Job responsibilities
About the job
Main purpose of the job: As a Bluebell Wood staff nurse, you will:
Work as a skilled member of the Care Services Team, providing high quality nursing care to meet the diverse and individual needs of babies, children, young people and their families.
Deliver child-focused, family centred palliative and end of life care in the community.
Support colleagues, students and trainees whilst on duty
Clinical
Assess, plan, evaluate and deliver high quality nursing care to meet the diverse and individual needs of children, young people and their families.
Caring for children with a wide range of complex clinical needs and technology dependence (for example ventilation, tracheostomies and enteral feeding devices).
Work with other members of the multidisciplinary care team to ensure that plans of care are carried out to the agreed standard.
To ensure an ongoing welcoming, caring and safe environment is provided for the children, young people and their families.
2
Identify and escalate significant changes in a child or young persons condition or well-being, outside of your area of competence.
Establish therapeutic relationships with children, young people and their families.
Deliver care after the death of a child, supporting their family at home and in the hospice.
Act as an advocate for the child, young person and family, providing them with information and support and directing them to the relevant support services where appropriate.
Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to children, young people and their families, and other staff, overcoming any barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional events.
Develop and maintain clinical skills and knowledge necessary to provide holistic, evidence-based nursing care. This includes completion of the hospice clinical skills competencies and expanded role responsibilities, following appropriate training.
Assist with ongoing education and training of colleagues, students and trainee practitioners, as required.
Undertake initial health needs assessment of new referrals and present them to the referral and assessment panel.
To work closely with the Transition Coordinator to identify the transition needs of young adults and their individual bespoke support needs.
Support the development of advance care plans.
Leadership
Contribute towards quality and improvement initiatives being undertaken, as directed by the Care Team Leaders.
Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury or medicine administration errors, as outlined in the hospice policies and procedures.
Lead shifts, in the absence of a Community Team Leader.
Education:
Actively assist in the education and practical training of colleagues, students and trainees.
Supervise and orientate learners and new staff.
Participate in surveys, audit, research and facilitating clinical trials as required.
Assess students on placement, in line with the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Governance
To welcome and respect diversity and contribute positively to anti-discriminatory practice, actively promoting equality and diversity.
Ensure a consistent approach to all aspects of care delivery by following protocols and prescribed care, recommending changes to advance practice.
Report all incidents/accidents and near misses in line with reporting procedures to facilitate opportunities to advance practice.
Actively contribute to employee consultation around policy and procedure development and highlight any areas of concern or suggestions for improvement.
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Professional requirements
Comply with the requirements for NMC Revalidation, identifying own learning needs and ensuring ownprofessional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice developments.
Participate in clinical supervision and appraisals.
Successfully complete required competences as defined by Bluebell Wood.
To maintain confidentiality surrounding the childs or young persons admission and treatment at all times.
This job description is intended as an outline of the areas of activity and can be amended in the light of the changing needs of the service and will be reviewed as necessary in conjunction with the post-holder.
All staff
Safeguarding:
All hospice staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk, which includes:
an understanding of relevant hospice policies
ensuring that any safeguarding and child protection or vulnerable adults concerns are both recognised and acted on appropriately
attendance at mandatory safeguarding children and adults training and updates at the competency level appropriate to their role and in accordance with the Bluebell Wood safeguarding training guidance.
Confidentiality
On appointment you may be given access to confidential information which must only be disclosed to parties entitled to receive it. Information obtained during the course of employment should not be used for any purpose other than that intended. Unauthorised disclosure of information is a disciplinary offence.
Equality, diversity and inclusion: At Bluebell Wood, we value and respect difference, where families, visitors, our staff and volunteers can feel welcomed and confident to be themselves. We ensure this by delivering our values:
We value diversity and recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge and insights that will benefit all.
We respect the rights of individuals, including the right to hold different views and beliefs. We will not allow these differences to be displayed in a way that is hostile or degrading to others.
General requirements
All Bluebell Wood employees are required to:
Abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act
Work within hospice policies and procedures
Demonstrate understanding and application of the provisions of GDPR and information security
Comply with the hospice no smoking policy
Participate in and contribute to team meetings
Cooperate and liaise with colleagues
Behave in a professional manner at all times
Act as an ambassador for Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice, reflecting the objectives and values, and to always work in the best interests of the charity.
