the inpatients and secondary keyworker for day patients, utilising skills from psychotherapeutic models that are used within Vincent Square Clinic such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Analytical Therapy, and Family Therapy.
• To support recovery for patients based on individual care plans.
• To ensure all patients have a risk assessment.
• To ensure that all in patients have a nursing care plan that is regularly reviewed in collaboration with the patient and that the risk assessment and care plan are linked
• To ensure that planning of care occurs within the framework of CPA, that relevant local and national guidelines are adhered to and support band 5 nursing staff to ensure relevant documentation is completed.
• To communicate with families and carers engaging with them to support patient care.
• To act as group facilitator/co-facilitator as required, including supervision of meals in dining room, as well as inpatient and day patient groups.
• To act as a role model for patients, modelling appropriate eating behaviours and completing meals with patients supplied by service.
• To take a lead nursing role in in patient review meetings if required.
• To provide supervision, and conduct appraisals as appropriate.
• To meet regularly with own manager for professional and managerial supervision.
• To provide interventions applying a good understanding of multicultural issues, so that a culturally sensitive approach that treats service users and their carers/families with respect and dignity all times is adopted.
•  To ensure rosters are completed fairly and the skill mix reflects ward requirements.
• Participate in the maintenance of general and specific patient observations, accurately recording of all relevant information and report any concerns. This includes ensuring ECG’s and Venepuncture practises are completed as per patient care plan
• Participate in the insertion of Nasogastric tubes and administration of prescribed diet as per patient care plan and in line with policy and protocol.
• Participate in supporting patients to eat in the dining room and role modelling supportive interventions to fellow staff.
• Always act in a manner as to promote and safeguard the interests and well-being of patients, visitors and colleagues.
• Support patients to have leave of the ward providing escort if required and ensuring this does not compromise patient or ward safety.
• Participate in social, occupational and psychological activities with patients, and in so doing maximise therapeutic opportunities for patients.
• To ensure medications are administered as per patient’s medication chart and participate in the safe storage of medications including stock rotation and pharmacy audits.
• Participate in rotational duties and working in alternative care settings as required.