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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities 

The key responsibilities of a Nursing Associate in Central and North West London NHS Trust show how you can help the Trust deliver safe, effective services and providing patients and families with a positive experience.

You will work as part of a multi-professional team and will be expected to:

• Be accountable for your practice to a registered nurse
• Participate in regular supervision with that registered nurse
• Supervise, help training and delegate to other members of the team e.g. Health Care Assistants
• Participate in team meetings and help develop the team
• Contributing to creating and maintaining a high performing team by:
  • communicating well with all members of the team
  • understanding how your role helps the team achieve its objective
  • understanding the roles of different team members and how they help the team achieve its’ objectives
  • using supervision and team meetings to reflect on your own practice regularly
• Develop skills in relation to coaching/teaching individuals/carers/other staff
• Engage in reflective practice including management of self and reflection on own reactions, asking questions and reflecting on answers given

Work to improve safety and the quality of care:

As a Nursing Associate you will contribute to the provision of safe and high quality services by:

• Working to the standards set out in the NMC Code for Nurses, Midwives and Nursing Associates
• Recognise issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults and report any problems or raise concerns to the appropriate registered care professionals (including raising a safeguarding alert)
• Escalating safety concerns (including completing Datix) and by doing so acting as effective advocates for those who use our services
• Maintaining your competences and proficiencies in all the required areas for your role
• Maintaining compliance with your mandatory training requirements
• Working to the limit of your role but being clear not to work beyond your remit or scope of competency
• Understanding how you are accountable to registered nurses
• Identifying areas where improvements in safety or quality can be made and working closely with others to improve services
• Being open and transparent
• Maintaining accurate, legible, timely and comprehensive records
• Assist in the assessment of and contribute to the management of risk across several areas within the environment where care is being administered

Provide and monitor care:

 Nursing Associates have a set of skills which enables you to provide and monitor care across most health and social care settings. You will be expected to :

• Develop understanding of all elements of the nursing process and be able to assist the registered nurse in the on-going assessment, planning, management and evaluation of care.
• Assist in the delivery of complex care as prescribed by the registered nurse
• Contribute to the assessment of care
• Working with patients and registered nurses to develop and implement care plans within the scope of your competence
• Providing skilled, evidence based care which adheres to agreed policies and procedures
• Take responsibility for monitoring and evaluation of care
• Ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times
• Demonstrate the ability to recognise changing priorities seeking advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate
• Report back and share information with the registered nurses on the condition, behaviour, activity and responses of individuals
• Recognise deterioration in patients and escalate concerns appropriately
• Demonstrate good understanding of principles of consent and ensure valid consent is obtained prior to undertaking nursing and care procedures
• Act as patient advocates in the multi-disciplinary team.
• Referring to other teams or services as appropriate.
• Develop a working knowledge of other providers’ resources and referral systems to ensure individual’s needs are met, within parameters of practice

Promote health and prevent ill health:

• Working in partnership with patients and their families and carers
• Acting as a role model for health care assistants and registered staff in working closely with people using our services
• Gaining consent and, as far as possible, involving people in all decision making
• Signposting patients and carers to supportive services
• Reassuring people by being professional, responsive, knowledgeable and confident
• Escalating complaints or concerns effectively and quickly in line with the Trust policy

Be professional and work to the Code for Nurses, Midwives and Nursing Associates:

As a Nursing Associate you will be registered with the NMC and expected to work to the Code for Nurse, Midwives and Nursing Associates by:

• Taking responsibility for maintaining your registration and revalidation as required by the NMC
• Participating in supervision and annual appraisals which will help you to reflect on your work, understand your objectives and monitor your progress towards achieving them
• Supporting others in the multi-disciplinary team
• Use continuing professional development and personal development plans to help you maintain the skill set you developed as a trainee nursing associate.

Service Specific Responsibilities:

 The trainee will:

• Undertake clinical tasks (when competent) including venepuncture and ECGs
• Develop understanding of caring for individuals with particular conditions relevant to place of work
• Accurately record nutritional and fluid intake.
• Perform and record clinical observations
• Support patients with all aspects of care including daily living and personal care
• To support the ward team to provide physical health care
• To identify and record physical health care needs within care plans under the direction of the RMN
• Demonstrate good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act / Deprivation of Liberties and applies principles to everyday practice seeking advice / guidance from the Registered Nurse or registered care professional as required.
• To administer medication following completion of medication competency test as per policy
• To undertake therapeutic observation as per policy
• To actively deliver groups (e.g. health promotion)
• To actively engage patients on a daily basis
• To act as an Associate Nurse
• To attend and participate in ward rounds
• To write relevant sections within nursing reports for tribunals under supervision from an RMN
• To conduct audits as directed by the Mental Health Service Lead.