Job Title: Sister / Charge Nurse Reports To: Senior Sister Accountable To: Matron Band: 6 Unit/Department: Ward L21 / Hyper Acute Stroke Unit Location : LGI AfC Job No: 2928 2. JOB PURPOSE The jobholder will play an essential role assisting the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse with the 24 hour continuing responsibility for the effective and efficient management of the ward / department. They will contribute to the provision of professional, clinical, managerial leadership and supervision for the nursing team. The jobholder is responsible for helping to develop and maintain a ward or departments philosophy that has the patient at the centre of compassionate safe and quality care delivery. By assisting with managing the administrative and financial aspects of the ward, the jobholder will support the cost effective use of resources. As an experienced nurse the jobholder will assist in co-ordinating activities on the ward or department ensuring effective communication is maintained at all times, providing support to qualified and unqualified nurses within the ward/dept. He/she will play a key role in the assessment of patient care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care. The jobholder will act as a role model, promoting quality evidence-based practice, developing the nursing team and ensuring effective management of the ward/department in the absence of the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse. 3. JOB DIMENSIONS Ward L21 is a 33 bedded unit, which consists of 8 level 2 Hyper- acute stroke beds and 25 Acute stroke beds. Our Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) has direct admissions from A&E following an assessment from our Brain Attack Team. The patients on the HASU are closely monitored via our cardiac monitors and experienced nursing team. The Acute Stroke Unit (ASU) is the step down ward from the HASU, where patients continue their stroke rehabilitation and acute investigations. Patients require specialist stroke rehabilitation which is delivered from our therapists and nursing team from day one of admission. It is essential that our nursing and care support workers are involved in this rehabilitation process and we all work as an MDT to deliver a high standard of care. 4. ORGANISATIONAL CHART 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 (desirable) Experience Significant post registration experience at staff nurse level or equivalent Experience of clinical audit and standard setting Working with a wide range of professionals including medical, nursing and management colleagues Clinical experience within the speciality (desirable) Skills Written and Verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team Ability to teach, supervise and assess qualified and unqualified staff Time management skills Recruitment and selection (desirable) 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 Knowledge Insight into clinical speciality Insight into current issues in nursing/professional issues Ability to demonstrate knowledge of current issues in health and social care Personal Attributes Demonstrates 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 Self-confidence, uses this to lead, involve and challenge others appropriate 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 delivering high quality evidence based care 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 development and the development of junior staff 7 WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT) Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients. By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change. WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition. 8. CORE BEHAVIOUR 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 Remain professional at all times Able to deliver feedback effectively 9. 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 Awareness of budget management Awareness 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 10. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Leadership Support Senior Sister / Charge nurse in providing 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 Assist in the line management of the nursing team, including individual and team performance, attendance, management and workforce planning Help to 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 Help to manage the use of bank and agency Support the senior sister / charge nurse to Investigate and respond to accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events Support in the delivery of 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 Senior Sister / Charge Nurse in their absence Clinical Act in accordance to the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code: Professional Standards Practice and Behaviour (March, 2015) 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 Help to 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 Senior Sister / Charge Nurse 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