Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post-holder will:

1. Be responsible for the full mental health assessment of care needs of patients presenting with a wide variety of clinical conditions within the Emergency Department and the acute hospital. Following this, the post-holder will be responsible for development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care without supervision, unless otherwise indicated.

 

2. Will at all times, work closely with members of the MHL team, organisations and teams as appropriate to the needs of the patient and within the set timeframes.

 

3. Take an active role in contributing to meeting the MHL service key performance indicators as specified in the service specification.

 

4. Provide independent judgement and advice on complex facts and situations, for example with regards to gatekeeping.

 

5. Assist in maintaining the MHL Team’s ward-based patient caseload, providing reviews and up-dates to the Consultant Psychiatrist and providing a broad range of clinical interventions as appropriate.

 

6. Be expected to participate fully in quality assurance initiatives, with particular emphasis on a ‘patient first’ approach.

 

7. Act as a role model in providing a service for people above the age of 16 years with mental health problems, for all staff within the acute hospital.

 

8. Initiate and participate in audit/research projects associated with the work of the service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clinical:

 

The post-holder will:

 

1. Have a wide base of clinical skills, knowledge and experience appropriate to the needs of individual patients over the age of 16 years and to the clinical settings in which they are required to be seen. Where clinical knowledge requires more specialist input eg. 16 and 17 year old or drugs and alcohol the post holder will be expected to refer on to the relevant department.

 

2. Carry out specialist assessments and develop, implement, evaluate and document specialist management plans and care plans as appropriate to the individual patient’s needs and behaviours.

 

3. Provide a consultation-liaison service to clinicians and clinical teams within the acute hospital.  This will include giving specialist advice on a range of care, treatment and patient management issues including psychiatric emergencies.

 

4. Demonstrate a high standard of record keeping and documentation with adherence to trust policy and an understanding of professional guidelines and application of confidentiality.

 

5. Work with colleagues to develop and promote the philosophy of the MHL service, framework of care delivery and strategic objectives, taking responsibility for specific areas of policy and strategy delivery.

 

6. Work with colleagues to develop clinical expertise and high standards of nursing practice, as defined by the Nursing & Midwifery Council Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives (2009).

 

7. Deliver care that is evidence based, reflecting current best practice and research.

 

8. Actively participate in structured regular management supervision provided by your line manager in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.  

 

9. Demonstrate clinical excellence and high standards of nursing practice to other colleagues.

 

10. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the legal and ethical issues in caring for the mentally ill.  In particular, demonstrating sound understanding of the Mental Health Act (2007), Mental Capacity Act (2005), deprivation of liberty safeguards and their application in a non-mental health setting.

 

11. Will be required to carry out unpredictable amount of mental effort during assessments and unpredictable work pattern

 

Communications:

 

The post holder will:

 

1. Demonstrate the ability to receive and give complex clinical details clearly and appropriate to the situation, with patients, carers and colleagues.

 

2. Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly, sensitively and with compassion in situations that are emotional, contentious and/or hostile. 

 

3. Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, self-awareness and empathy in all communications.

 

4. Demonstrate an ability to negotiate and problem solve in contentious and/or antagonistic situations where agreement cannot be reached e.g. in situations where the Mental Health Act may be needed to be used.

 

5. Demonstrate the ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues within the Luton & Dunstable hospital.

 

Management:

 

The post-holder will:

 

1. In the absence of the shift co-ordinator; take responsibility for the immediate management of the team and patient care provided, to agreed local and professional standards. 

 

2. In the absence of the shift co-ordinator, take responsibility for the co-ordination of all activities within the clinical area or equivalent sphere. 

 

3. Ensure the promotion of health and safety regulations in relation to the well-being and interests of the patients, staff and all visitors who come into contact with the team environment.

 

4. At all times follow the Nursing & Midwifery Council Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives (2009) and ensure that all staff within their sphere of responsibility also follows the code as laid down.

 

5. Assist the shift co-ordinator and senior management to exercise day to day control of the budget for the service.

 

6. Act as change agent to promote innovation and high standards of practice in line with the MHL service aims and objectives.

 

Research:

 

1. Demonstrate a commitment to developing research skills in line with the requirements of the MHL service.

 

2. Regularly undertake audit / research into client / service related areas and contribute to the application and evaluation of current research findings.

 

3. Identify areas of study / research in the service, develop proposals and seek advice on funding to support such activities in collaboration with the team manager.

 

4. Take an active role in team audits and in the development of standards in conjunction with the clinical audit department and team manager.

 

Education and Development:

 

1)    Attend training as required by the individual post holder to update and gain knowledge and skills related to the role and the needs of the patients

 

2)    Ensure personal and professional knowledge and skills meet the requirement of the post and they are in line with current practice

 

3)    Under the guidance of the team manager, identify personal professional development needs and demonstrate achievements against personal development plans.

 

4)    Act as mentor / preceptor where appropriate.

 

5)    Facilitate a learning environment conducive to the acquisition of further knowledge and skills.

 

6)    Liaise with the MHL team Nurse Consultant and training department in East London Foundation Trust to meet education needs and requirements for the post.

 

Clinical Governance:

 

1. Participate in the design, implementation and review of the audit of clinical work within the team.

 

2. Take an active role in receiving carer and user feedback in line with the MHL service standards.

 

3. Take an active role in appraisal and supervision in line with East London Foundation Trust Policy.

 

4. Adhere to the East London Foundation Trust policy for the promotion of equal opportunities and cultural awareness. 

 

5. Demonstrate respect, empathy and understanding of all users and colleagues within the service and acute trust. 

 

6. Adhere to the Nursing & Midwifery Council Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives (2009) at all times. 

 

7. Adhere to all East London NHS Foundation Trust policies. 

 

This job description is not exhaustive but acts to provide guidelines to the duties expected of the post. 

In consultation with the post-holder, this job description will be reviewed and amended in light of changing professional demands.