Senior Staff Nurse - IPS

Job responsibilities

To ensure that the IPU service delivers an excellent standard of care to patients and their families

2. To lead the IPU when on shift in the absence of a Sister

3. To offer timely and individual care based on need, using referral criteria, regular patient review, assessment, re-assessment and discharge criteria as appropriate

4. To provide direct delivery of care to patients

5. To provide symptom control for patients including the administration of medicines in line with Thames Hospice Policy

6. To communicate fully and effectively with patients, their families and professional colleagues to ensure a safe and needs led care pathway, with particular consideration given to discharge

7. To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team to ensure a co-ordinated and defined management plan / plan of care for each patient. To include review and discharge as appropriate and attend MDT meetings as required

8. To maintain accurate healthcare records, written and computer based, liaising with community colleagues and in line with Thames Hospice organisational policy and professional requirements

9. To participate in training, of student nurses and external stakeholders as required

10. To mentor new Registered Nurses, Health Care Assistants and Student Nurses

11. To monitor practice and competence for Registered Nurses and Health Care Assistants by regularly working with them as part of a shift

12. To participate in all areas of performance management, to include recruitment, appraisal and monitoring staff performance

13. To support and work with the IPU Team Sisters to develop and maintain effective partnership working with the multidisciplinary team

14. To communicate, when required, with external care agencies, GPs and community teams to facilitate best working practice and service provision

15. To participate and lead in audits of the service, to identify if improvements and / or changes have enabled an improved patient and care experience

16. To report accidents, incidents and complaints in area of responsibility as per procedure, participating in investigations as required

17. To work to the processes for maintaining role boundaries and patient confidentiality

18. To maintain personal and professional development including own attendance at Thames Hospices mandatory training

Team working and communication

Essential

• Experienced in maintaining effective relationships with colleagues
• Ability to quickly build a rapport and establish professional relationships with others, based on trust
• and understanding
• Experience of mentoring Registered Nurses and Student Nurses
• Ability and skills to performance manage staff
• Experience of communicating effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary team, both verbally and in writing
• Experience of communicating effectively with patients, carers and families, both face to face and onthe telephone

Personal drive, commitment and resilience & IT Skills

Essential

• Enthusiastic, committed and able to use initiative, ensuring delivery of objectives
• Commitment to ensuring the patient is central to all decisions about, and the provision of, care
• Able to remain calm and in control when under pressure
• Ability to use Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Knowledge of the workings of databases

organisation and analytical

Essential

• Ability to organise own workload and to prioritise care needs of a defined patient caseload
• Ability to manage the day to day running of the IPU
• Experience of using multi-professional records to fully and accurately document patient care and interactions

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse
• 1.2 Evidence of post registration nursing experience
• 1.3 Knowledge and understanding of current developments in palliative care
• 1.5 Competent in extended skills, to include IV drug administration (all routes), cannulation and male
• catheterisation
• 1.6 Awareness of national Care Quality Commission monitoring requirements
• 1.7 Experience of undertaking nursing assessments and care planning for patients including those with
• complex needs
• 1.8 Evidence of sound clinical decision making independently and as part of the multidisciplinary team
• 1.9 Willingness and ability to demonstrate commitment to Thames Hospice Values
• 1.10 Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective
• communication about relevant topics with patients and colleagues

Desirable

• 1.4 Credit bearing award in End of Life Care and Mentorship (Desirable)

Special conditions

Essential

• Appointment is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check including Barred Lists
• Post holder to be (or willing to be) immunised for Covid-19, Hepatitis B, MMR, Tuberculosis and
• Chickenpox
• The post holder must maintain an active professional portfolio in order to be able to revalidate every 3
• years in accordance with the current NMC guidelines
• Must attend all Thames Hospice Mandatory Training as required for role

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).