Nursing Assistant Practitioner at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Key Areas of Responsibility To work with health care professionals, and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users. To contribute to the delivery of care packages for patients with long term conditions, rehabilitation and palliative care needs for example, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible. To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital and in-reach into inpatient unit and mainstream services. To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital.

Clinical The post holder will: Working with patients who have behaviours that challenge, mental health needs and patients on the autistic spectrum. Assess patients with straight forward requirements based on predetermined department protocols. Prepare for, carry out and monitor assessments and intervention in specified clinical areas, and discharge in line with predetermined departmental protocol. Apply competency based intervention techniques/care to patients with specific conditions under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, following a prescribed/intervention care plan.

Modify and progress intervention/treatment using own clinical reasoning, notifying a qualified practitioner accordingly. Prepare for and develop individual /group activities to meet defined intervention needs. Monitor patients and promptly alert a qualified practitioner when there are unexpected changes. Demonstrate problem solving, and contribute to the solution, working with colleagues.

Make basic judgements on patients response to prescribed treatment, and report findings to a qualified practitioner. Plan and prioritise own visits to delegated patients, and ensure these are documented on Liquidlogic Adult System (LAS). Ensure inputting into Liquidlogic Adult System (LAS)/patient held records (where appropriate) is completed on a daily basis. Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustment in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance.

Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patients cooperation in their treatment /care/management plan. Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient team, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate (e.g. Early Help Hub; Gold Standard framework).

Communicate with patients/carers by exchanging factual information, reassurance, tact and empathy. Establish and maintain appropriate working relationships with colleagues, patients, carers and other health professionals. Demonstrate dexterity and coordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important (e.g. taking blood sugars, venepuncture, supervising transfers, passive exercises).

Be responsible for ensuring equipment is used safely, following appropriate training, and that it is maintained appropriately. Work predominantly independently on specified tasks, with regular clinical support and clinical supervision by a qualified practitioner. Work with qualified practitioners with group work/clinics as required. Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of consent, and gain consent as appropriate following departmental policy.

Share responsibility for equipment (e.g. sexual education equipment aids). Share responsibility for indirect patient contact tasks, such as answering telephones, arranging appointments, processing referrals and inputting activity data. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products, therefore must use universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.

Demonstrates basic IT and standard keyboard skills. Professional The post holder will: To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at and participation in staff meetings, training sessions, courses and reflective practice. To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee, maintaining a dynamic personal development plan. To demonstrate an awareness of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situations.

To provide peer support to other carers. To develop competencies to enhance practice and ability to meet needs of patients and the service. Communication To establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients and carers, incorporating motivation, encouragement and confidence building. To demonstrate an ability to communicate with patients/carers with complex needs, using clear and effective verbal/non-verbal communication.

To gather and collate information to enable co-ordinator to plan interventions/liaison with others. To provide direct feedback to professionals as appropriate, and in a clear and concise way. To contribute to accurate and timely patient records, including data collection. To communicate and share information with DNs, GPs and SWs as necessary.

Be able to communicate effectively with patients/relatives with communication difficulties (i.e. deafness, blindness, and learning disabilities). To provide feedback to co-ordinator in a clear and concise way.