Job responsibilities Communication Attends Unit meetings / Team Away days in order to communicate needs and discuss problems with senior staff Identifies needs and provides support for patients, relatives and friends with support from the shift coordinator Behaves in consistent manner with visitors, patients and the MDT. Articulates current status of patients in their care to shift coordinator. Informs shift coordinator when assistance is required / support needed Maintains communication with people about routine and daily activities constructively overcoming any differences in communication between the people involved, and modifying communication accordingly e.g. using tact, diplomacy, discretion, empathy. Participate in ensuring effective multidisciplinary communication links both upwards and downwards within Critical Care and the rest of the Trust. This involves all staff members, relatives and patients Responsible for effective shift handovers ensuring relevant detail is communicated and identifies and challenges any unprofessional or subjective comments made about patients Participate in medical ward rounds showing a thorough knowledge of the patients medical history, current condition and recent clinical events. Ability to present this concisely, at the appropriate time, and in the appropriate manner Involvement in complex patient case conferences when discussing future treatments for patients which could involve withdrawal of treatment in situations of poor prognosis. Support families on a 1:1 basis using knowledge, experience and skill to explain complicated medical conditions. Provide adequate and appropriate information and education, whilst ensuring this information is understood Provide and receive highly complex information on clinical conditions, which could be sensitive and occasionally contentious. Information given to patients and relatives could involve breaking bad news and may result in conflict with relatives understanding of the critically ill patient. E.g. communicating : withdrawal of treatment, deterioration in condition, or sudden death. This must be done with great tact and skill Ability to guide relatives through withdrawal of treatment, tissue / organ donation in conjunction with relevant personnel e.g. Trust Donation Nurse Specialist, Transplant Co-ordinator, Trust personnel available for distressed / bereaved relatives Recognition of poor standards of care among MDT. Ability to highlight these to appropriate personnel, at an appropriate time, and in an appropriate manner Service Delivery and Improvement To assist with clinical research programmes implemented by members of the multi-disciplinary team To be aware of the Mandatory Audit Documentation Programme and Trust Clinical Governance strategy To comply with all Local and Trust protocols and directives, showing an understanding of individuals ethical and legal responsibilities To work in collaboration with Practice Educator and relevant Network groups in compiling and implementing clinical guidelines/competency documents, seeking to ensure consistent Evidence Based Practice Participate in implementing the Trust Clinical Governance Strategy. Please see attached Job Description for full details.