Senior Staff Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

Clinical Role

• To act as specialist resource to colleagues, MDTmembersand external agencies.

• To act as a link nurse for clinical topics andparticipatein education and training for that area of care.

• To function as an active participant in MDT meetings and other clinical meetings providing feedback anddisseminatinginformation asappropriate.

• To act as a Primary Nurse, responsible for the organisation of patient care and delegation of duties to nursing staff. Toparticipatein all patient care activities, giving guidance and support as necessary to other team members.

• To ensure that all medications are correctly stored, administered and recordedin accordance withHospice policy and legal requirements.

• To deal with and report accidents, untowardoccurrencesor complaints according to The Kirkwoods policy. To co-operate with any investigation of accidents, untowardoccurrencesor complaints.

• Toinitiatethe involvement of the multi-disciplinary team members to ensure effective patient management, continuity of care and the support of patients and their families.

• To promote andmaintainstaff morale, giving support,supervisionand guidance to other team members.

• Toestablishand maintain effective working relationships with patients,relativesand all visitors to The Kirkwood.

• To ensure that all staff are trained in the use of equipment having regard for the safety of the patients and themselves.

• To be proactive in the development of clinical areas, supporting other Senior Staff Nurses and the Matron through contribution ofnew ideasto improve andmaintainstandards of care.

Managerial Role

• To co-operate with The Kirkwoods administration and carry out nursing administrative duties asrequired.

• Tomaintainagreed stock levels of stores and other equipment.

• To be aware of the importance of efficiency and cost effectiveness within The Kirkwood and act accordingly.

• To manage bank staff on aday to daybasisto ensureappropriate staffinglevels, obtaining bank shifts asappropriate forwork load.

• Toparticipatein the recruitment of junior staff.

• To ensure The Kirkwoods nursing policies and procedures are adhered to andparticipatein policy reviews asrequired.

• Tomaintainprofessionalclincalrecords (written and computerised) to NMC and hospice standards, auditing these on a regular basis.

• To recognise, prevent where possible and manage areas of conflict, reporting to the Matron if unable to resolve.

• To carry out annual appraisal of team members asrequired.

• To acknowledge and respond to the concerns of patients, families or carers and take initial steps to resolve issues, escalating asappropriate.

• To work in other areas in The Kirkwood asrequiredto ensure continuity of patient care in all areas.

Educational Role

• Toparticipatein the induction,trainingand ongoing supervision of team members.

• Toparticipatein hospice education and training programmes.

• To be appraised annually.

• To develop andmaintainpersonal and professional development sharing knowledge and skills with multi-disciplinary team members.

• To act as mentor or clinical supervisor to colleagues and visiting students asappropriate.

• To access clinical supervision asrequired.

Quality Assurance Role

• To be actively involved in standard setting,implementationand review.

• To undertake surveys,auditsor research as necessary to ensure delivery ofevidence basedpractice.

• To suggest areas for clinical development,auditor research relevant to specialist palliative care.

Other Responsibilities

• To workin accordance withthe values of The Kirkwood. Patients, Families and Carers are the focus of everything we do. Our values are what we live and work by.

We are:

• Respectful and Inclusive

• Passionate and Determined

• Open and Honest

• Kind and Compassionate

• Forward-thinking

• We strive for Quality and Excellence

• Toparticipatein The Kirkwoods performance and development review process.

• To undertake any other duties required by The Kirkwoods Management teamcommensuratewith the post.

• To undertake annual mandatory training provided by The Kirkwood.

• Tomaintaincomplete confidentiality as a condition of employment. Information relating to patients, other members of staff and volunteers or which isacquiredfor the purposes of employment may only bedisclosedwith the express permission of theappropriate manager.

• To respect the ethos and values of The Kirkwood and its services andcomply withits policies,proceduresand regulations.

This job description is not exhaustive therefore the employer and employee share responsibility to review and amend this job descriptionin order toreflect any changes in role/development.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Extensive palliative care/hospice experience at Staff Nurse level.
• Experience of multi-professional team working.
• Leadership experience.

Desirable

• Teaching experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Demonstrable palliative care knowledge including symptom control.
• A positive attitude to change with the knowledge of implementing and managing change.
• Awareness of evidence based practice and the need for audit and research.
• Ability to demonstrate an awareness of the impact of loss and bereavement on self and others.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to assess and deliver care to meet complex patient needs.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Demonstrates care and compassion.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered nurse.
• First Degree in relevant subject area.

Desirable

• Post-registration palliative care qualification ENB 931, 285 certificate in palliative care.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

The Kirkwood

Address

21 Albany Road

Dalton

Huddersfield

HD5 9UY

Employer's website

https://www.thekirkwood.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)