Ward Sister

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

To provide leadership for clinical services within the IPU including managing, planning and developing nursing services on the IPU under the guidance of Inpatient Unit Clinical Services Manager (IPU CSM) supporting the delivery of high quality, research based care.

To lead, support, supervise the team, through the process of change, demonstrating tenacity, drive professional integrity, balance and perspective.

The team of WS/CN lead the management of the ward team and patient care on a daily basis, promoting a positive working environment, and works together with IPU CSM on identifying means of improving working practices and culture.

To work with all members of the multidisciplinary team to support the implementation of services and initiatives that meet the organisational strategy and to ensure all aspects of care is maintained at a high standard.

To deputise for the IPU CSM when necessary at organisational meetings, to support the leadership and management of the Inpatient Unit with emphasis on quality and clinical standards.

Pivotal to the post is the development of junior staff to ensure that care is patient focused and reflects current and emergent needs of the specialist palliative care patient

The post holder must work in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of professional conduct and Wirral Hospice St Johns Core Values and Policies and Procedures.

Ward sisters will display confidence and self-motivation, excellent communication skills at all times, utilising clinical knowledge and experience, and acting as a resource to all nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, providing education as part of your role.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical and Professional

• Be responsible for co-ordinating a caseload of patients and staff on a shift, to ensure that all calls relating to palliative care enquiries are dealt with in a timely professional manner.
• Put quality at the heart of practice by delivering evidenced based individualised and personalised care through holistic needs assessment, care planning and evaluation of care and all care interventions.

• In conjunction with other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team assess plan, implement and evaluate patient care, utilising agreed assessment tools and approaches.
• Maintain accurate and legible records in accordance with professional and organisational guidelines utilising hospice records systems.
• To maintain collaborative working relationships and effective communications between all members of the multidisciplinary team, resolving conflict and working within the team to ensure a high standard of co-ordinated patient care.
• Work with all members of the Inpatient team to identify the need for and manage appropriate referral processes for in internal or external professionals and services as required.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner with an expert knowledge in palliative care. Carrying out all relevant forms of care and interventions without direct supervision in accordance with organisational and professional guidelines and competencies.
• To achieve and maintain clinical competencies specific to the role and organisation, facilitating the development and achievement of competence in others.
• To be a competent practitioner, leading innovation and demonstrating clinical expertise acting as resource and advisor of expertise to colleagues and patients in other clinical areas
• Ensure safe use of equipment and follow medical devices policy
• Work within agreed correct policy for all aspects of management of medication
• Be involved in the education of patients and their families regarding the various aspects of their health and wellbeing.
• Take a lead role in managing conflict, complex dynamics and first line complaints with patients and family members

Managerial & Leadership

In Support of the IPU CSM

• In discussion with IPU CSM to monitor and report on the nursing performance and implement action plans to address areas for improvement.
• The ward sister supports the CSM in leadership, education, and to improve quality, operational clinical initiatives, promote best practices for clinical excellence, service excellence, and patient safety.
• This role will support the CSM in the supportive steps process as part of the medication management within the Inpatient Unit
• The Ward Sister will support the CSM providing leadership, effective safety and performance improvement strategies to others within the organisation.
• Provide and monitor written communication for supportive steps for medication related incidents, including data collection, feedback and analysis to IPU CSM
• Support the IPU CSM in performance management of ward team in line with policies and procedures.
• Deputise for CSM out of hours and escalate any issues to the on call senior leadership team as needed.
• You will support the CSM in fostering a culture which encourages staff to challenge and report substandard practice and or concerns.
• You will initiate and manage the commencement of the Clinical/Non-Clinical Incident Reporting process as per Policy.
• You will take an active role in help ensuring outcomes and action plans from incidents are implemented and monitored
• In the absence of the IPU CSM you will oversee the rostering of staff to ensure good skill mix and use of resources, including bank and flexing up and down process.

Staff Management & Development

• You will take charge of the Inpatient Unit on a daily basis. Covering all aspects of staffing including maintaining safe staffing mix, reviewing staffing based on clinical need, allocation of workload and assessment. Coordinating patient care, and liaising with members of the MDT.

• Demonstrate leadership through clinical expertise, delivering high standards of person- centred care. To ensure that staff have a clear understanding of their duties and responsibilities and of the standards of performance expected.
• You will support the IPU CSM and the Clinical Education Facilitator (CEF) to identify learning needs and to support staff to attend planned education in order to support Continued Professional Development (CPD) as per NMC and organisational requirements
• You will provide clinical leadership and line management of staff ensuring the delivery of the highest professional standards through staff development and individual performance appraisal/review
• You will ensure effective communication with the team of managerial and organisational issues and changes in a professional manner.
• You will ensure effective communication with the IPU CSM of concerns, suggestions and issues within the Inpatient unit team and associated areas as required. You will appropriately escalate any issues out of hours following the appropriate out of hours policy.

• You will maintain a safe and therapeutic environment in all responsible areas following hospice policy and procedure as required.
• To support with the allocation of students on placement to ensure that they are appropriately supervised and supported on placement and to liaise with the CEF as appropriate.

Personal / Professional Development

Supervision.

• To engage in regular managerial supervision with CSM
• To engage in clinical supervision and reflective practice opportunities

Registration.

• To maintain professional registration with regulatory body.
• Ensures that revalidation requirements are met
• Demonstrates specialist palliative care expertise and acts as a professional role model, professionally and behaviorally.
• To abide by the Code of Conduct / Practice for registered regulatory body.

Maintaining updated practice.

• Completing Hospice Mandatory Training within required time frames through required medium.
• Identifying and attending training as identified in annual appraisal process.
• Attendance of locality / network meetings in agreement with CSM
• Awareness of regional and national policy relevant to area of work and underpinning approaches.
• Actively participates and supports in clinical supervision.
• Knowledge of evidence- based practice through literature reviews, study days and courses as relevant to identified CPD.

Taking part in reflective practice and in-house training opportunities

Education

• Contributes to the development of nursing activities and audit procedures whilst working within the clinical governance framework.

• To provide education to internal staff, and students on placement regarding the Inpatient unit and specialist palliative care
• Actively participates in own clinical supervision and promotes clinical supervision of junior staff on the inpatient unit.
• Delivers and participates in formal and informal teaching throughout the hospice to reflect on the needs of the service.
• To act as a practice assessor for students on placement within the unit

• To support the induction programmes of new staff.
• To assess clinical competence of staff practicing clinical procedures following their training and feedback to the CEF
• To assess competencies of staff for their completion of their care certificate qualification

Research, Audit & Governance

• Ensure active participation in the development of standards, policies and guidelines and their subsequent audit and on-going development.
• Be involved/participate in research as requested by IPU CSM.
• Contribute and implement to Clinical Governance developments in line with the strategic direction of the hospice, supporting audit of practice locally, regionally and nationally.

Policy and Procedures

• Maintain knowledge of and comply with the relevant clinical and non-clinical Hospice policies and procedures.

KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING

Essential

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Skilled to work across professional and multi-agency boundaries.
• Ability to communicate at all levels within the organisation.
• Enthusiasm for development and innovative practice and resilience, ability to implement change.

Desirable

• Ability to deal effectively with all types of conflicts Counselling skills

Qualifications

Essential

• 1st level registered nurse
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Learning and Assessment in Practice qualification or equivalent.
• Communication skills
• Degree level qualifications

Desirable

• Possession of post registration qualification in palliative care
• Advanced Communication Skills
• Leadership development programme / qualification

Experience

Essential

• Consolidated experience of working at Band 5
• Post registration experience working in palliative care
• Understanding of the needs of patients and families support in a palliative care setting.
• Multi professional team working
• Demonstrable understanding of assessment tools and outcome measures relevant to palliative care
• Experience of complex needs assessments and developing personalised care plans
• Ability to work with patient and their families / carers in individual or group settings
• Experience in ethical issues /dilemmas in end of life care

Desirable

• Experience of working in a leadership role
• Proven competencies of dealing with patients with palliative/end of life needs or long term conditions
• Evidence of using assessment tools and outcome measures relevant to palliative and rehabilitative care.
• Experience of Advance Care Planning
• Experience of designing and delivering groups and education sessions.
• Evidence of involvement in service development, audit and clinical governance.
• Supervision and mentoring of unqualified and junior staff

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

Essential

• Competent in prioritising and managing workload
• Exceptional leadership skills and ability to think creatively.
• Good time management
• Motivated to develop professionally and managerially.

Desirable

• Application of staff appraisal and development processes

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).