Community Learning Disability Nurse Practitioner

Job Purpose As part of the Specialist Health Community Learning Disability Team, the post holder will be expected to work across and support all of the nursing functions Continuing Health Care, Intensive Assessment and Treatment and Primary Care Liaison. The post holder will be expected to undertake assessments and formulations, develop care plans and undertake relevant interventions and evaluate care plans and interventions accordingly. The post holder will work in a person-centred way, working closely with people with learning disabilities, their families and carers as part of their day to day work and with wider stakeholders as appropriate. There is an emphasis to work using a strengths-based approach across our service, ensuring that people with a learning disability are supported to have their physical and mental health needs identified and addressed (avoiding inappropriate admissions to hospital wherever possible and maximising health outcomes). Duties and Responsibilities • Promote services in line with current local and national policy & guidance for people with Learning Disabilities, which promotes the rights and inclusion of this client group. • Undertake all aspects of practice as an autonomous practitioner and report to the Band 6 accordingly, including professional and legal accountability for own work within an agreed policy framework. • To act as a point of contact for family, carers and other professionals during the service users care pathway. • Facilitate open and easy access to hospital and other mainstream health services for people with learning disabilities. • Develop effective and collaborative working with healthcare and multi-agency colleagues. • To assist in identifying and meeting the training needs and providing specialist and nursing advice when appropriate / required. Communication and Working Relationship Skills • Operational accountability rests with the Senior Operational Manager. • Communicates sensitive, confidential information concerning patients/clients requiring empathy, persuasion and reassurance. Some may have special needs. • Making use of special communication techniques such as total communication. • Form effective working relationships across health and social care organisations as required. • To act with diplomacy making decisions as situations develop, ensuring appropriate feedback to partner organisations. • To contribute to the development of relevant accessible information for service users and their families/carers when required, to support care and treatment. Analytical and Judgemental Skills • Undertake risk assessments and determine the appropriate course of action, which has taken into consideration a range of possible options. Where necessary, ensure that consultation with senior colleagues is undertaken. • Use clinical judgement to consider complex facts or situations, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options when determining the type of care required for someone with complex health needs / behaviours of concern. Undertake and continuously re-evaluate assessments. Where necessary, ensure that consultation with senior colleagues is undertaken. • Have an awareness of your own clinical competencies, knowledge base and experience, and ensure that you practice within this and seek support as required. • The post holder is expected to work within the policy frameworks of both their employing authority and the authority hosting them (where appropriate). Where there is a conflict, management guidance should be sought. Planning and Organisational Skills • The post holder is expected to plan and organise their own diary and daily working schedule. They are responsible for ensuring their own administration returns such as Data Capture Sheets, travel etc. are completed on time, are accurate and are submitted through the correct channels. • The post holder will ensure all Core Mandatory & Statutory Training, as identified by Devon Partnership NHS Trust is up-to-date. • Plans provision of care for patients, e.g. clinics, health education, ensuring reviews are held within the required time frames. • Organise relevant meetings as required e.g. core group meetings, professional and risk meetings. • Responsible for managing own workload of non-complex clients, to ensure the needs of the individuals who use our services are met, taking the wider needs of the team into consideration. • Plan the workload of junior colleagues where appropriate / required. Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy • Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates clinical care of patients/clients; gives specialist advice to clients/carers. • They are responsible for ensuring accurate recording of advice and any intervention and the monitoring of any interventions. • To provide support and advice regarding mental capacity, consent & best interest to the service user, their family / carer, and the professionals involved in decision making about their care. • To identify reasonable adjustments with people with learning disabilities and communicate with relevant service to support with the implementation of the adjustments as appropriate. • To act as an advocate for people with learning disabilities when required. Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation • Post holder will follow policies and makes comments on proposals for change. • Assist areas in recognising potential barriers to access to care and other communication issues in relation to individuals with learning disabilities, and provide advice and support as required. • To promote active participation of service users and their families / carers in the healthcare process, working within the Public and Patient Involvement agenda / Trust Together strategy. • To work in partnership with people with learning disabilities, self-advocacy groups, PALS and carers groups in the development, implementation and maintenance of service provision where appropriate. • To assess the impact of local and national initiatives and provide feedback on Trust initiatives relating to skills competency of its workforce. Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources • The post holder has a personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources. Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management • It is expected that the post holder will offer supervision and support to Band 4, Band 3 staff and to student nurses on placements. The post holder will offer training to non-specialists in their own area where appropriate. Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties • To utilise information systems as instructed (including paper based and electronic system). To gather, record and maintain information on individual clients and general work activity. To ensure all returns are completed in a timely manner. • To maintain confidentiality of information regarding patients and relatives at all times. • Ensure information resources are used to maintain knowledge of Trust, Directorate and Team priorities and safety initiatives. • Maintain up to date clinical record in a timely and accurate manner. • Ensure information is shared with key stakeholders and other agencies in a secure manner. Responsibility for Research and Development • Undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to own work. • Occasional participation in R&D activity/ clinical trials. Freedom to Act • Works within clearly defined occupational policies, work is managed, rather than supervised. • Works within codes of practice and professional guidelines. Any Other Specific Tasks Required • The ability to access all areas of Devon in a timely manner is essential. Some out of area work may be required from time to time. Job description Job responsibilities Job Purpose As part of the Specialist Health Community Learning Disability Team, the post holder will be expected to work across and support all of the nursing functions Continuing Health Care, Intensive Assessment and Treatment and Primary Care Liaison. The post holder will be expected to undertake assessments and formulations, develop care plans and undertake relevant interventions and evaluate care plans and interventions accordingly. The post holder will work in a person-centred way, working closely with people with learning disabilities, their families and carers as part of their day to day work and with wider stakeholders as appropriate. There is an emphasis to work using a strengths-based approach across our service, ensuring that people with a learning disability are supported to have their physical and mental health needs identified and addressed (avoiding inappropriate admissions to hospital wherever possible and maximising health outcomes). Duties and Responsibilities • Promote services in line with current local and national policy & guidance for people with Learning Disabilities, which promotes the rights and inclusion of this client group. • Undertake all aspects of practice as an autonomous practitioner and report to the Band 6 accordingly, including professional and legal accountability for own work within an agreed policy framework. • To act as a point of contact for family, carers and other professionals during the service users care pathway. • Facilitate open and easy access to hospital and other mainstream health services for people with learning disabilities. • Develop effective and collaborative working with healthcare and multi-agency colleagues. • To assist in identifying and meeting the training needs and providing specialist and nursing advice when appropriate / required. Communication and Working Relationship Skills • Operational accountability rests with the Senior Operational Manager. • Communicates sensitive, confidential information concerning patients/clients requiring empathy, persuasion and reassurance. Some may have special needs. • Making use of special communication techniques such as total communication. • Form effective working relationships across health and social care organisations as required. • To act with diplomacy making decisions as situations develop, ensuring appropriate feedback to partner organisations. • To contribute to the development of relevant accessible information for service users and their families/carers when required, to support care and treatment. Analytical and Judgemental Skills • Undertake risk assessments and determine the appropriate course of action, which has taken into consideration a range of possible options. Where necessary, ensure that consultation with senior colleagues is undertaken. • Use clinical judgement to consider complex facts or situations, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options when determining the type of care required for someone with complex health needs / behaviours of concern. Undertake and continuously re-evaluate assessments. Where necessary, ensure that consultation with senior colleagues is undertaken. • Have an awareness of your own clinical competencies, knowledge base and experience, and ensure that you practice within this and seek support as required. • The post holder is expected to work within the policy frameworks of both their employing authority and the authority hosting them (where appropriate). Where there is a conflict, management guidance should be sought. Planning and Organisational Skills • The post holder is expected to plan and organise their own diary and daily working schedule. They are responsible for ensuring their own administration returns such as Data Capture Sheets, travel etc. are completed on time, are accurate and are submitted through the correct channels. • The post holder will ensure all Core Mandatory & Statutory Training, as identified by Devon Partnership NHS Trust is up-to-date. • Plans provision of care for patients, e.g. clinics, health education, ensuring reviews are held within the required time frames. • Organise relevant meetings as required e.g. core group meetings, professional and risk meetings. • Responsible for managing own workload of non-complex clients, to ensure the needs of the individuals who use our services are met, taking the wider needs of the team into consideration. • Plan the workload of junior colleagues where appropriate / required. Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy • Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates clinical care of patients/clients; gives specialist advice to clients/carers. • They are responsible for ensuring accurate recording of advice and any intervention and the monitoring of any interventions. • To provide support and advice regarding mental capacity, consent & best interest to the service user, their family / carer, and the professionals involved in decision making about their care. • To identify reasonable adjustments with people with learning disabilities and communicate with relevant service to support with the implementation of the adjustments as appropriate. • To act as an advocate for people with learning disabilities when required. Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation • Post holder will follow policies and makes comments on proposals for change. • Assist areas in recognising potential barriers to access to care and other communication issues in relation to individuals with learning disabilities, and provide advice and support as required. • To promote active participation of service users and their families / carers in the healthcare process, working within the Public and Patient Involvement agenda / Trust Together strategy. • To work in partnership with people with learning disabilities, self-advocacy groups, PALS and carers groups in the development, implementation and maintenance of service provision where appropriate. • To assess the impact of local and national initiatives and provide feedback on Trust initiatives relating to skills competency of its workforce. Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources • The post holder has a personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources. Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management • It is expected that the post holder will offer supervision and support to Band 4, Band 3 staff and to student nurses on placements. The post holder will offer training to non-specialists in their own area where appropriate. Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties • To utilise information systems as instructed (including paper based and electronic system). To gather, record and maintain information on individual clients and general work activity. To ensure all returns are completed in a timely manner. • To maintain confidentiality of information regarding patients and relatives at all times. • Ensure information resources are used to maintain knowledge of Trust, Directorate and Team priorities and safety initiatives. • Maintain up to date clinical record in a timely and accurate manner. • Ensure information is shared with key stakeholders and other agencies in a secure manner. Responsibility for Research and Development • Undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to own work. • Occasional participation in R&D activity/ clinical trials. Freedom to Act • Works within clearly defined occupational policies, work is managed, rather than supervised. • Works within codes of practice and professional guidelines. Any Other Specific Tasks Required • The ability to access all areas of Devon in a timely manner is essential. Some out of area work may be required from time to time.