Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive assessment of patient nursing needs. Plan, assess, implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health needs utilising prescribing skills. 
• Support the care management of complex / continuing care packages.
• Ensure practice is evidence based through undertaking audit and critically appraising literature to achieve a high standard of care.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals within the integrated community team to ensure patient needs are met.
• Involve patients / carers in the plan and delivery of care.
• To identify skills and knowledge to address individual’s training needs by undertaking personal development reviews and personal development plans.
• To participate in the health needs assessment of the practice population to identify areas of unmet need.
• Ability to work without direct supervision and to solve problems.
• Undertake chronic disease management reviews of the housebound patient using the appropriate template.

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• To establish and maintain effective communication within individual groups and communities in complex and potentially challenging situations.
• Maintain accurate records in accordance with the NMC standards.

Responsibility for Management

• Work under the direction of the District Nurse Team Manager in providing nursing services to patients registered within a define service development footprint.
• Manage a caseload of patients.
• Delegate the workload to appropriate team members.
• Day to day responsibility for the designated caseload.
• To provide accurate, timely information to the identified administrator regarding annual leave, expenses and study leave.
• To undertake back to work interviews and assist in the monitoring and reporting to the District Nurse Team Manager.
• General Human Resource issues surrounding staff sickness, absentees.
• To report any concerns with regards to poor practice or concerns of staff members to the District Nurse Team Manager.
• Support the effective use of physical and financial resources ordering supplies and equipment.
• To ensure as far as possible that the working environment is safe, adhering to the lone worker policy.
• To provide leadership and support by promoting professional development and encourage clinical supervision.
• Supply required activity data related to patient care.

Professional

• To support the clinical governance agenda by benchmarking best practice, identify any inequalities in service delivery.
• In depth knowledge of the legal, ethical, moral and accountability issues related to District Nursing.
• To maintain a personal, professional portfolio by collecting evidence of personal development through reflective practice.
• To attend mandatory training in accordance with Trust policies.
• To work within Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) guidelines and abide by the NMC Code of Professional Conduct, scope of professional practice and administration of medicines records and record keeping.
• Identify any limitations / gaps in professional or clinical knowledge.
• Access and promote clinical supervision within the team.
• Undertake rapid review, case note review or root cause analysis if appropriate as per Datix management guidelines.
• Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.
• To contribute to the development of and adhere to Trust policies and procedures, NICE Guidelines and NSF initiatives relevant to own area of work to ensure best practice.
• To share best practice and undertake all activity within the framework of Clinical Governance.
• To participate in the staff appraisal scheme.
• To report sickness/absence in accordance with the Trust Policy.
• To bring professional practice issues to the attention of the District Nurse Manager.
• To advise on changes required to policy/procedure due to change in practice and be actively involved in any working parties as requested.
• To promote integrated working through pro-active networking with other professionals and agencies to enhance service delivery.
• To accept responsibility for own professional practice as a reflective, accountable practitioner.
• Knowledge of the Wigan Borough desirable

Responsibility for Health & Safety

Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.