First Line Manager Registered Nurse Responsible to: Manager Main Purposes of Role 1. To act as a first line Manager in assisting the Manager and Deputy/Head of Care/Senior Nurse in providing a home for service users which promotes a caring environment through high standards of professional practice. 2. To have responsibility for the effective and efficient delivery of nursing care to service users. 3. To ensure a high level of nursing care for service users, providing information, advice and health education to service users, relatives and carers. 4. To ensure the effective use of resources within the unit. 5. To lead and direct the support staff reporting to you to achieve these goals. manage the staff group whilst on shift ensuring that the delivery of care is of a high standard and that staff report back to you guide the staff group and advise them on best practice don t leave them to their own devices service users are treated with dignity at all times observe how the staff interact with the service users and discuss with them if they need to adopt a different approach or praise them if they are doing well that care plans in bedrooms are completed correctly service users are dressed appropriately that they have been washed beds have been changed drinks/call bells to hand staff are taking their time when feeding are they talking to the service user whilst feeding or in the bedroom the skill mix of staff on duty is evenly balanced HCAs skills are used appropriately around the home Main Duties and Responsibilities A. Care Provision 1. To take regular charge in the absence of the Manager. (lead the whole staff group, cover the rota, speak to relatives/outside professionals, be aware of the fire procedure, take responsibility if an issue arises don t leave it until the Manager returns) 2. To provide clinical advice and support, to care staff, in all areas of practice, within the scope of existing skills and knowledge. (show the care staff how something should be done if they are unsure and record it as a supervision especially if it is more than one member of the team you are addressing) 3. To work as part of a team, liaising with Manager as required for support. 4. To ensure that records compliant with the Health & Social Care Act 2008 are up to date and maintained in the correct format. (Care Plans, Drug Audits, Meds Tally, Infection Control, Clinical/Statutory Training, CQC Notifications e.g. death/safeguarding, Admission Register e.g. service user transfers/discharged/dies on your shift, staff supervisions and appraisals
5. To assess care required, record and update monthly on the computerised care plan system ensuring the appropriate use of words in order to maintain the service user s dignity. To involve service users, relatives, carers and multi-disciplinary teams, with the monitoring and reviewing processes. (take responsibility for updating/auditing of care plans to include weight/nutritional/fluid monitoring, risk assessments, writing a new plan of care if required, evaluating, printing off care plans liaising with service users and relatives this responsibility lies with all first line managers and not just with the home management team. Staff who work nights to take responsibility for the night plans of care and ensure they are updated regularly. The First Line Manager to also oversee that the care staff are recording appropriately in the daily activities) 6. To monitor and control agreed standards of care and performance in clinical and administrative areas to ensure delivery of research based quality care including regular auditing of activities carried out. (audit care plans monthly, ensure weights/nutritional/fluid/must scores 7. To work as a team member on the rota providing on-call emergency support for weekends, evening and night staff working at the home and responds to such calls as necessary. (Refer to the On Call Policy, Section E of the Personnel Manual). (self explanatory all RNs to fairly participate on the on call rota) 8. To ensure that resources utilised within the home are used in the most efficient and cost effective way and that value for money is obtained on all purchases. 9. To ensure stocks and supplies are maintained to meet the needs of the service user. (drug ordering/household ordering/aware of mattresses in stock/specialised chairs 10. To ensure that any defects and maintenance requirements are reported promptly. 11. To liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary teams (e.g. GPs) and other agencies both inside and outside the home. 12. To act at all times in the interest of service users, preserving confidentiality and the dignity of the individual. 13. To work within the NMC Code of Conduct and Scope of Practice and to be aware of own limitations. 14. To continuously review your own nursing practices to develop new skills and knowledge through continuous professional development training that contribute to the enhancement of service user care skills. Highlighting any further training requirements to the Manager. 15. To work within agreed policies and procedures to ensure a high standard of care that is research based, ensuring it will be delivered to service users. 16. To be involved with teaching programmes involving care staff and to participate in ongoing clinical audits of care. (tissue viability/wound care 17. To respect the confidentiality of all matters that you might learn in the course of your employment. (Be aware also of the computer policy in particular the social networking sites do not discuss anything in an open corridor etc self explanatory
18. To respect the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. (Care Docs is backed up daily and be familiar with the process do not allow photocopied plans of care to leave the premises without prior consent in writing) B. Service Delivery 1. Responsible for the safety and security of service users and staff at all times when in charge of the home. Carries out procedures for the evacuation of the building, summoning appropriate personnel to deal with emergency situations and rectify faults as necessary. Ensures the Manager is kept informed in emergency situations. (Aware of the Emergency/Disaster Policy attends regularly the planned emergency days 2 Ensures that the provision of food, monies and other goods and services are supplied to the service users within the standard and guidelines laid down by the Trust. Advises the Manager of any service anomalies or deficiencies and of any complaints from service users. 3. Advises the Manager of any additional services that may be needed for the service users and makes arrangements, as delegated, for these to be provided. 4. Carries out the Trust s Policy and NMC Guideline in relation to the safe handling of medicines to include auditing and medication tallying. 5. Ensures that a homely, clean, attractive environment is maintained by constant appraisal and identification of shortcomings or potential for improvement. 6. Prepares reports as required by the Manager and assists with maintenance of records of service users admitted and discharged on a permanent or temporary basis. 7. When responsible for the home acts as the Trust s representative, demonstrating high professional and personal standards in liaising with visitors, members of the community and other professionals. 8. Promotes the involvement and participation of relatives, members of the community and individual volunteers in the day-today activities of the home. Provides a channel of communication for service users and relatives, giving advice as to how complaints and dissatisfactions can be investigated. C. Staff Management 1. To ensure that rotas are covered, not only for the shift you are managing, but also any period affected by messages you take or the consequence of events on your shift which may change either staffing level requirements, for instance should a service user need special care, or a staff member going sick. The above is self explanatory arrange cover if a member of staff rings in sick look at the rota, check the staffing levels, can you ask someone who is rotared for the shift after the one that requires covering to come in and work thus allowing the office time to cover the second shift. Be aware of what agencies the home uses and ring agency if there is a requirement. 2. To lead and co-ordinate the staff group in response to the needs of service users who live in the home and those who come for respite care. 3. To ensure the care staff are recording appropriately the service users daily living events on the computerised care plan system and that weights are being recorded at a given time each month or more frequently if required.
4. To lead and co-ordinate all aspects of the work undertaken by the staff on duty and provide feedback to the Manager. 5. Assists with the Home s induction, supervision and appraisal programme ensuring the staff s personal development. (The Manager cannot undertake all staffs supervisions and appraisals be responsible for the staff delegated to you and ensure that they have regular supervisions & annual appraisals) 6. To be involved with training programmes, involving carers and general staff, including statutory training and NVQ Assessment. 7. Ensure that agreed channels are used for staff expressing dissatisfaction or grievance. 8. Implements the grievance and disciplinary procedures as appropriate and necessary. D. Health & Safety at Work 1, To be aware of the Health & Safety at Work Act and specific Trust Health & Safety Policies. The Trust operates a Smoke Free working environment for all staff and Service Users 2. In order to protect the safety of service users, staff and visitors, all employees are responsible for:- Completing an accident/incident form for all accidents/incidents or near misses Reporting all defects Reporting all complaints Attending mandatory training 3. To be aware of Trust Policies and Procedures and Emergency Procedures. 4. To be responsible for own health and safety at work. E. Other Duties 1. To undertake such other duties, training and/or hours of work as may be reasonably required and which are consistent with the general responsibility of this job. (other duties include: delegated auditing tasks e.g. drug/infection control/care planning/tissue viability/ 2. To undertake health and safety duties commensurate with the post and/or as detailed in the Trust s Health and Safety Policy. 3. To attend statutory training. 4. To attend and participate in relevant staff meetings. F. Please Note 1. The Trust reserves the right to alter the content of this job description to reflect changes to the job or services provided, without altering the general character or level of responsibility. 2. Changes, which may affect substantially your job description, will be notified to you as agreed in your contract of employment
3. The duties described in this job description must be carried out in a manner which promotes quality of opportunity, dignity and due respect for all employees and service users in accordance with the Trust s Equal Opportunities Policy. Name: Name: Signature:. Signature: Designation:. Designation: Date:.. Date:.