Job responsibilities
RESPONSIBILTIES
- CLINICAL PRACTICE
To adhere to the NMC / HCPC Code of Professional Conduct at all times.
To demonstrate clinical expertise in the care of any patients receiving treatment in the department.
To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the needs of patients on an ongoing basis, co-ordinating the care given by all members of the clinical team.
To accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patients condition, instigate appropriate remedial action and promptly report changes.
To act as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.
To ensure that accurate records are maintained reflecting both changes in the patients condition and the treatment delivered.
To ensure that patients and their relatives are updated regularly with accurate information, and ensure that this is presented in a sensitive way and one that they understand.
To ensure that Clinical Guidelines are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with Line Manager and practice development staff.
To ensure that practice is evidence based and with support assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area.
To uphold high standards of perioperative care, according to existing policies and standards.
To support the process of continuous quality improvement, assisting in audits etc to formally evaluate standards of care and assist in the implementation of changes in the light of such findings.
To organise patient transfers both within and outside the department, escorting ill patients as requested.
To contribute to the health education of patients and their families, ensuring that all patients receive appropriate advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
To actively support the implementation of the Trust nursing / local perioperative strategy and uphold the ethos of the local philosophy.
- EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
To act as a mentor to junior staff members, responsible for the orientation, supervision and ongoing development of junior and student learners, in conjunction with Line Manager and Practice Development staff.
To act as practice supervisor / assessor, responsible for completing competency documents for junior staff within agreed timeframes.
To act as a mentor to students undertaking further education as requested, ensuring a positive learning experience and facilitating the development of their clinical skills.
To contribute to the wider educational activities within the Care Group ensuring attendance at and contributing to the delivery of educational activities to the Multi-disciplinary team within the Care Group.
To promote and encourage the application of research and of evidence based practices.
To participate in any research projects conducted in the clinical area as appropriate.
To act as link nurse (i.e. for infection control, tissue viability) ensuring attendance at and contribution to Trust wide meeting and responsible for ensuring dissemination of relevant information from these to all staff within the Unit.
- MANAGEMENT
To manage the clinical workload effectively, ensuring care is prioritised appropriately.
To contribute positively towards the delivery of a cost effective service, adjusting staffing levels to meet demand and assisting the clinical co-ordinators to keep within agreed resources.
To assist with the ongoing organisation of the unit, including responsibility for a designated area of practice within department on a daily basis, to ensure optimal theatre utilisation at all times, facilitating timely admission and discharge of patients.
To act as a team leader to an identified group of staff, monitoring and documenting the development of their clinical skills.
To develop own skills in recruitment and retention, sickness management and performance management as determined by line manager.
To actively support the process of risk management and health & safety upholding relevant policies to promote this and ensuring incidents are reported appropriately (in writing) and helping identify ways of preventing errors and accidents to both patients and staff.
To make a positive contribution to service development affecting the clinical area and positively influence other to adapt to change.
To actively promote customer care, assisting in resolving local (informal) complaints and supporting the clinical co-ordinators to investigate formal problems.
To assist with the monitoring of stock levels of clinical stores and technical equipment, resolving any shortfall as appropriate.
To maintain standards of hygiene and cleanliness within the clinical area, actioning remedy as appropriate and reporting deficits to Senior Nurse and/ or Service Manager, as appropriate.
To carry the Unit bleep as required, resolving local problems/ conflicts, keeping managers/others informed and maintaining positive team dynamics across the Care Group at all times.
To take a leadership role in crisis situations, resolving problems as necessary.
To maintain confidentiality with regard to personal information pertaining to staff.
To attend and contribute to departmental meetings as required.
- PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
To work within and accept responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of clinical competence and ensure clinical currency as new technologies are introduced.
To keep up to date with NMC / HPC, Trust and Care Group policies and guidelines and to adhere to these at all times.
To be a fully active and committed member of the multidisciplinary team operating in the Care Group
To demonstrate an insight into own professional development, contributing to the process of identifying own educational and clinical training needs in conjunction with the clinical co-ordinator.
Participate in own Individual Performance Review and after suitable training, to be responsible for undertaking timely reviews for own team of junior staff.
To ensure own educational commitment is at least sufficient to maintain professional bodys requirements and to ensure own mandatory training certificates are current, in liaison with Line Manager.
5. GENERAL
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and well-being and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
To maintain strict confidentiality of staff and patient records, in line with Trust Policy: any unauthorised breach of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action.
To ensure that acceptable standards of data protection are maintained, in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
To carry out duties as an employee and service-provider with due regard to the Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy.
To participate in team meetings as required by your team leader.
Under the Health & Safety at Work Act, the post holder has a general duty of care for the health, safety and wellbeing of oneself, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade, this may be required from time to time.
All employees must hold an nhs.net email account which will be the Trusts formal route for email communication. You are therefore required to check this regularly and to deal with such communication
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.
Working Conditions
You have a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of yourself, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of Kings College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
To be responsible, with management support, for your personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post-holder.
