Dorset Healthcare is responsible for the provision of Memory Assessment Services (MAS) across the county and nationally it has been recognised that dementia is an area of health significance with an ever-increasing ageing population. We are proud to say the Trust, in conjunction with our local Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have reviewed and re-commissioned the Pan-Dorset Memory Assessment Services. The service has been redeveloped and expanded to provide a range of screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for dementia.

The new model of care was implemented in April 2021 and follows a clear pathway from diagnosis to treatment encapsulated by the following stages:
Preventing Well > Diagnosing Well > Living Well >Supporting Well >Supporting Well in Crisis>Dying Well.

If you are passionate about helping people with dementia and want to join our supportive, multi-disciplinary team covering the whole of East Dorset, you will be joining a caring, enthusiastic, skilled and dedicated staff team.

We regularly achieve over 96% positive feedback in the Patient Experience Surveys and we are proud to be innovative in our practice. We actively participate in research studies and we are working towards accreditation on the Memory Services National Accreditation Programme developed by The Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Following the resignation of the current post-holder, we have the following opportunity for a Band 6 Specialist Clinical Practitioner (RMN) as a part-time role of 22.5 hours per week.

We are based primarily at Alderney Hospital but office space is limited on site, so home visits and clinics take place across the whole of the county. Being able to work primarily from home is an essential aspect of the role. This is a permanent post with core hours of Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00 – exact days to be worked out with the applicant but will include Wednesdays.

Key areas of responsibility: Band 6

- You will have a key role in performing Initial Assessments with formal Cognitive Testing as the first part of a process leading to a possible diagnosis of dementia and must be ACE III trained

- You will be experienced in offering clinic and home-based assessments as well as NHS video consultation and phone assessments- You will be highly skilled in communicating clearly and sensitively, both verbally and in writing, with clients and their carers, discussing diagnoses, treatment options and care plans

- You will work closely with health, medical and psychology colleagues, in line with NICE guidance, as part of medicines trials in the monitoring of Anticholinesterase drugs such as Donepezil, Galantamine and Rivastigmine as well as Memantine

- You will liaise with colleagues within the wider dementia services, primary care, community health and social care services, voluntary sector organisations and the wider mental health teams for older adult services as appropriate

- You will need to have a valid driving licence and use of a car as you will be required to assess and monitor patients in their own homes and within other community settings

- You will be expected to deliver person-centred care whilst meeting local and national targets set by the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England in relation to dementia.

- You will need to be extremely time-efficient and competent in record-keeping, report-writing and RiO to enable you to manage the ongoing and demanding workload

- Experience of taking part in audits for service development and research projects would be desirable

- You must have relevant clinical experience of working with older adults and their carers and people with dementia

If you are an experienced registered mental health nurse, with high standards of care, who has skills working with memory assessment and dementia and would like to influence future developments whilst delivering direct clinical care to people with dementia then please read the associated Job Description to see if you are eligible to apply. The post would also be suitable for someone with NMP training who wishes to practice at Level 1 in the Band 6 role, but this is not essential.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

For further details / informal visits contact:

Angie McHale, Team Leader MAS East

Email address: angela.mchale@nhs.net

Telephone number: 07788865141

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

152-M140.22