Urgent Response Nurse

Urgent Response is a community-based service. We are looking to recruit 2 motivated, dynamic and flexible Band 6 Senior Nurses within this service. This is a secondment/fixed term post for 12 months. We provide unplanned and urgent care as part of a multi-disciplinary community-based team. The main base is in Nuneaton; the work covers North Warwickshire as patients have a Warwickshire GP.

The role involves working as a member of the Urgent Response/Community Response team and responding to visits via Clinical Triage. It includes a leadership role within the Urgent Response Team, assessing, planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating care across health, social and voluntary sectors to facilitate and prevent hospital admissions. The post may involve work in clients’ homes, residential and nursing homes and other sites as required by the service.

Main duties of the job:

• Work in a leadership role as a member of the urgent response team, responding to urgent visits via Clinical Triage and assessing, planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating programmes of care across health, social and voluntary care sectors as part of a multi-disciplinary community-based rehabilitation team.
• Provide effective clinical leadership within the Urgent Response Team to deliver high standards of care and promote evidence-based practice.
• Provide highly skilled nursing assessment, intervention and advice to clients and carers; communicate with the multidisciplinary team to maintain high standards of care.
• Act as an autonomous professional responsible for diagnosis, advanced assessment and treatment of community-dwelling clients experiencing a sudden health crisis, including those with complex pathology and social circumstances, including Palliative and End of Life Care.
• Guide and support junior staff and students; deputise for the Professional Lead as needed.
• Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work and clinical care.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments using advanced investigative and analytical skills to inform diagnosis and prognosis.
• Formulate individualised treatment plans, utilise evidence-based treatments, and deliver client-led, goal-oriented care.
• Assess competency and delegate appropriate tasks to team members, carers and families; manage unplanned urgent referrals in the community.
• Evaluate nursing interventions and adapt care as needed; perform treatment plans in absence of other professionals under delegation and within competency.
• Address challenges of delivering treatment in diverse community settings; undertake specialist nursing interventions (some invasive) with accuracy and precision.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills in health surveillance of acutely ill community-based clients.
• Lead in health education and health promotion to clients, professionals, families and carers.
• Assess for and provide equipment per ICES guidelines; work unsupervised in clients’ homes.
• Report variances to the care pathway to the Professional Lead and document accordingly.
• Initiate emergency responses when urgent needs arise and provide first aid within capabilities.
• Comply with Trust Infection Control Guidelines; ensure infection risk is minimised for staff, clients and visitors; report safety concerns as required.
• Communicate effectively with clients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential using a range of communication methods.
• Obtain valid consent where possible, identify capacity concerns, and liaise with multi-disciplinary teams on information sharing guidelines.
• Maintain accurate, confidential documentation in line with local protocols and professional standards.
• Support training/clinical education for staff and students; participate in supervision and appraisal processes.
• Attend professional meetings/study days and provide follow-up learning evidence to the Urgent Response Team.
• Undertake mandatory training and contribute to clinical governance, audits, risk management and clinical outcomes.
• Contribute to clinical initiatives and protocols; adhere to national/local guidelines and Integrated Team protocols.
• Maintain own professional development portfolio; participate in appraisal and external courses as identified.
• Be aware of major incident procedures and deploy staff flexibly; maintain stock levels and undertake equipment audits.
• Assist in recruitment and induction of new staff; ensure timely input onto information systems.

Person Specification:

Essential Qualifications: Degree or equivalent; NMC registered; evidence of relevant post-graduate courses/CPD; Health Assessment Module; Leadership Qualification/Training or demonstrable experience.

Experience: Post-registration experience in multiple specialities including Palliative/EOL care; two years in community settings; experience in supervision/training of staff and students.

Skills: Knowledge of clinical governance and audit; ability to work independently; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; forward thinking; ability to pass on skills; critical appraisal, research and presentation skills; ability to influence and adapt to service needs; leadership/management experience; prioritisation and delegation; IT literate; collaboration across boundaries.

Other: Able to travel independently in the community; car driver; flexible working.

Desirable: Nurse Prescriber (independent).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires Disclosure checks by the DBS. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.