Nursing Associate (Recovery) in Leigh

People at the Heart. One Team. Your Career at WWL.

The role of the Nursing Associate is to work with the multi‑professional team and the Registered Nurse contributing to the ongoing assessment, providing and monitoring care in line with the service pathways and as agreed with supervising clinician(s). They will monitor the condition and health needs of people within their care on a continual basis in partnership with the multi‑professional team. The Nursing Associate has a breadth of knowledge across the lifespan, providing holistic and person‑centred care and support for people of all ages and in a variety of settings. The Nursing Associate will help to bridge the gap between Health Care Support Workers and Registered Nurses by working independently under the leadership of Registered Nurses, working within the sphere of nursing and care and within all aspects of the nursing process. Nursing Associates are equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours relevant to employment; and will act in accordance with the NMC Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates.

Main duties of the job

• Under the supervision and working in partnership with a registered nurse provide and deliver a high standard of nursing care contributing to the ongoing assessment, providing and monitoring care based on evidence and working in partnership with the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Safely undertake the following procedures to meet the patient’s nursing needs to include; undertaking routine procedures including venepuncture, ECG recording, measuring and interpreting blood glucose levels, recording and interpreting vital signs, continence care, bladder and bowel care, pressure area care, wound care, nutrition, hydration, foot care, skin integrity, mood identification.
• Identify and report changes in a patient’s condition to a registered nurse.
• Work with the registered nurse and engage with other agencies and community teams to ensure a safe, individualised approach to the admission and discharge of patients.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous patient records in line with Trust policy and the NMC Code.
• Provide effective evidence base care for service users under the supervision of registered nurses in order to perform non‑complex activities, in line with clinical governance and professional standards.

Working for our organisation

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values. WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs. At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• Communicate effectively with dignity and respect to all patients, relatives and others giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care.
• Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
• Report accidents, incidents, near misses or complaints following Trust policies/procedures.
• Contribute to a culture where all staff feel safe to raise their concerns and speaking up about what these are is a normal part of their routine.

Medicines Management and Administration

• Recognise the effects of medicines, allergies, drug sensitivity, side effects, contraindications and adverse reactions.
• Undertake safe and effective administration and optimisation of medicines in accordance with Trust policy and the NMC standards of proficiency for nursing associates.
• Administer medicines via the following routes, oral, topical, rectal, subcutaneous and intramuscular in line with NMC Standards and Trust policies.
• Comply with Trust policy in relation to any safety critical medicines to be administered by Nursing Associates.
• Monitor the condition and health needs of patients within their care following administration of medication.
• Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes related to medicines management.

Education and Development

• Comply with mandatory competencies in line with Trust policy.
• To engage in a preceptorship period that includes achieving the Nursing Associate Medicines Management Competency framework.
• Maintain own continuing professional development in accordance with NMC CPD requirements and contribute to formulation of own objectives and personal development plan.
• Support, supervise, teach (where appropriate) and act as a role model to trainee nursing associates, student nurses, healthcare support workers and new staff members, promoting reflection and providing constructive feedback.
• Contribute to the maintenance of the learning environment.
• Adopt a reflective approach to own practice with a view to continually improve.
• Undertake further training as required, prior to carrying out any additional duties identified as relevant to role, to comply with Trust policies and procedures.

Physical Skills Requirement

• Use frequent moderate effort when undertaking the manual handling of individuals and equipment in line with organisational guidelines.
• Use skills of manual dexterity and manipulation of clinical instruments and equipment.
• Use a combination of standing, walking, bending and stretching throughout the shift.

Research and Development

• Identify relevant sources of evidence to inform practice.
• Critically consider and analyse their own practice in light of best available evidence.
• Contribute to surveys, audits, research activity as required to own role, supporting recommended changes in practice.

Professional

• Comply with the NMC regulations relating to revalidation to maintain NMC registration.
• Act as a professional role model and in accordance with the NMC Code and the NMC Standards for Nursing Associates.
• Act in accordance with all organisational policies and procedures and within expected values and behaviours.
• Actively participate in and attend ward/unit meetings.

Responsibility for Finance

To be aware of resources and give high quality cost effective care.

Responsibility for Human Resources

In conjunction with the ward manager, and Registered Nurses, introduce new staff to the ward and their duties.

Person specification

Skills

• Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload.
• Ability to deal with non‑routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non‑verbal) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues.
• Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting.
• Have effective time management skills and the ability to prioritise.
• Maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately, appropriately and kept up to date.

Qualifications

• Registered Nursing Associate on the NMC Register with a Foundation Degree.
• GCSEs Grade C or above in Maths and English Language / New GCSE Grade 4‑9 in Maths and English Language OR Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English or Equivalent (not entry level 2).

Additional

• Positive approach to work.
• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.
• Open minded, treats colleagues and the general public with dignity and respect.
• Compassionate and caring.
• Capacity to work with colleagues at all levels.

Knowledge

• Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service.
• Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice contained within The Code.
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice.
• Understand requirements for NMC professional Revalidation.
• Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans.

Experience

• Experience in relevant speciality.
• Experience working independently and as part of a team.

On‑Call

Please note that some roles may require participation in an on‑call rota, particularly those that are operational in nature.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.