Job Description & Person Specification

Job Title:Triage Nurse / Triage Practitioner

Hours of Work:Part time on agreement (evenings, weekends, overnight and public

holidays)

Base location: Bradley

Line Manager: Contact Centre Manager

(Professionally Accountable to): Clinical Manager

Organisation Chart:

Job Purpose

  • To enhance the speed of access into primary care for patients presenting at Local Care Direct with unscheduled health care needs.
  • To provide evidence based clinical assessment, prioritisation and advice over the telephone.
  • To strive to improve performance and quality in line with Local Care Direct clinical governance and performance review procedures.

Responsibilities and Duties

1.Clinical

  • Assesses clinical risk on behalf of the caller as part of an initial assessment
  • Undertakes a comprehensive assessment using approved clinical assessment tool, evidence based protocols, guidelines and professional judgement.
  • Accesses a range of information in order to develop a plan of care in partnership with the patient.
  • Provides advice that is based on current evidence and best practice.
  • Critically evaluates clinical information and advice for validity and reliability.
  • Offers the caller/patient the resources to enable them to meet their own health need and accesses the most appropriate healthcare.
  • Concludes the episode to the satisfaction of the caller/patient and the nurse.
  • Documents an accurate record of the consultation and evaluates outcome.

2.Managerial

  • Shows evidence of effective decision making.
  • Manages time and recourses effectively and appropriately.
  • Communicates effectively with other agencies and stakeholders.
  • Develops effective interpersonal relationships with others.
  • Demonstrates effective performance within the team
  • Initiates, manages and responds positively to change.

3.Professional and Educational

  • Participates in audit, evaluation and feedback.
  • Identifies and complies with the standards laid down by the NMC in the Code of Practice.
  • Exploits professional knowledge, skills and experience to the maximum benefit of the caller
  • Actively promotes, develops and extends the scope of nursing and healthcare practice.
  • Understands and observes professional and national guidelines on confidentiality.
  • Reflects on practice and critical incidents using a range of tools, mediums and arenas.
  • Develops own skills and competencies through education, training and development activities related to the current and future demands of the role and when requested to do so.
  1. Quality
  • Provides a safe and effective service.
  • Works with the team to improve performance and quality.
  • Participates in the organisations clinical governance and performance review procedures.

Safeguarding

  • Individual’s have a duty of care to children and vulnerable adults that they come into contact with whilst at work to safeguard and promote their welfare and to work to prevent, recognise, respond, appropriately refer and record potential neglect or abuse, adhering to the company’s Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults policies and procedures.

Person Specification

The post holder will be required to work within the highest levels of confidentiality and discretion in this post.

As a social enterprise providing essential public services, Local Care Direct demands the highest standards of integrity and personal behaviour from all its staff.

Essential / Desirable / Method of Assessment
Qualification /
  • 1st level Registered Nurse or equivalent professional qualification/registration with a professional body
  • Paramedic HPC registration.
/
  • Diploma level or above.
  • Nurse practitioner qualification.
  • Additional qualifications relevant to primary care.
  • Paramedic qualification
/
  • Application
  • Certificates

Experience /
  • Effective interpersonal skills
  • Minimum of 3 years post registration experience.
  • Evidence of management responsibility.
  • Evidence of a range of clinical expertise.
  • Evidence of continuing personaland professional development
/
  • To have worked in more than one clinical setting.
  • Experience of triage (telephone or face-to-face)
  • Experience of working in primary care/ urgent care setting
/
  • Application form
  • Interview
  • Certificates
  • References

Knowledge/Skills /
  • Effective communication skills: verbal, written and non-verbal.
  • Able to make independent clinical decisions.
  • Evidence of good assessment & decision-making skills.
  • Able to manage self and others within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Self-motivated team worker.
  • Demonstrates up-to-date knowledge to nursing practice.
  • Up-to-date knowledge of health agenda (local and national).
  • Understanding of primary care/OOH services.
  • Able to manage time and workload.
/
  • develop self and others.
  • Aware of impact of change on self and service.
  • Awareness of the impact of evidence-based practice within nursing.
  • Keyboard/PC skills.
/
  • Application form
  • Interview.
  • References

Physical /
  • Positive & enthusiastic
  • Self-motivated
  • Calm & empathetic
  • Decisive & Assertive
  • Flexible
/
  • Interview

Equality /
  • Candidates should indicate an acceptance of and commitment to the principles underlying LCD’s Equal Opportunities Policy
/
  • Interview
  • Application

Measures of Performance

Performance will be regularly monitored and assessed via monthly review of business performance, personal objectives and delivery against this job description.

The main duties and responsibilities shown above are not exhaustive but should merely be regarded as a guide. The jobholder will be expected to conduct any reasonable activities according to the business needs at that time. These will be subject to periodic review and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the business. The job holder will be expected to participate in this process and the company would aim to reach agreement to changes.

Job Description Agreement

I have read and understood this job description:
...... (Job holder) Date......
...... (Line Manager) Date......

April 2016

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