technical specialist Margate, England
Job description
As a team our aim is to support people living with dementia and their relatives/carers when they are admitted to acute hospital, by offering assessment and person-centred support to individuals, support for carers and education to staff. We have recently launched our 3-year Dementia Care Strategy which brings with it an exciting opportunity to be a part of a passionate team, delivering the highest quality support to people living with dementia and their families.
We are offering a Senior Practitioner Role within the team that will be Trust wide, delivering immediate support to the Lead Nurse and the wider dementia team, as well as taking a lead role in various aspects within the team and in line with your personal development plan
To provide support in leading the development, implementation and monitoring of best practice standards in the care of people living with dementia (PLWD) and their carers when they are admitted to hospital.
To champion the rights of and advocate for PLWD in hospital, ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect, ensuring the care they receive is person-centred.
Lead the embedding of improvement initiatives and develop new opportunities for improving the hospital stay for PLWD, aiming for a timely discharge.
To work with the dementia team ensuring consistency in approach to supporting PLWD across all sites, providing high support and high challenge to the team.
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with three acute hospitals and community sites serving a local population of around 700,000. We also provide specialist services for Kent and Medway.
We care about our patients and our people. We are focused on providing outstanding, safe patient care, and a positive working culture that benefits staff and patients alike. With our emphasis on staff training and development, a staff support scheme that’s second to none, and a healthy package of benefits, it’s easy to put down roots in East Kent Hospitals.
“Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.”
Main Responsibilities:
- Demonstrate expert practice in the care of PLWD and maintain clinical credibility.
- Communicate effectively with PLWD and their relatives/carers, ensuring accurate and seamless information is conveyed and documented.
- To act as the interface between the staff, the patient and their family/carers in the provision of high-quality care when support is needed in managing distress and complex situations.
- Create an open environment which empowers staff to meet the needs of patients and their families/carers, ensuring the PLWD and their carers are understood as a person and that staff are familiar with their needs.
- Identify opportunities to create changes which enhance standards of care and practice for PLWD and work collaboratively to implement and evaluate their effectiveness and impact.
- Provide visible, accessible and authoritative presence for the multidisciplinary team, patients and their carers/families for assistance guidance and support and to work in partnership with the psychiatric liaison teams within the trust as well as RTS, HFDT, CAB and EKRTDS.
- Ensure Privacy, dignity and respect of patients is maintained at all times.
- To role model the highest standards of personal and professional conduct and performance, participating in the disciplinary procedure according to trust policy.
- To support the Trust wide dementia training lead, taking responsibility for planning, delivery, implementation and evaluation of training.
- To implement, maintain and participate in staff appraisals and objective setting and support in the delivery of wellbeing conversations.
- Provide support to students and learners, ensuring appropriate learning opportunities are optimised.
- Be required to work in any area of the trust and to deputise for the Lead Nurse.
- To be fully aware of the broader Trust Wide issues and priorities.
- Participate in organisational audits against national and local standards, developing and implementing action plans and monitor improvement.
- Support staff in the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative practice, new initiatives and interventions to promote care and more responsive service for PLWD, developing and working through a network of dementia champions.
- Build strong and collaborative relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to achieve organisational goals to improve dementia care and enable access to support services that enable the PLWD to live well.
- Role model high quality leadership behaviours and shared values.
- To Keep abreast of current professional issues and maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to perform your role effectively.
- Develop and maintain a professional portfolio.
- Ensure compliance with professional expectations as outlined with your professional registration.
- To participate in an annual appraisal with relevant reviews and to follow your personal development plan as agreed with your Lead Nurse.
- Work within your scope of practice and skills and seek advice when appropriate, to support your practice and decision making.
- Undertake all mandatory training including all identified training.
- Have excellent communication, observation and listening skills.
- Have effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
- Display empathy, courage and professionalism when dealing with complex concerns.
- Maintain and manage excellent time keeping skills.
