Team Leader Inpatient Unit (IPU)

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

To be a safe practitioner and work within the NMC Code of professional standards of practice and behaviour.

Prioritise and delegate work fairly and appropriately according to skill mix within the team.

Provide holistic assessment of patients and families care needs, plan interventions as required and ensure those interventions are actioned and their effectiveness evaluated.

Act as a role model at all times and contribute to the provision of high quality, specialist nursing care.

Provide support and advice to nursing staff on patient care.

Communicate effectively with patients and families, ensuring they are actively involved with their own care planning.

Support patients and families through grief and loss and the life changing consequences of a palliative diagnosis.

Liaise with appropriate members of the multi-professional team (internal and external to the organisation) in order to ensure co-ordination and continuity of care on discharge and a smooth transition between different care settings.

Maintain clear, accurate, legible and timely patient documentation.

Work across the 24 hour service, including weekends, nights and bank holidays as required.

Actively contribute to MDT decision making about admissions and discharges.

Leadership

Provide effective managerial and clinical leadership of IPU staff in conjunction with or in the absence of the IPU Manager.

Represent the IPU at internal and external meetings as required.

In conjunction with the IPU Manager, develop and implement the IPU induction programmes, preceptorship and clinical supervision.

In conjunction with the IPU Manager, responsible for monthly 1:1 development meetings for IPU staff & completion of Annual performance reviews.

Assist in setting learning objectives and provide annual appraisals and quarterly reviews.

Lead by example and promote a positive values-based culture (Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Excellence, Teamwork)

Assist in the development and review of hospice policies and procedures

Ensure that nursing staff are aware of, and apply, Hospice policies and procedures.

Oversee the compilation of duty rotas ensuring adequate staff cover for shifts

Ensure the effective use of resources.

Participate in recruitment and selection of nursing staff.

Education

To lead the orientation, induction and completion of competencies for yourself and other members of the IPU team as directed.

Support IPU staff to identify learning needs and the most appropriate means of meeting those needs.

Organise and support placement of student nurses, liaising directly with the University as required.

Organise training for the IPU team, this may include delivering training session or arranging for others to do so.

Share good and innovative clinical practice within the hospice and also with peers locally and nationally.

Actively participate in the hospice education programme.

Quality

To lead on research and audit programmes as required, delegating tasks to other colleagues as appropriate.

Undertake investigations in relation to incidents, concerns or complaints relating to the service as assigned and identify effective resolutions ensuring that lessons learnt are identified, put into practice and shared with the team.

Work with the IPU Manager on key aspects of service improvement.

Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Positive, can-do attitude
• Commitment to integrated, multi-professional working
• Commitment to the Vision and Values of St Clare Hospice
• Commitment to equality and valuing diversity and understanding of
• how this applies to own area of work

Knowledge

Essential

• Extensive knowledge of Palliative care nursing especially in pain and
• symptom management
• Knowledge of Care Quality Commission Regulations and
• requirements

Experience

Essential

• Experience in leadership and management of people
• Experience of palliative care nursing

Qualifications

Essential

• 1st Level Registered nurse
• Current NMC registration in adult or general nursing
• Diploma / Degree in palliative care and or willing to undertake
• Teaching and Assessing qualification
• Evidence of personal professional development

Desirable

• Advanced communication course

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to assess complex needs of patients and plan,
• implement and evaluate appropriate nursing interventions
• Ability to lead team by acting as nurse in charge for shifts
• Ability to cope effectively with the demands of working in a
• specialist palliative care unit
• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills
• Good time management skills
• Ability to motivate nursing team and take initiative when
• appropriate

Other requirements

Essential

• Willingness to work nights and weekends as required.

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).