Job responsibilities
Main Purpose of the Job
- To support the Band 7 CNE to support the training and education of nursing staff, of all grades, within DCC
- To deliver & evaluate the educational strategically within Critical Care
- To support the Matron, the Band 7s and wider team to determine and deliver on service strategic objectives
- To act as a resource for registered nurses within critical care disseminating clinical skills and knowledge
- To encourage interdisciplinary working and education to meet the needs of critically ill patient.
- To maintain visibility within the clinical area, as a clinical expert role modelling high standards of care, evidence-based practice and effective leadership
- To support the recruitment of nurses through effective processes to enable the selection of the most suitable candidates, whilst supporting those individuals to make an appropriate career choice.
- To support the retention & recruitment strategy by focusing upon initial selection as above and promoting clinical support, job satisfaction and opportunities for staff personal and professional development
- To support the management & maintenance of training records and ensure fairness and transparency of training resource allocation
- To support the develop of the Platinum QI with effective links with the Trust Quality Improvement Academy
- To represent DCC at the most appropriate local, network and national education forums & deputise in the Band 7s absence
- To take an active role in the development and implementation of local guidelines and policies relating to practice
Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required
- Level 1 Registered Nurse
- Degree in relevant area of practice
- Critical Care course
- Have requisite level of Critical Care experience at Band 5 level or above
- Recognised for possessing expert critical care knowledge and clinical skills and for demonstrating high standards of patient care
- Help to development members of the team and building effective interpersonal skills
- An ability to develop enhanced IT skills, particularly in the field of simulation training
- Demonstrates a positive, forward thinking and creative approach to change and an ability to be resilient and self-resourceful
Communication, interpersonal skills and personal qualities
- Deliver complex and contentious information to large and small groups sometimes in clinical areas where staff maybe reluctant to be involved.
- Demonstrate an ability to work cohesively with all members of the Critical Care team
- Communicate with patients and their relatives with sensitivity and empathy
- Communicate sensitively with staff members, particularly when needing to lead difficult conversations or manage underperformance
- Demonstrate an ability to work under pressure and to agreed timescales
- Take initiative and demonstrate a progressive, creative and forward-thinking approach
- Act as a good role model for others to follow to include personal appearance and adherence to Trust uniform policy
- Work in a manner to promote the Trust values and core objectives
- Work within the NMC code of conduct
- Maintain own professional development, mandatory training and NMC revalidation requirements
Clinical Practice
- Deliver, demonstrate and supervise safe and appropriate care within a challenging and changing clinical environment, using highly specialised equipment and resources
- Administer, demonstrate and supervise the delivery of medications, including multiple continuous infusions, within the Procedure for the Ordering, Prescribing, and Administration of Medications (POPAM) guidelines
- Work alongside other health professionals to provide high standards of care for patients within DCC
- Asist in the development, taking a key role in the implementation of any clinical initiative or introduction of new equipment within DCC
- To maintain the safety of the service there is a need to maintain your clinical skills & work clinically on an ad-hoc basis
- During surge or increased clinical activity you may be required to work clinical shifts
Management
- Organise own time within 08.00 20.00 Monday to Friday hours to enable effective delivery of the key roles and responsibilities outlined
- Assist with the development and delivery of a formal educational programme for staff
- Contribute to the delivery of effective education and development programmes, specifically the national competency programme for adult critical care nurses
- Assist with the recruitment and induction of Band 5 nurses
- Assist with the maintenance of training records
- Promote education and training and seek additional resources where appropriate
- Work alongside Band 6 & 7 colleagues in managing any underperformance and assist in the development and implementation of performance action plans
- Support the nurse team to deliver staff appraisals and promote mandatory training to achieve key performance indicators
- Link with other providers of internal training to identify opportunities for joint education and improvement projects
Leadership
- Assist with the strategic leadership roles for education within DCC and support a clear vision for staff development that the team can understand and support
- Demonstrate a positive and pro-active approach to the development of nurses within DCC
- Role model high standards of patient care, communication, commitment and organisation for others to follow
- Encourage and promote a shared leadership model, enabling and empowering others, of all grades, to take the lead with various initiatives within DCC and the wider Trust
- Maintain the ability to work as clinical nurse co-ordinator for DCC to enable cover for occasions when necessary
Research and audit
- Work in a manner that promotes any audits or research taking place within DCC or the wider Trust as appropriate
- Promote and demonstrate the use of evidence-based practice and related policy, procedure and guidelines
- Assist in the collection and reporting of data as appropriate to maintain key performance indicators
Key Results areas
- Help to maintain continuous development of an educational infrastructure to deliver and support training within Critical Care
- Provide expert educational support on real time projects
- Establish networks with all education providers and promote the work of the Division and the Trust
- Continually identify areas for educational development in the delivery of service and personal development
- Establish and link with all clinical governance departments in the Trust and relevant internal and external educational departments as required learning from clinical incidents and providing training as required
Improving quality and developing practice
- Comply with requirements to register with the NMC and identify own learning needs and ensuring own professional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice developments
- Work with senior staff undertaking audit and research projects
- Contribute to the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda by active participation in service initiatives, health and safety and risk management
- Develop and share own clinical knowledge with other members of the wider clinical team both locally and nationally
- Identify own development needs, aligning these to Trust and departmental service objectives
- Understand and contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/ protocols/ guidelines relevant to the specialist area
- Openly question and challenge practice in a sensitive and constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved
Physical, Mental & Emotional Effort & Working Conditions
- Will be required to utilise recognised manual handling techniques and guidelines
- May be expected to frequently manoeuvre patients/objects over 15 kg using appropriate aids
- Will have frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions and will be required to follow policies and procedures pertaining to bodily fluids, infection control, infestations and COSHH regulations
- Frequent exposure to distressing and emotionally demanding situations involving patients and relatives
- Some exposure to patients displaying verbal and physical abuse
- The work pattern may be unpredictable and there is a frequent requirement for long periods of concentration, for example; when caring for a critically ill patient receiving supportive therapies for organ dysfunction, being continuously monitored and with multiple infusions, drug calculations and titration
- Will be expected to work and maintain a clinical presence within both Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospital as a member of the cross-county critical care leadership team
There is the on-going requirement to maintain excellent standards of care whilst working under pressure in an ever-changing and challenging environment.
Additional contact details
Deborah Elliott Matron
deborah.elliott4@nhs.net
0300 422 6250
