Sister/Charge Nurse

Job overview

The post holder provides nursing care to patients and will manage the ward for spans of duty. He/she will also assist in the supervision of and education of qualified and learner nurses and other staff in training.

Post holders will act in a manner that upholds the values of the Trust and that of the profession ensuring the service delivered contributes to supporting the principles of clinical governance

Main duties of the job

To assist the ward manager in providing exceptional care for complex surgical patients.

Working with both junior staff and students to help provide educational experiences and daily teaching

Assist in managerial duties such as off duty, sickness management, IPDRs and KPIs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as a clinical nurse/leader to ensure the needs of patients are recognised and met by the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care.
• Supervise and monitor the care planning process. Will take steps to deal with, and notify the ward manager, any difficulty in the care planning process and in implementing planned care.
• Lead the ward team in the provision of care for spans of duty.
• Act as a point of liaison for multi disciplinary and multi agency working in order to achieve the best possible outcome for patient care. Will notify the ward manager of any deficits in service provision from other agencies.
• Provide support to junior nursing staff and participate in the teaching and supervision of all staff receiving training in the area.
• Maintain the Trusts aims and objectives within the clinical setting.
• Accept accountability and responsibility for accurate and legible record keeping in accordance with local policies and NMC guidelines.
• Administer intravenous drugs in accordance with trust and local policies.
• Undertake additional training as required to meet the needs of the patients and register any additional skills acquired as a result of enhanced practice.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES>

• Maintain a safe level of nursing staff, taking remedial action and reporting to senior staff when this cannot be achieved.
• Assist the ward manager in the selection of staff and monitoring sickness and absence.
• Assist the ward manager in undertaking the Individual Performance Review of staff.
• Assist in the efficient and effective use of maintenance of resources to meet the needs of the patients and the Trust.
• Deputise for senior nurses when requested.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

All employees who have access to personal data in relation to patients or employees will be aware of their responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679. Any breach of the Regulation could result in disciplinary action being taken and criminal charges being brought against the individual who has breached the Regulation.

Health and Safety

Individual employees of Walsall Healthcare Trust and other NHS employees contracted to work on the organisations premises have an equal responsibility, along with managers and supervisors, for maintaining safe working practices for the health and safety of themselves and other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.

Clinical Governance

All employees are required to actively contribute towards the organisations clinical governance systems, taking responsibility as appropriate for quality standards and work towards the continuous improvement in clinical and service quality.

Safeguarding

Children Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, working with partner agencies, is committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. All employees have a responsibility to ensure that children and young people are safe from abuse and harm, regardless of their role or where they work. Children include young people up to the age of 18 yrs.

Vulnerable Adults

All employees have a responsibility to support the safety and well-being of vulnerable adults and to practice in accordance with legislation. Knowledge, skills and competency are to be maintained according to role and responsibilities in order to fulfil Vulnerable Adults responsibilities. All employees must comply with organisational and Walsall Local Authority Vulnerable Adults policies and procedures.

Equality and Diversity

The Trust is committed to promoting equality opportunities to achieve equity of access, experience and outcomes, and to recognising and valuing peoples differences. All employees have an obligation to help achieve this through personal example, open commitment and clear action.

Each individual will take responsibility for promoting inclusive and accessible service provision, employee development and a culture that values and respects difference. All employees should be familiar with, actively promote and work within Equality and Diversity policies at all times ensuring that they do not unlawfully discriminate, either directly or indirectly, on the grounds of race or ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, sex, marital or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, age, pregnancy/maternity or any other grounds.

This applies to all activities as a service provider and as an employer. All employees must adhere to the Equality Act 2010

Patient Experience and Public Involvement (PEPI)

The Trust is committed to gaining feedback from all patients using a variety of methods including electronic, paper based and verbal. Within this Trust that feedback is monitored by the patient experience group and used to ensure that future services meet the needs of the patients and demonstrate continuous improvement. Volunteer, staff and families participate in the collection of this data

Customer Care

The aim of the organisation is to provide patients and other service users with the best possible care and service, therefore all our staff are required at all times to put the patient and our service user first and to do their utmost to meet their requests and needs courteously and efficiently.

Infection Control

Employees will work to minimise any risk to clients, the public and other employees from Healthcare Associated Infection including MRSA and C. difficile by ensuring that they are compliant with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice (and as amended from time to time) for the prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections (The Hygiene Code); and by ensuring that they are familiar with the organisations Infection Control polices located on the Intranet.

Further responsibilities involve employees in ensuring that service users and members of the public are actively engaged (using a variety of methods) in appropriate service delivery, service development and decision making within their service area and the wider organisation. Determination of these responsibilities should be in conjunction with your line manager and delivered accordingly.