Registered Nurse

Supporting Your Independence; Forster; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Supporting Your Independence is seeking a Registered Nurse to provide clinical oversight and nursing guidance across participant services. The role focuses on ensuring health plans, routines and clinical documentation are accurate and effectively communicated to the team delivering supports.

You will collaborate with participants, families, management and health professionals to translate clinical information into practical staff guidance, oversee medication management and contribute to

Qualifications

• Must be a registered nurse with current practicing certificate.
• Experience in supported living or disability services preferred.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical oversight and nursing guidance across participant services.
• Maintain and communicate participant health plans and clinical documentation.
• Collaborate with participants, families, workers, and health professionals.
• Develop and review health-related care plans and routines.
• Attend specialist and medical appointments as required.
• Translate clinical information into practical instructions for staff.
• Ensure medication management and safety across services.
• Contribute to clinical governance and quality improvement.

Skills

Clinical oversight

Nursing leadership

Health coordination

Documentation

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor of Nursing

Tools

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Job description

The Registered Nurse is responsible for providing clinical oversight, nursing guidance and health-related coordination across Supporting Your Independence participant services.

The role supports the delivery of safe, person-centred and clinically appropriate supports by ensuring participant support plans, health management plans, routines, medication information and clinical documentation remain accurate, current and effectively communicated to the employees responsible for delivering supports.

The Registered Nurse works collaboratively with participants, families, support workers, management, medical practitioners, specialists, allied health professionals, pharmacies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure changes in participant health needs are identified, assessed, documented and incorporated into everyday support practices.

A key focus of the position is translating clinical information into clear, practical instructions that support workers can consistently implement within Supported Independent Living, Community Access, High Intensity Supports, Respite and other service environments.

Support Plan Review, Development and Distribution

Regularly review participant support plans and care plans to ensure health and clinical information remains current, accurate and reflective of the participant's individual needs.

Develop, update and contribute to participant health-related care plans, nursing plans, risk management strategies and clinical protocols.

Review support plans and care plans following hospital admissions, medical appointments, changes in diagnosis, medication changes, incidents or significant changes in participant presentation.

Ensure relevant clinical recommendations are incorporated into participant support documentation.

Coordinate the distribution of updated support plans, care plans and clinical documentation to relevant employees and management.

Clearly communicate when plans have been updated and identify any changes requiring immediate implementation.

Ensure superseded clinical instructions are removed or appropriately archived to reduce the risk of employees working from outdated information.

Participant Routine Development and Review

Develop and review participant routines in consultation with participants, management, employees and relevant health professionals.

Ensure routines appropriately incorporate health, medication, nutrition, hydration, continence, bowel management, sleep, mobility, personal care and other clinical considerations.

Update routines where participant needs or clinical recommendations change.

Ensure routine changes are clearly communicated to employees and management.

Provide practical guidance to employees regarding how clinical requirements are incorporated into the participant's everyday routine.

Monitor whether established routines continue to meet participant needs and elevate concerns where changes are required.

Clinical Assessments and Monitoring

Undertake nursing assessments as required to identify participant health needs, risks and changes in presentation.

Conduct ongoing clinical reviews based on participant needs and identified risks.

Assess areas including, where relevant:

• skin integrity and wound management


• nutrition and hydration


• mobility


• respiratory health


• diabetes management


• medication management


• swallowing and aspiration risks


• pain


• sleep


• infection risks


• general deterioration or changes in health status

Document assessment findings and develop appropriate recommendations, actions and escalation pathways.

Identify clinical risks requiring GP, specialist, hospital or allied health intervention.

Specialist and Medical Appointment Attendance

Attend specialist, GP, hospital and allied health appointments where clinical representation or nursing input is required.

Prepare relevant clinical information and participant documentation prior to appointments.

Provide treating practitioners with accurate information regarding the participant's current presentation, routines, medication, incidents and support requirements.

Seek clarification of medical recommendations where required to ensure instructions can be safely implemented within the participant's support environment.

Document appointment outcomes and clinical recommendations.

Communicate relevant outcomes to management, support workers and participants where appropriate.

Ensure recommendations arising from appointments are incorporated into relevant participant plans, routines and clinical documentation.

Clinical Communication

Act as a central clinical communication point between participants, employees, management and external health professionals.

Ensure significant clinical information is communicated promptly, accurately and through appropriate organisational communication channels.

Provide clear written instructions for employees where clinical requirements change.

Translate complex medical or clinical information into practical instructions suitable for implementation by support workers.

Participate in participant reviews, stakeholder meetings, case conferences and clinical discussions where required.

Escalate significant health concerns to management and appropriate health professionals.

Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality when communicating participant health information.

Medication Management and Changes

Review participant medication information and medication administration documentation.

Ensure medication information available to employees is consistent with current prescribing instructions and pharmacy documentation.

Communicate medication changes promptly to relevant employees and management.

Ensure changes including:

• commencement of medication


• cessation of medication


• administration time changes


• PRN medication instructions


• short-course medications


• medication administration requirements


• medication-related monitoring requirements are clearly documented and communicated

Liaise with pharmacies, medical practitioners and management regarding medication discrepancies or clarification requirements.

Support the safe transition of medication information following hospital admission or discharge.

Review medication incidents or errors and provide clinical recommendations regarding follow-up actions.

Provide clinical guidance to employees regarding medication administration within their authorised scope and organisational procedures.

Develop and implement PRN protocols for all PRN medication, creams and the like.

Polypharmacy and Medication Reviews

Ensure annual polypharmacy reviews are completed for each participant

Ensure interim polypharmacy reviews are completed for each participant where there is significant medication of health condition changes.

Coordinate and support medication reviews with participants, GPs, specialists, pharmacists and other relevant practitioners.

Monitor for reported or observed medication-related concerns including sedation, behavioural changes, mobility changes, appetite changes, constipation, dizziness or other potential adverse effects.

Escalate concerns regarding possible medication interactions or side effects to the appropriate prescribing practitioner or pharmacist.

Support regular medication reviews for participants receiving multiple medications.

Ensure recommendations resulting from medication reviews are reflected within participant support plans and care plans communicated to the support team.

Clinical Guidance to Employees

Provide accessible clinical guidance and support to support workers and management.

Assist employees to understand participant-specific health conditions and clinical requirements.

Provide clinical direction regarding changes in participant presentation and appropriate escalation pathways.

Develop practical clinical guidance documents, instructions and resources where required.

Support employees to recognise early signs of deterioration or changes in participant health.

Reinforce when employees should contact the Registered Nurse, management, GP, specialist, Healthdirect, emergency services or other appropriate services.

Provide education and clarification regarding participant-specific clinical procedures.

Ensure employees understand the importance of accurate documentation, observations and escalation.

Health Deterioration and Clinical Escalation

Review reported changes in participant health or presentation and provide appropriate clinical guidance.

Assist management and support workers in determining appropriate escalation pathways.

Review clinical incidents and identify whether further assessment, treatment, monitoring or plan changes are required.

Ensure post-hospital and post-emergency department recommendations are appropriately implemented.

Support participants following hospital discharge by reviewing discharge documentation, medications and follow-up requirements.

Coordinate required follow-up appointments, assessments or monitoring.

High Intensity Supports

Provide clinical oversight for participants receiving High Intensity Daily Personal Activities where applicable.

Contribute to the development and review of participant-specific high-intensity support plans and care plans.

Ensure instructions clearly outline participant risks, procedures, monitoring requirements and escalation processes.

Support competency-based training and assessment processes where relevant to nursing scope and organisational requirements.

Monitor ongoing implementation of high-intensity support requirements and recommend changes where necessary.

Clinical Documentation and Record Keeping

Maintain clear, accurate and timely clinical documentation.

Ensure clinical recommendations, assessments and communications are recorded within appropriate participant records.

Review health-related documentation for accuracy and consistency.

Ensure clinical records support continuity of care between employees, management and external healthcare providers.

Maintain confidentiality and appropriate handling of participant health information.

Training and Education

Provide participant-specific clinical education and guidance to employees.

Assist with identifying training needs arising from participant health conditions or changes in support requirements.

Develop or contribute to training materials, clinical guides and competency resources.

Participate in employee induction and refresher training where clinical content is required.

Provide education following significant clinical incidents or changes in participant care requirements.

Clinical Governance and Continuous Improvement

Contribute to Supporting Your Independence's clinical governance and quality improvement systems.

Identify trends, recurring concerns or areas where participant clinical supports could be strengthened.

Participate in reviews of clinical incidents, medication incidents and health-related risks.

Recommend improvements to clinical systems, documentation, procedures and communication pathways.

Support management to maintain safe and consistent health-related practices across participant services.