Job Description

To work towards gaining the standards of proficiency for entry to the NMC register/recordable for Specialist Community Practitioner. To provide the Specialist Community Practitioner Student with a learning environment, this will enable the student to develop knowledge, skills and competencies to take on the role of a qualified Specialist Community Practitioner within a defined pathway.



To gain the knowledge and skills and competence in order to exercise higher levels of judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care focusing on the four domains outlined by the Queens Nursing Institute (QNI 2015):



Clinical Care

Leadership and Operational Management

Facilitation of Learning

Evidence, Research and Development



The post of Specialist Community Practitioner Sponsorship Student is a development post building on existing knowledge, skills and competencies to achieve a higher level of practice resulting in an academic qualification as well as a recordable qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.



The fundamental responsibilities of the post holder are to attain the academic credentials and the clinical skills required to practice as a NMC registered Speciality Community Public Health Nurse on a defined pathway.

These are summarised below:

To fulfil the requirements of the Specialist Community Practitioner programme by attending university course dates and practice placement days in accordance with University regulations



To work with the Specialist Community Practice Educator/Teacher and Experienced Practitioners to develop the skills and competencies to achieve NMC Registration Standards for Specialist Community Practice



With the support of the Specialist Community Practice Educator/Teacher to link the theoretical knowledge gained through the university programme to the practice situation



To demonstrate an understanding of current and emerging National, Regional and local healthcare legislation, policies and guidelines as the pertain to chosen pathway



To develop/build skills of caseload and team leadership and management



To work within University Regulations pertaining to academic work and student conduct



To work within employing organisation policies as they pertain to the relevant clinical setting



To work within employing organisation policies relating to employee responsibilities.



Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.



To fulfil the requirements of the Specialist Community Practitioner programme by attending university course dates and practice placement days in accordance with University regulations



To work with the Specialist Community Practice Educator/Teacher and Experienced Practitioners to develop the skills and competencies to achieve NMC Registration Standards for Specialist Community Practice



With the support of the Specialist Community Practice Educator/Teacher to link the theoretical knowledge gained through the university programme to the practice situation



To demonstrate an understanding of current and emerging National, Regional and local healthcare legislation, policies and guidelines as the pertain to chosen pathway



To develop/build skills of caseload and team leadership and management



To work within University Regulations pertaining to academic work and student conduct



To work within employing organisation policies as they pertain to the relevant clinical setting



To work within employing organisation policies relating to employee responsibilities.



MANAGING RESOURCES



To participate in managing and co-ordinating the work of the junior staff, offering support and development as appropriate.



To assist in the recruitment and selection of staff for the team and to participate in induction and orientation programmes as appropriate.



To promote good communication, employment practices and relationships within the team.



To participate in (and lead where appropriate) team meetings.



To be aware of and utilise appropriate resources within the district nursing team and in the provision of total patient care.



To act as a link nurse to GPs, Social Services and other relevant professional areas as necessary.



PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES



To be aware of and act in accordance with agreed policies, procedures, legislation and NMC standards.



To adhere to Whittington Health policies and procedures at all times.



To ensure that records are kept and maintained in line with NMC guidelines, Trust record keeping and information governance policies.



To adhere to national and local infection control procedures and standards at all times.



To be willing to expand nursing knowledge/skills by undertaking further professional training, to keep up to date with professional developments and maintain current PREP portfolio.



To set appropriate objectives and review them regularly with the District Nurse Team Manager.



To meet regularly with the District Nurse Team Manager in order to review own performance.



To take part in clinical supervision on a regular basis according to Whittington Health requirements.



To participate in clinical audit in order to promote the development of patient centred evidence based practice.



Whittington Health is an integrated care organisation and there may be occasions when members of staff are required to rotate between clinical environments to meet service need. This could be on a long or short term basis.