Clinical Sister/Charge Nurse – Acute Medical Unit
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
The Department consists of a 12 bedded Medical Short Stay Unit and 30 bedded Acute Medical Unit.
We care for patients with a wide range of medical conditions and strive to deliver high quality nursing care based on current evidence, in a fast dynamic environment. We work closely with our Medical colleagues and MDT in order to meet the increasing demands of the service whilst retaining our commitment to patient centred care.
We are looking for a highly motivated, energetic individual to join our team who has an interest in acute medicine and a commitment to deliver safe effective care.
If you are ready for a challenge, we can assist you in your personal development. A minimum of 2 years post-registration experience is essential, and you must be willing to develop your clinical skills. Support and training will be provided to develop essential managerial skills and leadership.
Please Note, you will be asked to produce a presentation as part of the interview. Please contact Cheryl Markham, Ward Manager, to obtain the details for the presentation.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will contribute to the development of the ward team and support the Ward Manager in the delivery of a consistently high quality and cost effective service.
To deputise for the Ward Manager as required.
Job responsibilities
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Hold a Diploma/Degree in Professional Nursing.
Be a first level registered nurse with 2 years experience in an acute medical setting.
Possess relevant post-basic education and experience, which should include a minimum of two years at Band 5.
Provide evidence of continuous personal and professional development.
Possess the aptitude and confidence for working within a rapidly changing environment.
Have excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
Have excellent interpersonal and organisational skills.
Key Responsibilities
To provide clinical and professional leadership and support to all non-medical staff in the ward, ensuring that nursing practice is based on current and best evidence.
Take responsibility for own personal and professional development, maintaining clinical credibility and competence at all times.
Keep an up to date personal portfolio, in line with revalidation requirements in maintaining NMC registration.
Ensure that the ward's philosophy is in line with the principles of clinical governance and that all staff understand its significance to practice.
In conjunction with the Ward Manager, ensure that KPIs and Infection Prevention standards are maintained each month.
Clinical
To participate in the setting and maintaining of high standards of evidence-based nursing.
To supervise and evaluate the work of all nursing staff.
Promote patient and carer involvement in care planning, delivery and evaluations, ensuring junior staff develop the necessary skills to do this. Implement a communication system to keep patients and their relatives/families informed of treatment and progress. Undertake audits at regular intervals to maintain standards of record keeping.
Supervise and monitor junior staff in developing the necessary skills to identify care priorities and address them in a pertinent and timely manner, seeking advice where appropriate.
Communicate and interact with patients, carers, and staff in a non-judgmental way, demonstrating mutual respect and trust utilizing a variety of communication skills.
To ensure patients' and relatives' needs are met in a courteous, helpful and compassionate manner.
To liaise with other agencies and professionals to maintain good service provision.
Maintain effective relationships between the ward and the multi-disciplinary team.
To maintain accurate and comprehensive records of patients' care in line with the NMC code for record keeping.
Co-ordinate clinical activities within the unit and have responsibility for shift management.
Act as clinical leader and role model, sharing expertise with colleagues.
To ensure safety and confidentiality of patient information.
Managerial
To work with the ward manager to ensure that all staff sickness is monitored and that the Trust's sickness and absence policy is adhered to.
Ensure that the unit's equipment is serviced properly and timely to maintain continuity of services at all times.
Act as role model and mentor to student nurses including the setting of action plans as necessary.
Adhere to the systems for reporting clinical incidents ensuring accurate and timely completion of Trust incident forms. Monitor the practice of other staff.
Investigate complaints and untoward incidents in accordance with Trust policies and procedures. Provide statements accurately, timely and professionally. Support the ward manager in improving systems to prevent recurrence.
Ensure that the ward's clinical procedures and protocols are understood and adhered to by all staff. These should represent best possible practice and reflect Trust and National strategy for the management of emergency and acute patients.
Contribute to the recruitment and selection of quality staff for the unit, identifying future job requirements for profiling to complement the ward team and to participate in induction programmes, Mentorship/preceptorship, and Trust recruitment open and assessment days.
In conjunction with the ward manager, facilitate staff development by achieving ward objectives using the principles of IPR using the KSF and developing personal development plans for all staff. Monitor staff performance and report progress to the ward manager at regular intervals.
Contribute to the planning, organisation, and evaluation of work, ensuring adequate induction of new staff including effective preceptorship for newly qualified nurses and nurses new to the specialty of emergency medicine.
Review the standard of ward documentation at regular intervals, benchmarking performance against NMC guidelines.
Support Clinical Governance within the ward by utilising:
Education/training.
Clinical Supervision.
Clinical Audit and effective best practice.
Education
Develop clinical practice through education.
Participate in in-service training programmes where appropriate.
Share evidence-based practice with colleagues.
Attend statutory training sessions annually.
Manage Finance
Contribute to the planning, monitoring, and control of the ward's resources, by ensuring that the ward's resources are optimised and that expenditure on pay and non-pay is kept within the allocated budget.
Assist the ward manager to optimise nursing resources by an even distribution of staff annual leave and matching skill mix to workload.
Identify, report, and act upon and evaluate discrepancies between skill mix and workload within the clinical area.
Ensure you adhere to the policy for booking bank and agency staff and supervise junior staff to ensure that they do the same.
Ensure all resources are used in a cost-effective manner, identifying and assisting in the implementations of cost improvement initiatives.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Diploma / Degree in Professional Nursing/Health Studies
* Evidence of continuous professional development
* AIM / ILS Trained
* Mentorship and Assessing qualification
Experience
* Two years' experience in Acute Medical Area
* Wide range of Extended Skills
* Proven leadership skills
* Experience and understanding of audit and evidence-based care
Skills
* Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-based practices
* Demonstrates understanding of clinical audit and clinical effectiveness
* Demonstrates understanding of resource management
* Able to effectively plan and delegate duties
* Able to manage personal time and that of others efficiently and effectively
Personal Qualities
* Able to work as an effective team member
* Is committed to and demonstrates ability to teach successfully
* Able to adapt to changing circumstances and demonstrates ability to influence change successfully
* Shows initiative: able to think positively and stimulate a productive team climate
* Able to achieve individual and team objectives
* Committed to the delivery of high-quality healthcare
Other
* Demonstrates commitment to self-development and the development of others
* Able to work flexible shifts including night duty and weekend working when required
* Able to change duties at short notice
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.
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