Frailty Specialist Nurse
Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, self-motivated nurse to join our growing team and become a member of our frailty service within the same day emergency care service.
As a Frailty Specialist Nurse you will take a lead role in co-ordinating patient care with our multi-professional service working with a 'home first' approach.
We are part of an integrated team with Livewell South West focussing on admission avoidance. We work closely with acute and community teams in assessing, investigating, planning and treating our patients on the same day. The post holder will have a range of assessment and clinical skills and show expertise in acute frail aspects of urgent care.
As a service that is going through change, the post holder will have the opportunity to drive forward future developments of the frailty service.
For further information, please contact Julie Ball, Lead Frailty Specialist Nurse.
Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS at Risk staff throughout Devon who is able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is responsible for the assessment, planning and delivery of high quality evidence based care for acutely ill patients with the Acute Frailty Unit, with the aim of preventing avoidable hospital admission.
To reduce hospitals admissions and minimise hospital length of stay by providing intensive and specialist nursing input and involving and working very closely with appropriate members of the multi-disciplinary team.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles.
Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- Planning Individualised Patient Care
Responsibility for the specialist assessment, provision, and co-ordination of care to individual patients in conjunction with patients and carers.
Advises and supports other staff in their planning of patient care.
Provides support and advice to patients’ carers and relatives (with consent) on patient’s conditions and prognosis where appropriate.
Responsibility for reviewing care delivery and maintaining records in accordance with local and with NMC guidelines.
Works as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Acts as patient representative to facilitate appropriate care pathways which involves effective communication to peers, other specialist practitioners, GPs, and Consultants.- Delivery of Direct Care
To assess, plan and evaluate care provided for patients including those with complex needs. Facilitates the monitoring of evidence-based standards through research, clinical trials, audits, and staff initiatives. Initiates prescribed care in conjunction with Team Manager/Consultant/GP and other clinicians. Without direct supervision, reporting directly to Consultant Physician or AGP undertakes care delivery involving an extensive range of activities acquired through additional short courses or equivalent experience:
- Acute and chronic disease awareness / management
- Assisting the multi-disciplinary team in palliative care
- Acute/chronic pain management
- Facilitating appropriate care for elimination needs
- Wound assessments and management
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Health promotion
- Acting as a formal mentor to pre-registration nursing students
- Adopting link roles
- Intravenous drug, fluid therapy, infusions
- Administration of Nebulised drugs
- Administration of oxygen therapy
- Computer skills
- Liaising with and referring on to other agencies and professionals
- Pulse oximetry and interpretation
- Venepuncture and venous cannulation
- Management of central and mid lines
- Performing ECGs
- In-depth history taking
Undertake and interpret acute observations using an appropriate tool e.g., Mews, ABCDE
- Management and Leadership:
Act as a role model, promoting good performance and practice. Reporting of all incidents and near misses. Supporting team manager in investigations of incidents. Inform managers of any on-going nursing/management issues affecting patient care or working capacity.
Act as authorised signatory for expenses as delegated by team manager. Deputise for line manager in absence. Act as shift co-ordinator on a rotational basis.
- Professional
To work within the NMC code. To remain updated and competent and ensure that clinical practice is evidence based. To have an up-to-date personal development plan and professional portfolio.
To participate in an annual appraisal of their work in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) where the job description will be reviewed, and objectives set. In line with the annual development plan the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfil their role.
- Education and Training
Support the team manager in providing and maintaining a learning environment and maximise opportunities for education and development in the clinical are to enhance individual development and performance in the delivery of high standards of care.
Take part in the process of clinical supervision and support clinical supervision for junior team members. Take responsibility for your own personal and professional development; maintain competence, knowledge, and skills commensurate with role.To undertake all required training and competencies required for the role. Maintain attendance at mandatory and statutory training as per organisation guidelines. Integrate theory into practice by bringing new knowledge around acute care from training into the practice environment.
Act as a mentor for students and fulfil requirements of a practice placement. To facilitate induction for new members of the team. Act as a link nurse for speciality to enhance team education.
- Research
Support the team manager in working towards the achievement of specific performance targets related to the team.
For further details please see attached JD&PS
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria- Proven background knowledge of Government policies relating to ambulatory frailty care.
- Proven knowledge of Frailty Nurse Competencies
- Current and up to date proven knowledge of Code of Conduct (NMC)
- Proven evidence of strong Acute Care background and skills
- Clinical Risk Management
- *Proven knowledge of Secondary & Primary Care Sector
- Proven knowledge of local and national frailty agenda *
- Wound care background
Qualifications
Essential criteria- NMC Registered Nurse (Adult)
- Teaching or mentorship qualification at degree level or equivalent
- Proven management and leadership module or study days/evidence of
- Recognised Acute Care Assessments module
- Recognised Frailty modules
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential criteria- Clinical and leadership demonstrable experience
- Extensive demonstrable experience within a similar role
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.
We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests.This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
For Doctors Roles:
Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.
In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.
We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.
Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.
Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.
In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.