Job Summary
Here at The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust we are passionate about delivering the highest quality care to all our patients. In order to help us maintain this, we are looking for enthusiastic, motivated and committed Safeguarding Adult Advisors (Bank Band 7) to join our temporary staffing bank team. This role is based at North Middlesex University Hospital. The Safeguarding Team at North Middlesex Covers adults, children and maternity and is led by the Associate Director of Safeguarding.The team works closely with all Divisions of the hospital and their role is to ensure that the safety of all children, young people and adults at risk is maintained by provision of expert advice and support, training and oversight.

About us
Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will support the implementation and appropriate application of the Mental Capacity Act, Best Interest decision making and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to ensure positive outcomes for patients who lack capacity in line with statutory obligations. The role also has responsibility for ensuring that there are robust monitoring and assurance systems in place. The purpose of the job is to work closely with the Safeguarding Team in supporting all activities necessary to ensure that the Trust meets its responsibilities with regards to Safeguarding Adults at Risk. There will be an expectation of support where appropriate for all areas of adult safeguarding. This work will be promoting best practice, implementing standards and monitoring the process in line with both national and local multi-agency guidelines.

Job responsibilities
Management

• The role will be part of the safeguarding team however will include a focus on supporting and advising staff in cases where patients lack capacity.
• The role will ensure the use of the Trustwide MCA, Best Interest and DoLs paperwork and ensure that relevant applications are completed in a timely manner.
• Monitor and ensure that DoLs applications are correctly applied for, recorded and monitored. Provide support and advice to staff in this area.
• Contribute to setting up and maintaining appropriate data collection tools and methods, complex data analysis, processing of mental capacity assessment to support the efficient and effective work of the Safeguarding team.
• Contribute to internal and external reports in a timely and accurate manner, mindful of confidentiality, the sensitive nature of the information and the need for high levels of accuracy within the role.
• Be familiar with relevant legislation, e.g. Mental Capacity Act (2005), Equality Act (2010), Care Act (2014), Mental Capacity Act and able to support staff in decision making using these Acts.
• Ensure confidential and often complex information is imparted sensitively and accurately to medical staff, patients, relatives and partner agencies.
• Support in the development of relevant policies under their responsibility.
• Work within situations of risk and advise on Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (Liberty Protection Safeguards).
• Have highly specialised knowledge and experience within this area, ensure this is shared with staff in order to support their development alongside the safe care of patients.
• Facilitate relevant aspects of the Care Quality Commission inspections when required.
• Follow escalation protocols in relation to issues with MCA and DoLs and advise senior management on appropriate actions.

Clinical Leadership

• Daily visibility within the clinical areas to support and direct staff in making Deprivation of Liberty referrals to Local Authorities which are compliant with local guidelines, demonstrate a good understanding of legal processes for adults at risk and are made in a timely manner.
• Act as a support to staff and patients/carers, and liaise with ward management teams and medical leads to ensure that any issues relating to mental capacity and deprivation of liberty safeguards are communicated and managed in a timely and effective manner.
• Ensure effective communication with patients (in whatever format they require), relatives/carers, Trust staff and external agencies both verbal and written.
• Ensure visibility in clinical areas and act as a resource to empower staff, service users, patients and carers to access appropriate services, working clinically on a regular basis.
• Support the audit of records to measure and evaluate care planning.
• Support and advise colleagues in clinical assessment of adults where there are adult safeguarding, MCA and DoLS concerns.
• Act as a patient advocate, support patients to access appropriate advocacy services including statutory advocacy services. Direct staff to utilise these resources.
• Assist in the collection of data and provide essential information in a timely and accurate manner when required by the Trust or external agencies.

Training and Development

• The post holder will contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of safeguarding adults training in the Trust leading on but not limited to MCA and DoLs and including adult safeguarding.
• Ensure training and implementation of Liberty Protection Safeguards, ensuring there is sufficient support and training for staff.
• Work with the education and safeguarding teams to ensure that MCA and DoLs / LPS are embedded in training programmes and these are regularly reviewed and audited.
• Ensure that staff and patient support and advice is readily available regarding MCA and DoLs and more generic safeguarding.

Communication

• Ensure all communication is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to progress.
• Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.
• Ensure that all documentation is completed to a high standard in accordance with Trust and NMC guidance.

Care and Compassion

• Ensure that any escalation of care concerns or safeguarding escalations are made robustly through the appropriate channel.
• Undertake audits and where appropriate cooperate with the corporate nursing team to maintain Trust standards of care.

General

• To act in accordance with the NMC Codes of Conduct and to be accountable for own clinical practice, and professional actions, at all times.
• Ensure continued and effective registration with the NMC including revalidation requirements.
• Have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety Policy.

This job description is intended as a guide to the main duties of the post and is not intended to be a prescriptive document. Duties may change to meet the needs of the service or because of the introduction of new practices or technology. This job description may be reviewed from time to time and changed, after consultation with the post holder.

VISA SPONSORSHIP DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS ROLE

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Person Specification
Skills & Abilities - Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Able to work as an individual and part of a team.
• Experience of multi-agency - multi disciplinary team working.
• Ability to represent the organisation as appropriate
• Motivation to learn new skills
• Ability to share learning with others
• Participation in audit & quality issues

Education & Professional Qualifications - Essential

• NMC registration
• Educated to Degree level or equivalent evidence
• Evidence of relevant post registration development

Education & Professional Qualifications - Desirable

• Masters degree
• Best interest Assessor qualification

Royal Free World Class Values - Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Experience - Essential

• Significant experience of working in an acute care setting
• Evidence of expert/advanced working knowledge of MCA
• Best Interest decision making
• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Court of Protection applications and their application within an acute Trust
• Experience of producing and delivering educational packages

Experience - Desirable

• Previous experience of working with vulnerable groups e.g. dementia, learning disabilities.
• Knowledge of patient safety
• Experience of influencing a team
• Experience of coaching

Personal Qualities - Essential

• Experience of providing advice in sensitive and complex issues

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.