About this role
Job summary
The Safeguarding Adults Specialist Nurse will play a key role in supporting the Trust to achieve safeguarding adults targets and standards. They will provide professional nursing leadership in relation to safeguarding adults, domestic abuse and supporting adults at risk, while ensuring safeguarding practice is delivered in line with Trust policy. The post holder will offer expert advice and guidance to Trust staff and represent the Trust at multi-agency safeguarding forums involving adults.
The post holder will support the Named Nurse for Safeguarding Adults in developing, monitoring and maintaining robust safeguarding arrangements, training programmes and effective multi-agency working. They will work within the wider safeguarding team, delivering training to a range of professional groups across the Trust.
The role includes promoting continuous quality improvement and professional development to strengthen safeguarding practice across the organisation and enhance patient experience. Strong communication, partnership working and networking skills are essential to maintain effective relationships with internal teams and external agencies including Clinical Commissioning Groups, Social Care and the Police. The post holder must also be able to challenge poor practice, influence change and work collaboratively with partners to improve standards and reduce discriminatory practice.
The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change.
Main duties of the job
Provide visible day-to-day safeguarding adults support and advice across clinical areas within the Trust, ensuring statutory responsibilities under the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act are met to a high standard and that patients and families are treated with dignity and respect. Support the Trust in achieving safeguarding key performance indicators and contribute to Local Safeguarding Adult Boards, Serious Adult Reviews and Community Safety Partnership processes, including domestic homicide reviews.
Ensure learning from safeguarding reviews, audits and national guidance is embedded into Trust practice. Advise, train and support staff to fulfil safeguarding responsibilities when caring for and discharging vulnerable adults. Support the wider safeguarding team in areas including learning disabilities, reasonable adjustments, mental capacity, Prevent, mental health and Liberty Protection Safeguards.
Deliver safeguarding training to a range of professional groups, provide specialist support for safeguarding adults, learning disability and mental health agendas, and use advanced communication skills to engage effectively with patients, families and professionals. Challenge poor practice and work collaboratively with internal and external partners to improve standards and reduce discriminatory practice.
About us
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.
Job description Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
Be a visible presence to clinical areas providing day to day safeguarding adults support and advice within the Trust Ensure the statutory provision under the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act of safeguarding adults is of the highest standard and those patients and their families are treated with dignity and respect Actively support the Trust in the provision of meeting key performance indicators in relation to safeguarding Contribute to the Local Safeguarding Adult Boards and sub group processes on behalf of the Trust for the completion of Serious Adult Reviews Contribute to the Local Authority Community Safety Partnership processes on behalf of the Trust for completion of domestic homicide reviews Ensure lessons from serious adult reviews and any other safeguarding reviews both locally and nationally, and from multi-agency case audits are learnt and embedded in Trust safeguarding adults processes by all staff. The post holder has a responsibility for advising, training and supporting the Trust staff to effectively discharge their safeguarding responsibilities, when caring for and discharging vulnerable adults. The post holder will support the wider safeguarding team advising and supporting regarding learning disabilities and reasonable adjustments, mental capacity, Prevent agenda, mental health and Liberty Protection Safeguards Support the general safeguarding team offering wide ranging support in conjunction with the safeguarding team to include the safeguarding adults agenda, learning disability and mental health patients Deliver training to a wide variety of professional staff groups Challenge poor practice, influence and negotiate with health and external partners to improve standards and reduce the likelihood of discriminatory practice Use a variety of advanced communication skills to engage with patients CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Actively support the Trust in the provision of meeting key performance indicators in relation to safeguarding. Contribute to the Local Safeguarding Adult Boards and sub group processes on behalf of the Trust for the completion of Serious Adult Reviews. Contribute to the Local Authority Community Safety Partnership processes on behalf of the Trust for completion of domestic homicide reviews. Ensure lessons from serious adult reviews and any other safeguarding reviews both locally and nationally, and from multi-agency case audits are learnt and embedded in Trust safeguarding adults processes by all staff. The post holder is a Safeguarding Adult Specialist Nurse with a responsibility for advising, training and supporting the hospital staff to effectively discharge their safeguarding responsibilities when caring for and discharging vulnerable adults. The post holder will support the wider safeguarding team advising and supporting regarding learning disabilities and reasonable adjustments, mental capacity, Prevent agenda, mental health and Liberty Protection Safeguards. The post holder, in conjunction with the Trusts Childrens Safeguarding team, is a lead contact for the Trust on Domestic Abuse and will provide expert advice, support and training. Act as a staff advisor and support when caring for victims of domestic abuse Provide domestic abuse risk assessment training to Trust staff in accordance with the Trust policy together with the safeguarding childrens team. Completion of quarterly reports in relation to safeguarding adults activity within the Trust The post holder will have an active role within the Trust Safeguarding Team attending quarterly Trust Assurance Group Board Meetings. The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of training as per the Trust training needs analysis and will deliver effective supervision to various staff groups. Understand and action the next steps in the safeguarding adults process Know when and how to act, when and how to refer, and the importance of following up a referral. Know how to share information in writing, by telephone, electronically or in person Know who to share information with and when, and understanding the difference between information sharing on individual, organisational and professional levels. Know what to record, how long to keep it, how to dispose of records correctly, and when to feedback or follow up. Have understanding of own (and others) professional roles and boundaries, including the Named Nurses / professionals, trust managers and social workers. Knowledge of the implications of key national document/reports. Understand the assessment of risk and harm. Be able to present adult at risk concerns in a strategy meeting , analyse risk and make recommendations to mitigate those risks. Demonstrate ability to work with families where there are child concerns regarding an adult at risk. Be able to advise other agencies regarding the health management of adults at risk. Ability to contribute to serious adult reviews or individual management reviews and disseminate the learning effectively Aware of Local Safeguarding Adults Board and its remit and key drivers. To assist in producing reports such as chronologies, Case Reviews and court reports. When required, deputise effectively at meetings for the Named Nurse Safeguarding Adults Be an active member of the Trusts Safeguarding Assurance Group contributing to the Trusts work plan, IMR Combined Action Plan, Audit programme and Policies and Standard Operating Procedures Must have a sound knowledge of Safeguarding Adult Procedures acquired through practice and theory and the safeguarding agenda. Provision of professional leadership, motivation and supervision to ensure high standards of patient care. Act as a credible role model for the Trust To ensure specialist advice is provided to the specialty and Directorate team using the expertise of nurse specialists and nurse consultants where appropriate To contribute towards ensuring that lessons learnt and changes to clinical practice from safeguarding reviews Trust-wide are communicated throughout the directorate and division and acted upon. To ensure the implementation of national, local and Trust standards of best practice. To ensure that there are high standards of documentation and care planning in all areas of practice specific to safeguarding adults. Ensuring there are regular reviews of all documentation, and focused action plans are produced when areas of concern are identified. To evaluate situations, assess risk and implement appropriate action PATIENT EXPERIENCE To ensure that there are systems in place to capture and act upon information related to the patient experience and making safeguarding personal. Promote patient centred service delivery by providing visible and accessible senior professional presence to staff, patients and families. Lead in providing advice, training and guidance to clinical staff on Safeguarding Adults and associated legislation, ensuring appropriate policies are in place. Expand and maintain professional knowledge and skills in relation to Care Act 2014, Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the proposed new Liberty Protection Safeguards by keeping abreast of current trends/initiatives and related developments Where required, provide more intensive support and expertise to assist clinical staff establish the best way to approach complex cases in relation to mental capacity and the deprivation of liberty To participate in regular supervision, professional development and appraisal in order to maintain relevant skills and knowledge. Represent the Trust at meetings external to the organisation when required. Maintain a high and visible profile in the clinical environment, act as a role model, providing highly specialist expert advice to colleagues on issues on mental health, mental capacity and DoLS where necessary. Maintain Professional Registration. Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensure Trust databases are kept live and updated regarding safeguarding referrals /DoLS / LiPS / Mental Health sections Support ward staff in completion of referrals, reviewing feedback from Local Authorities Ensure relevant documentation is stored appropriately and mandatory reporting requirements are fulfilled TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
Have in-depth knowledge of Safeguarding Adults agenda, Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Safeguarding adults underpinned by theoretical training, practical experience and evidence based practice Attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required to ensure professional qualifications are maintained Provide face to face training and training resources for staff to ensure Trust compliance with mandatory training requirements Provide bespoke training as required to ensure mental capacity act is embedded into everyday practice RESEARCH & AUDIT
Audit will be a requirement of this role
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse - With valid NMC
Desirable
Report writing / Investigation Training courses Teaching qualification or experience of teaching groups
Knowledge & Experience Essential
An excellent knowledge of the safeguarding adults legislation Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act in clinical practice Knowledge of the Mental Health Act Experience of working with service users who lack capacity, have additional needs and those who are at risk Experience related to caring for adults Experience of close working with partner agencies Evidence of leading change
Desirable
Experience working in a safeguarding role Experience of delivering training to large audiences
Skills Essential
Able to work autonomously and as part of a team Able to engage staff in mandatory training and bespoke learning Able to populate data recording systems, monitor and analyse information Effective, robust report writing and able to deliver to a variety of audiences Effective communication skills
Other Essential
Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver / public transport
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot, Merseyside
L35 5DR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)