About this role
Job summary
Working 15 hours per week, the Care Homes Support Nurse will provide a supportive/administrative nursing role across three care homes in Princes Risborough, Saunderton and Longwick. The primary focus is advance care planning, in addition to advising on end-of-life care as appropriate, long-term condition annual reviews and clinical support and education for care staff when required.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work collaboratively with residents, families and carers, care-home staff, GPs, pharmacy teams and other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure residents receive safe, personalised and coordinated care. A key responsibility of the role is to develop, review and maintain appropriate Advance Care Plans (ACP) for residents, ensuring that individual wishes, preferences and goals of care are identified, documented and communicated effectively.
About us
We are committed to maintaining the enduring values of the Family Doctor continuity, compassion, and personal connection while embracing innovation and remaining at the forefront of developments in General Practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job summary
The Care Homes Support Nurse will provide a supportive nursing role across three care homes, with a primary focus on advance care planning, in addition to advising on end-of-life care as appropriate, long-term condition annual reviews and clinical support and education for care staff when required.
Job responsibilities
1. Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Care
- Develop, implement and regularly review Advance Care Plans for residents across all three care homes.
- Engage with residents and their families/carers, where appropriate, to establish individual wishes, preferences, values and goals of care.
- Facilitate sensitive and compassionate discussions around future care when health deteriorates and end-of-life preferences.
- Ensure Advance Care Plans are appropriately documented, communicated and reviewed when circumstances change.
- Provide education and support to care-home staff regarding advance care planning and the principles of personalised end-of-life care.
- Provide guidance to care staff regarding Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions, including the purpose, process and appropriate communication of decisions.
- Work closely with GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team where complex or changing end-of-life care needs are identified.
- 2. Long-Term Condition Management
Undertake annual long-term condition reviews for residents, including:
- Dementia
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Promote proactive and preventative approaches to managing long-term conditions within the care-home setting. Identify changes in residents' health and support appropriate ongoing management advising staff on supportive care and escalating concerns to the resident's GP or other appropriate healthcare professional when required.
3. Vaccination and Preventative Healthcare
- Assess residents' vaccination requirements in line with current national guidance and seasonal vaccination programmes.
- Undertake pre-vaccination checks prior to vaccination programme
- Liaise with GP regarding any potential contra-indications as appropriate
- Administer vaccinations within appropriate scope of practice.
- Maintain accurate vaccination records and ensure appropriate follow-up where required.
- Support care-home staff with information and education regarding vaccination and preventative healthcare.
4. Clinical Support and Advice
- Provide clinical advice and guidance to care-home staff when concerns regarding residents are raised.
- Where appropriate, undertake clinical assessments to support decision-making and provide guidance regarding the appropriate course of action.
- Advise staff on when and how to escalate concerns, including appropriate contact with the GP, urgent care services or other members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Liaise with the GP responsible for the care home when concerns are identified or when further medical assessment or management is required.
- Recognise deterioration and ensure appropriate escalation in accordance with local policies and agreed clinical pathways.
- Work within the limits of professional competence, scope of practice and agreed clinical responsibilities.
5. Medicines and Pharmacy Liaison
- Communicate regularly with the pharmacy team regarding medication-related queries and concerns.
- Support the identification and resolution of medication issues affecting residents.
- Liaise with GPs, pharmacists and care-home staff to promote safe and effective medicines management.
- Escalate prescribing or medication concerns to the appropriate clinician when required.
6. Education and Support for Care-Home Staff
- Provide education and professional support to care-home staff in areas including:
- Advance care planning
- End-of-life care
- DNACPR processes and decision-making
- Recognising deterioration
- Appropriate escalation of clinical concerns
- Long-term condition management
- Promote confidence among care staff in recognising changes in residents' health and responding appropriately.
- Contribute to the development of a culture of person-centred, proactive and compassionate care.
7. Primary Care Support
- Work collaboratively with the GPs responsible for the care homes and the wider primary care team.
- Provide additional clinical support to the care homes within the Care Home Nurse scope of practice.
- Maintain effective communication and continuity between the care homes and primary care services.
Professional and Clinical Responsibilities
The post holder will
- Practise as a Care Home Support Nurse within their professional scope of practice.
- Maintain professional registration and comply with relevant professional standards and codes of conduct.
- Maintain appropriate clinical competence through continuing professional development.
- Work within organisational policies, clinical guidelines and relevant national guidance.
- Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and confidential clinical records.
- Recognise the limits of their own competence and seek advice or escalate concerns appropriately.
- Promote safeguarding, equality, dignity, confidentiality and person-centred care at all times.
- Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and service development activities relevant to the role.
Key Working Relationships
The Care Home Support Nurse will work closely with:
- Residents and their families/carers
- Care-home managers and care staff
- GPs responsible for the care homes
- Primary care colleagues
- Pharmacy and medicines-management teams
- Community nursing and specialist teams
- Other relevant multidisciplinary and external healthcare professional.
Person-Centred Approach
The post holder will ensure that care is centred on the individual resident, recognising their personal preferences, values, wishes and clinical needs. A particular emphasis will be placed on proactive care planning, supporting residents to receive care in accordance with their wishes, and reducing avoidable distress and inappropriate escalation of care where this is not aligned with the resident's goals or advance care plan.
The Care Home Support Nurse will promote open communication with residents, families and care staff and ensure that important decisions about future care are understood, documented and appropriately shared with those involved in the resident's care.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with eldery patients.
Desirable
- Experience of working with patients suffering with Dementia.
Qualifications
Essential
- RGN registered Nurse
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
The Cross Keys Practice
Address
60 High Street
Princes Risborough
Buckinghamshire
HP27 0AX
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.crosskeyspractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)