Job responsibilities
The post holder will be professionally accountable for:
Demonstrating visible accessible leadership and the Trust values, the post holder will lead on the practice of individualised developmental and family integrated care on the Neonatal and Transitional Care units, acting as a resource of information for staff and parents.
Promoting developmentally appropriate and family integrated care both internally and externally. The role will involve regular liaison with the West Midlands Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (WMNODN) and the Local Maternity & Neonatal Systems (LMNS).
Leading on achieving the UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditation and promote breast feeding initiatives within the Neonatal Service.
Leading on achieving the Bliss Baby Charter Accreditation and promote developmental/family integrated care.
Acting as a professional role model and a skilled practitioner, the post holder will take responsibility for a group of babies providing all aspects of neonatal care, ensuring the delivery of evidence based, safe high quality nursing care to babies and their families.
Taking responsibility, to ensure the patient area is clean and well maintained in which privacy and dignity is promoted and sustained.
Demonstrating compassion and resilience, the post holder will proactively manage and resolve conflict by responding to challenging situations, PALS issues and complaints using advanced communication skills and escalating to senior colleagues as appropriate.
It is expected that the post holder will undertake clinical practice within the Neonatal Service.
General Duties:
Promote Professionalism and Trust:
To ensure all staff are fully aware of the standards required and are provided with timely feedback both positive and where concerns may exist.
To cooperate with audits and investigations and respond to informal and formal complaints in a timely fashion.
To manage time, staff and resources effectively to ensure quality of care and putting the needs of those receiving care first.
Undertake education and training of midwifery/nursing and medical staff within the Unit to support the developmental/family integrated care agenda.
To work closely with the Safeguarding Team and provide support and guidance to staff when writing reports as requested.
To be accountable for ensuring that Neonatal Services comply with the CQC standards.
To work in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct, and Trust Policies and Procedures.
To maintain professional registration with the NMC and ensure there is a robust process in place for monitoring the registration status of staff within the Neonatal Service.
To provide effective leadership, direction and support to a team of registered and non-registered nurses.
Regularly appraise potential and performance of team in accordance with Trust personal performance review policies
Comply with the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) with regard to the custody and administration of controlled and other drugs and medicines in addition to complying with the Health Services Drug Policy.
Prioritise People:
To strive for excellence and innovation in all aspects of the delivery of safe, high quality patient care.
To be involved with the planning of individualised developmental care in relation to the babys medical and developmental status, monitoring areas of specific intervention, for example positioning and managing the sensory environment.
To assess the babys physiological and behavioural responses during routine medical and nursing care.
To recommend appropriate equipment for enhancing the babys developmental progress.
To work closely with the infant feeding team to promote breast feeding initiatives across the neonatal service and work towards achieving BLISS Baby Charter Accreditation and UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditation.
To oversee discharge planning, supporting the discharging nurse and helping parents and babies prepare for the transition to home.
To promote appropriate follow-up for babies at high-risk of developmental difficulty.
To take responsibility and participate in neonatal pain assessment, management and intervention.
To liaise regularly with the any allied health professionals involved in the babys care.
To liaise with parents and carers on a regular basis regarding the developmental status of their baby.
To promote interventions to enhance the parent/carer-baby relationship.
To lead multidisciplinary developmental ward rounds and developmental/family special interest group meetings.
To actively promote educational strategies teaching parents and staff to meet the Developmental/Family Integrated care agenda.
To lead on the Neonatal Services patient experience plan, ensuring feedback is obtained to improve and maintain an excellent family experience.
To utilise advanced communication skills, including verbal and written when dealing with highly charged and complex situations- i.e., discussing with parents the potential transfer of their baby.
To maintain personal contact with babies and their families, being courteous and sensitive to their needs for respect, privacy and dignity. To act as an effective role model ensuring a family-friendly environment at all times.
To ensure that all babies are cared for in a clean and well-maintained clinical area. To maintain a safe and clean environment within the Neonatal areas in accordance with the Trusts Health and Safety, Clinical Risk and Infection Control Polices.
To ensure that staff are aware that they are directly responsible for cleanliness issues when they are in charge and for escalating issues when necessary.
To take overall responsibility for all aspects of patient care including the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of direct patient care.
Practise Effectively:
To ensure that all nursing care is delivered in accordance with Trust procedures, guidelines and policy and to ensure that these policies and procedures are understood and adhered to by all members of the Neonatal team.
To create an environment where staff feel motivated, supported, engaged, well led and are able to speak up and raise concerns. Staff should be aware of their responsibilities as part of the Neonatal Team and be supported to deliver those responsibilities.
To have an overview of pay and non-pay budgets and support the Trusts cost saving programme.
To establish effective working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team to promote good communication and a collaborative approach to the care of babies and families.
To work cooperatively and maintain the duty to share skills, knowledge and experience.
To ensure high standards of care is given to all babies and to monitor this through regular auditing of the nursing care quality indicators.
To ensure care is delivered in partnership with the family promoting family integrated care.
To proactively participate in relevant meeting/forums and ensure there is good communication and a feedback mechanism within the Neonatal Unit to ensure staff are kept informed and up to date.
Preserve Safety:
To ensure that nursing practice is in keeping with current research by the development of an evidence based culture and the implementation of research and evidence based protocols and guidelines.
To promote a culture of raising and escalating any concerns about patient and public safety without delay. To ensure care is delivered within the duty of candour guidance and ensure nurses are open and candid with all service users about all aspects of care and treatment including when any mistakes or harm have taken place.
To acknowledge and act on all concerns raised including investigating, escalating and dealing with the concerns where appropriate. To share the learning outcomes of incidents and complaints with the Neonatal and Transitional Care teams and demonstrate changes in practice as a result of complaints and incidents to embed a culture of learning.
To act as a positive role model at all times providing professional and clinical leadership to establish a committed and motivated team with a clear purpose and direction who feel able to deliver excellent care and safe to raise concerns.
To provide expert guidance and clinical supervision to staff, aiding problem solving and clinical decision making.
To assist and support the Neonatal Unit in the development of Health and Safety standards and the monitoring of these standards, ensuring that Trust policies are adhered to and equipment is used correctly and in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
To be aware of the Trusts Safeguarding Policies and Procedures and demonstrate the ability to raise concerns and work with other agencies to protects babies.
To act as an advocate in relation to babies and their families who are vulnerable or at risk from harm, neglect or abuse.
This Job outline highlights the main areas of responsibility for the post and is not exhaustive. It is expected that in line with the development of the Trust, additional responsibilities that are commensurate to the role will be added to this role outline to reflect the changing environment of the Trust as an NHS organisation.
