Deputy Sister

Job overview

An opportunity is available for a Deputy Sister / Charge Nurse on Chilgrove Ward. The post holder will have continuing 24-hour responsibility supporting the ward sister for the effective management of the area and deputising in their absence. In addition, the post holder will provide nursing leadership within this area, ensuring an effective quality nursing service, with responsibility for standards of nursing care and patient safety.

The deputy sister / charge nurse will be responsible for supporting the ward sister the budget management of the ward, staff performance and appraisal.  To manage an appropriate patient workload across the service, providing expert support and advice. Developing the teams and ensuring a seamless service for patients working closely with the ward sister.

We welcome applications from those who currently hold a UK NMC registration. If you currently hold an overseas nursing qualification and require sponsorship we are not currently direct hiring Internationally Qualified Nurses.

Main duties of the job

• Act as a role model and ensure effective staff supervision with clinical practice, working with staff and patients in an advisory, teaching and support capacity and maintaining professional competence, authority and credibility.
• Work collaboratively with clinical nursing experts including Heads of Nursing, Clinical Teams, Consultant Nurses, Nurse Specialists and Practice Development Nurses in the development of expert, personal centred practice.
• Be able to develop, motivate and lead a team by using objectives in line with department, sub-specialty and corporate goals
• Provide professional leadership within the department alongside the band 7 ensuring that all staff use evidence-based practise and adhere to the NMC code of professional conduct
• Be able to demonstrate a high degree of motivation and innovation.
• Communicate effectively with the department team ensuring that there is a monthly team meeting and ensure robust systems exist so that staff feel informed.
• To contribute positively to the effectiveness and efficiency of the teams in which he/she works.
• Work with PALS to ensure that areas of concern are addressed effectively.
• Be able to work in a multi-professional environment ensuring most effective use of all members of those professional teams.
• Display strong leadership and positivity to the department team during times of increased pressure on resources

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Act as an expert practitioner demonstrating specialist knowledge, skills and expertise within the area of work and within the context of changing health care provision.
• Take the lead in developing/implementing evidence based practice within the clinical environment with a multi-professional focus having the ability to facilitate, initiate, manage and evaluate change in practice to improve quality of care.
• Ensure that the quality of patient care is assured by involvement in the implementation of essence of care and regular benchmarking of the standards at department level.
• Ensure high levels of patient satisfaction, ensure patient questionnaires are monitored and any required actions implemented,
• Ensure the needs of older people and their supporters are kept central to practice and service development.
• Ensure privacy and dignity of patients and clients is key in provision of nursing care and clinical practise of all staff
• Deal with patient / relative complaints proactively to minimise the risk of them becoming formal. Appropriately investigate complaints in a timely manner, and provide response as required.
• Ensure the clinical environments reflect a high standard of cleanliness, be proactive in response to any issues raised in cleaning audits or patient environment inspections
• Ensure the control and custody of all medications and drugs in accordance with trust policy and statutory regulations.
• Work with the Infection Control team and the facilities team to ensure that infection control procedures and cleanliness are observed in the ward area.
• Ensure that audits are undertaken as required, and any issues or trends in poor compliance are addressed.
• Strive to continually improve department environment to high standards ensuring action plans from Patient environment audits are maintained.
• Support and promote the development and implementation of nursing care services that reflect the principles of Clinical Governance.