Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Skills

·       Working autonomously within the parameters of the role leading and supporting junior staff and wider care team to implement the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery-focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.

·       Leading on and undertaking activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support:

o   Co-ordinating and evaluating collaborative patient centred care; getting feedback and improving plans with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

o   Providing accurate information about care in an accessible format to patients and their relatives / carers.

o   Administering, and monitoring the side-effects of, medication; monitoring service user compliance.

o   Safety; safe custody of medicines, sharps, clinical equipment, report all incidents following policy.

·       Leading and supporting/teaching junior staff on risk assessment and risk management that involves making decisions based on knowledge of the research evidence, knowledge of the individual service user and their social context, knowledge of the service user’s own experience and clinical judgment.

·       Supporting and supervising junior staff to develop the management of care needs through:

o   Initial data collection

o   Monitoring of individual service user / patient progress

o   Feedback and discussion

o   Producing reports and in-care reviews

·       Coordinating junior staff and the wider care team in providing hands-on care to service users and evaluating processes of care delivered. This will include:

o   Undertaking 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non-judgmental way.

o   Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance of maintaining the service user’s respect and dignity at all times and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.

o   Developing care plans that reflect service user needs and relevant patient care documentation working in partnership with service users, wider MDT and family/carers.

o   Ensuring the monitoring and recording service user clinical observations are undertaken, such as physical observations and vital signs and treating or escalating as appropriate any signs or symptoms of deterioration or that does not fulfill the personal parameters to the relevant professional for treatment.

·       Advocating for service users’ needs and rights within local policy. Encouraging and empowering service users to have an optimum level of responsibility for their individual programme of care.

Communication, Risk and Governance

·       Contributing to an effective communication process with appropriate and accurate information to patients, carers, family, friends and colleagues.

Engaging and listening carefully and actively and responding using appropriate language and accessible communication methods and skills. Developing communication skills to enable and support difficult conversations, acknowledging religious and cultural differences and professional boundaries.

·       Contributing towards the on-going quality of service and care by managing the patient caseload, organising care including delegating tasks and duties appropriately to staff with relevant competency, identifying and mitigating any risk issues in relation to the service users’ health and social care. Informing the relevant Health care professionals if there are any significant:

o   Changes in the service user’s physical or mental state

o   Factors relevant to the service user

o   Incidents related to the service user

·       Maintaining timely and accurate service user written/electronic records in line with local policy. Use care plans, pathway documents and electronic medical records system appropriately and in a timely manner.

·       Reporting, without delay, any safety or security concerns to maintain the safety of service users, carers, staff and others in line with local policy.

·       Understanding and contributing to the local risk assessment policy, including being aware of the need to follow all safeguarding procedures; being aware of the necessity to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults at all times when working with service users. Supporting junior staff to respond appropriately if there are any significant factors, or incidents relating to the safeguarding service user.

·       To implement, embed and operationalise the new UAE Mental Health Law.

Professional and Clinical Leadership

·       Protecting service users, self and others by maintaining a clean and healthy environment in accordance with health and safety and infection control policies.

Ensuring safe working practices and working environment including monitoring and maintaining cleanliness of the service area and report, without delay, all hazards - real and potential. Leading audit and compliance activities and reports.

·       Participating in supervision, including annual review of performance as part of the appraisal system. Providing and coordinating and overseeing the supervision of other nursing staff.

Management

·     Developing the clinical practice of junior members of staff, including newly qualified nurses.

·       Acting as a point of contact for all enquiries, working in partnership with the CAG Ward Manager and the wider MDT to coordinate the activities of the unit.

·       Patient care is delivered to the highest standards, and there is continual oversight and monitoring of process and outcomes.

·       Ensuring the team is safely staffed, prioritising and deploying resources within parameters and escalating concerns to management where appropriate in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.

·       Supporting the Ward Manager/CAG Service Manager to investigate incidents and complaints: compile reports and disseminate this information to senior management.

·       Recognising nursing practice that needs improvement and to work in partnership with the Ward Manager/CAG Service Manager to ensure appropriate action is taken to address it.

·       Ensure mandatory and statutory training are up to date for all staff.

·       Facilitating the induction of new staff and students.

·       All nurses within the service are competent as measured against expected continuing professional development standards and requirements for appraisal and supervision.

·       Nurses within the service are aware of their professional Code, and any serious contraventions of the Code are dealt with swiftly.

·      Expert nursing advice is accessible, and professional standards are consistently maintained without unacceptable variation.

·       The post-holder will act as a credible clinical leader to CAG staff, visibly role modelling excellent nursing care and demonstrating professional boundaries with service users and carers.