Memory Nurse inStevenage inStevenage PUBLISHED MON 6 JAN 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and committed Band 6 Memory Nurse to join our Countywide EMDASS Team. We are looking for a friendly, enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to join our EMDASS team to deliver service for North of Hertfordshire. We are a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and our service includes Team Secretaries, Dementia Nurse Specialists, Deputy Community Manager, Service Manager, Psychologists, Psychology Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Psychiatrists, GP, and Staff members partner agencies. Excellent organisational and communication skills alongside solid clinical experience are essential for this post. The post holder will be expected to undertake a wide range of assessment using appropriate assessment tools and work with multi-disciplinary team to deliver dementia diagnosis and manage their own workload and provide post diagnostic support through titration review for service users. Evidence of working under your own initiate, ability to problem solve, accuracy of work and strong clinical leadership skills to support students and junior staff with creating an effective learning environment and a willingness to be flexible to meet the needs of the service are also essential. The post holder will be supporting the transformation of EMDASS service to change the current pathway and procedure to improve efficiency of service.

The post-holder will undertake memory assessments for service users suspected with dementia, deliver diagnosis working with multi-disciplinary team, treatment and post diagnostic support for service users through titration reviews. The post-holder will be working between One-Stop Pathway and Primary Care.

The post-holder will be carrying out risk assessments and implement risk management plan with service users and carers. The post-holder will be familiar with safeguarding policy and follow safeguarding protocol effectively to ensure safety of service users and carers in the community. The post-holder will be working closely with the partner agencies and make referrals tailored to service users and carers need to community services to support service users living well with illness.

To act as Duty Nurse for completing the screening of referrals, offering advice and signposting.

The post-holder will undertake supervision of junior staff and trainees, as delegated by the MATS Team Leader

About us

The post-holder will carry out memory assessments by using appropriate cognitive tools, and work with multi-disciplinary to team to deliver memory diagnosis, treatment and development of specialist care in accordance with NICE Guidelines and evidence-based practice to support work of the Early Memory Diagnosis and Support Service. This will include frequent requirement for intense concentration.

The post-holder will be either work either under EMDASS One-Stop Pathway or Primary Care Pathway or on rotation in both pathways to deliver diagnosis and post-diagnosis support.

Devise care plans that promote patients independent living in the community. Complete risk assessments that are clear, concise and detail plans to safely manage any risks that are identified.

Use a variety of clinical skills appropriate to the needs of the individual and the clinical setting and in their home setting.

To provide ongoing post-diagnostic support for people where diagnosis indicates this to be relevant to their needs.

Where indicated by assessment to discharge with appropriate care provisions and follow-up, with future review dates booked as appropriate.

Demonstrate a high standard of record keeping and documentation with adherence to Trust policies

Work with colleagues to develop and promote the services philosophy, framework of care delivery and strategic objectives.

Contribute to Mental Health/ Dementia strategy discussions/steering groups when requested by senior management.

Work with colleagues to develop and demonstrate clinical expertise and high standards of mental health practice.

Deliver care that is person centred reflecting current best practice, and challenges practice that may be detrimental to older people receiving high quality care.

Demonstrate extensive understanding of the legal and ethical issues in providing dementia care. In particular having a good knowledge of the National Dementia Strategy.

Complete Revalidation as defined by NMC.

The post holder is responsible for management, supervision, training and development of students/trainees or equivalent others and they are responsible for yearly appraisal.

Plan and organise their diaries, prioritise duties, and coordinate the care of the service users for whom they are allocated. Give due regard to the health and safety, well-being and interests of those who come in to contact with the team professionally.

The post holder has a duty to promote and support staffs personal health and wellbeing at all times, this includes both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The post holder has a responsibility to access help in managing health and wellbeing.

Report any activity that may be fraudulent and be responsible for the completion of own extra duty and expenses claims.Ensure that all policies applicable to EMDASS are implemented.

To participate in transformation of service and contribute to proposed changes to pathway, practices and procedures to improve quality and efficiency.

To propose ideas for, and if accepted, complete audits relevant to the improvement of the teams clinical practice.

Have high level of competency to receive and give clinical information verbally and in writing from/ to those receiving care, their families/carers and professional colleagues.

Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, self-awareness and empathy in all communications.

Ensure adherence to all aspects of patient confidentiality, documentation and record keeping according to Trust and national guidelines.

The post holder will have the ability to communicate clearly and sensitively in complex and emotional situations.

The post holder will have an ability to negotiate, and problem solve in contentious and /or antagonistic situations where agreement is required. When agreement cannot be reached to communicate clear and rational decisions.

The post holder will have the ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues within the all agencies whom they encounter to the benefit of the client and the service.

Have extensive working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity act, National Dementia Strategy and National Service Frameworks for Older People and Mental Health. The post holder will also have an understanding of the Safeguarding Adults procedures.

Be required to make judgement involving highly complex facts and or situations which require analysis.Make judgement where the situation is not straightforward such as those where information is limited or difficult to obtain.Make judgement as to the best course of action where there are a range of options available.Make judgement where expert opinion may differ or be conflicting.

Demonstrate the ability to prioritise and organise case/ workload on a day-to-day basis.Ensure that the client is given high quality care at all times.Where necessary request assistance from colleagues.Represent the EMDASS at meetings etc as delegated by the Team Manager.When staff/students are attached to the team ensure that learning is facilitated to meet their needs.

The post holder will need to be able to drive to meetings /training off site and occasionally as required cover for colleagues on other sites.

Be required to spend increased amounts of time in the car driving to peoples own homes in order to undertake assessment/ intervention (this may include out of county locations)

Be able to participate in RESPECT and Basic Life Support Trainings as necessary as per HPFT policies/procedures.

Be able to work in an environment that is at times extremely busy and demanding.