Ward Leader

Job overview

We are seeking for a highly motivated, flexible and enthusiastic individual to recruit into a Band 7 Ward Leader position within our world leading liver, gastrointestinal and nutrition inpatient service for children and young people – Rays of Sunshine Ward. As a Ward Leader, you will work closely with the multi professional team members to enhance service delivery including paediatric hepatologists, transplant surgeons, and the Paediatric Liver Matron. This is an exciting opportunity to develop and build on your skills in the management of people and demonstrate your leadership qualities. As an individual who is new to this role, you will be well supported by your peers and offered training and support to develop the skills required for this role. This role will enable you to gain extensive new skills in leadership, people management and finance within the clinical environment. You must be a registered children’s nurse, with extensive clinical experience within a comparable paediatric setting. You will have excellent communication and leadership skills and be able to work independently and as part of a team. Paediatric liver experience whilst desirable is not essential as training needs will be supported. In return, you can expect excellent support and encouragement for personal and professional development

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for the day-to-day management of the nursing service on Rays of Sunshine Ward.

Ensuring the nursing care delivered is of a high standard.

Appropriate and effective utilization of human and physical resources.

The demonstration of effective leadership and motivation of staff.

To be an effective role model.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

To have advanced holistic patient assessment skills (e.g. history taking and physical examination skills) so that clinical decision-making leads to prompt and appropriate action in the best interests of the patient’s wellbeing.

Good verbal and written communication skills so that professional advice or care guidance and instructions are well understood by patients, their relatives and/or carers, and members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Ensures continuity of patient care through effective staff deployment.

Ensures good discharge planning so that individual patient’s needs are met with an appropriate plan of action and involving the multi-professional team as required.

Regularly checks patient care documentation to see that all aspects of care have been considered, individual patients’ needs identified and that an appropriate care plan exists in relation to meeting the identified needs.

To work in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct, and Trust Policies and Procedures.

Communicates effectively with patients and their carers, colleagues and students.

Works effectively as part of the multi-professional, inter-disciplinary team.

Is clinically and professionally up to date with current trends and developments in the clinical specialty.

Functions as an effective role model in the clinical setting in demonstrating the application of breadth and depth of nursing knowledge and skills, and in advising and supporting members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Helps facilitate the professional development of other nurses.

To facilitate the cascade of information ensuring awareness of Care Group, Trust and NHS initiatives, supporting staff discussion and responding to feedback.

To ensure compliance with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy, supporting the delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to positively promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring services are responsive to the needs of equality groups.

To have full knowledge of the Trust Major Incident Plan and your role within it.

To be aware of the Trust’s safeguarding policies and procedures and demonstrate ability to raise concerns and work with other agencies to protect children

Research, Education & Service Development

Works collaboratively with the Practice Development Nurse so that staff receive appropriate education and staff development.

Manages the ward’s allocated education and staff training budget in accordance with the Trust’s corporate need and the Care Group’s business objectives.

Ensures the development and provision of a good quality clinical learning environment that supports pre-registration nursing students and continuing professional development.

Participates in trust approved research studies, keeping the Assistant Director of Nursing (Education and Research) informed of the progress of these if the fieldwork is being undertaken within the ward/department.

Management

Facilitates and supports nurses in working collaboratively with all other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Adopts an appropriate management style in accordance with changing circumstances

Deploys nursing staff and physical resources appropriately. Reviews the duty rota, and negotiates skill mix levels ensuring that they most appropriately meet service needs.

Works with the Human Resources Manager on the resolution of complex HR issues.

Keeps the Matron / Head of Nursing informed of any untoward incidents and complaints.

Discusses with the Matron and Head of Nursing any plans in relation to service development, service improvement, and the resolution of any on-going problems.

Undertakes certain grades of nursing staff’s annual appraisal and to ensure they have a Personal Development Plan, and to assist with the appraisal of other staff in liaison with the Matron and Head of Nursing.

Provides effective leadership and acts as a positive role model.

Delegates appropriately and encourages staff to develop and advance their skills.

Communicates well with staff, holding regular ward meetings.

Plays an active role in the recruitment and retention of staff.

Ensures safe storage of the patients’ records at ward/departmental level so that confidentiality is maintained.

Participates in benchmark and quality audits, and observations of care.

Ensures that staff receive feedback on the results of audits, and that where necessary action is taken to improve standards.

Manages the allocated ward budget effectively, maximizing the use of resources and reducing any wastage in accordance with Trust and Care Group objectives.

Acts up, and across suitable roles, as required by management for service needs, or as part of an agreed personal development plan.

Is pro-active in the management of change and can support staff through times of change.

Investigates complaints and adverse incidents as required by Matron and the Head of Nursing, Taking appropriate action in dealing with any situations that could result in the need for a disciplinary procedure.

Ensures Health and Safety regulations compliance.

Ensures that staff are aware of the Trust Policy on Adverse Incident reporting and that the Adverse Incident Forms are completed,

Ensure that staff are aware of the Trust’s policies, procedures, and the need to comply with these.

Personal Professional Development

Has an annual appraisal and produces agreed performance objectives and a Personal Development Plan.

Is an active member of the Ward Leaders Forum.

Reflects on own practice and keeps a personal learning portfolio

Works in accordance with the Trust’s documented standards on nursing skills and required competences.

Undertakes other in-house training as required.

People Management and Performance

Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.

Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.

Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.

Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated, and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.

Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and process.

Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.

Review skills mix at regular intervals to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.

Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.