Staff Nurse

Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

This is no ordinary nursing role. Supporting life-limited and life-threatened children, young people and their families in an Acorns hospice is challenging and life-changing for everyone involved. This role for an experienced, qualified nurse will stretch you in a way few others can.

This role is as inspiring as it is challenging, offering support, short breaks and end-of-life care to vulnerable children, young people and their families, both in our hospices and in their homes. Our nurses are part of a supportive, multi-disciplinary team delivering care packages that are tailored to each child's individual holistic needs and we're structured so that you'll simply have the time to care.

Each hospice is purpose-built with individually decorated rooms overlooking our gardens. We try to make it as welcoming and friendly as possible, a home-from-home for the children, young people and their families.

Main duties of the job

Our nurses offer holistic care so you'll be employing a wide variety of skills. As well as taking care of our children and young peoples' day-to-day clinical needs, you could be planning food choices, organising trips or supporting family and friends. Awareness of safeguarding issues would be advantageous as would palliative care experience. That said, there's plenty of support here to help you to deal with the situations you'll face as our clients reach the end of their lives.

We're open every day of the year and are fully responsive to the needs of our children and young people, so we will ask for some flexibility and there will definitely be some antisocial shifts.

About us

There's so much scope here to learn specialist skills and we believe that you'll grow immeasurably, both personally and professionally. We pride ourselves on the development we offer - there's a range of workshops and courses, both internally and externally led, to support your individual development.

What we offer

  • Up to £33,749 per annum, plus allowances
  • Part time & full time roles are available
  • Employee discounts from leading retailers
  • Employee gym discount scheme
  • Bike-to-Work scheme
  • Generous contribution to group personal pension plan or continuation of current NHS pension scheme
  • NHS pension scheme life assurance or Acorns group life assurance scheme

Date posted

12 November 2021

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£24,767 to £33,749 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

B0025-21-7389

Job locations

103 Oak Tree Lane

Selly Oak

Birmingham

B29 6HZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Nursing and Family Care

a. Actively encourage a family atmosphere within Acorns.

b. Use a systematic and individualised approach to plan care of the child and family both within their homes and the hospice to deliver quality care that is consistent with care delivered by other providers.

c. Assess, maintain and evaluate agreed standards of care in partnership with family carers and the child

d. Ensure all medication is safely administered, recorded and stored.

e. Facilitate outings play and activity that is appropriate to age and development needs of the child.

f. Use evidence to underpin practice by adhering to acorns policies and maintaining an awareness of new and developing care options.

g. Every member of staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues required to deliver quality care at the end of life.

h. Every member of staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues around care of children and young people with complex needs including LTV, TPN, Tracheotomies, Central Lines and any other complex care required.

i. Every member of staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues around the safeguarding of children, and to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to protect children facilitated through effective communication across multidisciplinary agencies.

j. Every staff member has a responsibility to maintain confidential, accurate and timely records.

k. Develop the required computer skills to use technology based solutions to facilitate effective communication and record keeping.

l. Maintain an awareness of the diversity of families supported by Acorns , and ensure that the cultural needs of the children and families are met appropriately.

m. Ensure professional boundaries are maintained and that due attention is paid to confidentiality, privacy and dignity at all times.

n. Adopt the role of named nurse as required by Acorns Childrens Hospice.

2. Professional Development

a. Actively participate in and occasionally manage projects to develop service provision.

b. Take advantage of training opportunities to further develop your skills and expertise to enhance your role within the Acorns Care Team including mandatory training sessions.

c. Maintain professional registration and work within the NMC Code of Conduct.

d. Attend and participate in an Individual Performance Review.

e. Access clinical supervision as and when required.

3. Management and Team Awareness

a. Act as Nurse-in-Charge of the shift in-house at Acorns as required.

b. Actively guide and supervise volunteer work with children. .

c. Assist the Head Nurse with ordering and purchasing requirements as necessary for day-to-day running of Acorns services.

d. Inform the relevant line manager of incidents and concerns using agreed processes.

e. Participate in the induction of new staff as and when required.

f. Contribute to the mentorship of students on placement of Acorns, using up to date knowledge of university requirements.

g. Carry out any reasonable additional duty as agreed by the Head of Care Services, On Call Manager or Deputy to meet the changing requirements of the service.

4. Communication

a. Encourage the philosophy of Acorns and present a good public image.

b. Liaise closely with the all professionals and volunteers working with the child/ young person and family to ensure a seamless service.

c. Attend staff meetings and team briefings and participate in other meetings as appropriate (including external meetings)

5. Health and Safety

a. Ensure that infection control guidelines and policies are strictly adhered to.

b. Undertake risk assessment and management to ensure that clients, families, visitors and colleagues are safe.

c. Be aware of and work within the lone working policies of the organisation.

d. Maintain the Health & Safety Regulations of Acorns Childrens Hospice Trust including Fire Regulations within the Acorns buildings.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Nursing and Family Care

a. Actively encourage a family atmosphere within Acorns.

b. Use a systematic and individualised approach to plan care of the child and family both within their homes and the hospice to deliver quality care that is consistent with care delivered by other providers.

c. Assess, maintain and evaluate agreed standards of care in partnership with family carers and the child

d. Ensure all medication is safely administered, recorded and stored.

e. Facilitate outings play and activity that is appropriate to age and development needs of the child.

f. Use evidence to underpin practice by adhering to acorns policies and maintaining an awareness of new and developing care options.

g. Every member of staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues required to deliver quality care at the end of life.

h. Every member of staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues around care of children and young people with complex needs including LTV, TPN, Tracheotomies, Central Lines and any other complex care required.

i. Every member of staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues around the safeguarding of children, and to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to protect children facilitated through effective communication across multidisciplinary agencies.

j. Every staff member has a responsibility to maintain confidential, accurate and timely records.

k. Develop the required computer skills to use technology based solutions to facilitate effective communication and record keeping.

l. Maintain an awareness of the diversity of families supported by Acorns , and ensure that the cultural needs of the children and families are met appropriately.

m. Ensure professional boundaries are maintained and that due attention is paid to confidentiality, privacy and dignity at all times.

n. Adopt the role of named nurse as required by Acorns Childrens Hospice.

2. Professional Development

a. Actively participate in and occasionally manage projects to develop service provision.

b. Take advantage of training opportunities to further develop your skills and expertise to enhance your role within the Acorns Care Team including mandatory training sessions.

c. Maintain professional registration and work within the NMC Code of Conduct.

d. Attend and participate in an Individual Performance Review.

e. Access clinical supervision as and when required.

3. Management and Team Awareness

a. Act as Nurse-in-Charge of the shift in-house at Acorns as required.

b. Actively guide and supervise volunteer work with children. .

c. Assist the Head Nurse with ordering and purchasing requirements as necessary for day-to-day running of Acorns services.

d. Inform the relevant line manager of incidents and concerns using agreed processes.

e. Participate in the induction of new staff as and when required.

f. Contribute to the mentorship of students on placement of Acorns, using up to date knowledge of university requirements.

g. Carry out any reasonable additional duty as agreed by the Head of Care Services, On Call Manager or Deputy to meet the changing requirements of the service.

4. Communication

a. Encourage the philosophy of Acorns and present a good public image.

b. Liaise closely with the all professionals and volunteers working with the child/ young person and family to ensure a seamless service.

c. Attend staff meetings and team briefings and participate in other meetings as appropriate (including external meetings)

5. Health and Safety

a. Ensure that infection control guidelines and policies are strictly adhered to.

b. Undertake risk assessment and management to ensure that clients, families, visitors and colleagues are safe.

c. Be aware of and work within the lone working policies of the organisation.

d. Maintain the Health & Safety Regulations of Acorns Childrens Hospice Trust including Fire Regulations within the Acorns buildings.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • RSCN/ RN (Child)

Desirable

  • ENB 998 or equivalent teaching qualification.
  • Bereavement and Loss Counselling.
  • Paediatric Palliative Care Qualification.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of paediatric nursing.
  • Experience as Nurse-in-Charge of shift
  • Family centred work.
  • Awareness of safeguarding issues.

Desirable

  • Experience of paediatric palliative care.
  • Experience of work with children with special needs or disability.
  • Experience of Community Nursing
  • Experience of work for a voluntary agency.
  • Experience of supporting families who have experienced loss or bereavement.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Good interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to maintain boundaries. Holistic approach.
  • Flexible and used to working on own initiative.
  • Demonstrate practice is evidence-based an up to date.
  • Ability to take responsibility for adopting best practice in the implementation of individual care plans.
  • Team management skills
  • Ability and willingness to undergo further appropriate training.
  • Ability and willingness to undertake paediatric palliative care diploma

Desirable

  • Counselling skills.
  • Mentoring skills.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • RSCN/ RN (Child)

Desirable

  • ENB 998 or equivalent teaching qualification.
  • Bereavement and Loss Counselling.
  • Paediatric Palliative Care Qualification.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of paediatric nursing.
  • Experience as Nurse-in-Charge of shift
  • Family centred work.
  • Awareness of safeguarding issues.

Desirable

  • Experience of paediatric palliative care.
  • Experience of work with children with special needs or disability.
  • Experience of Community Nursing
  • Experience of work for a voluntary agency.
  • Experience of supporting families who have experienced loss or bereavement.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Good interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to maintain boundaries. Holistic approach.
  • Flexible and used to working on own initiative.
  • Demonstrate practice is evidence-based an up to date.
  • Ability to take responsibility for adopting best practice in the implementation of individual care plans.
  • Team management skills
  • Ability and willingness to undergo further appropriate training.
  • Ability and willingness to undertake paediatric palliative care diploma

Desirable

  • Counselling skills.
  • Mentoring skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust

Address

103 Oak Tree Lane

Selly Oak

Birmingham

B29 6HZ


Employer's website

https://www.acorns.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust

Address

103 Oak Tree Lane

Selly Oak

Birmingham

B29 6HZ


Employer's website

https://www.acorns.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:

Date posted

12 November 2021

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£24,767 to £33,749 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

B0025-21-7389

Job locations

103 Oak Tree Lane

Selly Oak

Birmingham

B29 6HZ


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