Job responsibilities
Staff Nurse
Job Description
Salary £29,770.00 - £35,349.60 Full Time Equivalent dependant on experience
Hours 26 hours per week (actual salary £20,640.53 - £24,509.06)
Responsible to Ward Manager
Accountable toDeputy Director of Clinical Services
Overgate Hospice is an independent charity with a mission to ensure that patients and those close to them live with the best possible quality of life. This is enabled by provision of the highest standard of compassionate and evidence-based specialist palliative and end of life care for adults in Calderdale who have active, progressive life limiting illness.
However, the current constraints of our ageing facilities are making this more difficult than ever. Our ambitious redevelopment plans will modernise and expand our existing facilities to transform the environment in which we care for our patients, as well as meaning we can care for more people who need us. In April 2024, Overgate Hospice launched a capital appeal, the Big Build Appeal, to raise the funds needed to make these transformational plans become a reality.
Job Summary
Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in providing a high standard of specialist palliative care to patients and their families
Minimum Qualifications / Experience Required
Registered Nurse
The post holder must comply with all aspects of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and maintain own registration with the NMC
Key Working Relationships
Patients, their relatives, carers, and friends
All other nursing & medical staff, ward clerks, housekeeping & catering staff, clinical admin staff & volunteers
Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical
Work with nursing colleagues to deliver skilled, practical, and compassionate nursing care.
Negotiate clinical options and decisions with the patient, family, and multidisciplinary team.
Identify hopes and goals of the patient and family and work with them towards their achievement.
Monitor both physical and psychological symptoms of the illness.
Identify new problems and discuss options for resolving them.
Discover the extent to which carers wish to be involved, particularly with practical care.
Teach the skills of practical nursing care to enable carers to manage and develop confidence.
Anticipate the changing needs of patients and emotionally prepare the patient and family, exploring the patient and family awareness of the situation.
To ensure that nursing documentation is recorded accurately, legibly and that regular reviews of patients care plans are maintained.
Responsible for the organisation of patient care and the delegation of duties to nursing staff.
To participate in patient care activities, giving guidance and support as necessary to other team members.
To act at Team Co-ordinator when required and support junior nursing staff as required.
To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure patients are effectively managed.
To work unsupervised and take charge of the Inpatient Unit when required and to be responsible for the running of the Inpatient Unit in the absence of the Ward Manager/Sister.
To provide support and guidance when dealing with advice call requests ensuring the On Call Consultant is contacted as appropriate in line with current procedure.
To ensure that the high standards of nursing care are given and maintained.
To act when standards are not being maintained.
Educational
To act as a Link Nurse in designated areas as directed by the Ward Manager/ Sister.
To participate in the induction, training and ongoing supervision of team members, new staff, students, and volunteers.
To participate in Overgate education and training programmes.
To act as a mentor or clinical supervisor to colleagues and visiting students as appropriate.
To have a willingness to take on extended roles such as IV administration/cannulation/ venepuncture, care of central lines and other clinical roles linked to the department.
Professional
To work within the NMC Code of Professional Practice and within policies, procedure, and guidelines of Overgate Hospice.
To participate in regular staff meetings.
To be flexible to work across areas or services to meet the demands of changing service needs.
To establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, relatives, and all visitors to the Hospice.
To take responsibility for own continuing professional development and performance, including identifying own development needs and maintain own portfolio in accordance with revalidation.
Ensure confidentiality is maintained to meet professional requirements.
Managerial
To order supplies of nursing stores and equipment.
To support the ward sister in risk assessment and minimisation ensuring incidents and near misses are reported.
To manage verbal complaints, inform Ward Manager/Sister and refer on when unable to resolve.
To recognise, prevent where possible, and manage areas of conflict, reporting to the Ward Manager/Sister if unable to resolve.
Participate in research programmes utilising agreed research findings to enhance the patient and their familys experience.
Actively participate in benchmarking and auditing clinical practice.
Financial
Make effective use of resources, being mindful of costs.
Managing Self
To undertake appraisals identifying, developing, and agreeing your own development plan with Ward Manager/Sister/Senior Staff Nurse.
To access clinical supervision.
This is not an exhaustive list of duties, and this job description will be reviewed with the post holder from time to time.
Overgate General Duties & Responsibilities
Overgate Hospice is a no smoking organisation.
The employee must maintain a safe working environment in accordance with Overgate Hospices Health and Safety policies & abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).
The employee must attend annual mandatory training sessions.
The employee must ensure that they comply with all Hospice policies and procedures at all times & participate in the development and implementation of Hospice policies.
The employee must be actively involved in Hospice Governance and support the audit cycle.
The employee must maintain strict confidentiality at all times, applying to all aspects of Hospice business and work within the guidelines of the Data Protection Act.
Employees must demonstrate commitment to their own personal development and are required to make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice locally and nationally.
Employees must adhere to the Hospices Standards of Behaviour Framework in all aspects of their work.
Work closely with the Head of Volunteering Services as appropriate to ensure that any volunteers are supported in their roles, addressing any issues as they arise.
Use all Hospice resources economically and cost effectively.
This job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to periodic review. The employer and the employee share responsibility to review and amend it as appropriate.
Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk
All Hospice staff are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and well-being of children and adults at risk. Familiarisation with and adherence to the Hospice safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training.
Valuing Diversity and Equality
All employees should carry out their duties in accordance with the values and principles of valuing diversity and equity of provision. It is the responsibility of all employees to support the Hospice vision of promoting a positive attitude to diversity and equality of opportunity, to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage in service delivery and employment, and to manage, support or comply through the implementation of the Hospices Equal Opportunities Policy.
Healthcare Associated Infection
Healthcare workers have an overriding duty of care to patients and are expected to comply fully with best practice standards. You have a responsibility to comply with Overgate policies for personal and patient safety and for prevention of Health Care Associated Infection (HCAI); this includes a requirement for rigorous and consistent compliance with Overgate policies for hand hygiene including the naked below the elbow approach, use of personal protective equipment and safe disposal of sharps.
Knowledge, skills, and behaviour in the workplace should reflect this; at annual appraisal you will be asked about the application of practical measures known to be effective in reducing HCAI.
