STAFF NURSE

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

LEADERSHIP AND TEAM WORKING

1. To participate in organising the individual nursing team in the absence of the Band 5B and or Ward Sister/Charge Nurse.

2. To co-ordinate the Ward in the absence of a band 5B and or Ward Sister/Charge Nurse.

3. To participate in ensuring adequate staffing of the Ward.

4. To participate in change and development of practice

5. Have an understanding of the importance of multi-professional team working that are vital to effective team working and practice them at all times

6. Maintain effective communication networks with all departments within the hospice to maintain a seamless delivery of specialist palliative care services.

CLINICAL PRACTICE

1. Provide appropriate physical, emotional and spiritual care in agreement with individuals and their loved ones.

2. Consult and liaise with both the nursing and multidisciplinary teams to ensure continuity of holistic care individual care.

3. Use evidence based practice when planning individual care.

4. To participate in the hospice quality assurance programme.

5. Communicate effectively and appropriately with individuals and carers and liaise with other professionals involved in their care

6. Recognise and report changes in the individual's condition and respond appropriately to maintain effective symptom control.

7. To implement nursing procedures correctly and ensure that individual documentation reflects a holistic account of interventions for individual interventions.

8. Maintain all clinical records and associated documentation - written and electronic - in accordance with Saint Francis Hospice policies.

9. Accurately document care given within NMC guidelines.

10. Participate in the annual hospice UK and clinical audit programmes to evaluate areas of clinical practice as requested.

11. To be a reflective practitioner

12. To have an identified area of special interest of clinical practice.

COMMUNICATION

1. Ensure effective communication with individuals and those that love them and other visitors.

2. Participate in discussion and ensure effective communication with the clinical team when planning and evaluating individual care needs.

3. Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure high quality holistic care individuals and their loved ones.

4. To effectively use IT systems to ensure patients records are kept updated; ICARE & CMC records.

EDUCATION OF SELF AND OTHERS

1. Maintain an awareness of professional developments in nursing and palliative care.

2. Be a mentor of students and new staff as required.

3. Actively participate in the Saint Francis Hospice reflective practice programme and meet mandatory attendance requirements.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To take responsibility for own professional development, which will be monitored as part of the annual appraisal review .

2. To maintain current registration with the NMC at all times and adhere to the NMC Code of Conduct

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF POSTHOLDER

SENSITIVITY AND PROFESSIONALISM: As an employee of Saint Francis Hospice you should expect that it is likely that you will come into contact with patients, their families and members of the public who are at the end of life or recently bereaved. All employees are expected to respond to people recounting and expressing their emotions about such events with sensitivity and understanding, and to know enough about the services that the Hospice provides to be able to signpost people who may benefit from our services to the relevant contacts.

CONFIDENTIALITY: The post holder must maintain confidentiality, security and integrity of information relating to patients, staff and other hospice matter during the course of duty. Any breach of Confidentiality may become a disciplinary issue.

DATA PROTECTION: It is the responsibility of all staff to be aware of their obligations in respect of the Data Protection Act 1998.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITES: The hospice is committed to the development of positive policies to promote equal opportunity in employment and has a clear commitment to equal opportunities. All employees have a responsibility to ensure that they understand the standards expected and that they promote and adhere to the equal opportunity measures adopted by the hospice.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: All staff must be familiar with section 2 of the Health & Safety Policy, Organisation of Health and Safety. This documents sets out the responsibilities of all staff for health and safety, whether in a supervisory capacity or not. Policy section 3 (arrangements for Health and Safety) provides an overview of training for competence in Health and Safety matters.

HOSPICE IDENTITY BADGES: Hospice ID badges must be worn at all times whilst on duty.

SMOKING: The hospice acknowledges its responsibility to provide a safe, smoke free environment, for its employees, service users and visitors. Smoking is therefore not permitted at any point whilst on duty, in accordance with the guidelines set down within the Hospice No Smoking Policy.

REGISTRATION COMPLAINCE/CODE OF CONDUCT:

All employees who are required to register with a professional body to enable them to practice within their profession are required to comply with their code of conduct and requirements of their professional registration.

WORKING TIME REGULATIONS: The Working Time Regulations 1998 require that you should not work more than an average of 48 hours in each week. For example, in a 26 week period you should work no more than 1248 hours.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse Level 1.
• ENB 998 or equivalent.

Desirable

• ENB 931 or equivalent.
• ENB 285 or Diploma in Palliative Care.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• Team player, committed to multidisciplinary working.
• An understanding of the importance of multi-professional team working.
• Experience of working autonomously as well as part of a multi-professional team.
• Flexible approach to team working and an awareness of team dynamics.

Desirable

• Has the ability to organise the team in the absence of the Team Leader.
• Has the ability to organise the Ward in the absence of a Senior Nurse.

Other Requirements

Essential

• Ability to work flexibly and have a flexible approach to working patterns.
• Motivated and enthusiastic.
• Compassionate, sensitive, non-judgemental.

Desirable

• Demonstrates insight into own stressors and coping mechanisms.

Experience

Essential

• A sensitive awareness of the needs of individuals and their loved ones.
• Has an understanding of quality assurance and the processes involved.
• Has awareness of current research in palliative care.
• IT skills and the ability to use a clinical database.
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrates effective communication skills with:
• - people in our care and those that love them
• - colleagues
• Has awareness of current issues within:
• - The nursing profession
• - Palliative care

Desirable

• Previous palliative care experience.
• Confident decision making skills regarding specialist palliative care symptom control decision making.
• Demonstrable excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates the ability to teach others.

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).