Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.    To be responsible for a designated caseload, including liaison with other agencies, service users and carers.

2.    To utilise nursing knowledge and skills in assessing health care needs of people with learning disabilities in a range of environments to identify their health-care needs, and implement nursing interventions as required.

3.    To evaluate the outcome of nursing interventions to ensure that care plan objectives have been met and that health gains have been achieved.

4.    Any interventions must be within the post holder’s scope of clinical practice ensuring that training is maintained and skills are in line with current guidance.

5.    To provide specialist advice and training to paid and unpaid carers about conditions associated with learning disabilities, to enable them to improve and enhance their caring role.

6.    The post holder may be required to undertake additional formal training, leading to a qualification as a supplementary and / or independent non-medical prescriber in order to contribute to service developments, in line with the services service delivery plan, and to enhance client centred care.

7.    To work in partnership with colleagues and other professionals to provide specialist nursing assessment skills, knowledge and advice in order to formulate and implement comprehensive care plans designed to meet service users assessed needs.

8.    Where identified and required within the plan of care, to administer and monitor prescribed medication including the effects/side effects of medication as part of the individual service users overall treatment plans.

9.    To offer supervision and guidance to other nurses within the team, and other professionals as necessary.

10.    To support student nurses, TNA’s and other students when they are on placement with the team. 

11.    To take responsibility to ensure effective communication with the team.
   
12.    To ensure implementation of effective risk management strategies designed to effectively manage and mitigate risks.

13.    To contribute to the delivery of agreed external training to support agreed therapeutic interventions / treatment in a wide variety of settings and to a variety of groups and individual’s.

14.    To have a working knowledge and understanding around the use of the Mental Health Act, CTR’s, LAEPs and the DSR. 

15.    To facilitate access to other services including mental health admission where necessary and ensure appropriate involvement in the decision to admit, utilising clear/measurable objectives for admission and discharge plan.  

16.    To work with colleagues from the Local Authority and/or other health providers (as appropriate) to facilitate timely discharge to appropriate community based services, following all locally agreed protocols in this regard.

17.    Advocate on behalf of service users and carers to ensure that client’s care needs are met and that all concerns are escalated to an appropriate level. Promote the needs and rights of people with learning disabilities including the right to and consent to treatment relating to their mental capacity.

18.    Facilitate the involvement of independent advocacy services and IMCA where appropriate.

19.    Maintain appropriate records (either written or electronic) adhering to the appropriate regulatory body and Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust policy on record keeping and meet requirements of the Data Protection Act and Caldicott Guidelines.

20.    Ensure the completion of detailed care plans, outcome measures documentation, risk assessments and treatment programmes (including Positive Behavioural Support Plans, mental health, physical health and multi-disciplinary care plans), negotiating and communicating with the service user, family and other members of the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team.

21.    Follow and support regular evaluation of agreed care pathways and protocols.

22.    To be a visible and competent role model and foster good working relationships which are maintained with a variety of partners.

23.    To provide verbal and written reports for a variety of meetings such as reviews, safeguarding meetings, planning meetings and other meetings as and when required. Work with the wider MDT to contribute the Community teams perspective to the planning and delivery of care.

24.    To participate in regular multi-disciplinary clinical discussion and supervision, reviews of clinical activities and caseloads; and in referral and allocation processes.

25.    To support flexible working practices as required in the provision of services.