District Nurse/Senior Community Nurse

ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Loughton; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Essex is seeking an experienced Band 6 District Nurse/Senior Community Nurse. The ideal candidate will exhibit strong leadership and communication skills while managing a caseload and mentoring junior team members. The role involves providing comprehensive nursing care to residents, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams, and frequent engagement with various stakeholders. This position offers flexible working hours as part of a commitment to high-quality patient care.

Benefits

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

Excellent pension benefits

Interest-free season ticket loans

£8K relocation package

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership in a nursing context.
• Experience working in community services.
• Ability to support and teach junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload and lead a team of community staff nurses.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Provide skilled nursing care to residents.

Skills

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Motivational skills

Ability to manage caseload

Education

Registered Nurse qualification

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Nurse to work as a Band 6 District Nurse/Senior Community Nurse as part of our friendly and dynamic multi-disciplinary care team.

You must be an enthusiastic individual with excellent leadership and communication skills and motivation in your approach to care delivery to ensure we maintain a high quality service for our patients in the changing environment of community services.

You will need to demonstrate the ability to manage a caseload and to lead the day-to-day management of the team of community staff nurses whilst supporting, directing and teaching junior team members in all aspects of care delivery. You will also need to work as part of a multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency team, liaising closely with our Primary Care Networks and Neighbourhood Teams as part of the out‑of‑hospital model of care.

The community nursing service is commissioned to provide services between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Applicants will be required to work a shift pattern within these hours as part of the role although flexibility can be discussed. Flexible working is considered within all applications.

The post holder carries continuing responsibility for the caseload, incorporating the assessment of care, including complex needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care. She/he is responsible for the overall management of the caseload, including the supervision and deployment of staff within his/her sphere of responsibility. The role encompasses treatment, advice and teaching within professional competence of the post holder.

The post holder will be responsible for providing highly skilled nursing care to the residents of West Essex, promoting the health of the population and reducing the effects of ill health and disability and maximising the individual's potential for independence. She/he will work closely with General Practices, Social Services and other statutory and non‑statutory services to meet the needs of the local population using public health information to support service development.

The main focus will be on integration and implementation of the Out of Hospital model to ensure the service is of the highest quality, implementing and monitoring the clinical and management strategy for the service.

The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner within the Community Nursing Team supporting the delivery of care and supporting patients own homes working in collaboration with system partners and as part of the Primary Care Networks and Neighbourhood Teams as part of the out of hospital model of care.

Working for Our Organisation

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and well‑being services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Clinical/Professional Duties

• Undertake comprehensive and complex assessment of patient/family needs in conjunction with the patient, family/carer and hospitals which includes discharge planning.
• Initiate palliative care packages with multi‑agency providers in collaboration with primary, secondary sectors and patient/family.
• Provide a comprehensive service to patients in a variety of community settings including patients' own homes, GP Surgeries, Clinics, residential homes and community hospital.
• Be aware of current evidence based approaches to patient care and demonstrate this in practice.
• Frequently provide support to patients and their families when they are emotionally distressed as a result of terminal illness.
• Frequently required to deliver complex and distressing information to both patients/family/carers.
• Lead/contribute to the development and review of guidelines/policies.
• Lead and contribute to audit programmes and disseminate/apply findings.
• Assess the need for service aids and equipment and ensure that those provided are used appropriately and safely.
• Report to the Integrated Clinical Manager any deficiency in the provision of service aids, equipment and staff.
• Maintain accurate nursing records that exist contemporaneously in accordance with NMC guidelines and local policy.
• Responsible for the development and allocation of teaching programmes/practice placement for all pre and post registration nurses and others.
• Undertake Continuing Healthcare Assessments and be the link nurse with the Continuing Healthcare Team.

Patient/Client Care

• Work in partnership with the patient to achieve optimum levels of self‑care. Demonstrate, teach and supervise the nursing care that families can undertake safely, advising as necessary. Documenting on the care plan accordingly.
• Advise the family on prevention of illness and accidents. Foster and support a self‑management approach to care where appropriate.

Communication Skills

• Organise patient care with other Health Care Professionals, Statutory and/or Voluntary Agencies co‑ordinating these through case conferences.
• Work closely with General Practice and other relevant professionals in identifying health needs of the practice population, and develop services in response to those needs, + Attend relevant education and training programmes to maintain personal/professional development and meet NMC requirements.
• Undertake the role of preceptorship/mentorship as required.
• Engage in Nurse Prescribing following V100/V300 qualification and NMC registration and ensure safe prescribing practice within professional and Trust guidelines/policies.
• Lead the team in the development of the skills necessary to deliver the core Community Services.
• Participate in team, Locality and Trust initiatives as required with specific focus on the Nursing Strategy and other relevant modernisation agenda.
• Reflect on practice regularly and plan personal/professional development in order to achieve growth and development. Access Clinical Supervision to enhance reflective practice.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Undertake risk management in a variety of unpredictable and unavoidable working conditions. For example may involve taking appropriate precautions when dealing with chemotherapy drugs, bodily fluids, threatening patients and unhygienic conditions which may constitute a health risk.
• Ensure that Service Aids and Equipment are used in accordance with manufacturer's guidance and to notify all known hazards to appropriate personnel.
• The District Nurse/Senior Community Nurse will ensure that in their absence team members are aware of the nominated District Nurse/Senior Community Nurse who will support the caseload and the team.
• The District Nurse/Senior Community Nurse will delegate responsibility to the appropriate community nurse within the team to undertake and manage the workload of the teams and any Trust objectives.
• Provide relevant support to other Community Nursing teams in the absence of the District Nurse/Senior Community Nurse.
• Report on all incidents and untoward occurrences and implement recommendations.
• Manage informal complaints and implement the recommendations following formal complaints.
• Meet with team members daily to plan, delegate and evaluate patient care and to review and adjust allocation of work accordingly.
• Arrange in conjunction with the Clinical Team Lead, Induction Programmes for new members of staff.
• Attend relevant meetings to support the team and locality.
• Meet with team members on a regular basis to disseminate Trust information.
• Ensure statistical returns for the whole team are completed within agreed times scale by self and team members.
• Be responsible for the development of the team through individual staff professional/personal development reviews, supervision and team meetings.
• Implement appropriate operational frameworks and objectives as agreed by the team and locality or the professional forum.

Information Management

• Input data and information accurately.

Policy/Service Development

• Ensure all trust policies and procedures are implemented by staff, recommending and negotiating changes as necessary.

Freedom To Act

• The post holder will at times be required to work unsupervised.

Effort and Environment

• Manage work load effectively.
• Ensure that the environment is safe and is an area that is conducive for learning and for patient care.

Competence

• You are responsible for limiting your actions to those which you feel competent to undertake. If you have any doubts about your competence during the course of your duties you should immediately speak to your line manager/supervisor.

Registered Health Professional

• Must comply with the Code of Professional Conduct of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which incorporates the Scope of Professional Practice and the Guidelines for Professional Practice.
• All registered nurses will be required to provide evidence of relevant registration(s) as required. Failure to do so may lead to disciplinary action.
• Responsible for ensuring that the Community Nurse Team work within relevant Trust guidelines/Policies and ensuring agreed standards of practice are achieved.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Complete mandatory training in line with Trust policy and procedure.
• To participate in the staff appraisal process and to undertake for any staff you manage.
• To keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Trust policy.
• To provide management supervision where appropriate.
• You will be expected to work collaboratively with key partner organisations, service users, carers, clinicians and other practitioners within the multi‑disciplinary team in delivering services; providing a 7‑day a week for 365 days a year working shifts, where appropriate and operationally required.

Important note: please ensure that as part of your application, you include professional references with business contact information covering your last three years of employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.

As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Equality and Diversity

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities.

If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or e‑mail [e-mail] and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly. We would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

COVID‑19 Vaccination

Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre‑employment checks.

Eligibility for Alternative Employment

Staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered 'suitable alternative employment' to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You'll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.5 000 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.

Join us and you'll do the best work of your life - and make a difference to other people's lives. What we do together, matters.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us.
• Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
• Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.

Work that wraps around your needs.