JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION 1. JOB DETAILS Job Title: Senior Sister/Senior Charge Nurse Reports To: Matron Accountable To: Matron Band: 7 Unit/Department: Adult Critical Care CSU Directorate: Adult Critical Care Location : J81 Surgical Oncology ICU AfC Job No: 95b 2. JOB PURPOSE The Jobholder will carry 24 hour continuing responsibility for the effective and efficient management of the ward/department. They will provide professional, clinical, managerial leadership and supervision for the nursing team. The jobholder is responsible for developing and maintaining a ward or departments philosophy that has the patient at the centre of compassionate safe and quality care delivery. Through managing the administrative and financial aspects of the ward, the jobholder will ensure cost effective use of resources. 5. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Qualifications Registered Nurse (RN Adult for adult clinical areas or RN Child for childrens areas) (Level 1 or 2) Recognised teaching/assessing qualification First Degree or equivalent professional experience Evidence of professional and leadership development Experience Extensive post registration experience Significant experience within a leadership position Clinical experience within the speciality (desirable) Evidence of effective leadership development Understanding of performance management strategies Experience of clinical audit and standard setting Evidence of service development and or facilitation of change management Budgetary management experience (desirable) Skills Demonstrates influencing and negotiation skills Self-confidence, uses this to lead, involve and challenge others appropriate Displays high motivation and commitment to success Demonstrates problem solving and analytical skills Ability to prioritise workload and met deadlines whilst paying attention to detail Ability to work under pressure Clinical leadership Appraisal skills Education and training Management Recruitment and selection knowledge Can demonstrate an understanding of current issues in health and social care Standards of professional practice Personal Attributes Ensures personal and professional behaviour and integrity at all times Role model Compassionate and caring Excellent interpersonal skills Innovator Motivator of self and others Assertive Courage Flexibility, adaptable, capable of lateral thinking Ability to manage and identify stress in self and others Positive approach to change Able to deliver feedback effectively 6. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are: Patient-centred Collaborative Fair Accountable Empowered All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values Additionally the following are core values which relate specifically to this post: Commitment to support, uphold and demonstrate the core values and behaviours of LTHT Commitment to delivering high quality compassionate evidence based care, in accordance with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) policies and guidelines Commitment to working in a multi-disciplinary team Commitment to the clinical area, valuing the contribution of all team members, encouraging a positive and creative working environment Commitment to own personal and professional development and to the development of others within the team. 7. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS Leadership and management skills Effective communication skills Teaching and assessing skills Preceptorship skills Organisational skills Time management skills Quality improvement skills Understanding of evidence based practice research conscious Team player Learns from incidents and complaints Conflict resolution Managing stress Uses initiative to resolve issues within their own control Ability to act professionally at all times 8. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING Understands the business of the ward Understanding of the local and national nursing agenda Understanding of relevant national service guidance pertinent to the service Awareness of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies Understanding of organisational structures Commitment to clinical audit, research and evidence based practice Understanding of budget management Understanding of Human resources policies and guidance as pertinent to the management and leadership of the clinical team Knowledge and understanding of current issues in health and social care 9. PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Leadership Provide leadership to the clinical team Support and inspire staff to provide efficient, effective, safe, quality care to patients Deliver a positive patient experience Promote the building of effective teams and collaboration between teams Anticipate problems and take preventative or mitigating actions, or have contingency plans available Work with Matron to lead the development of ward/department nursing practice, reflecting the Clinical Service Unit and Trust business plans Work with the Matron and or Head of Nursing to suggest and develop new roles/ways of working Delegate and empower staff whilst maintaining overall, continuing responsibility and accountability Line manage the nursing team, including individual and team performance, attendance, management and workforce planning Ensure the effective deployment of staff is mapped against the flow of patients to provide safe and effective care Support and participate in local and trust wide recruitment events Manage the use of bank and agency Investigate and respond to accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events Deliver an effective, safe, quality service within budgetary envelope Raise and respond to concerns with regards to risk, danger, malpractice or wrongdoing by following the LTHT whistle blowing policy and supporting processes Deputise for Matron in their absence Clinical Act in accordance to the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code: Professional Standards Practice and Behaviour Fulfils the requirements as directed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council to maintain and revalidate registration Supervise ward staff with regards clinical practice and patient experience to promote the delivery of excellent clinical standards Provide a visible clinical lead and role model to the nursing and wider team by delivering high quality compassionate care as an expert practitioner Ensure that documentation standards are maintained in accordance with NMC and LTHT guidelines, whether written or computerised. Promote and maintain positive working relationships between all staff, internal and external to the Trust, involved in the care of patients Set, monitor and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care, including those standards defined in local and national guidance Maintain a safe working environment Ensure the safe use and efficient management of equipment and supplies Promote compassionate evidence based practice, wherever possible Work with Matron to ensure that clinical governance processes at ward/dept level encompass measures to ensure the quality of the fundamental and essential aspects of care Balance clinical risk and clinical decision making against context Work with the Infection Prevention and Control Team and Facilities to monitor the environment to maintain and raise standards Undertake duties on other wards or departments as and when required by the service Act in such a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults at all times. Is familiar with and adheres to the LTHT safeguarding policies. Quality Improvement Has a responsibility to improve the quality and safety of our services. It is expected that in fulfilling a clinical leadership role you will be proactive in promoting and using the Leeds Improvement Method Contribute to quality improvement programmes as required Provides a contextual information and or viewpoint to support quality improvement by contributing to professional conversations representing the ward and or speciality view Keep up to date with and communicate service developments, advances and research. Through the use of audit, local research, metrics and feedback continually seek to identify practice that needs improvement. Implement and evaluate any resultant improvement plan. Actively promote patient involvement and feedback within service improvements to promote a positive patient experience Maintain and sustain the momentum of improvements until they are firmly embedded into the values and culture of the clinical area Education and Training Participate in personal appraisal and mandatory training at the required time periods Ensure all new starters, inclusive of temporary staff, have a local induction to the clinical area Ensure all staff have an individual performance development plan and a yearly appraisal Ensure all nursing staff maintain mandatory and priority training requirement. Support and facilitate re-validation for registered nursing staff, and self. Promote a learning and development culture to the improve staff skills, knowledge and competence Ensure the induction and development of staff Promote a positive learning environment within the clinical area to support the development of knowledge and skills in learners. Support and facilitate work-based inter-professional learning