District Nurse / Case Load Manager

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South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.

We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don't need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.

The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Probationary Period

All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual - we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.

Agile and Flexible Working

All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.

The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.

Staff Benefits

The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.

Car Parking

The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.

To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).

Job overview

Band 6 District Nurse/Case Manager - Placed Based Team 1 : Atherstone.

1 Permanent post

1 Fixed term 12 month post

Are you looking for a change of scenery?

Would you like to work out in the fresh air and nurse in different environments every day?

If so this is the job for you.

We have an exciting opportunity for Band 6 Registered Nurse to join our dynamic, forward thinking Community Nursing Team.

Our aim is to provide a high standard of evidence based holistic care to housebound patients within their own homes so as to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

The successful candidate will have a general knowledge of current best practice in Community Nursing, already holding a District Nurse degree . Ideally would have health assessment or has a confirmed start date to the Programme. Be an effective leader with excellent communication skills and have the ability to manage a caseload of patients.

We will provide you with a structured induction and training period to ensure you have the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge. We encourage staff and support continuing professional development progression.

The Service operates seven days a week and flexible working is required.

The requirements are that you should hold a valid UK driving license and be willing to travel across the North Warwickshire and surrounding areas. A mileage allowance is available.

Main duties of the job

The District Nurse is responsible for the assessment and management of the health needs of an identified population and for the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care within a range of target groups including end of life care, complex health needs and patients identified as being at risk of hospital admission.

The District Nurse will clinically supervise and provide support to a team of staff - being responsible for the development and competencies of staff within their team. To include performance development reviews, clinical supervision and recruitment and selection.

Working for our organisation

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Functions

Named responsibility and professional accountability for the management of a defined caseload including the delegation of tasks to other members of the team.

The post holder will have continuing responsibility for visible leadership which ensures an equitable evidence-based service, which is underpinned by the pillars of clinical governance.

Prescribe using the Nurse formulary and ensure that nurse prescribing is undertaken in a safe, cost effective manner.

Develop a caseload profile, identifying those groups with specific health needs and implement and evaluate programmes of care to target groups taking a case management approach.

Act in accordance with current local Warwickshire Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Trust guidelines/policy to protect vulnerable adults.

Act within the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.

Contribute towards ensuring the trust objectives are implemented and to support the Professional Lead in influencing change.

Provide appropriate nursing care to patients on the defined caseloads.

Provide specialist advice appropriate to health and social care to patients, carers, relatives and other agencies.

Participate in the development, training and mentorship of pre-registration students/medical students and staff as required including induction and preceptorship programmes.

To provide assistance with the resolution of complaints within the clinical speciality, or sphere of responsibility.

To attend meetings and deputise for the Professional Lead as required and ensure that information is disseminated within the nursing team.

Assist with the delivery of a comprehensive induction programme for new staff members.

Communication

Demonstrate excellent communication and negotiation skills in situations which may be complex, highly sensitive and emotive. All communication will be underpinned by the principles of data protection, dignity and confidentiality.

Adopt and promote the highest level of verbal, non-verbal, written and electronic communication skills. Be open and honest, act with integrity and uphold the reputation of the profession as directed by the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC, 2015).

Take responsibility for initiating and/or engaging in open discussion with statutory and voluntary agencies and all members of the wider multi-disciplinary team as appropriate.

Ensure effective communication to support continuity of care on transfer between hospital, community, residential and nursing care settings and vice versa.

Analysis and Judgement

Promotes and maintains accurate record keeping and conforms to NMC policy and data protection legislation.

Uses resources effectively and being aware of budgetary constraints including ordering of equipment.

Will participate in research and development projects within the clinical field, embracing opportunities to develop knowledge by undertaking further study whilst sharing initiatives with others.

Responsible for communicating and receiving sensitive, complex, and sometimes contentious information, dealing effectively with staff, relatives, and carers whilst ensuring confidentiality. Will use developed persuasive, motivational, negotiating skills, where agreement and cooperation is required. There may be barriers to understanding.

Supporting the Professional Lead and Quality Matron in the development of audit systems within SWFT to ensure continuing evaluation of clinical practice by facilitating clinical audit programmes and research in line with clinical governance priorities.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Supervise and direct work undertaken by other members of the skill mix team on a daily basis.

Direct responsibility for the day to day supervision and performance of the district nursing team.

To input statistical information by electronically recording daily activity on EMIS, ensuring each contact/activity is recorded in real time.

Responsible for ensuring that staff are supported in accessing Clinical Supervision.

Responsibility for Patient Care

Take responsibility for the complex and holistic assessment or delegation of planning, implementation and evaluation of care on an individual basis, utilising recognised models and tools, e.g. end of life care and long term conditions.

As a District Nurse there will be a need for a varied clinical skill set, including, but not limited to:

End of Life Care - Syringe Drivers and symptom control

Intravenous Therapy

Management of Plural Drains

Wound Care - Including complex e.g. Vacuum assisted therapy

Leg Ulcers - Including compressions therapy

Continence Management - Catheters, Bowel Management

Patient education and training of self-management techniques

Long Term Condition Management - Heart Failure, Diabetes, Respiratory, Frailty, Dementia

Social prescribing

Named responsibility for the management of a defined caseload.

Acts as patient's advocate where appropriate.

Be proactive in offering health promotion and participate in health promotion activities for a defined caseload.

Utilise health needs assessment for the local population.

The District Nurse will recognise triggers of deterioration/increased need of patients and initiate the Continuing Healthcare/NHS Funded Nursing Care assessment process.

To work with the Professional Lead to ensure performance indicators are achieved, avoiding patient harms and supporting preferred place of care.

Ensuring excellent working relationships and communication links with all stakeholders including acute hospital staff, Local Authorities, Social Care teams and voluntary services as appropriate for patient care.

Policy and Service Development

To take a lead on quality initiatives, including but not limited to Community care Indicators, Hand Hygiene, Saving Lives and iWGC.

Understanding of national policy and guidance with the ability to interpret and implement at service level.

Participate in and contribute to service redesign and policy development to benefit patient care.

Source patients'/relatives'/carers' views and feedback on their experience of SWFT OOHCC services in order to influence and inform future service provision.

To contribute to the implementation and audit of policies, guidelines and procedures ensuring practice is evidence-based and patient centred.

Will undertake Personal Development Reviews (PDR) and relevant development plans for members of the nursing team. Assist in the identification of individual training requirements in line with NMC Revalidation and Pay Progression requirements.

Responsibility for Human Resources

To identify workforce planning issues and actively participate in the recruitment, selection and retention of clinical staff.

Ensure team members are up to date with mandatory and statutory training.

Responsible for Performance Development Reviews for staff within the team.

Contributing to the promotion of team morale and management of conflict within the team by adopting an open and honest approach in order to seek resolve.

Professional Responsibilities and Freedom to Act

Interpret national guidance on NMC guidelines.

Promote and participate in clinical supervision.

Maintain clinical and professional competencies in accordance with relevant statutory legislation and guidance relevant to health professionals and their services.

Responsibility for Research & Development

Ensure standards, protocols and policies are evidence based and applied to practice.

Keep abreast of current clinical issues thus always promoting best practice.

Critique and use research to inform practice.

Complete monthly clinical audits (Community Care Indicators) and support the Professional Lead with Infection Prevention audits on a monthly basis.

General

The post holder will be required to have access to independent means of transport for work purposes to travel across the Trust and to other agencies.

The post holder will be unavoidably exposed to challenging working conditions such as travelling during extreme and inclement weather including snow, icy conditions and excess heat.

The Trust endorses the principle of whether people smoke or not is a matter of personal choice but where they smoke is a matter of public concern. The policy on smoking and health protects non-smokers and requires that all Trust premises are smoke free.

Physical and Mental Effort

The post holder will undertake "people moving and handling" on a daily basis. The handling of equipment e.g. hoists is integral to the post and may be required to be undertaken in confined spaces within patient's homes.

The post holder will be required to operate as a lone worker in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

The post holder may come into contact with bodily fluids including urine and faeces and exudate from wounds e.g. blood and pus.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse (1st Level)
• Degree level District Nursing Specialist Practitioner Qualification (or working towards)
• Leadership Qualification

Desirable criteria

• Coaching Skills

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant Post registration community experience
• Competent End of Life experience
• Experience of Personalised Care Planning and complex patient management
• Experience of working in a team environment
• Experience of nurse leadership and management
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development

Desirable criteria

• Experience in managing complaints
• Experience in service improvement

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to provide supervision and support staff
• Clinical leadership skills
• Must have excellent prioritisation and time keeping skills
• Must be computer literate and have standard keyboard skills
• Teaching, presentation, and facilitation skills to support education

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

• Ability to work independently, lead and be part of a team
• Ability to influence and adapt to service need and demand
• Ability to be self-motivated
• High level of interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent role model
• Ability to work at pace

Other

Essential criteria

• Must have means of own transport and able to drive in variable weather conditions
• Must be a non-smoker during working hours
• Must be willing to undertake Criminal records Bureau Disclosure to Enhanced / Standard level
• Must be legally entitled to work in this country

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don't want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.

The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).

Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.

We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.

Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it's a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.

The Trust is part of a 'Foundation Group' through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 352.6KB)
• Person Specification (PDF, 296.6KB)
• Occupational Health Functional Requirements Form (PDF, 207.6KB)