Job summary
A vacancy has arisen for a Nursing Associate to join a community nursing team in Crawley and surrounding villages.

The Nursing Associate will provide a mixture of general and specific care to a group of patients and will be proficient and competent to work at their registered level. They will work alongside Registered Nurses and Allied Health Professionals. The post holder will have completed their Nursing Associate training and be registered with the NMC.

The Nursing Associate works in partnership with the primary health care team, social services, private and voluntary sector, addressing health promotion priorities both locally and nationally.

Main duties of the job

• The Nursing Associate will deliver care within their proven competency as achieved during their Nursing Associate Training.
• They will be supported by the Registered Nursing Team and supervised by their appointed registered nurse band 5 or above.
• Contribute to the planning, implementation and monitoring of patient care as part of the Community Nursing Team.
• This role will include supervision and teaching of trainee or newly qualified Nursing Associates and Health Care Assistants.
• Maintain at all times a kind, caring and professional attitude towards patients, relatives and colleagues within the clinical setting, taking into consideration dignity, privacy, and confidentiality, alongside cultural and religious needs.
• Recognise changes in a patient's condition and seek assistance from a Registered Nurse or GP as appropriate.
• Provide health and care information to the patient, carers and family as appropriate.
• Maintain clear concise and legible documentation adhering to standards in accordance with NMC and Trust policies.
• Adhere to the Medicines Management Policy in the storing, administering, recording & disposal of Medicines.

About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values-- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Job responsibilities

• a) The Nursing Associate will deliver care within their proven competency as achieved during their Nursing Associate Training.
• b) Recognise changes in a patients condition and seeks assistance from a Registered Nurse of band 5 or above and/or GP as appropriate.
• c) Contribute to the planning, implementation and monitoring of patient care as part of the Community Nursing Team.
• d) Using recognised assessment tools including NEWS2, MUST and Purpose-T to risk assess, record and act upon patients changing conditions.
• e) Treat, monitor and discharge patients under the leadership and direction of a registered nurse of band 5 or above.
• f) Monitor individualised care plans.
• g) Perform specific interventions as identified by competency achievement to enhance the delivery of care, such as but not exclusively: venepuncture, cannulation, catheterisation, wound assessment and care, Doppler and compression, administration of medications excepting IV.
• h) Plan and implement non-complex tasks and interventions guided by standard operating procedures and competency achievement.
• i) Contribute to patient review, care planning and delivery of care for End of Life patients.
• j) Provide support, training and supervision to others.
• k) Maintain clear concise and legible documentation adhering to standards in accordance with NMC and Trust policies.
• l) Liaise and refer patients to the MDT team as appropriate in accordance with local procedures.
• m) Participate in clinical audits.
• n) Be responsible for own personal development, including keeping up to date with Mandatory training and training relevant to the area of practice.
• o) Attend regular reviews with your team leader and have yearly appraisals.
• p) Undertake a link role as required.
• q) Act as a professional role model.
• r) Support the implementation of departmental policies and contribute to team and service developments.
• s) Maintain and replenish stock levels and clinical supplies in the patients homes.
• t) Ensure effective and efficient use of resources, equipment and supplies.
• u) Demonstrates an awareness of Health, Safety and Security risk.

Person Specification
Qualification
Essential

• Registered Nursing Associate on the NMC register
• End point assessment completed successfully

Experience
Essential

• Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
• Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice contained within The Code.
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice
• Understand requirements for NMC professional revalidation
• Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans
• Experience of caring for patients in a healthcare setting

Desirable

• Experience of working in the community

Skills
Essential

• Experience of working in teams under appropriate supervision as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
• Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information
• Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
• Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload
• Ability to deal with non- routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues
• Ability to support, supervise, and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting

Other
Essential

• Car Driver and access to a car for work purposes, unless under Equality Act
• Flexible to cover service needs, including weekends, out of hours or shift pattern

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.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address: 4th Floor Crawley Hospital, Wet Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Operational Team Lead
Jane Kavanagh
jane.kavanagh@nhs.net
07824606688