Job summary
The Neonatal Unit at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is a Level 1 Unit with 12 cots. We provide short term intensive care, high dependency care and special care for sick and preterm infants from 30 weeks gestation (multiples from 32 weeks). We have facilities to stabilise babies if born before 30 weeks, prior to their transfer to a tertiary unit for ongoing care. We have 1 ITC cot, 3 HD, 8 SC as well as Neonatal Transitional Care and a Neonatal Community Service. Around 500 babies are admitted to our unit every year.
We are dedicated to delivering excellent family integrated care, have achieved the GOLD Bliss Baby Charter Accreditation, and are now working towards Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) stage 2 accreditation.
We are a small, supportive and friendly team, looking for a Registered Children's Nurse, General Nurse, or Midwife to join us who is passionate and who can deliver the highest quality care. The successful candidate(s) will need to be committed to working autonomously as well as within a team, have excellent communication skills with an ability to develop solid relationships with women and their families, whilst working alongside neonatal nurses, midwives, medics, as well as the wider multidisciplinary team. There are band 6 QIS nurses on every shift for support.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will work clinically ensuring the provision of safe, effective, high-quality, family Integrated care.
Assisting the nursing, medical and midwifery teams in the care of babies and their families, as directed by senior members of the team, contributing to the effective and efficient day-to-day running of the service.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Management Responsibility
2. Assist the senior nurse in managing the resources required in the provision of neonatal care.
3. Participate in the regular review of nursing practice, policies, procedures, and protocols, ensuring that junior staffs adhere to same.
4. Assist and supervise in the orientation of new staff and learners to the Unit.
5. Participate in at least 50% of departmental meetings and contribute to the change management agenda.
6. Develop an understanding of Clinical Governance and participate in benchmarking against local units.
7. Undertake day to day management of the unit in the absence of anyone more senior.
8. Clinical Responsibilities
9. Using evidence-based practice and a holistic approach to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care within a defined clinical area under the supervision of an experienced nurse.
10. Undertake an extended role to work within the Multi-Disciplinary Team to ensure timely appropriately delivered best practice.
11. Work in partnership with parents / carers to actively support and promote their involvement in the planning, management, and evaluation of care. Ensure parents / carers are confident to continue care on discharge.
12. To actively support and promote the involvement of parents/carers in the planning, management, and evaluation of care by working together in partnership. Ensuring they have sufficient confidence, assistance, and support to enable them to care for their baby on discharge.
13. Utilise a variety of strategies to communicate effectively with the family/carers, the multidisciplinary team, other departments within the Trust and pertinent agencies outside the organisation.
14. To safely administer prescribed medications and to monitor their effects.
15. To ensure competency and safe maintenance of all medical devices within the sphere of responsibility.
16. Ensure the significance of data relating to condition and progress is interpreted and acted upon appropriately.
17. Recognise vulnerable families/babies and respond in accordance to Trust Policy.
18. Work within the wider clinical setting including paediatrics as service requirements dictate.
19. Professional Responsibilities
20. Maintain personal records of continuing professional development.
21. Always promote a professional image and to be accountable for own clinical practice.
22. Ensure appropriate documentation of care in accordance to Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) guidelines.
23. Work within the Statutory Framework governing nursing practice acting as a role model and maintaining a high standard of professional conduct. To always ensure confidentiality.
24. Ensure that trust policies and guidelines are adhered to, Health & Safety regulations, the reporting of fires, major incidents, and untoward clinical incidents.
25. E ducation Responsibility
26. Attend and participate in the in-service multidisciplinary teaching programme as well as the Trust Mandatory training.
27. Keep abreast with all aspects of Neonatal Nursing, current research, and clinical developments.
28. Be responsible for the appraisal of own performance, identifying training and developmental needs.
29. Demonstrate and build on achieved competencies in neonatal nursing.
30. Develop an understanding of clinical supervision and reflective practise skills.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
31. Valid registration as RN/RSCN/RM
32. Willing to undertake neonatal training
Desirable
33. Neonatal nursing experience
34. ENB 997/998 or equivalent teaching qualification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
35. Analytical skills
36. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
37. Good interpersonal skills
38. Organisational skills
39. Able to work within a multi cultural environment
40. IT skills
Desirable
41. Knowledge and experience of working with staff and patients of various background/cultures
Skills and Abilities
Essential
42. Commitment to neonatal nursing
43. Flexible approach to working hours and duties
Desirable
44. Occupational Health Clearance to meet the needs of the role
45. Professional appearance