Clinical Specialist Nurse

Working as a member of a multidisciplinary Mental Health home treatment team the post holder will be responsible for providing individual assessments of service users experiencing a mental health crisis, identified clinical interventions and direct care to service users with mental health problems. They will also undertake management tasks, deputising for the Team manager as required, and will take a lead on mentoring and supervising others within their service area.

A key role will be helping to develop the Home Treatment Team response to working with people with dementia. This will involve liaison with other providers, developing new operating protocols for the teams and providing training to other team members.

As a nurse, the post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the team understands and operates to the requirements of the service operational policy and strategy, and that safe, evidence based, effective, culturally competent care is delivered in a timely manner to service users in crisis. The post holder will be expected to work a 7-day rota covering the boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey.

The focus of the role will be that of individual assessment, intervention and evaluation of treatment, delivered within the framework of NICE guidelines, evidence based best practice and to maximise service user's ability to cope with their mental health crisis.

To be responsible for providing expert care in an area of designated expertise, in accordance with the NMC code of professional conduct

To provide expert, autonomous and highly specialist clinical practice within a multi-disciplinary Team to include:

a) Initial assessment and formulation using a range of mental health or other specialist tools

b) When required to do so making appropriate judgements about the needs of service users in crisis.

c) To assess, plan, implement and evaluate care in negotiation with service users, carers and other services, considering the needs of a diverse community

d) Apply a range of therapeutic modalities, using evidence-based interventions in accordance with the requirements of service line care pathways

e) Contributing to multidisciplinary team decisions at the point of discharge and or transfer of the service user

f) To participate in and provide a specialist dementia nursing perspective to multi-disciplinary team meetings/case discussions

g) Maintaining contemporaneous records to the standard required by the trust and the relevant professional body (where appropriate to the post holder)

h) Assessing and managing risk on a continuous basis, in line with trust policy

i) Encouraging service users to accept an optimum level of responsibility for their programme of care and with their consent, where appropriate, seek the co-operation of friends, relatives, carers.

j) Support other members of staff in their assessment and management of service user care needs through reviewing initial data collection; monitoring of their progress; feedback; discussion and reports at care reviews with the team.

k) To identify carers and to offer carers assessments and review carers care plans

To provide relevant information for service users and carers relating to health promotion and well being.

To be able to demonstrate and explain clinical reasoning in relation to professional input to a service users care plan when required to members of the team, trainees or others external to the organisation.

To recognise and respond appropriately to challenging behaviour in line with Trust policies

At all times to act in accordance with trust policies in relation to risk assessment contributing to comprehensive assessments of risk, and monitoring as appropriate

To have up to date and detailed knowledge, understanding and experience of Mental Health and Social Care legislation as required by the Acute Division.

To be aware of personal accountability and responsibility in respect of ensuring that cleanliness standards and practices are maintained in the clinical environment and that these are compliant with PEAT, The Hygiene Code, CQC requirements and Trust Infection Control protocols and procedures.

To follow trust policy in promptly reporting all accidents and incidents. Undertaking investigations when called upon to do so or nominating / supervising relevant others in this role.

To be responsible for the administration, carriage and storage of drugs in accordance with relevant policies and professional guidelines.

To review and recommend medication changes as appropriate in consultation with medical staff re: efficacy and possible side effects and to develop user centred medication concordance.

To ensure the implementation of national guidelines for clinical best practice and apply to practice wherever relevant.

To undertake and lead where appropriate, in the evaluation and audit of professional interventions, clients and the service.

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

Qualifications & Registration

Essential: - Registered Mental Health Nurse; - Current registration with NMC; - Evidence of recent and on-going academic study and/or CPD

Desirable: - Other advanced relevant training i.e. in relation to dementia and/or frailty

Skills and Ablities

Experience/Knowledge

Desirable: - Demonstrate an ability to provide training to colleagues concerning dementia care pathways

Personal Qualities

Essential: - Ability to work within teams and manage own workload; - Compassionate leader - approachable, visible, and open to learn

Other Requirements

Essential: - Full driving license and access to own vehicle