Dementia Nurse Specialist

We are looking for an experienced Nurse, that holds a non medical prescribing qualification to join our county wide Early Memory Diagnosis Services to work in North West part of the Hertfordshire.

The Early Memory Diagnosis and Support Service (EMDASS) offers comprehensive assessment and practical support to Hertfordshire residents who have concerns about their memory and are worried that they may be suffering from Dementia.

The service is made up of Psychiatrists, Nurses, Psychologists and OTs and works in close partnership with the Alzheimer's Society and Hertfordshire County Council's Adult Care Services to provide psychological and practical support to people diagnosed with dementia., As the Dementia Nurse Specialist, you will be expected to:

• Work in a number of settings, alongside Primary Care, but with access to the wider EMDASS secondary care team to complete expert assessments to determine whether a person has dementia.


• Initiate acetylcholinesterase inhibiters (where appropriate) and then titrate them.


• Fulfil the role of a Nurse Independent Prescriber for service users who are diagnosed with dementia as per Trust policy and NMC requirements., Be responsible for delivering nurse-led Memory Assessment clinics across Herts Valley or East and North Herts CCG localities


• Provide a qualitative highly specialist memory assessment, diagnosis and prescribing service for patients referred with memory problems both in a clinic setting and within the community.


• Responsible for prescribing Dementia medications (in accordance with NMP registration and the post-holders' scope of practice), discussing all pharmacological treatment options, (including non-pharmacological treatments) potential side effects and address issues of consent and capacity.


• Manage risk within primary care setting and ensuring secondary services involvement where risks are high in order to manage in accordance with CPA and clinical governance and record interventions as required by the Trust.


• Provide professional leadership to implement and further develop the specialist memory assessment service. This will include working with all clinical areas within MHSOP, as well as across local services, and the wider community including primary care, partnerships and third sector agencies.


• Provide highly specialist nursing guidance, advice and consultation to the multidisciplinary team and primary care groups, contributing expertise to the development of appropriate treatment formulations and care plans.


• Continue to maintain Memory Services National Accreditation Programme (MSNAP) standard to ensure that assessment, diagnosis and care for people with dementia and their carers are delivered in high standard. This includes timely and equal access to services, provision of evidence-based treatments, monitoring and follow-up.


• Participate in research and development within their scope of practice.


• Work in ways that are sensitive to the needs of service users, families and individuals from a wide range of racial, cultural and religious backgrounds, mindful of the impact that race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability and social difference may have on service user systems and to develop innovative ways of meeting their particular needs.


• Skilled and experienced in working with matters of Safeguarding both adults and children and to comply with inter-agency protocol and policies.
  
  Registered Nurse (Mental Health/Learning Disability) with current NMC registration


• Bs(c)in Mental Health/Learning Disability Nursing or Diploma in Mental Health/Learning Disability Nursing with evidence of CPD at Level 7 (degree) relative to specialist area of Nursing.


• Nurse Independent Prescriber


• Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent.


• Post graduate qualification related to Dementia Studies and/or be able to demonstrate further skill-based trainings related to Dementia Studies, Care of the Older Adult, Frailty, Substantial experience of working in mental health services


• Experience of working with service users presenting with memory problems and/or emotional/psychological difficulties and challenging behaviour with their families and wider networks in situations of crisis and emotionally demanding environments.


• Experience of Nurse Independent Prescribing for relevant service user group


• Experience in working in Older People Mental Health Service/Memory Service and carrying out different range of cognitive assessments.


• Skilled in risk management


• Proficient in multi-agency working


• Able to demonstrate ability to work autonomously and manage a complex caseload


• Evidence of providing clinical supervision


• Experience and knowledge of implementing safeguarding procedures for children and adults


• Experience of peer supervision,


• Experience in assessing and implementing a range of therapeutic interventions in different cultural contexts


Desirable criteria


• Audit and research experience


• Experience of teaching/training in a formal or informal setting, You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
  
  Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.


Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is rated by the Care Quality Commission as an Outstanding provider of mental health and learning disability services. In 2021, we won the prestigious Health Service Journal award for Mental Health Trust of the Year, with the judges saying they were "blown away" by our people's achievements and that everything they saw "sings and hums". This year, our staff rated us the 4^th best mental health and learning disability trust to work for out of all 52 trusts in the country. Our staff tell us that they are proud to be part of the HPFT team, proud of the standard of care we provide and proud that service users are our top priority. Our people tell us they feel supported though a great development, wellbeing and work-life balance offer and a highly compassionate, values-driven culture. We are equally proud of our staff, who live our values of being welcoming, kind, positive, respectful and professional


• Coaching network where trained coaches throughout the Trust are matched with staff of all disciplines to provide a powerful development opportunity


• Leading company discounts and childcare vouchers


• Salary sacrifice schemes enabling staff to drive a new car or bike - saving on tax and insurance included


• Wellbeing activities - from mindfulness to yoga, pilates and our signature craft club join our monthly programme of regular and special events to support your wellbeing


• Gym discounts, including Nuffield Health and David Lloyd.


• Refer a friend to work for the Trust and receive up to £500! (A payment of £250 will be made when the applicant commences employment with us and a further payment of £250 will be made once they hit 6 months continuous service with us)