Nursing Associate in Congleton

We are pleased to invite applications for the position of Nursing Associate within our friendly, forward-thinking training practice, where staff wellbeing, professional development and clinical excellence are central to our ethos. We are currently advertising for a Practice Nurse and/or Nursing Associate, however we will be appointing a candidate into a role of up to 35 hours per week or jobshare.

Our practice continues to grow in both scope and capability, with dedicated research facilities now established and enhanced clinical services available to patients within practice including diabetes specialist, rheumatology, sexual health, minor operation and skin clinics. As a Nursing Associate at Readesmoor, you will play a pivotal role at the heart of our practice. You will work as an autonomous clinician, delivering exceptional, patient centered care while upholding the highest professional standards and supporting the wider nursing team. This role forms part of the practices multi-disciplinary team, delivering high-quality patient care within your professional team.

Main duties of the job:

• Deliver high quality, compassionate care while undertaking specific clinical and care tasks under the direction of a registered nurse with a focus on promoting good health and independence.
• Provide high-quality holistic and person centered care to individuals.
• Provide routine care to patients as required in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and NSF.
• Work as part of the multidisciplinary team.
• Improve the safety and quality of care at every opportunity.
• Contribute to the delivery of integrated care.
• Work with a supervisor to take responsibility for developing your own clinical competence, leadership and reflective practice skills within the workplace.
• Support the wider nursing team.
• Develop relationships and communicate effectively across the MDT to support the integration of care.
• Maintain accurate patient records ensuring the correct and appropriate codes are used.
• Perform and record clinical observations.
• After undertaking additional training provide vaccinations for both adults and children, cervical smears, cancer care, learning difficulties and mental health annual reviews.
• Promote health and wellbeing to all patients.
• Provide wound care to patients.
• Advise patients on general healthcare and promote self management where appropriate.
• Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Children.
• Process pathology results.
• Enhance own performance through CPD.

About us:

Readesmoor is the largest GP surgery in Congleton, with a patient population of around 14,500. Congleton itself is a market town with a population of around 30,000. The patient population is varied in terms of its socioeconomic and geographic profile. Readesmoor is part of the Congleton and Holmes Chapel (CHOC) PCN, which is made up of 4 practices. The PCN covers a population of around 47,000 across this area of Cheshire East. The PCN collaborate to provide services to patients, including coordinating vaccinations, extended access services and funding for additional primary care services and staff, such as Advanced Practitioners, Mental Health Practitioners and First Contact Physiotherapists.

Job responsibilities:

The Nursing Associate will be responsible for delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients by undertaking delegated clinical and care tasks under the direction of a Registered Nurse, with a strong focus on promoting good health, wellbeing and independence. The role requires the provision of holistic, person centered care in line with evidence based practice, NICE guidance and NSF standards, ensuring that routine care is delivered safely, effectively and consistently. Working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, the Nursing Associate will contribute to the delivery of integrated care, actively supporting improvements in safety, quality and patient experience at every opportunity.

Under supervision, the post holder will take responsibility for developing their own clinical competence, leadership abilities and reflective practice skills, while also providing essential support to the wider nursing team across the practice and Primary Care Network. Effective communication and relationship building across the MDT are essential to ensure seamless coordination of care, alongside the requirement to maintain accurate patient records using correct and appropriate coding. The Nursing Associate will perform and document clinical observations, provide wound care, assist during minor operations and offer general health advice to encourage patient self management where appropriate. Following additional training, the postholder will be expected to administer vaccinations for adults and children, undertake cervical screening, support cancer care reviews and contribute to annual reviews for individuals with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. The role includes promoting health and wellbeing to all patients, processing pathology results, and ensuring that all duties are carried out in accordance with safeguarding legislation and practice policies relating to the protection of adults and children.

The Nursing Associate will engage in continuous professional development, participate in annual appraisals and regular progress reviews, and contribute to the full spectrum of clinical governance activities, including audits, research and quality improvement initiatives. They will support public health and screening programmes, including immunisations, vaccinations and opportunistic health promotion, while maintaining a clean, tidy and effective working environment. As a key member of the general practice and PCN team, the postholder will work flexibly across sites, supporting the wider multidisciplinary team and undertaking administrative tasks appropriate to the role. The post holder must recognise the boundaries of their practice, seeking guidance and referring patients to appropriate clinicians when necessary, while demonstrating initiative and creativity in problem solving.

The Nursing Associate will support the delivery of enhanced services and PCN service requirements, assist in the management of patient complaints when requested, and participate in learning arising from incidents and near miss events. Mandatory training and induction programmes must be completed in full, and the postholder will contribute to the delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives that enhance service delivery and patient care. They will undertake all tasks within the scope of the role, ensuring that work is completed in a timely, effective and professional manner, while adhering to all PCN, practice and departmental policies. The Nursing Associate will also act as a chaperone when required, uphold the highest standards of professionalism and patient dignity, and consistently promote safe, effective and compassionate care across all areas of practice.

Person Specification:

Experience:

• Experience of working in a primary care environment.
• Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate.
• Experience of quality initiatives i.e. benchmarking.
• Understanding of the scope of the role of the nursing associate in the context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation and how the role may contribute to service development.

Other requirements and wider responsibilities:

• Occupational Health clearance.
• Meet the requirements and produce evidence for revalidation.
• Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role.
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands.
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality.

Qualifications:

• Registered nursing associate and on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register.
• Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified in the Nursing Midwifery Standards of proficiency by having undertaken and completed the two year Foundation Degree delivered by a Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) approved provider.

Clinical Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to clinical colleagues.
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes.
• Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate with members of the public and health care providers.
• Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information.
• Understand the importance of following procedures and treatment plans.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues.
• Good clinical system IT knowledge.
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance.
• Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities.
• Understanding the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing.
• Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and healthcare support workers as required within the clinical setting.

Personal Qualities:

• Effective time management (planning and organising).
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure.
• Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies, local policies, procedures and codes of conduct.
• Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person centered support in a non-judgemental way.
• Understand the requirement for PSDs and associated policy.
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity.
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity.
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and children.
• Ability to identify risk and assess and manage risk.
• Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required.
• Ability to work to key policies and procedures.
• Clear, polite telephone manner.
• Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet.

Practical Skills:

• Provide wound care such as leg ulcers and dopplers to patients.
• Provide support during minor operations as required.
• After undertaking additional training provide cervical smears for patients.
• Contribute towards public health and screening programmes, including immunisations and vaccinations for adults and children.
• Provide chronic disease management reviews.
• Knowledge and experience using EMIS.
• After undertaking additional training provide cancer care, learning difficulties and mental health annual reviews.

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.