Paediatric Senior Staff Nurse

Job overview

• Exciting critical care opportunity as a Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse

We are looking for a critical care experienced, enthusiastic Band 6 nurse to join our team on Paediatric High Dependency.

You will be fully supported and developed by our Paediatric Practice Development Nurse and cross site Education team, but you must have critical care experience to apply for this role.

Apollo Paediatric High Dependency Unit

Apollo PHDU is an 8-10 bed critical care unit with an age range of 0-18 years old. We care for a wide range of patients, with both acute and chronic conditions which include those with respiratory, neurological, dermatological and infectious conditions.

We work very closely with other specialist centres .

We value our team and invest time and energy to ensure that we provide development opportunities that will enable you to achieve your potential. We are very proud of the services we provide and the high standard of care we deliver. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic and highly motivated to become a part of the team.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be clearly identifiable as a senior clinical staff member and team leader.

They will also:

• Have significant critical care clinical experience and provide sound clinical expertise to their team.
• Coordinate and deliver high quality care acting as a role model for expert clinical care.
• Lead on specific projects / management functions as delegated. Be a role model for the identified Trust values at all times.
• In general settings, they will be the assigned deputy for their manager, coordinating clinical, managerial and education requirements for the area, as well as being a role model for team members. They will deliver and oversee high standards of care.
• In specialist settings, they will have a significant level of specialist clinical knowledge and expertise in the clinical functions of care delivery. They will provide advice and guidance to junior staff members and students.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Clinical:
• Lead on assessing planning and implementing high quality critical care, and evaluating care options for patients in the clinical area, in line with the Trust values and objectives.
• Be the nurse lead in a deterioration or resus and co-ordinate the nursing team to delegate and prioritise care
• Lead on complex clinical care for patients within their area.
• Provide support to deteriorating children in other areas of the hospital to facilitate a safe, speedy transfer to PHDU, i.e. initiate NIV
• Knowledgeable and able to care for patients with continuing central venous access devises, arterial line (assessment and management).
• Provide excellent assessment skills to monitor patients condition and identify signs of deterioration
• Must be organised to plan daily care and adaptable in cases of urgent situations i.e. leading staff in preparation for RSI (rapid sequence intubation) whenever needed.
• Be a role model and display excellent leadership skills as you will be supporting your colleagues whilst you look after children requiring high dependency cares and assist them to properly escalate if necessary or when needed.
• Ensure the safe custody, maintenance and administration of medication, in accordance with established Trust policy.
• Promote and maintain a safe therapeutic environment for patients, their families and staff, according to national and local Infection Control guidelines, Health & Safety legislation and Trust policies and objectives.
• Coordinate discharges and transfers, promoting timely and safe processes for them.
• Ensure that patient flow and the management of beds is effective and safe.
• Ensure the delivery of high quality end of life care in line with national pathways through the provision of holistic palliative and terminal care.
• Provide sound evidence based clinical advice as required to staff and patients.
• Maintain a good understanding and implementation of clinical escalation procedures as required.
• Understand the Trust clinical governance framework, and participate in the promoting and safeguarding of high standards of care, through effective risk management & governance, and adherence to the Trust values.
• Ensure that the team promote, ensure and adhere to the Trust safeguarding policies.
• Undertake effective multi professionally work with colleagues to deliver care from admission to discharge
• Coordinate specialist functions, including making clinical decisions where appropriate.

Professional:

• Maintain professional behaviour at all times and promote a positive image of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust at all times, in line with Trust values.
• Contribute to a high quality safe working environment in which patients receive a high standard of care.
• Participate in the setting of standards for nursing practice and for care involving the multi disciplinary team.
• Practice in accordance with, and aware of his/her responsibilities under, the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and other appropriate NMC guidelines.
• Understand and practice in accordance with Trust and Unit policies and procedures, and ensure they are understood and practiced by staff.
• Maintain a safe working environment recognising the health and safety requirements of patients, visitors and staff.
• Ensure all strategies, policies and protocols relating to infection control are implemented and monitored and that appropriate and timely action is taken in response to ensuring the prevention of control of infection.
• Protects patient confidentiality and acts according to the Data Protection Act.
• Maintain clear and accurate documentation in line with unit and Trust standard.
• Be aware of Clinical Governance and the impact it has on patient care.
• Understand local audit processes and take opportunities to initiate local audit and participate in Trust audits locally.
• Participate in the ordering and maintenance of adequate stock level in an effective manner.
• Work with members of the team in implementing a quality approach to service provision, in line with Trust quality care standards.
• Report all complaints, incidents or accidents to the Nurse in charge and take appropriate action.
• Work shift patterns and weekends to suit the needs of service delivery.

Education and Development:

• Participate in the education of all learners within their area.
• Actively support and assist in preceptorship and in pre-registration student support supervision and guidance including mentorship where appropriate.
• Enthusiastic in learning and development so as to gain relevant knowledge and skills necessary to care for patients who are chronically ill and be confident in dealing with critical situations.
• Identify and respond to learning needs for area.
• Develop and deliver or organise local training sessions, mindful of the Trust values.
• Facilitate others in the development of informal teaching skills.
• Participate in the annual training needs analysis for their area.
• Participate in any local or related research projects, clinical trials etc.
• Apply and encourage others to utilise evidence based practice and relevant research findings in practice.
• Identify areas of nursing / midwifery research within their area that will be of benefit, and encourage and educate other staff to recognise the importance of research.
• Participate in clinical supervision / acting as supervisor

Management and leadership:

• Manage the day to day staffing arrangements and rotas, to ensure safe levels of practice.
• Be a shift coordinator on a regular basis where appropriate.
• Ensure staff adhere to Trust protocols of care, eg Infection Control.
• Take continuing responsibility for the Ward / Department in absence of manager.
• Participate in senior nurse / unit on call rota / bleep holder (some areas, eg paediatrics) as appropriate.
• Lead and manage their own clinical team within general clinical areas, and of the total team in the absence of the manager, in line with Trust values.
• Develop and maintain effective communication and working relationships with other professional groups, and staff generally within the Division and the Trust.
• Contribute to the effective management of the area by ensuring correct levels of staff are in place to deliver and assist with the planning of off duty rotas.
• Assist in the delivery of induction / orientation of new staff.
• Act as a role model, ensuring staff work to Trust guidelines and values. Supervise, under the direction of their manager, the work of qualified and unqualified staff and learners.
• Provide clinical support and guidance to staff.
• Act as a resource for clinical knowledge to staff. Initiate action on complaints & incident management and responses, and assist in their investigation and resolution.
• Participate in recruitment and selection, and develop effective selection and interviewing skills.
• Undertake appraisals of staff, following training.
• Chair team meetings as required.
• Lead on specific projects, as indicated and agreed by manager.
• Have a working knowledge of budget arrangements for area, focussing on cost effectiveness and quality, to ensure maximum use of resource.
• Understand and manage local change with team members, including the embedding of new projects.

Communication and relationship building:

• Know and utilize Trust values in all working relationships to patients, carers and staff.
• Demonstrate good leadership skills and ensure that communication is effective between the patient, relatives and members of the multidisciplinary team, and ensure appropriate nursing input into patient care discussions.
• Ensure communication is used effectively in the interests of patient care, including the use of clinical incident reporting if necessary.
• Communicate handover of care in a professional manner.
• Demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity in dealing with patients/clients, visitors/relatives and colleagues, maintaining good customer relations and recognising individuality and rights for each patient in line with Trust values.
• Work cohesively with all members of the ward team in ensuring that the very best services to patients are provided at all times.
• Work effectively within a multi-racial and cultural environment.
• Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.
• Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.

Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.