Associate Practitioner Dementia

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Job Overview

The Associate Practitioner in Dementia Care will play a vital role within the Mental Health and Vulnerable Adult Directorate, working under the guidance and supervision of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Dementia Care.

This role focuses on enhancing the experience and quality of care for people living with dementia who are admitted to hospital. The post holder will ensure that all patients aged 65 and over who are admitted as emergency cases for more than 72 hours within FHFT are appropriately screened and assessed for dementia, and that timely referrals are made to specialist services where required.

Through compassionate, evidence-based practice and effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, the Associate Practitioner will contribute to improving outcomes for patients and supporting a dementia-friendly culture across the organisation.

Main Duties of the Job

The post holder will work closely with the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Dementia Care to support a caseload of patients living with dementia who are admitted to FHFT. They will conduct regular reviews, provide signposting, and deliver low-level interventions to enhance the hospital experience for both patients and their carers. This includes offering emotional support, assisting with navigation through the hospital journey, and connecting individuals and families to appropriate community-based dementia services.

In addition, the role will contribute to promoting a dementia-aware culture across the organisation by assisting in the delivery of dementia awareness training for hospital staff and ensuring carers are informed and signposted to relevant support networks. The post holder will also carry out a range of delegated tasks and exercise delegated authority as required to support service improvement and the delivery of high-quality dementia care.

Working for our organisation

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For a full list of responsibilities and tasks associated with this role, please refer to the job description/person specification attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent.
• Knowledge and understanding of the management of dementia.
• Knowledge of Clinical Audit.
• Completion of level 1 and 2 Adult Safeguarding training.

Desirable criteria

• Foundation Degree in Health Care or working towards or access to courses with a special interest in dementia.
• Level 3 healthcare related qualification.
• Nursing Associate Foundation degree qualification.
• Registered Nursing Associate with NMC register.
• Completion of level 1 Safeguarding Children training.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Minimum of 3 years of dementia care professional experience in an acute clinical area.
• Experience of ensuring that values, including care, compassion, competence, courage, and commitment are adhered to daily, and any concerns are raised to relevant Line Manager.
• Evidence of working independently.
• Flexible, diplomatic and politically astute.
• Experience of providing and receiving complex sensitive information.
• Highly motivated with a positive attitude.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of delivering training and development of staff in the Trust.
• Hospital environment work experience.
• Experience of working with older adults with dementia in a professional capacity.
• Experience of…