Patient Care Assistant Lead Nurse

Advert and Job Description
Job Title: Multidisciplinary Patient Care Assistant Lead
Salary: Dependent on Experience
Location: Paragon Referrals
Job Type: Permanent
Hours: 40 hrs /week
Overview
The Lead Patient Care Assistant role is key to the business ability to provide a high level of clinical standards.
The Lead Patient Care Assistant will ensure that patients are managed as effectively as possible from a nursing perspective to support the profitability and further growth of the practice. Working enthusiastically with your team you will help maintain a happy, efficient working environment whilst providing outstanding patient and client care.
Working with the Training and Development Team Lead and Head of Nurs ing Services , the Lead Multidisciplinary Patient Care Assistant will identify areas of training development needs within the Mul tidisciplinary Patient Care Assistant team.
Main Purpose and Goals
Maintain an overview of the Multidisciplinary Patient Care Assistant (PCA) team and provision of Patient Care across the team that you lead
• Manage your area of responsibility by working with Lead Nurses , Training and Development Team Lead and Head of Nursing Services in order to achieve this
• Demonstrate an excellent work protocol in all PCA duties including high level of hygiene and the ability to recognise and undertake relevant actions with regards to infection control
• Approximately 80 % of the role will be clinical duties (to allow 10 % for administration that may come with that role). Your current rota will not change with this role however the provision for administration time will be made. This is an approximation, and you may require more or less admin time
• Ensure that you and those working in your area of responsibility provide a high and sustainable quality of care
• Provide leadership to those working in your area of responsibility and others across the business
• Ensure effective communication within your area of responsibility, with other team leads , Training and Development Team Lead and Head of Nursing Services
• Ensure that all patients in your team area are dealt with in a timely manner , and that unnecessary delays are prevented at all times
• Ensure that in your area of responsibility the team are implementing accurate patient record keeping and that all Patient Care instructions are followed by the MD PCA team
• Ensure all members in your area of responsibility team are aware of their roles and are clear on the objectives they are working towards
• Work with the Training and Development Team Lead where required to help implement the PCA skills matrix to ensure all those within your team are trained and working to the same standard
• Work with the Training and Development Team Lead to help support the identification, prioritisation and implementation of learning, development and CPD for PCAs in your team where required
• Work with Training and Development Team Lead t o ensure all new PCAs entering the business are supported to complete their induction
• Provide effective line management of those in your team including regular feedback to Training and Development Team Lead who can ensure mentoring, coaching and development discussions where needed
• Carry out PCA Professional Development Records and Conversations if and when required by the Training and Development Team Lead for those who work as part of your team
• Participate in external CPD appropriate to your role plus any training in-house, ensuring post-training feedback forms are completed/cascade of relevant information to appropriate team members
• Hold regular meeting s with the MD PCA team and devolve any developments to the Training and Development Team Lead and Head of Nursing Services
• Use Vetsafe reporting to target training where PCA care can be improved
• Ensure all equipment across the practice is appropriately maintained
• Report and summarise critical incidents as part of Practice Clinical Governance Policy
• Be fully aware of all Health & Safety issues and read all information supplied
• Adhere to confidentiality relating to all aspect of the business including complying with and assisting with all requirements relating to GDPR compliance
Key responsibilities
• Work with the Training and Development Team Lead to help support the identification, prioritisation and implementation of learning, development and CPD for associates in the PCA team to include developing/using a skills matrix to highlight training gaps.
• Ensure the MD PCA team utilises centrally delivered CPD
• Be aware and utilise the support that the VN Central Professional Development Team and the Pre registration Experience team can provide in terms of group wide CPD provision, site level CPD, and targeted Associate’s developments and career progression advice.
• Work with the Training and Development Team Lead to ensure that:
o A ll new PCAs entering the business are supported to complete their induction
o A ll new PCAs entering the business are supported to decide upon a training route (in house PCA training or appropriate Level 2 course)
o A ll new PCAs entering the business are supported through their training
• Maintain and demonstrate knowledge of the “What can PCAs do in veterinary practice?” document to ensure the PCA team are working to Linnaeus guidelines.
• Work with the Linnaeus Pre-registration Experience Management Team to ensure that eligible PCAs are able to access the apprenticeship funding available.
• Work with the Training and Development Team Lead to identify PCAs ready to progress onto veterinary nurse training
• Manage and support PCAs to ensure they:
o A re not permitted to undertake Schedule 3 procedures
o A re supervised appropriately by an RVN or MRCVS when required
o R eceive appropriate support from a Mentor throughout their training
o R eceive appropriate training for their role following their induction process
• Maintain an awareness of the PCA training requirements
• Ensure Mentors are appropriately trained and supported
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
Minimum of 1 years’ experience as RVN or PCA
Mentoring o r Clinical supervisor experience
Desirable
Experience of leading a team
Managing rotas to benefit the team and the business
Recruitment process
Knowledge
Essential
What PCAs can do in v eterinary p ractice
Confident in the use of IT packages, email and online internet browsers
Linnaeus and external PCA training opportunities
Desirable
PCA career progression routes
Qualifications
Essential
Level 2 VCA Diploma or equivalent
RVN Qualification
Desirable
Mentoring qualification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
Excellent listening and communication skills
Team Player
Highly organised with the ability to multitask, p lan and prioritise effectively in accordance with business needs
Proactive and well organised with an eye for detail
Ability to manage projects through to completion, meeting deadlines and targets
Remains calm under pressure
Problem solving
Coaching, mentoring and supportive
Able to deliver outstanding patient and clie nt care
Able to work effectively independently and within a team
Desirable
Innovative forward thinking
Other qualities
Essential
Ability to make decisions that benefit the whole team not individuals
Enthusiastic and approachable
Desirable
Knowledge of organisational restrictions