Job summary
The Nursing Associate will

• Be responsible for delivering evidence-based, high-quality, patient-centred and compassionate care to individuals accessing community-based support through Maundy Relief.
• Work as an accountable registered professional within the Nursing Associate scope of practice and NMC Code.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary and multi-agency team to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care.
• Deliver appropriate care independently within demonstrated competence and agreed clinical pathways.
• Work under the clinical supervision and support of a designated Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP).
• Provide an accessible community healthcare presence for people experiencing health inequalities.
• Proactively identify unmet physical, mental and social health needs.
• Support prevention, early intervention and health promotion.
• Help individuals access and re-engage with appropriate NHS, social care and voluntary-sector services.
• Act as a bridge between underserved communities and established healthcare services.

Main duties of the job
Core20PLUS and Inclusion Health Focus
A central purpose of the role is to improve access to healthcare and health outcomes for people within Core20PLUS and locally identified inclusion health groups.

The Nursing Associate will proactively engage people who may experience poorer health outcomes or difficulty accessing conventional healthcare services, including:

• People living in the most deprived communities.
• People experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
• People experiencing poverty or financial hardship.
• Vulnerable migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
• People with severe mental illness.
• People with learning disabilities.
• People affected by drug or alcohol dependency.
• People experiencing social isolation.
• People who do not routinely engage with primary care.
• People experiencing multiple or complex health and social needs.
• Other locally identified populations experiencing significant health inequalities.

The postholder will recognise the impact that wider determinants such as housing, employment, income, education, social isolation, trauma and access to services can have on physical and mental health.

About us
The East Lancashire Alliance is a network of 9 PCNs covering 48 GP practices covering a population of over 390,000 patients across East Lancashire. Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves in ensuring our patients feel safe, supported, communicated with and respected at a time when they may be feeling vulnerable. The Alliance are proud to represent our member practices and to champion our Primary Care Partners, by working with local general practice and other system partners in the provision of patient centred, local healthcare services.

Each practice has a close-knit team of staff who collectively seek to improve the health of their patient populations.

East Lancashire is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside, to the heart of the vibrant inner Towns and Villages with great shopping, entertainment and dining options. Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.

Job responsibilities
Overall Purpose of the Post
The Nursing Associate will provide a bridge between underserved communities and established healthcare services.

By being based within Maundy Relief and supported clinically by an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, the postholder will provide an accessible healthcare presence for people who may otherwise experience barriers to care.

The role will focus on prevention, early identification of health needs, appropriate clinical intervention, health promotion, care navigation and re-engagement with mainstream health services, supporting the wider ambition of the Hyndburn Central Primary Care Network to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes across Core20PLUS populations.

Please refer to the attached job description for further information

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Previous experience of working within a health or care setting.
• Experience providing direct patient care.
• Understanding of health promotion and wellbeing, including Making Every Contact Count.
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• Experience working within primary care or community healthcare.
• Experience working with people experiencing health inequalities.
• Experience working with people affected by homelessness, deprivation or social exclusion.
• Experience supporting people with mental health, learning disability, substance misuse or complex social needs.
• Experience working with voluntary and community-sector organisations.

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse Associate on the NMC register.
• Educated to a minimum level 5 foundation degree specific to nursing associate practice.
• GCSE level 4-9 in Maths and English or equivalent.

Desirable

• Care Certificate
• Training in trauma-informed care.
• Training in smoking cessation or health promotion.
• Training relating to mental health, substance misuse or co-occurring conditions.
• Additional training relevant to inclusion health, health inequalities or community healthcare

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Understanding of the scope and professional boundaries of the Nursing Associate role.
• Ability to work effectively under appropriate supervision and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to work independently within defined parameters.
• Understanding of when to seek advice from the ANP or another registered healthcare professional.
• Ability to recognise clinical deterioration and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Understanding of holistic, person-centred care.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people who may have experienced barriers to healthcare.
• Understanding of health inequalities and the wider determinants of health.
• Awareness of Core20PLUS and inclusion health principles.
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and children.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice.
• Ability to participate in reflective practice and clinical supervision.
• Appropriate IT and clinical record-keeping skills.
• Good time-management and organisational skills.
• Ability to deal with a non-routine and potentially unpredictable community workload.
• A compassionate, respectful and non-judgemental approach.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.