About Us:

The Confederation, Hillingdon CIC works with general practice and other healthcare providers in Hillingdon to deliver high quality clinical services to patients. Our aim is to improve care for patients by working collaboratively across primary care and our partners as part of the Integrated Care Partnership. The Confederation team also work to develop and support individual GP practices, PCNs and Neighbourhoods and their changing needs. We are of the NHS but independent, innovative and transformational.

General capacity across primary care is being expanded rapidly. The Confederation is determined to develop as an attractive place to work that provides rewarding roles and opportunities to grow in order to attract and retain great staff that in turn provides the highest quality care.

Our Values:

Job Summary:

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Primary Care to work as a Nurse Associate at The Confederation, Hillingdon.

You will need a caring and compassionate nature, excellent organisational skills and to enjoy working with people. The world of General Practice is busy and ever changing so an ability to learn quickly and be adaptable to rapid change is essential. The role will require an ability to organise and prioritise your own workload, and so you should be comfortable working independently and as a committed member of a multi-disciplinary team.

We recognise the value that a PCN Nurse Associate can bring to our practices and our aim is to provide exemplary patient care; finding innovative solutions in general practice to deliver the best outcomes to our patients. We are seeking an enthusiastic and forward-thinking PCN Nurse Associate to join the ever growing team.

This job description is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks that a Nursing Associate MAY perform. The actual duties of the post holder will be negotiated with the relevant practices depending on the practices needs, contractual obligations and the Nursing Associates knowledge, expertise and experience.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Carry out Chronic Disease Management annual reviews delegated by a supervising Nurse or senior colleague.
• Monitor and support the lead nurse with the management of patients with long-term conditions / chronic diseases, using a holistic patient centred approach.
• Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by senior nursing staff and GPs.
• Be able to take vital signs and observations and identify signs of improvement, report any deteriorations or concerns, e.g. pulse, blood pressure, respirations, oxygen saturations, peak flow, blood glucose levels, ECG, assessing nutrition and hydration.
• Undertake wound care and management, as require.
• Administer medications as prescribed and in accordance with NMC Standards, e.g. via nebuliser or injections using sub-cutaneous or intramuscular route under Patient Specific Directions.
• Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate assist in the assessment, planning, development, implementation and evaluation of programmes to promote health and well-being and prevent adverse effects on health and well-being.
• Deliver opportunistic health promotion using opportunities such as new-patient medicals and NHS Health Checks.
• Document Consultations accurately and appropriately, according to NMC guidelines.
• Ensure awareness of statutory and local clinical adult and children safeguarding protection procedures, including systems of referral. Ability to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse/neglect.
• Ensure all mandatory training is completed on an annual basis including; safeguarding, confidentiality, Equality + Diversity etc.
• Recognise and manage anaphylaxis according to current UK guidelines.
• Be able to perform Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation according to current UK guidelines.
• Obtain and document informed consent (either verbal or written), as required.
• Ensure infection prevention and control guidelines are maintained.
• Chaperone and assist patients, where appropriate, who are being examined by another clinician.
• Assist GPs, e.g. with minor surgery and family planning clinics.
• Undertake pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs.
• Ensure confidentially of information gained at work is preserved at all times.
• Assist in practice audits, CQC compliance evidence and QOF recalls.

Participate and contribute towards any local incentive project relevant to the role. Additional tasks following training and support may include:

• Cytology
• Childhood Immunisations & Vaccinations
• Vaccinations (e.g. travel, influenza etc.) Providing assessment, screening and treatment services and health education advice.
• Provide nursing treatments to patients in participation with general practitioners or Senior Nurse to agreed protocols.
• Provide general and specific health screenings to the practices patients (within agreed protocols) with referral to general practitioners as necessary.
• Advise patients on general health care with referral to GPs as necessary.
• Ability to monitor and manage maintenance of stock and equipment to include refrigeration and emergency equipment. Pathological specimens and investigatory procedures.
• Following appropriate training, undertake the collection, storage and despatch of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs, smears etc and ensure the cleanliness of any equipment so used. Perform any investigatory procedures requested by the GPs or senior Nurse Administrative and professional responsibilities.
• Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practices team/s.
• Ensure accurate notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes on the clinical computer system as appropriate.
• Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice/s.
• Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports.
• Attend and participate in meetings as required.
• Contribute to the assessment of service needs.
• Assist patients to identify their health needs.
• Contribute a nursing perspective to the practice/PCN development plan as required.
• Manage and organise individual patient consultations.
• Aware of identification and reporting procedures related to professional standards.
• Ensure effective relationships and communications with colleagues and other agencies.
• Support the clinical governance agenda.
• Identify potential changes to clinical practice that are required to implement evidence-based guidelines
• Co-operate and participate as required in any research projects as identified. Student/staff education and training.
• Contribute towards the education and training of Nursing Associate students, health care support workers and those new to Primary care roles.
• The induction of relevant members of practice staff with special responsibility for Health Care Assistants as required. Liaison.
• Maintain effective liaison with other agencies and staff concerned with patient care and with all other disciplines, with appropriate regard to confidentiality.
• To demonstrate professional and ethical behaviours always including when liaising with internal and external colleagues.
• Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards.

Collaborative Working Relationships:

• Participates in the Primary Care Network Multidisciplinary Team.
• Liaises with CCG colleagues including CCG commissioners, to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit to GP practices.
• Foster and maintain strong links with all services across the PCN and neighbouring networks.
• Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships.
• Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care.
• Can recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary.
• Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital dietitian teams.

Liaises with other stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients including but not limited to:

• Patients and their representatives GP, nurses and other practice staff.
• Other healthcare professionals including community pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, social prescribers, first contact physiotherapists, physicians associate and paramedics.
• Community nurses and other allied health professionals.
• Hospital staff.
• Community nurses and other allied health professionals.

Person Specification:

Essential Criteria:

• Specialist knowledge acquired through postgraduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience
• Two year Foundation Degree delivered by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) - approved provider and is registered with the NMC and revalidation is undertaken in line with NMC requirements.
• Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development.
• Qualifications and Credit Framework Level 3 in Care or equivalent in terms of both academic attainment and previous care experience.
• Essential induction training and experience care certificate or equivalent.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in working with vulnerable patients and in the NHS/ Health care environment.
• Previous experience of working within a health / care setting.
• Understanding of basic physiology, e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements etc.