Sister/Charge Nurse (XR06)

Job description

Job responsibilities

The jobholder will play an essential role assisting Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in teaching the nursing teams throughout the 24 hour period.

As an experienced nurse the jobholder will co-ordinate activities on the ward/dept ensuring effective communication is maintained at all times, providing support to qualified and unqualified nurses within the ward/dept. He/she will play a key role in the assessment of patient care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care.

The jobholder will act as a role model, promoting quality evidence-based practice, developing the nursing team and ensuring effective management of the ward/department in the absence of the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse.

The jobholder will work within an environment caring for 31 male & female patients.

The jobholder will support the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in the day to day management of approximately 45 whole time equivalent nurses and support staff.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical

Maintain a high standard of patient focused care in accordance with Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies

Act as a role model for the development of clinical skills and knowledge within the ward team

Maintain a safe working environment

Support the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in setting and monitoring standards and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care, including those standards defined in the National Benchmarks for Essential Care

Provide assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care for patients, ensuring written records are kept

Acts in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery code of conduct

In conjunction with the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse ensure management of clinical services and efficient deployment of staff according to service needs.

Education and Training

Contribute to the promotion of a positive learning environment within the clinical area

In conjunction with the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse ensure all staff have an individual performance development plan

Ensure both self and team members achieve annual mandatory training requirements

Participate in preceptorship and mentorship programmes

Undertake continuous professional and clinical development, seeking opportunities to enhance skills

Managerial

Working with Senior Sister/Charge Nurse provide leadership to the clinical team, developing new rotas/ways of working

Support Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in staff rostering, ensuring adequate skill mix

In conjunction with Senior Sister/Charge Nurse closely monitor bank and agency usage

Support Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in investigating and responding to accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events

Work with Matron/Senior Sister/Charge Nurse to promote the development of nurses undertaking the CNO Ten Key Roles as considered appropriate

Deputise for Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in their absence.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Effort:

Frequent standing, sitting, walking, kneels and crouches to attend to patient needs

Responding to changes patient condition.

Patient care (e.g. drug administration).

Shift working.

Moving & Handling of patients and equipment on a daily basis.

Patients 10-120kg (with lifting aids).

Equipment medical equipment, specialised mattresses (weight 1-20kg).

Mental Effort:

Continuous mental effort/concentration required in relation to responding to and meeting patients nursing care needs (e.g. for 8-12 hour shift).

Co-ordinating Ward/Dept activities in absence of Senior Sister/Charge Nurse.

Responding to changing circumstances (e.g. changes in patient condition, prioritisation of workload).

Dealing with complex and changing care needs of patients within an acute hospital environment (includes communication with relatives/carers).

Calculating drug doses.

Robust verbal and written communication skills required at all times.

Emotional Effort:

Exposure to difficult situations including death and dying, distressed patients and relatives/carers.

Dealing with complex workload.

Dealing with staffing issues/performance issues.

Working Conditions:

Temperature should be controlled, but may experience hot or cold work environment.

Smells dealing with body fluids.

Violence & Aggression may experience violence and aggression from patients and/or relatives/carers.

Infection Control exposure to patients with infections.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.

By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds

Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.

WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition.

The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment.

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system.

The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, Religion etc.

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience at staff nurse level or equivalent
• Insight into clinical speciality
• Insight into current issues in nursing/ professional issues
• Standards of professional practice
• An understanding of the organisational and national nursing agenda
• Awareness of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies
• Clinical audit and standard setting
• Working with a wide range of professionals including medical, nursing and management colleagues structure and working practices of the organisation

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Level 1)
• Recognised teaching/assessing qualification
• Evidence of continued professional development and implementation in clinical practice within the last 12 months

Desirable

• Understanding of training needs in relation to post

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Teaching and assessing skills
• Communication skills
• Time management skills
• Preceptorship skills
• Understanding of research-based practice research conscious
• Team player
• Ability to act professionally at all times
• Understanding of the process of change
• Ability to teach, supervise and assess qualified and unqualified staff
• Ability to communicate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team
• Flexible, adaptable, capable of lateral thinking
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Professional and patient focused

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)