Band 6 Charge Nurse - Callington Road Hospital, Bristol

Job overview

Here on Aspen Ward, we go above and beyond to support older adults  living with severe mental health. We work with service users and carers during a period of time when they need compassion, understanding and support.

In addition to supporting our service users, Aspen Ward are passionate about the health and wellbeing of their staff and promoting a good work/life balance. Local clinical supervision is offered, and flexible working will be considered on request. We have a health and wellbeing lead who runs a session every team day, in addition to putting on events and activities throughout the year.

Main duties of the job

You will be a clinical lead and support the ward manager and senior practitioner in managing a team of staff nurses and health care assistants. You will support with some operational duties and help develop and maintain clinical standards.

You will be an experienced registered nurse with a keen interest in older adult care. You will be innovative, dynamic and enthusiastic with a passion for delivering the highest quality care, and continually working to improve the standards of care offered.

You will be able to demonstrate a passion for clinical excellence and quality improvement, have a high level of emotional resilience, and be able to support and motivate staff with developing and enhancing services.

In return, you will be offered a unique opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge within an acute admission ward for functional mental health.

You will be supported to gain expertise in later life care through training and development. You will also be supported to attend Charge Nurse Development training to support you in this role.

You will be offered monthly supervision, with a specific focus on your health and wellbeing, in addition to any developmental requests.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To carry out clinical practice within the designated clinical areas, ensuring that high quality evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided. This will include:

• Undertaking a comprehensive, patient-focused, nursing assessment and prepare care plans in consultation with the service user to provide the best nursing care.
• Carry out clinical audit to evaluate and improve clinical services in partnership with service users.
• Ability to administer medicine within relevant Trust and legislative guidance e.g. NMC Standards for Medicines Management 2010, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, MHA 1983. Ensure all others apply these, to support safe practice.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the key elements of relevant mental Health legislation.
• Be familiar with the NMC's 'The Code': Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives. Recognise own competencies and to address any limitations to ensure safe practice.
• To implement and encourage others to implement research-based practice.
• Supervise junior and unqualified staff.
• Implementation of care and rehabilitation programme.
• Evaluation of effectiveness of care provided in partnership with users.
• Ability to undertake risk assessment and develop risk management strategies for Individual service users: ICPA/SAP to people who present with mental health problems.

To use own specialist skills, knowledge and resources to provide mentoring opportunities for staff within designated areas and promote positive attitudes towards mental health. This will include:

• Regular provision of advice and mentoring to staff.
• Function as a preceptor and mentor to new staff enabling their full integration into the service.
• Develop junior staff through teaching or training activities.
• Support the provision of an appropriate learning environment for pre- and post registered students, novice practitioners, and new team members as directed.

To maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure that practice reflects best practice, remains evidence based, is current and responsive to meet changing patient and NHS service needs, as outlined in the NHS Plan (2000).

• Implement the legal rules, statutory regulations and professional responsibilities relating to practice as outlined in the NMC "Code of Professional Practice". Change to: the NMC's 'The Code': Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives.
• Take responsibility for post-registration education and for continuing professional development as outlined in NMC Standards.
• To receive clinical supervision in accordance on a contracted and regular basis from an identified Senior Practitioner, as per trust Clinical Supervision Policy.
• To be aware of the need for appropriate management support and supervision from the people manager, and to maintain records of these meetings.
• Maintain Health and Safety in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).
• Implement Clinical and Personnel Policies and Procedures of AWP Trust.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant medicines, related medication management issues and act in accordance with the appropriate NMC standards and Trust policy. Ensure that others also work within these guidelines.

To make best use of available workforce resources based on agreed staffing models ensuring provision of best care possible. Implement and abide by Trust and Service Policies in regard to the security of the building/clients, to ensure safe practice and protection of clients, staff, visitors and members of the general public.

• To take part in PEAT and environmental risk assessments as requested so that best use is made of resources.
• Undertake appraisals for staff at Band 5 and below to identify training and development needs and to ensure best practice.
• Assist in staff disciplinary issues.
• Implementation of managerial and clinical supervision to small team of nurses, ensuring best and safest practice is fully undertaken at all times.
• Manage temporary staffing resources in line with AWP best practice guidance.
• Ensure that service provision is both safe and therapeutic within span of knowledge.
• Effective organisation of own time, and that of others to ensure safe and efficient running of ward.
• Utilize electronic rostering systems (Rosterpro).
• Participate in education and training opportunities to develop self and others.
• To take charge of the Unit in the absence of the Ward Manager or Clinical Team Leader.
• Ensure that all nurses, for whom the post-holder is responsible, abide by all Trust and local policies and procedures, in particular, Health and Safety at Work, Security and Confidentiality to guarantee legal obligations are fulfilled.

To maintain and enforce standards of record keeping and associated administration in  accordance with AWP Trust Policy and local joint arrangements, and professional guidelines. This will include:

• The upkeep of contemporaneous, chronological and accurate mental health records in accordance with relevant NMC Guidelines and Trust Policy.
• To work under the direction of ‘Essence of Care’ lead.
• Contribution to the achievement of Controls Assurance Standards relating to Records Management within their span of control.
• Make certain all health record keeping is to current professional and local standards to comply with legal obligations.

To be involved in practice development activity and evidence-based mental health nursing.

This will include:

• Undertake relevant practice development/research activity.
• To take part in a rolling programme of audit.
• To comply with activity as outlined in “The Essence of Care”, and ensure direct reports are compliant.
• Work within the framework of AWP and Department of Health Research Governance.

To contribute to providing professional nursing advice within the post-holder’s area of responsibility and span of knowledge.