NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibility

Actively work with spinal cord injury patients with a variety of dependency levels including ventilator dependent patients, participating in their rehabilitation reintegration and education programs.

Provide care and assistance to SCI patients in a variety of settings.

Participate in all elements of nursing care deemed competent/qualified to perform. This will include invasive procedures such as bladder, bowel and respiratory management.

Work independently with patients regularly under discreet supervision, reporting back patient progress and informing the qualified nurses/ therapist of any problems.

Liaise with SCIC MDT regarding social reintegration and hospital/community based rehabilitation.  Assist patients to participate in regular therapeutic group activities e.g. sports group, wheelchair skills, pamper parlour/men’s club activities, etc in order to enhance the rehabilitation process.

Act as a safe driver for patients during social reintegration activities, using the Spinal Cord Injury Centre vehicles or alternative appropriate roadworthy vehicles (not own vehicles) this could include medical appointments/social/home visits.

Work with the Reintegration Practitioners and/or MDT members to escort patients on home visits and other community meetings providing appropriate care as needed.

Assist the patients to carry-over techniques learnt in the Ward/therapy environments to other areas, e.g. Community/Ward.

Accompany assigned patients to identified physio/occupational therapy sessions, as agreed by the MDT, to receive instruction on carry-over of activities.

Perform patient related tasks as assigned by therapist including but not limited to; guarding patients during ambulation, supervising patients with therapeutic exercise programs, setting patients up on exercise equipment or in preparation for an activity as directed, e.g. practicing ADL skills, including dressing transferring, bed mobility and kitchen activities, wheelchair skills, under the guidance of the appropriate MDT member.

Participate in & provide clinical treatment & rehabilitation programs, following professional assessment and guidance.

Enable patients to maintain and improve their independence by fitting prescribed equipment. E.g splints or body braces.

Handle and move patients, as indicated, by using prescribed equipment and techniques as detailed in training and be familiar with, and utilise, the services and advice given by the handling advisor, including stretches, proning, orthoses etc

Follow therapist’s treatment plans which may involve transferring and mobilising patients using moderate to high physical effort or lifting and handling equipment.

Maintain patient safety at all times and support continued improvements in care such as working to reduce falls and pressure ulcers within the unit.

Hold a current full UK Driving license.

Work independently (under discreet supervision) with patients, under the guidance of trained staff, on a ward or in therapy environment. Report back to trained nursing and therapy staff as appropriate.

Work with the patient and MDT members to plan patient specific rehabilitation activities.

Attend and participate in patient meetings and other meetings as required, including Case Conferences, Ward Round meetings and Goal Planning.

Work unsupervised (under discreet supervision) regularly, reporting back patient progress and informing the qualified nurses/ therapist of any problems.

Provide a clear, accurate and concise handover of patients’ needs through written or verbal information and practical demonstration.

Provide a written and verbal handover of outcomes of meetings and activities as required.

Perform appropriate risk assessments prior to commencing and during community activities with patients in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team.

Ensure that all medication, supplies and equipment required by the patient are available when escorting a patient off Trust grounds.

Use effective communication, verbal and non-verbal, to communicate treatment programs to patients some of whom may have barriers to understanding or communication, e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic or who do not have English as a first language 

Liaise with the therapist as necessary regarding patient care. In particular

highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from treatment programs you deliver.      

Fully participate in the inter-professional evaluation of the rehabilitation program to ensure patients meet their ongoing health & wellbeing needs.

Demonstrate an understanding of the physiological concepts underpinning the prescribed treatment programs to enable you to instruct, advise and guide patients.

Assist and supervise facilitation of Health Care Assistants within the ward environment in relation to care delivery for spinal cord injured patients

Demonstrate the ability to adjust communication and therapeutic approach according to client needs.

Promote and encourage social reintegration for patients under the care of the Spinal Cord Injury Centre team.

The post-holder will be required to maintain an understanding and overview of health processes and procedures affecting SCI patients.  As well as an awareness of social care issues.

Consistently deliver a high quality patient focused service which promotes optimum independence to facilitate discharge

Support patients and visitors when they are distressed/angry by recognising these signs and behaving appropriately

Demonstrate compassion, empathy and sensitivity to patients who may have complex emotional and physical conditions.

Monitor and where appropriate track the movements of equipment belonging to or on loan to the service.

To accommodate reasonable management requests to ensure safe delivery of rehabilitation services.

Ability to work some unsocial hours as patients social activities dictate.

Educational Responsibility

Attend mandatory training as required.

Demonstrate and educate patients and staff on how to safely use equipment e.g splints.

To be an active participant within departmental audits and research as deemed appropriate to the area of work.

Actively participate in MDT meeting by giving presentations.

Provide practical education regarding spinal cord injury and individual care needs to patients and families.

Develop and maintain a level of awareness of terminology, systems and treatments provided by team as necessary to be able to fulfil role.

Participate in the Trust Risk Management process as appropriate.

Management Responsibility

Manage band 3 rehab assistants with the support of the Patient Educator/Health Coach to ensure competencies are kept up to date.

Manage any performance or conduct issues of Band 3 rehab assistants with the support of Patient Educator/Health Coach and/or Clinical Nurse Manager.

Carry out appraisals.

Contribute to development of patient care by attending relevant team, departmental or clinical/Multi-disciplinary team meetings and comment on recommended changes to clinical care or service provision.

Be proactive in evaluating current service and contribute plans for improvement of service offered.

In conjunction with SCIC team members undertake medium and long term planning for the Rehabilitation Assistant service.

Report any potential complaints or untoward incidents to the Ward Manager or identified key members of the MDT.

Professional Responsibility

Encourage a co-operative and collaborative working relationship with the multi-disciplinary team and attend multi-disciplinary meetings as appropriate

Work cooperatively with staff within the multidisciplinary team to ensure a high quality service is maintained at all times.

Promote effective relationships with colleagues both within and outside your team by respecting their contribution to the holistic care being planned and provided.

Uphold a professional relationship with patients, and their family members.

Adhere to universal precautions and infection control guidelines, including hand washing and disposal of waste, and ensure effective cleaning of equipment before and after the activity.

Maximise and maintain patient safety at all times. This may include continual improvements in care such as working to reduce falls and pressure injuries.

Monitor, report and maintain a healthy, safe and secure workplace by knowing and taking into account relevant legislation.

This job description gives a general outline of the post and is not intended to be inflexible or a final list of duties. It may therefore be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder.

See job description for more details