Job Summary: To act as team leader for clinical staff. To be responsible for clinical and non-clinical management of a ward area in the absence of the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse.
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS
1. OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Responsibilities for establishing and maintaining communication and relationships both internally and externally.
2. Establish and maintain effective communication and foster good working relationships with all multidisciplinary teams, both internal and external.
3. Provide and receive complex and/or sensitive information from patients and staff, such as breaking bad news to patients and dealing with performance issues.
4. Able to support and talk to distressed patients, visitors, and staff members.
5. Responsible for cascading information to ward staff and chairing staff meetings from which minutes are provided.
6. Make use of electronic internal/external mail and Internet systems as appropriate and necessary.
7. Deal effectively with comments, complaints, or incidents that affect staff and users of the ward in accordance with complaints, risk management, or human resources procedures.
8. Bring to the attention of the Senior Sister/Charge any factors which may adversely affect patient care or service provision.
9. Report all serious incidents to the appropriate Manager/Director within 24 hours; these include Never Events, serious falls, and grade 3 or 4 pressure ulcers.
1. KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
1. Be knowledgeable about the specific care requirements of patients who may be admitted to the area.
2. Be knowledgeable about current infection control procedures and policies and ensure all staff and visitors adhere to these at all times.
3. Be knowledgeable about the risks of infection and take responsibility for minimising cross infection within the clinical environment.
4. Be knowledgeable about all aspects of Acute Medical care.
5. Ensure that patient care is evidence-based and that the patients' journey is streamlined.
6. Use a wide range of knowledge in determining the most appropriate and safe patient pathway.
7. Identify, assess, and act accordingly at any point on the pathway including discharge.
8. Assess and act upon potential problems or issues to ensure a safe, effective environment for staff, patients, and visitors.
9. Identify, analyse, and act upon staff situations when there is conflict and/or deviation from Trust or local policies and procedures.
10. Identify, analyse, action and discuss with Senior Sister/Charge Nurse any change management issues that arise.
1. Planning and organisational skills
1. Assist in planning of duty rotas or alter planned rotas to ensure maximum service delivery and standards of patient care.
2. Assist Senior Sister/Charge Nurse by utilising available resources to ensure safe and effective patient care.
3. Be aware of Trust financial position and target objectives.
4. Work with the multi-disciplinary team to streamline care and shorten patient length of stay.
5. Participate in Directorate/Departmental Sisters meetings.
6. Be involved in practice development and patient experience issues.
1. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PATIENT CARE THERAPY & TREATMENT
1. Oversee set patient care programmes in accordance with agreed policies.
2. Ensure that safe and effective nursing care is delivered in accordance with Trust policies and best practice guidelines.
3. Act as a role model when carrying out and demonstrating nursing care and procedures.
4. Ensure all staff carry out all appropriate general risk assessments within 24 hours of admission.
5. Ensure clinical staff assess the conditions of patients within the clinical area in a timely fashion.
6. Ensure clinical area staff effectively manage the admission, transfer, and discharge of patients.
7. Ensure clinical area staff carry out appropriate nutritional risk assessments and follow current policies.
8. Ensure clinical area staff participate in delivery of meals to patients and monitor dietary and fluid intake.
9. Undertake nurse-led services including autonomous nurse-led discharge within defined protocols.
10. Supervise and participate in the discharge planning system and process.
11. Provide telephone advice to patients and/or their carers as appropriate.
12. Provide expert advice and support to colleagues in the care and management of patients.
13. Actively contribute to the health and well-being of patients by promoting health.
14. Ensure accurate, comprehensive, contemporaneous, and clear documentation of patients' care.
15. Be familiar with the policy for safe administration of prescribed therapies.
1. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY AND/OR SERVICES
1. Act in accordance with Trust policies, procedures, and guidelines.
2. Assist Senior Sister/Charge Nurse by cascading information and new policies and guidelines to staff.
3. Assist Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in staff appraisal and the progress of staff.
4. Participate in the teaching and development of staff.
1. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES
1. Assist Senior Sister/Charge Nurse by ensuring supplies are managed in accordance with budgetary limits.
2. Work within Productive Ward principles to ensure storage is Well Organised (WOW).
3. Ensure that all equipment within the department is serviced and maintained on a regular basis.
4. Report and assist Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in management of health & safety issues.
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