District Nurse Lead

This is a dynamic, clinical and leadership role working within a well‑established community service district nursing team. The role will require flexibility and cover Darlington locality, attending to patients who are in need of community services. It involves tending to some of the most vulnerable patients, such as those at the end of their lives. This is a clinical role with management and leadership responsibilities. Due to the working hours, there will be a requirement to work during core hours in order to attend meetings and ensure the team is kept up to date with changes and developing practices.

Main duties of the job

• The successful candidate will be responsible for the leadership and management of the Darlington District Nursing Team.
• You will be expected to work dynamically and possess the ability to think on your feet – making risk‑assessed decisions to support patients across CCDFT.
• You should be confident, resilient and flexible.
• You will be expected to carry out one‑to‑one appraisals, ensure training is up to date and spot potential areas of development to meet the changing needs of our patients.
• The role can be fast paced and challenging.
• Urgent Community Response (UCR) is a large part of the role.
• We are looking for someone with significant experience of running a very busy and dynamic team within healthcare services and the successful candidate should possess excellent organisational and clinical skills.

About us

We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester‑Le‑Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over eighty other community‑based settings and providing care in patients' homes. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.

Job responsibilities

• Visiting community patients with varying levels of nursing needs within the CDDFT footprint.
• Carrying out clinical assessments, tending to patients' needs, liaising with the MDT and out‑of‑hours clinical services where this is needed to ensure the right care is obtained for the patient.
• As a Team Lead you will be expected to lead, support, manage and develop staff members within your service.
• You should act as a role model, striving to achieve the best possible responsive care to our patients.
• Your role will predominantly work between the hours of 8am and 9pm over a 7‑day week.
• This is to ensure that the team remains up to date with changes in the organisation by attending meetings and representing the district nursing team.

Person Specification

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Organisational skills

Statutory Registration

• Registered Nurse on part 1 of the NMC register
• Valid UK NMC PIN

Special Requirements

• Ability for independent travel to fulfil requirements of post.
• Driving posts must have a valid Full UK driving licence
• Commitment, motivation and flexibility to work within a multi‑specialism service

Qualifications

• Teaching / Mentorship qualification or equivalent experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development and postgraduate training to master’s degree level relating to clinical specialism, demonstrable experience or willingness to undertake Leadership course or willingness to undertake IT skills
• In‑depth knowledge of issues in community nursing and allied health professions
• Knowledge and experience of continuing care, home equipment loans and intermediate care
• Understanding of budgetary control
• Independent non‑medical prescribing qualification
• BSc/MSc in specific AHP profession with extensive evidence of postgraduate community experience
• District Nurse qualification / equivalent community nursing experience

Experience

• Experience of change management
• Experience of audit / research
• Significant community experience as a caseload holder (nursing)
• Significant years experience to include band 6 level incorporating experience within a range of specialisms and community settings (AHP)
• Experience of clinical supervision
• Experience of collaborative working within multidisciplinary and cross‑agency teams
• Evidence of self‑directed learning and critical appraisal skills
• Experience of appraisal skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and, as such, it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum, pro rata