Junior Charge Nurse in SCBU

Job overview

The post holder will work predominately with the Special Care within the Now-natal unit, in line with service needs. Working in a largely supernumerary capacity the post holder will assess, plan implement and evaluate the care for these patients supporting and guiding junior staff in the process. S/he will provide direct patient care and have detailed clinical knowledge of the specialist area. The post holder will assist the senior Charge Nurses/co-ordinators in ensuring that high standards of quality of care are delivered & maintained. The post holder will act as a positive role model within the department for staff patients and carers. The post holder will deputise for the senior sister as required. The post holder will enable nurses to acquire clinical and professional competencies by facilitating high quality education and staff development opportunities. Post holders will be expected to participate fully in their personal development and review process in order to achieve the knowledge and skills identified for this post.

Main duties of the job

• Provide visible clinical leadership to the nursing team promoting a culture of leadership by example to all staff
• Demonstrate effective Multidisciplinary working and acknowledge the role of the individual team member to ensure everyone’s expertise is seen as a resource in the team.
• Ensure the safe custody and administration of drugs in accordance with established procedure and the law.
• Demonstrate an overall awareness of quality issues and a commitment to continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure safe use of equipment, ascertaining that staff is competent to operate the equipment and that the equipment is in safe working order.
• Understand the implications of the Health and Safety at Work Act, and maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff according to the hospital’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Report and record accidents/incidents via the Trust’s Datix System and escalate complaints to the Ward Sister/Matron, according to the Trust policy, and undertake further investigations and collection of evidence/statements.
• Act as a professional role model, through commitment to the integration into practice of Trust policies and procedures (i.e. Uniform policy).
• Be competent in current emergency resuscitation...

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Support the Ward sister / Charge Nurse in leading and supervising a safe, high standard of nursing practice and the delivery of evidenced based patient care in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional
• Conduct, the Trust’s Strategy for Nursing and Trust/Unit Policies and Procedures. This will involve all dependency of babies including intensive care, high dependency, special care and transitional care.
• Assist the Sister/Charge Nurse in providing and developing good nursing practice ensuring that said practices are in accordance with department and hospital policy.
• Assist in the establishment, monitoring and evaluation of agreed standards of patient care and quality service.
• Determine nursing care priorities, planning the delivery of patient care taking into account the skill mix of staff, ensuring safe staffing levels at all times.
• Attend complex births on Labour Ward and Birth Centre to  ensure optimum care immediately post-partum as part of the Neonatal team.
• Interpret the significance of the patient’s clinical observations and records, making decisions and planning in areas affecting patient care; reports promptly to medical or appropriate staff any matters which fall outside his/her responsibility.
• Investigate and reports on all aspects of patient management, including accidents and complaints, in line with hospital policy.

Please see the attached job description for more details.