Management Line management and supervision of all grades of staff within the sphere of authority, allocation of workload and reporting deficiencies to the Matron as appropriate. Planning staff duty rotas to meet workload requirements. Assisting the Matron to manage staff performance issues, including sickness absence, capability and discipline. Assisting the Matron to ensure effective and efficient use of the units beds, ensuring services are delivered within contract agreement. Liaising closely with the bed management team to ensure timely admission and discharge of patients. Patient Care Supporting senior\less experienced staff in the provision of patient care. Assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of individual programmes of care. Exploring and promoting new ways of working to enhance patient care. Multidisciplinary Liaison Liaison with all disciplines and departments, which interface with care delivery. Encourage good working relationships between all members of the multidisciplinary team. Communications Assisting in the development of communication systems and maintaining existing effective systems within the clinical area, with medical, paramedical and support services staff and with patients, relatives and carers. Clinical Governance Assisting the Matron in setting, maintaining and monitoring standards of care and actively supporting the development and implementation of a written nursing philosophy. Ensuring an approach to care which recognises the needs and views of patients and their carers and which places the patient at the centre of all activities. Ensuring an approach to care which minimises clinical risk and maximises clinical effectiveness. Recognising clinical and other untoward incidents and reporting these through the Trusts incident reporting mechanism and supporting other staff to do the same. Supporting the investigation of complaints and incidents through the Trusts complaint s and incident reporting procedures, using these as a learning opportunity and supporting the Matron to change practice as a result, when appropriate. Ensuring that unit staff adhere to infection control procedures at all times. identifying any training and development needs for nursing and support staff related to control of infection and liaising closely with the Infection Control Team to minimise the possibility of hospital acquired infection on the unit. Supporting the Matron in ensuring that the service develops in line with the Trusts Clinical Governance Framework, and that services comply with the standards required by the professional bodies, NHSLA, Investors in People, equality and diversity policy, CHAI and confidential enquires. Education & Training Participating in ongoing personal professional development programmes and in the teaching and development of all grades of staff. Acting as mentor where appropriate and as an adviser to students and other members of staff in matters relating to the clinical area. Creating and facilitating a learning environment conductive with the acquisition of further knowledge and skills. Working closely with the Matrons, Clinical Educator and Senior Matrons to identify the learning and development needs of the unit staff and in formulating plans to meet these. Research/Audit Demonstrating a commitment to the development of research skills whilst being receptive to the research plans of others. Assisting in the application and evaluation of current research findings and participation in appropriate research/evaluation studies within the clinical environment. Support the development of multidisciplinary clinical audit at unit level and encourage nursing staff to undertake audit projects. Personal Performance Take every opportunity to ensure the acquisition of new skills and knowledge. 8b. Actively participate in the Trusts appraisal process. Maintain patient, staff and Trust confidentiality at all times.