Ward Sister/Charge Nurse - Acute Medical Unit Ward 1C

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Provide leadership, management and team development as delegated by the Department/Ward Manager to the team, allocating workloads.
2. Contribute to setting goals and benchmarking standards of care. Develop tools to improve the quality of the service and co-ordinate clinical services across the ward.
3. To co-ordinate and manage patient flow within the unit including timely admission and discharge, ensuring national targets are met where possible
4. To promote the unit and the Trust as a whole in the most positive manner to patients, relatives and the local population
5. To have knowledge of relevant national and local health policies and their impact on the service
6. To inform/escalate to Department/Ward Manager / Matron if acceptable levels of care, standards, practice and patient safety is compromised and develop appropriate actions
7. To assist and or lead in the development/implementation of local and trust policies and protocols relevant to the specialty, ensuring effective implementation in local area.
8. To manage control and quality of levels of stock and equipment within the clinical and non-clinical areas and promote and ensure economic use of all resources.
9. To attend corporate groups as a representative of the directorate and team.
10. To represent the clinical area on working groups as appropriate and at relevant conferences at regional and national level and on working groups as appropriate.
11. To promote and deliver effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team and other wards and departments in the Trust and externally.
12. To participate in the business planning process, helping to identify areas for service development and improvement.
13. In the absence or as delegated by the Department/Ward Manager. Initiate and coordinate investigations of incidents, accidents, complaints involving staff, patients and visitors in accordance with the trust policies and lead in any investigations where required to do so

Clinical Management

1. Provide senior nursing advice and support to facilitate high quality, individualised care to patients/ carers in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team.
2. Manage and coordinate complex clinical situations, taking appropriate action in emergency or unforeseen situations.
3. To be clinically competent and confident in the use of specialised equipment in varied clinical settings.
4. Act as a clinical role model and leader for all members of staff providing daily unit management, continuity of care and a high standard of excellent nursing care.
5. To assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care, actively seeking evidence based practice which will improve the quality of care and meet the needs of the patient. A holistic approach to caring should be planned which will include the appropriate level of physiological, psychological, spiritual, socio - economic and cultural aspects which influence the care of patients within the unit.
6. To contribute to setting and monitor standards of nursing care within the ward.
7. To liaise with medical staff and other disciplines on the management of high quality patient care.
8. To ensure that patient care is delivered within the Nursing and Midwifery Scope of Professional Practice and Code of Professional Conduct.
9. To promote the involvement of patients and their relatives in the management and evaluation of care.
10. To have shared responsibility for the delivery of patient care by all members of the nursing team on the unit.
11. To maintain safe custody of drugs, ensuring that checking, witnessing and administration procedures are compatible with statutory and trust requirements.
12. To undertake appropriate training to expand relevant clinical skills.
13. To regularly take charge of the clinical area, utilising resources effectively and to ensure that safe staffing levels are maintained for their shifts.
14. Identify clinical risks and ensure that appropriate action is implemented in accordance with the Trust risk management policy.
15. Ensure the nurse documentation is maintained to the Trust standard.

People Management

1. To assess and develop action plans to meet individual development needs.
2. To participate in orientation programmes for all newly appointed nursing staff.
3. To monitor staff performance, conduct or participate in Individual Performance Appraisal, including supporting revalidation process.
4. To encourage & motivate staff within the ward on personal & professional development at all levels.
5. To deploy and utilise staffing resources effectively and efficiently.
6. To support members of the team and refer to appropriate services.
7. To assist in the selection, appointment & induction of new staff.
8. Ensure staffing levels and skill mix is scheduled to reflect the workload and meet the needs of the patient.
9. To assist in the co-ordination and monitoring of off duty, annual leave, sickness and absence occurring in the unit.

Leadership Development

1. To promote an environment conducive to learning.
2. To participate in staff education and development, including orientation and supervision and act as a mentor and resource for learners and the nursing team and the multi-professional teams
3. Contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive learning environment for colleagues, patients and visitors.
4. To assess learning & developmental needs of members of the ward nursing team.
5. To assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of programmes of specialty based teaching ensuring learning objectives are achieved.
6. To ensure that own personal development is maintained and recorded to ensure compliance for revalidation.
7. To be responsible for the continuing professional development and overall performance of a particular group of staff delegated by the Charge Nurse or Senior Sister.
8. Supervise and support the nursing care of the other junior nurses, students and HCAs to maintain a high standard of excellent nursing care.
9. To share highly specialist knowledge and skills around the Trust with active involvement in ward patient care if the unit allows.
10. Provide support mechanisms for sharing good practice within the ward and trust wide.

Budget responsibilities

1. Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources including stock management and care and maintenance of equipment.
2. Handles patients valuables, ensuring safe storage and transportation
3. Authorise timesheets for temporary nursing and support staff as appropriate.

Research And Audit

1. To develop and implement methods of auditing nursing practice within the unit.
2. To promote awareness of current nursing research in members of the unit.
3. To introduce and apply research findings to the unit relating to nursing practice where relevant.
4. To promote and disseminate local/national/international research findings to the ward.
5. Identify areas where local audit is needed, conduct the audit and analyse the data with support.
6. Arranges for the collection and analysis of audit and research data as required.
7. Participate in the collection of audit and research data as required.
8. Use data which will contribute to the improvement of patient care.

Personal Development

1. Responsible for ensuring own continuing professional development and identifying development needs within the Trust knowledge and skills development review process.
2. To identify areas for self-development, areas of interest and training requirements within your personal performance planning and Development Review.
3. To maintain a professional portfolio and reflective diary for developmental purposes and revalidation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse Diploma / degree level or equivalent experience
• Current NMC Registration
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Leadership training or qualification (minimum Level 3 ILM or equivalent) or working towards

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Able to demonstrate knowledge of NMC professional standards for practice contained within the code
• Experience of leading a team in a clinical environment
• Research awareness and commitment to evidence-based practice
• Experience of clinical risk assessment & management of identified risk
• Understanding key features of Clinical governance
• Knowledge of audit & audit procedures

Skills

Essential

• Up to date clinical skills in order to ensure quality of services being provided by ward
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organisational skills - prioritise and coordinate own workload
• Able to act as a leader, effectively managing staff in the department
• Ability to act as a change agent.
• Ability to co-ordinate & liaise with MDT members
• Computer literacy eg experience of electronic patient record

Other

Essential

• Frequent sitting or standing in a restricted position; occasional moderate effort for several short period.
• Frequent concentration, work pattern unpredictable Concentration for patient clinical work
• Occasional distressing / highly distressing or emotional circumstances. Deals with patient complaints, conveys unwelcome news, complaints, concerns arising from incident communicated to patients and relatives.
• Working in ward environment providing direct clinical care
• Potential blood or body fluids exposure.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Whiston Hospital

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR

Employer's website

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