Appendix B 2

Graduate Nurse(Intellectual Disability)

Job Specification and Terms & Conditions

Job Title and Grade / Graduate Nurse (Intellectual Disability)
(Grade Code 2853)
Campaign Reference / GNSSE2013ID
Closing Date / Friday 1st March 2013 at 12 noon
Information about the Graduate Nurse Initiative / The Graduate Nurse (Intellectual Disability) post is part of a 2 year graduate initiative across all areas of publically funded health services in the Republic of Ireland.
This employment initiative will allow for the appointment of up to 1,000 2012 & 2013 graduates across HSE and HSE funded sites to a 2 year rotational graduate scheme on 85% of an entry grade nurse salary in year 1 and 90% in year 2. This employment initiative will cover all HSE and HSE funded hospitals/ services including the Dublin Academic Teaching Hospitals.
During this 2 year fixed term contract graduates will have access to a variety of care settings whilst gaining substantial clinical experience. Graduate Nurses will have access to additional skills development and further education as determined by the specific service and as appropriate to the competence level of the particular graduate e.g. continuous professional development/a nurse prescribing course.
Location of Posts / HSE – South East (Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary/Waterford/Wexford)
Reporting Relationship / The post holder:
  • Is professionally accountable to the Director of Nursing or designated officer
  • Will report to the Clinical Nurse Manager 2 or designated officer

Purpose of the Post / The Graduate Nurse (Intellectual Disability) will assess, plan, implement and evaluate care to the highest professional and ethical standards within the model of nursing care practiced in the relevant care setting.
The role of the Graduate Nurse (Intellectual Disability) is to provide a holistic, person-centred approach to the nursing care of service users’ with an intellectual, physical or sensory disability, promoting their optimum independence and enhancing their quality of life in all aspects of daily living.
On occasion the Graduate Nurse (Intellectual Disability) may be expected to take responsibility for a unit or community facility in the absence of the Clinical Nurse Manager. S/he must practice in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct as set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bórd Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) and within the policies, guidelines, protocols of the units / settings in which they are employed.
The aim of the provision of services for service for people with an intellectual, physical or sensory disability is to foster and maintain a philosophy of care that reflects the Health Service Executive (HSE) and local services commitment to quality and high standards, using an evidenced based approach which respects the dignity of service users’ and is practised in a safe environment.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities / Professional Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager, the Graduate Nurse (Intellectual Disability) will:
  • Practice nursing according to:
The Professional Code of Conduct as laid down by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bórd Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann)Professional Clinical Guidelines
National and regional guidelines
Local policies, protocols and guidelines
Current legislation as it applies to the role
  • Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individualised service user person-centred care programmes within an agreed framework, in accordance with best practice and grounded in recent evidence based nursing research.
  • Develop and maintain close links with the services users, family/guardiansensuring a partnership approach
  • Work closely with the multidisciplinary team to achieve optimal input for the service user
  • Maintain appropriate and accurate written records and reports regarding service user care in accordance with local and national guidelines.
  • Foster a philosophy of care that reflects the Health Service Executive (HSE) and local services commitment to quality, using an evidenced based approach, in a safe environment maintaining the dignity of the service users.
  • Foster a model of care that is facilitating and enabling
  • Monitor overall healthcare, prevention of illness, and promote healthy lifestyles with service users
  • Act as an advocate for service users and their families and provide information to empower them in decision making, goal setting and problem solving in order to optimise their contribution and facilitate their participation in community based activities.
  • Promote and maintain nursing standards of person centred care, including the promotion of normalisation and quality of life issues.
  • Participate in the development of protocols and guidelines, and the setting of professional nursing standards
  • Be competent in relation to all relevant clinical policies and procedures
  • Have a good knowledge of clinical standards and participate in service audits
  • Take account of service users’ religious beliefs, doctrines and cultures
  • Comply with all legal requirements pertaining to care of service users with Intellectual Disability
  • Encourage service user engagement in community activities and escort and participate in such activities thus promoting a socially inclusive model of living..
  • Contribute to, implement, monitor and review the development of risk assessments for service users
  • Professional Expectations: The Graduate Nurse must comply with the Code of Professional Conduct as laid down by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bórd Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann). The nursing profession demands a high standard of professional behaviour from its members and each registered nurse is accountable for his or her practice. The Graduate Nurse must work within his/her scope of practice and must take measures to develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice. The Graduate Nurse must be aware of ethical policies and procedures which pertain to his/her area of practice. Service users’ confidentiality must be maintained at all times.
  • Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc
EDUCATION & STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager, the Graduate Nurse (Intellectual Disability) will:
  • Participate in the planning and implementation oforientation and teaching programmes both for students and other health care staff in the clinical setting.
  • Act as a mentor, preceptor or clinical assessor for learners in the clinical environment, as deemed appropriate.
  • Provide feedback to the Clinical Nurse Manager with regard to compilation of proficiency assessments for students in the clinical setting, if requested by the CNM
  • Contribute to the identification of training needs pertinent to the clinical area
  • Identify and contribute to the continual enhancement of learning opportunities in the clinical area
  • Participate in the induction of new staff in the clinical area and ensure the potential of all staff is identified and encouraged, if requested by the CNM
  • Provide education and information to service user/family as required
  • Take responsibility for own learning
  • May be required to work in a unit or community facility to meet service needs
ADMINISTRATION/ MANAGEMENT
Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager, the Graduate Nurse (Intellectual Disability) will:
  • Accept overall responsibility for and co-ordinate the management of care for service users in an assigned area.
  • Take management responsibility for an assigned area in the absence of the Clinical Nurse Manager
  • Provide support and give feedback to the Clinical Nurse Manager
  • Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and risk management policy. Participate in the development of policies within both these areas in conjunction with relevant staff.
  • Supervise and work with other grades of staff within the remit of his / her role and co-ordinate and contribute to the inter-disciplinary team approach to client care.
  • Take responsibility for the management and recording of service users’ individual finances
  • Accurately record and report all complaints to appropriate personnel according to local service policy
The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him / her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or experience / Candidates must by the closing date of application:
Be actively registered in the Intellectual Disability Division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland)
and
Possess a primary nursing qualification awarded in a MemberState of the European Union in 2011, 2012 or 2013
and
Have the clinical and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role
Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge /
  • Demonstrate sufficient clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning skillsand evidence based practice to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
  • Practice nursing care safely and effectively, fulfilling her / his professional responsibility within her / his scope of practice.
  • Practice in accordance with legislation affecting nursing practice
  • Demonstrate the ability to plan and organise effectively
  • Demonstrate a commitment to providing a quality service
  • Demonstrate the ability to build and maintain relationships including the ability to work effectively as part of a multi disciplinary team.
  • Demonstrate effective analytical, problem solving and decision making skills
  • Demonstrates excellent communication skills, including sufficient command of the English language so as to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role
  • Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect
  • Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development
  • Demonstrate a willingness to engage and develop IT skills relevant to the role
  • Demonstrate flexibility to take on new skills as the service requires, and be flexible with regard to work placement and shift patterns.

Other requirements
specific to the post / Appointees may be required to participate in escorting and transporting service users to community activities and social outings and will be required to possess a current full unendorsed driver’s licence.
Details of this will be outlined at job offer stage, if relevant to the post.
Any other requirements of individual posts will be detailed at job offer stage.
Code of Practice / The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commissioners for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, feedback facilitates for applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, Information For Candidates”.
Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates or on
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.
This job specification is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.

Graduate Nurse (Intellectual Disability)

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Where particular reference is made to HSE, variances may occur with other Public Health Services Employers

Tenure / The appointment is fixed term for a period of 2 years and is pensionable.
Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004.
Remuneration / The Salary scale for the post is: €23,129 (year 1) €24,489 (year 2)
Working Week / The standard working week applying to the post is 37.5 hours.
HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / night duty providing 24/7 service arrangements as advised by their line manager.
Annual Leave / The annual leave associated with the post is to be confirmed at job offer stage. The annual leave associated with this post will be aligned to the Staff Nurse annual leave.
Superannuation / All pensionable staff become members of the pension scheme.
Applicants for posts in the Mental Health service are advised that Section 65 of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, does not apply to new entrants to the Mental Health Services as defined by the Public Service Superannuation(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 (Section 12 of that Act) New entrants
Probation / Every appointment of a person who is not already an officer of the Health Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.
HIQA Standards / Infection Control / Appointees must have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 / This post is one of those designated in accordance with Section 2 of the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment in this post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. Such officer will on receiving a report ofchild abuse formally notify the Principal Social Worker in the community care area in which the child is living. An information pack containing more specific details will be issued on appointment to the post.