Download Oxleas NHS Trust Job Description

Oxleas NHS Trust Job Description
JOB TITLE:
Consultant Nurse learning Disabilities
GRADE:
8B
DIRECTORATE:
Complex Adult Mental Health and Learning Disabilities
HOURS OF WORK:
37.5 HOURS
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Director complex adult mental health and learning
disabilities.
Clinical Director and Associate service director ALD
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Director of Nursing and Clinical Governance
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
ALL NURSES WORKING IN ALD
LIAISES WITH:
SERVICE DIRECTOR
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR OF NURSING
HEADS OF NURSING
ALL RELEVANT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
MANAGERS AND TEAM LEADERS ACROSS
OXLEAS TRUST
PROFESSIONAL HEADS OF SERVICE
OTHER OXLEAS NURSE CONSULTANTS
EXTERNALLY: Forms effective networks with other Consultant Nurses. Regional and
national professional networks, professional organisations and others as appropriate.
Establishes links and forums with nurses across all specialities in local areas as well as
healthcare delivery to care of service users. University of Greenwich Team and other
University pre and post education providers.
BASE:
Bexley LDT, Stuart House, Sidcup
OVERVIEW OF THE POST:
To provide expert professional advice and clinical leadership to ALD nurses across the
directorate and to lead on the development of nursing within ALD.
The specific focus of this role will include expert clinical practice within the Bexley
community team, this will involve acting as the clinical lead for complex physical health.
Secondly the postholder will have a visible leadership presence within the inpatient
service at Atlas House.
The postholder will be responsible for the supervision, management and coordination of
the rotation nurse post.
The Consultant Nurse will act as a consultant in learning disability nursing providing
advice to colleagues, service users and carers with four main areas of responsibility
which include expert practice, professional leadership, service development, research
and education. In order to meet the requirements of expert clinical practice the
postholder will be expected to carry a small complex caseload of adults with complex
physical health needs.
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The post holder will consult with colleagues both internally and externally with regard to
the development and function of nursing and of clinical practice in ALD. They will initiate
change, provide effective leadership and support towards the delivery of the highest
level of complex clinical practice within the directorate and across the Trust. They will
ensure the interpretation of national, regional and local policies in the development of
professional, interdisciplinary and inter-agency strategic plans. The post holder will work
to provide better health outcomes for people with learning disabilities by improving the
quality of local services. This post will play a crucial role in developing excellence in
nursing practice through the development and implementation of strategies and service
development in 3 key areas;
 Complex Physical Health Needs
 Mental Health and Challenging Behaviour – specific focus on inpatient
care.
 Support and engagement with mainstream services and clinical
commissioning groups.
The role will create an interface between these three areas of practice creating a
common culture and sense of shared philosophy between the teams, ensuring clinical
excellence, agreeing shared outcomes and ways of working. The Consultant Nurse will
establish a strong clinical evidence base, academically underpinned across service
areas to support the development and dissemination of expert nursing practice across
the directorate as a whole and to other nurses as appropriate. This will be achieved
through consultancy and providing the training opportunities for nursing staff.
The Consultant Nurse will work across the range of health and social care settings
provided locally by statutory, private and voluntary sector agencies in order to provide
expert nursing practice. The post will provide expert nursing advice to support and
inform evidence based approach within ethical frameworks when contributing to
commissioning and planning new services. The Consultant Nurse will also develop
innovative new approaches to collaborative working alongside medical, clinical and
social care practitioners.
The post holder will maintain strong links with the local Higher Education Institutes with
regard to nurse education and will participate in the delivery of education in partnership
with all local HEI’s as appropriate. These links with higher education will focus on the
development of local research agendas which reflect the unique clinical priority areas,
thus increasing the relevancy of research activity for local service delivery. The
Consultant Nurse will lead on the development of research and audit in ALD nursing and
across the directorate with other senior multi-professional colleagues. The Consultant
Nurse will actively engage in funded research projects as appropriate and manage
research funding.
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Consultant Nurse post has four key areas of responsibility / components as
identified by the Department of Health which include Expert Practice, Professional
Leadership and Consultancy, Education Training and Development and practice
and Service development, Research and Evaluation.
1.0 Expert Practice (Clinical)
 To deliver expert clinical practice through direct care, consultancy and clinical
supervision of practitioners.
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
Leads in delivering clinics/groups within which referred service users are seen,
assessed and courses of treatment agreed with user, carers and multi-disciplinary
professionals as appropriate across a range of needs including challenging
behaviour/mental health and complex physical health issues.

Utilises and advises on the use of a range of specialist assessments for effective
care planning.

To be able to communicate complicated and sensitive information to service
users, their carers and other professionals and to manage complex issues around
consent.

Provides expert knowledge of health care needs of people with learning
disabilities and utilises this in the development of strategies/protocols.

Provides advice on therapeutic interventions for individuals with complex
presentations.

Ensures the development of care programme approach in ALD nursing applying
this to those with Complex Health Needs as well as mental health and challenging
behaviour.

To provide consultancy to nurses and other health professionals as appropriate,
in order to cascade clinical expertise, enable the development of a skill base in
order to ensure best practice and clinical quality.

Provides expert clinical and professional supervision and mentorship to nurses
working with complex service user presentations.

To develop, implement and monitor standards of care / clinical quality in ALD
nursing in line with Trust and national requirements.

Responsible for ALD nursing procedural development.

To provide specialist assessment, risk assessment, treatment and evaluation of
care to service users with complex needs as required, demonstrating problem
solving skills, managing high risk service users and consulting with junior staff on
issues with regard to the above.

Utilises and promotes highly specialised nursing interventions and care plans that
are evidence based.

Makes critical complex, sensitive judgements of the highest order to satisfy the
expectation and demands of the post.

Provides highly specialised professional and clinical advice and support to
colleagues where standard protocols do not apply.

To act as a strategic link / establish networks with acute hospitals, mental health
and primary healthcare in order to develop joint protocols / care pathways.
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
Develops nurse prescribing within the directorate.

Exercises high degree of professional autonomy.

Maintains professional registration and works within NMC standards and
guidance at all times.
2.0
Professional Leadership and Consultancy (leadership)

To work closely with the lead nurse for ALD leading on the professional and
clinical development of nurses within the directorate and other health
professionals in the learning disability field of practice.

To lead on the development of nursing skills specific to ALD nurses in line with
national development such as the Knowledge and Skills framework and the
national reviews of specific skills for LD nurses and impart and model these skills
to nurses within the service and also in training situations by providing teaching
sessions.

To provide robust and highly visible leadership to Atlas house the directorates
inpatient unit.

To provide Visible leadership within day services and community teams across
the three boroughs.

Articulate and promote the distinctive contribution of Learning Disability Nurses at
local, regional and national level. Contribute to the national learning disability
nursing agenda, and the development of the role of nurses in this area of care.

Form networks with other Trusts and agencies at a regional and national level in
order to identify developments in practice and variations and gaps in service
provision. To develop links with National Institute of Clinical Excellence (CHAI)
and NIMHE.

Plan, initiate and evaluate innovations in nursing practice which are evidenced /
research based.

Take a lead role and shape the development of joint working arrangements with
social services and other agencies at a local level.

To actively participate in the development and delivery of the Trust nursing
strategy and lead on the Trust nursing strategy with regard to the development of
ALD nursing.

To represent the Directorate at Trust level meetings.

To represent the Trust at national and regional meetings, for example, the
National Network for Consultant Nurses and participate in review of national
health and government initiatives in order to influence change at national level.
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
Chair of LD Nursing Council and executive member of Trust Nursing Executive
Council.

To deliver expert clinical opinions in area of specialism to Director and Trust and
other agencies.

Demonstrates a high level of leadership and change management skills.

Improves standards and quality to deliver professional practice which is
underpinned by up to date research and contemporary evidence.

Identifies service opportunities and developments for the area of speciality and
actively contributes / leads on implementation.

Takes a lead in clinical governance within the directorate, providing expert input
and working to secure quality improvements.

To review and lead on the development of new areas of clinical specialism within
learning disability nursing.

Publishes work relating to expert practice and innovations in practice of LD
nursing within the Trust.

To lead on the development of nursing skills specific to LD nurses in line with
national development such as the Knowledge and Skills frameworks.

To use development of wider skills in relation to ALD to consider different
approaches to service user care with colleagues.

To contribute to the Trust debate on the Nurse Consultant role and to the
development of further Nurse Consultant roles throughout the Trust.

Actively promote networking opportunities for all nurses and take the lead in
specific networking groups.
3.0 Education and Development

To represent the Trust and Sub Directorate at meetings with the local HEI’s with
regard to the development of appropriate nurse training opportunities and to
develop teaching plans and deliver training / lecturing on these courses as
appropriate.

Take responsibility for identifying the practice education and development needs
of learning disability nurses and other health professionals within the learning
disability field of practice. Encourage shared learning between the three aspects
of care.

Offer supervision and mentoring opportunities to both pre and post registration
nurses within the directorate.
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
Create a learning environment in each aspect of care. Teach in the practice
setting, observations, peer review, case conferences and multi-agency meetings
as appropriate to the context.

Work with colleagues within the School of Health and Social Care, other
Universities, local NHS and other organisations to design and deliver specialist
training programmes integrating theory and practice.

Contributes to workforce development plans.

Liaise with appropriate personnel to develop a training needs analysis, ensuring
an appropriate response to these needs.

Contribute to and influence the development of nurse education programmes at
the University of Greenwich and other providers.

Co-ordinates the input of other nurses into the education programmes.

Sustains productive partnerships with local and national learning institutes.

Through modelling mentorship and clinical supervision plays a key role in
leadership and professional development.

Identifies own training needs through undertaking development reviews.

Maintains and effective and valid NMC registration through fulfilling PREP
requirements.

Applies expert knowledge and works with professional guidelines.

Develops and supports the implementation of clinical practice guidelines and the
care programme approach within the directorate supporting local need and the
clinical governance agenda and the development of nursing governance.

Contribute to national conferences and workshops.

Involves service users in directorate education and training programmes.
4.0
Practice and Service Development, Research and Evaluation (Research)

Contribute to the growing research community within the Trust.

Initiate and undertake research independently and in collaboration with others in
order to contribute to the growing evidence base for interventions, clinical
effectiveness and to raise the profile of the Trusts research portfolio.

To initiate and develop own research to Masters and Doctorate level in line with
service and national requirements.

Actively seek research funding opportunities and establish research proposals
and manage research grants as appropriate.
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
Develop user involvement in ALD research.

Lead with others the research agenda in ALD through clinical governance and
ALD specialist Interest Research Group.

Identify and influence health care research priorities for the service user group at
local level and facilitate and support projects undertaken by others.

Develop valid and reliable outcome measures in order to monitor and continually
improve the quality of clinical effectiveness.

Raise the profile of nursing research within the Trust and externally.

Ensure effective dissemination of any work undertaken at a local and national
level.

Encourage and foster research networks in conjunction with the Head of
Research and Development.

Ensure appropriate training and development opportunities in research audit and
clinical effectiveness for ALD nursing.

Can utilise and establish research databases.

Promotes and demonstrates through own practice, research based and clinically
effective interventions.

Actively contributes to ALD clinical audit and promotes this in ALD nursing.

Contributes to service development of Functional teams and care pathways for
ALD.
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

To provide leadership for nurses working across ALD Directorate.

To lead on the development of Trust initiatives for the directorate and the
development of management / strategic plans for the directorate.

Identification and clarification of the function of specialist teams through the
development of operational policies which include client eligibility criteria and
service structure.

To interpret national and local guidelines to develop strategies, policies and
procedures for key areas in ALD in order to manage risk appropriately and to
liaise with appropriate internal and external colleagues with regard to their
development.

As part of the ALD Directorate Extended Management Team formulates long
term, strategic plans involving uncertainty which may impact across the whole
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organisation and may also require working across complex organisational
boundaries.

To provide structured clinical and / or professional and developmental
supervision for ALD nurses in the directorate and support non clinical
managers in line management supervision of nursing staff.

In collaboration with the directorate management team is responsible for
financial planning and budgetary issues for the service.

To conduct Professional Development Reviews in accordance with Trust
guidelines.

To be able to manage the demands of the differing components to the role
and to work across area boundaries responding to varying cross boundary
issues.

To chair interview panels and facilitate the appointment of new staff and to
participate in interview panels with partner agencies.

To address performance related issues with staff and manage this in an
appropriate way.

To lead on the development of nursing skills specific to LD nurses in line with
national development such as the Knowledge and Skills frameworks.

To use development of wider skills in relation to ALD to consider different
approaches to service user care with colleagues.

To contribute to the Trust debate on the Nurse Consultant role and to the
development of further Nurse Consultant roles throughout the Trust.

To take joint responsibility with the service managers for decisions around the
use of agency nursing staff and the implications of this for the budget.

To take joint responsibility with service managers for the planning of future
service developments with regard to nursing across the directorate in
consideration of available budgets.

To represent nursing in the local service and directorate management boards.

To be able to analyse and respond to situations at local, Sub Directorate and
Trust wide level in order to be able to prioritise and take appropriate action.

Deputise within the directorate as required.

Practice a management style, which promotes the Trusts principles.

Contribute to service promotion through seminars, workshops, professional
publications and conference presentations, both at local and national level.
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
Contribute to investigation of service complaints and untoward incidents as
per Trust policy.

Compiles management reports and data which support effective management
within the directorate and the wider Trust.

Lead the strategic development of nursing services both internally and
externally to the organisation, including participation within local, regional and
national developments.

Raise the profile and promote specialist Learning Disability healthcare
services at local and national level.

To ensure that the views of service users are incorporated into service
planning in various ways, such as via audit, attendance at staff interviews and
consideration of feedback when planning services.
Communication:

Meet with Directorate / service manager(s) on a regular basis to discuss the
needs of the service in relation to nursing and the specialist area and to consider
service and personal development issues.

Meet with the Clinical Director regularly to discuss directorate wide issues in
relation to nursing and development of the specialist area across the directorate.

Meet and liaise with the Director of Nursing and Heads of Nursing to discuss the
development of nursing in an ALD setting and the delivery of the Nursing Strategy
in relation to ALD and Trust wide.

To meet and communicate with colleagues via the national Learning Disability
Consultant Nurse network to ensure that knowledge of national developments is
constantly updated and best practice is shared across LD nationwide.

To participate in providing written and oral responses to national developments on
behalf of the national Consultant Nurse Network.

To have an in depth awareness and implement the total communication strategy
for ALD.

To meet and liaise with senior colleagues in the Trust and partner agencies to
discuss issues regarding the service functioning and development.

To be able to challenge organisational structures to ensure effective working
across boundaries e.g. with regard to joint working with mainstream and mental
health services.

To ensure positive lines of communication with agencies external to the Trust
statutory, private and voluntary.
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
To ensure ongoing communication with the local HEI with regard to the delivery of
specialist training.

To continue to review the development of supervision structures for ALD nurses
in line with the Trust supervision policy.

To participate in individual supervision with the Director of Nursing.

To write concise reports and summaries of national and local policies to
disseminate to colleagues and to facilitate discussion in service development and
clinical governance meetings.

To consider and report on the implications of national, local and Trust policies on
service development.

To be able to present complex information to a range of audiences including
users and carers.

Liaise with a number of organisations about statistical information regarding future
service needs.

To communicate the specialist health provision of the ALD service across service
agencies and structures.
Confidentiality
In the course of your employment with Oxleas NHS Trust, you may handle confidential
personal information concerning either patients or staff which may be held by the Trust.
You must not read, discuss, disclose or pass on confidential information unless it is
necessary in the pursuance of your legitimate duties.
Unauthorised disclosure of such information will be treated as a serious disciplinary
matter. In addition, it is important that you realise that if this confidentiality is breached,
this may result in civil proceedings or a criminal prosecution.
This confidentiality must continue at all times and this agreement will continue beyond
your period of employment with Oxleas NHS Trust.
Health and Safety – The Post Holder
The post holder will take responsibility for the review and development of health and
safety policies with regard to the specialist area and joint responsibility across the
directorate.
You are required to make positive efforts to maintain your own personal safety and that
of others by taking reasonable care, carrying out requirements of the law and following
recognised codes of practice. You are also required to be aware of and comply with
Trust policies on health and safety, etc.
Equal Opportunities
The aim of the Trust’s policy is to ensure that no job applicant or employee is
discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the grounds of race, colour, creed,
sex, marital status, disability, age, nationality, ethnic or national origins. The Trust
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commits itself to promote equal opportunities and will keep under review its policies,
procedures and practices to ensure that all users and provides of its services are treated
according to their needs. The policy also applies to staff working within the Trust.
Service User and Carer Involvement
Oxleas NHS Trust is committed to developing effective user and carer involvement at all
stages in the delivery of care. All employees are required to make positive efforts to
support and promote successful user and carer participation as part of their day-to-day
work.
Personal Development
Your development will be assessed using the Trust’s Personal Development Review
(PDR) process. You will have the opportunity to discuss your development needs with
your manager on an annual basis, with regular reviews. As outlined within the NHS
Knowledge and Skills framework.
On Call/Unsocial Hours
The hours of duty are 9am to 5pm but the post holder will be expected to be able to work
flexibly to best meet the needs of the clients and the service.
Terms and Conditions
The post holder is subject to the terms and conditions of OXLEAS NHS TRUST.
This Job description gives an outline of the post and is subject to review in consultation
with the post holder.
Signed by Line Manager
Signed by Post Holder
Date
Date
Print Name
Print Name
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