Job Title and
Grade
Campaign
Reference
Clinical Nurse Specialist Community Rehabilitation Services Older Persons
(Grade Code 2632 )
NRS0703
Closing Date
Proposed
Interview Date(s)
Organisational
Area
Reporting
Relationship
Monday, 23 rd July 2012
Week commencing 20 th August 2012
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster
Taking up appointment
To be indicated at job offer stage.
Location of Post Dun Laoghaire geographical area
Details of Service ‘Rehabilitation should aim to maximise the patient’s role fulfilment and independence in his/her environment, all within the limitations imposed by the underlying pathology and impairments and by the availability of resources. This helps the person to make the best adaptation possible to any difference between roles achieved and roles desired’ (Wade DT 1992)
The Rehabilitation Service for Older Persons in the community provides patients with assessment, planning and implementation of a rehabilitation programme specific to their needs using research findings as appropriate. The service provides support, guidance, advice and education to families, the public health nursing service and multidisciplinary team members involved in rehabilitation of Older Persons.
To Director of Public Health Nursing
Purpose of the
Post
Principal Duties and
Responsibilities
The role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Rehabilitation of Older Persons is to provide initial person centre rehabilitative care and ongoing management of complex cases in the home.
He/She will play a key role in the Rehabilitation Nursing of Older Persons in the Community following referral/ discharge from hospital.
The post holder will be a key member of the multidisciplinary team, required to provide a specialist nursing resource within the governance structure of The Public Health Nursing
Department. The post holder will act as a liaison between Rehabilitation Services, Primary Care
Teams, Acute Hospitals and other agencies to deliver effective evidenced based care, using resources efficiently to achieve the best possible outcomes.
The post holder will develop Rehabilitation Services within the Nursing Department in line with evidenced based best practice.
The post holder will be offered the opportunity to advance to Registered nurse Prescriber (RNP).
Professional Responsibilities
The Clinical Nurse Specialist Rehabilitation Services Older Persons will:
 Practice nursing according to the Code of Professional Conduct and the Scope of Practice
Framework as laid down by the Nursing Board (An B órd Altranais) and the National Clinical
Guidelines.
 Adhere to national, regional and local Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines, policies, protocols and legislation
 Work within their scope of practice and take measures to develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice
 Maintain a high standard of professional behaviour and be accountable for their practice
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Be aware of ethical policies and procedures which pertain to their area of practice
Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the patient
Follow appropriate lines of authority within the Nurse Management structure
Clinical Practice
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Rehabilitation Services Older Persons) will:

Draw up Nursing Care plans, making accurate assessment of the patient ’s needs and preferences, taking note of the present diagnosis and condition of the patient ’s physical, psychological and medical history using research findings where appropriate.

Monitor and ensure maintenance of adequate and effective discharge planning for patients returning to their own homes

Accept referrals from Hospitals; GP’s and members of the multidisciplinary team and other allied health professionals; and maintain records of such referrals in line with Code of Practice for
Integrated Discharge Planning and audit requirements.

Work in collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients requiring rehabilitation in a person centred manner.

Ensure an understanding and safe compliance of self-administration of medication.
If a Registered Nurse Prescriber (RNP) the nurse must work within the scope of her/is collaborative practice agreement and adhere to the regulations set down by ABA pertaining to this role and, local policy requirements.

Arrange referrals to other appropriate specialist services as deemed necessary

Effectively manage time and caseload in order to meet the needs of an evolving service
 Act as a resource to the patient’s family/carer and other members of the multidisciplinary team and all other nursing staff.

Provide psychological support for patients and their families. Refer for further psychological support if felt necessary or requested by the patient and/or their family.
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Communicate with patients, families and friends, assess needs and provide relevant support, information, education, advice and counselling when and where necessary.
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Develop close working links with Geriatricians, other Rehabilitation & Older Persons Services &
Agencies.

Work closely with colleagues across services in order to provide a seamless integrated service for the patient.

Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways, individual care plans and shared care arrangements through regular collaboration/meetings with other Rehabilitation nurses nationally.

Identify and utilise professional and voluntary resources and facilities at local and
national level by direct and indirect referral.

Refer to relevant services to assist with procurement of domiciliary equipment
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Participate in the Departmental Clinical Governance processes, working in partnership with the Head of Department, Assistant Directors of Public Health Nursing, Manager of Services for
Older Persons and the PCCC team.

Ensure that effective clinical governance procedures are maintained and evolve according to defined needs and demands within the Rehabilitation Service.
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Monitor and evaluate the Care pathway of the individual patient within the rehabilitation programme, ensuring the Nursing Needs of the patient are met.
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Maintain and update own professional expertise and knowledge within the specialist area.
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Maintain professional standards including patient and data confidentiality in line with HSE policy
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Accurate recording of clinical information and submit statistical returns as part of a clinical audit
Patient Advocate
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Rehabilitation Services for Older Persons) will:

Act as patient advocate, this involves communicating, negotiating and representing patients values and decisions in collaboration with other members of the MDT.
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Contribute to case conferencing meetings with other members of the MDT

Develop and support the concept of advocacy particularly in relation to patients' participation in decision making thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options.
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Provide and advocate for appropriate assessments, supports and strategies for patients with disease related changes and difficulties.
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Establish, maintain and improve procedures for collaboration and cooperation between Acute services, Community services, Primary Care and voluntary organisations.
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Take appropriate action on any matter identified as being detrimental to staff and/or service user care or well being which may inhibit the effective provision of effective care.
Education and Training
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Rehabilitation Services Older Persons) will:

Maintain clinical, nursing and managerial competence in current developments, in the field of
Gerontology and Rehabilitation management to include keeping up to date with relevant research to ensure evidence-based practice.

Have and maintain an awareness of elder abuse and the protection of Older Persons.
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Keep abreast of current trends in nursing through reading, attending seminars and having thorough knowledge of nursing policy and standards.
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Contribute to the educational needs of nursing and other professionals by participating in training programmes for all members of the MDT.
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Act as a Role Model in the provision of a learning environment enabling personal and professional development,
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Use every opportunity for discussion, demonstrations and teaching for patients/families/carers and staff.

Liaise and foster good communications with the Centres of Nursing and Midwifery Education
(CNMEs)
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Participate in the orientation programmes of all new staff within the department and in-service programmes
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Attend meetings as required
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Assist or participate in new projects relating to Rehabilitation care

Maintain and develop personal practice standards and keep abreast of progress in the field of
Rehabilitation Nursing.
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Seek advice and assistance with assigned cases which prove to be beyond the scope of his or her professional competence.
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Offer comprehensive education to patients/families/carers in need of Rehabilitation. Provide them with effective strategies that will enable them to self-manage care of their condition/disease.
Audit and Research
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Rehabilitation of Older Persons) will:
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Contribute to the management of a Chronic Disease register and a priority waiting list system for Home Care Packages.
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Maintain records of Rehabilitation service in line with minimum data set programme requirements
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Present three monthly audit reports to local governance team and national clinical care directorate, as part of the PCCC team.
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Implement and manage changes identified by audit and research as required within services
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Promote individual best practice interventions in accordance with the identified needs of patients
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Participate and promote nursing research and associated research in this specialist area, identifying nursing topics and issues, involving presentations and collaboration with the MDT.
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Ensure the views of all consumers are effectively sought, channelled and acted upon as appropriate
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Contribute to the development of key performance indicators and monitoring of same within
Rehabilitation of Older Persons services.
Consultant
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Rehabilitation Services Older Persons) will:
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Act as resource in providing specialist knowledge, expertise and care in liaison with the MDT
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Promote the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Rehabilitation services amongst all health care staff
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Work with, support, advise and help build up the knowledge and expertise of the other healthcare professionals involved in providing care for Older Persons & Complex patients through regular formal and informal education.
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Represent the service at local, national and international meetings as required
Health & Safety
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Rehabilitation of Older Persons) will:

Comply with the policies, procedures and safe professional practice of the Irish Healthcare
System by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of relevant / designated individual(s) in line with best practice.

Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others

Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action
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Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or experience

Comply with department procedures with regard to assessment, recommendation and or manufacturing of all assistive devices.
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Promote a culture that values diversity and respect
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Attend mandatory Health and Safety Training
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Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role, e.g. Standards for
Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated
Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
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Ensure a lone worker policy is in place and adhered to within your organisation/unit.
Administration
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Rehabilitation of Older Persons) will:
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Contribute to policy development and formulation, performance monitoring, business planning and budgetary control.
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Ensure that records are safeguarded and managed as per HSE policy and in accordance with relevant legislation
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Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records/data on all matters pertaining to the planning, management, delivery and evaluation of this service in line with Health Service
Executive requirements.
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Requisition with due economy
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Ensure that equipment is maintained according to Hospital Policy
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Undertake other duties as required by the Director of Public Health Nursing or his / her designate
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Support the return of t he KPI’s for the service as required.
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.
Candidates must at the latest date for receipt of completed applications for the post:

Be registered in the General Division of the Register of Nurses kept by
An Bord Altranais or be entitled to be so registered
And

Have at least 5 years post registration experience in the General division of the register in which the applicant is currently practising
And

Have a minimum of 2 years experience in the specialist area of rehabilitation of Older
Persons/Gerontology.
And

Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her professional
responsibility within his/her scope of practice
And

Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development
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And
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Have a level 8 post-registration National Qualifications Authority of Ireland major academic award (or equivalent) relevant to the specialist area of rehabilitation of Older
Persons/Gerontology.
Age
No age restriction shall apply to a candidate except where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act,
2004). In this case the candidate must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.
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.
Demonstrate experience in Rehabilitation of the Older Person/Gerontology. Post Specific
Requirements
Other requirements specific to the post
Essential Skills, competencies and/or knowledge
Access to transport as a significant portion of the appointees work will be carried out “off site”.
This means that th e appointee will travel to patient’s home/ place of residence to perform duties related to the role.
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Demonstrate practitioner competence and professionalism in order to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role to include an understanding of Gerontology and Rehabilitation of
Older Persons Programme – its aims, governance, model and service philosophy and the contribution of nursing to achieving the aims.
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Display evidence-based clinical knowledge in making decisions regarding client care
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Displays the ability to anticipate, by using expert knowledge, changes in patient's condition in the home environment. (This includes the skills and competence to identify both adverse reactions to treatment and subtle deterioration in condition, intervening appropriately, interpreting and analysing clinical symptoms to inform diagnosis, modifying treatment/care regimes accordingly, requesting further tests, reporting and making recommendations to the appropriate member of the multidisciplinary team and implement the appropriate actions required.)
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Functions autonomously, without direct supervision in specialist nursing practice
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Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development
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Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills
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Demonstrate the ability to build and maintain relationships including the ability to work effectively as part of a multi disciplinary team.
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Demonstrate effective analytical, problem solving and decision making skills
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Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect
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Demonstrates excellent communication skills so as to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
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Demonstrates an awareness of legislation and standards relevant to the role
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Demonstrate an awareness of developments within the HSE
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Demonstrate a willingness to engage in and develop IT skills relevant to the role
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Adopts and develops the concept of customer care and challenges any interaction which fails to deliver a safe, quality service to internal and external customers.
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Campaign
Specific Selection
Process
Ranking /
Shortlisting /
Interview
A ranking and/or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and/ short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit list and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.
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
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job specification 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. 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 www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates or on www.cpsa.ie
.
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Tenure
Remuneration
Working Week
Annual Leave
Superannuation
Probation
Protection of
Persons Reporting
Child Abuse Act
1998
Confidentiality
The initial vacancies for this post are permanent, whole-time. This post is pensionable. A panel will be formed from this recruitment campaign and future permanent or specified purpose vacancies of whole-time or part-time duration will be filled from this panel. The tenure of these posts will be indicated at "expression of interest" stage.
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.
The Salary Scale (as at 01/01/10) for the post is:
Euro 47,089 – 47,886 – 48,559 – 49,659 – 50,874 – 52,067 – 53,260 – 54,604 – 55,852 (pro rata)
The standard working week applying to the post is 37.5 hours .
HSE Circular 0032009 “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 16 th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).
The annual leave associated with the post is as follows:
0 to 5 years service 25 days
5 to 10 years service 26 days
More than 10 years service 28 days
Membership of the HSE Employee Superannuation Scheme applies to this appointment.
Existing Members who transferred to the HSE on 1st January 2005 pursuant to Section 60 of the
Health Act 2004 are entitled to superannuation benefit terms under the HSE Scheme which are no less favourable to those to which they were entitled at 31st December 2004.
Appointees to posts in the Mental Health Services which formerly attracted fast accrual of service should note that the terms of Section 65 of the Mental Treatment Act 1945 do not apply to New
Entrant Public Servants as defined by Section 12 of the Public Service Superannuation
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.
Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent 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.
As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act
1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.
In the course of your employment you may have access to, or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of patients and/or staff, or other health service business. Such records and information are strictly confidential and, unless acting on the instructions of an authorised officer on no account must information concerning staff, patients or other health service business be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty. In addition, records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be left in safe custody when no longer required.
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Infection Control 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.
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