Karen Donnelly

Current Role to Date: Clinical Lead Nurse with All Age Continuing Care in the Quality, Governance & Assurance Team

• Facilitated local resolution meetings with clients, families, and care professionals regarding appeals following decisions made at decision support tools.
• Supported presentations at the independent review panel with National Health Service England, representing Integrated Care Board NHS Sussex.
• Contributed as a member of the decision-making panel at the Integrated Care Board.
• Conduct day-to-day verification of decision support tool to ensure operational efficiency and accuracy.
• Analyses complex care documentation for individual patients to ensure thorough and accurate scrutiny for NHS funding applications.

From 2018- 2020: Continuing Healthcare Lead Nurse (Specialist Learning Disabilities & Mental Health Team)

• Managed day-to-day case management for clients with learning disabilities eligible for CHC funding.
• Provided support and problem-solving expertise to assist vulnerable clients effectively.
• Collaborated with children's team during transitions from children's to adult funding schemes.
• Supported parents throughout the process to ensure high-quality care commissioning.
• Facilitated open communication with MDT and agencies to enhance service delivery.
• Monitored care provision quality and offered support to care providers.
• Engaged in safeguarding initiatives with the ICB to protect clients with learning disabilities.

From October 2016 - April 2018 Secondment to the Safeguarding Adults Teams NHS Sussex

Description of duties and responsibilities:

• Provided knowledge and skills in all aspects of adult safeguarding.
• Supported NHS staff with training, advice, and guidance as a specialist in adult safeguarding, mental health act, deprivation of liberty safeguarding (DoLS), care act 2014, domestic violence, modern day slavery, and prevent – radicalisation.
• Assisted in investigations and coordination of safeguarding inquiries.
• Worked with student nurses to develop understanding of safeguarding and awareness of responsibilities as clinicians.

From September 2014 - October 2016: Undertook a role of Continuing Healthcare Nurse Assessor

• Assisted CHC team in facilitating patient eligibility in community and acute hospital settings.
• Conducted reassessments to verify ongoing eligibility for CHC funding.
• Supported adherence to national frameworks for equitable NHS funding.
• Provided training and assistance to NHS Multidisciplinary and public members on eligibility processes and rationale.
• Coordinated with healthcare support providers to ensure care for eligible patients.
• Collaborated with student nurses to enhance understanding of Continuing Healthcare and commissioning roles.

• Supported a team of five nurses as part of the Community Support Liaison Team (CSLT).
• Assisted in promoting community services to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
• Collaborated with healthcare colleagues to manage complex cases and support patient journeys.

• Managed day-to-day operations of a large community nursing team providing support across Worthing and Sussex area.
• Assisted in the case management of complex care patients registered with a large GP practice.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure delivery of high-quality, evidence-based nursing care.