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Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Dementia and Delirium Specialist Nurse to join our team.
A Dementia and Delirium Specialist Nurse evaluates, plans, and supports person-centred care for patients admitted with acute confusion, delirium, or living with dementia.
They act as expert clinical advisors to ward teams, provide hands‑on training to hospital staff, and offer guidance and reassurance to distressed patients and their families
Main duties of the job
- To support staff in identifying signs, facilitating assessment, information gathering and formulating individual care plans for patients living with dementia or who have a diagnosis of delirium.
- To support staff and teams across the Trust in providing the safest and best environment possible when caring for patients with dementia or delirium.
- Provide support and advice for patients, relatives and carers of patients with dementia or delirium.
- Provide education, support and advice to staff caring for patients with dementia and delirium.
- Support delivery of the dementia strategy in Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust and input into the development of the strategy and service developments.
- Support service change and development in line with best practice for dementia and delirium.
Working for our organisation
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To support staff in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care for patients at Mersey West Lancs hospitals who have delirium, or live with dementia, for planned and unplanned admission throughout the whole of the journey in the Trust
- To ensure the cognitive screening pathway is implemented appropriately for all patients
- To support staff in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care for all patients with delirium or living with dementia, offering advice and support to staff in all areas of the Trust.
- To provide specialist advice and clinical practice in line with the current evidence base.
- To work collaboratively and co-operatively with clinical colleagues to develop service and promote the quality of care delivered, participating in service development.
- To provide and receive complex and sensitive information to patients and relatives or carers, including to people living with dementia or with a diagnosis of delirium who have barriers to communication and may be distressed.
- To provide empathy and reassurance, support and education to patients and their relatives or carers especially those who are newly diagnosed or demonstrating significant deterioration which can be highly complex, distressing, and sensitive, overall improving and delivering a positive patient, family and carer experience.
- To demonstrate specialist knowledge specifically about dementia but including delirium, communication, carer support, best practice and initiatives which include the care provided to patients living with dementia or diagnosed with delirium.
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- To assist in the development of policies and protocols relevant to the speciality and work within the guidelines and policies set.
- To assist in manpower studies and the collection and collation of statistical data for audit purposes such as the National Audit od dementia, hospital passport, forget-me-not and clinical audits to inform service development and change.
- To work with all areas, staff groups and departments who provide care for patients living with dementia supporting their dementia care provision and education.
- To ensure optimal and economical levels and usage of supplies in clinical areas – monitor the resources and devices for patients living with dementia ensuring that they are maintained and monitoring of stock of equipment and resources.
- Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and any other associated legislation.
- To assist in setting and monitoring the achievement of dementia standards and objectives in line with local policies and Trust Strategy.
- To promote dementia and delirium related quality initiatives within the Trust and be aware of current local and national drivers.
- To participate in the monitoring and measuring of the quality of dementia care provision in the Trust relating to hospital passports, forget-me-nots, individualised care plans and support for carers and relatives.
- To inform Matron if acceptable levels of care, standards, practice and patient safety cannot be sustained.
- To deputise for the Dementia lead in his/her absence.
- To promote effective lines of communication with other departments within the Trust.
- To assist in setting and monitoring standards of care and intervention within the speciality.
- To act in a consultative capacity on care and service provision matters within the speciality.
- To liaise with medical staff and other disciplines on the management of patients with dementia and delirium.
- To be responsible for assessing, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care for those with delirium or dementia.
- To promote the involvement of patients and their relatives in the management and evaluation of care.
- To have shared responsibility for the delivery of patient care by all members of the MDT on the ward/department
- To undertake appropriate training to expand clinical skills and knowledge relevant to the speciality
- To ensure that patient care is delivered within the individual’s Scope of Professional Practice.
- To ensure compliance with all Trust Risk, Infection Control and Risk Management Policies and Procedures.
- To maintain Professional Registration.
- To adhere to the individual’s relevant Code of Professional Practice.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
- To ensure accurate record keeping in line with Trust and Professional Body Standards and in adherence with Information Governance requirements
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES
- To promote and environment conducive to learning
- To assess learning and developmental needs of members of staff specifically in dementia care provision, risk factors, identification, assessment, management, intervention and support.
- To assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of programmes od speciality-based teaching ensuring learning objectives are achieves – specifically in line with the Core Skills Framework at Tier 1 and 2.
LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- To assess and plan action to meet individual development needs.
- To assist in the planning and implementation of orientation programmes of Trust Staff specifically delivering Tier 2 dementia training
- To encourage and motivate ward/departmental staff on personal and professional development at all levels
- To deploy and utilise staff resources effectively and efficiently
- To support and counsel members of the Dementia team
- To provide support and advice to staff who also have a caring role for a loved one with dementia, escalating concerns regarding health and wellbeing to the consultant Admiral Nurse to manage appropriately.
RESEARCH & AUDIT
- To develop and implement methods of auditing practice within own speciality
- To initiate/participate in local research to inform practice and ensure compliance with current evidence base and best practice guidelines
- To introduce and apply research findings to ward/department, training and practice where relevant
- To promote and disseminate local/national/international research findings to other ward/units/forums/departments.
Person specification
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent
- Additional training in Dementia
Knowledge & Experience
- Experience of working in an acute healthcare setting
- Experience of working within an MDT
- Experience of caring directly for people with dementia
- Experience of caring directly for people with confusion or delirium
- Experience of working in service development and improvement
- Experience of current best practice and guidance in caring for people living with dementia
- Experience of delivering training and education to a variety of professions, patients, relatives and carers
Skills
- Analyse complex situations in relation to patients living with dementia requiring the provision of specialist advice as well as the implementation of specialist individualised care plans
- Plan and deliver education on dementia (Tier2) to a range of staff groups and professionals
- Oversee a caseload of patients: Supporting staff in delivering care to the individual Support the patient, carers and relatives through education, advice and signposting onward support
- Follows policies and makes suggestions regarding implementation of policies and changes to practice within speciality
- Ensure utilisation of best practice and evidence as well as key drivers through researching to remain current in practice
- Manage equipment specifically purchased for patients with dementia.
- Document a comprehensive record of intervention with
Dementia and Delirium Specialist Nurse employer: Merseywestlancs
At St Helens Hospital, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment for our Therapy Assistants. Our commitment to professional development ensures that you will have ample opportunities to grow your skills while making a meaningful impact on patient care. With a focus on teamwork and collaboration, you'll be part of a dedicated team that values diversity and fosters innovation in rehabilitation services.
