Sister/Charge Nurse (XR06)

Job responsibilities

The jobholders will play an essential role assisting Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in teaching the nursing teams throughout the 24 hour period.

As an experienced nurse the jobholders will co-ordinate activities on the ward/dept ensuring effective communication is maintained at all times, providing support to qualified and unqualified nurses within the ward/dept. He/she will play a key role in the assessment of patient care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care.

The jobholders will act as role models, promoting quality evidence-based practice, developing the nursing team and ensuring effective management of the ward/department in the absence of the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse.

The jobholders will work within an environment caring for 32 patients on J84 and 24 patients on J98

The jobholders will support the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in the day to day management of approximately forty-eight on J84 and thirty-five on J98 whole time equivalent nurses and support staff.

Maintain a high standard of patient focused care in accordance with Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies

Act as a role model for the development of clinical skills and knowledge within the ward team

Maintain a safe working environment

Support the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in setting and monitoring standards and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care, including those standards defined in the National Benchmarks for Essential Care

Provide assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care for patients, ensuring written records are kept

Acts in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery code of conduct

In conjunction with the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse ensure management of clinical services and efficient deployment of staff according to service needs.

Education and Training

Contribute to the promotion of a positive learning environment within the clinical area

In conjunction with the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse ensure all staff have an individual performance development plan

Ensure both self and team members achieve annual mandatory training requirements

Participate in preceptorship and mentorship programmes

Undertake continuous professional and clinical development, seeking opportunities to enhance skills

Managerial

Working with Senior Sister/Charge Nurse provide leadership to the clinical team, developing new rotas/ways of working

Support Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in staff rostering, ensuring adequate skill mix

In conjunction with Senior Sister/Charge Nurse closely monitor bank and agency usage

Support Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in investigating and responding to accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events

Work with Matron/Senior Sister/Charge Nurse to promote the development of nurses undertaking the CNO Ten Key Roles as considered appropriate

Deputise for Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in their absence.

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred

Collaborative

Fair

Accountable

Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

Additionally, the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

Commitment to delivering high quality evidence based care

Commitment to working in a multi-disciplinary team

Commitment to the clinical area, valuing the contribution of all team members, encouraging a positive and creative working environment

Commitment to own development and the development of junior staff

6. WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT)

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.

By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.

WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition.

7. INFECTION CONTROL

The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment.

8. HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system

9. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

10. TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

11. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Matron

Senior Sister/Charge Nurse

All grades of nursing staff

Allied Health Professionals

Medical staff

Facilities staff

12. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Effort:

Frequent standing, sitting, walking, kneels and crouches to attend to patient needs

Responding to changes in patient condition.

Patient care (e.g. drug administration).

Shift working.

Moving & Handling of patients and equipment on a daily basis.

Patients 10-120kg (with lifting aids).

Equipment medical equipment, specialised mattresses (weight 1-20kg).

Mental Effort:

Continuous mental effort/concentration required in relation to responding to and meeting patients nursing care needs (e.g. for 8-12 hour shift).

Co-ordinating Ward/Dept activities in absence of Senior Sister/Charge Nurse.

Responding to changing circumstances (e.g. changes in patient condition, prioritisation of workload).

Dealing with complex and changing care needs of patients within an acute hospital environment (includes communication with relatives/carers).

Calculating drug doses.

Robust verbal and written communication skills required at all times.

Emotional Effort:

Exposure to difficult situations including death and dying, distressed patients and relatives/carers.

Dealing with complex workload.

Dealing with staffing issues/performance issues.

Working Conditions:

Temperature should be controlled, but may experience hot or cold work environment.

Smells dealing with body fluids.

Violence & Aggression may experience violence and aggression from patients and/or relatives/carers.

Infection Control exposure to patients with infections.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Level 1)
• Recognised teaching/assessing qualification
• Evidence of continued professional development and implementation in clinical practice within the last 12 months

Desirable

• Understanding of training needs in relation to post

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

• Teaching and assessing skills
• Communication skills
• Time management skills
• Preceptorship skills
• Understanding of research-based practice research conscious
• Team player
• Ability to act professionally at all times
• Understanding of the process of change
• Ability to communicate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to teach, supervise and assess qualified and unqualified staff
• Time management skills
• Clinical leadership
• Professional and patient focused
• Flexible, adaptable, capable of lateral thinking
• Excellent interpersonal skills

Desirable

• Recruitment and selection

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience at staff nurse level or equivalent
• Insight into clinical speciality
• Insight into current issues in nursing/ professional issues
• Standards of professional practice
• An understanding of the organisational structure and working practices of the organisation
• Understanding of the local and national nursing agenda
• Awareness of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies
• Clinical audit and standard setting
• Working with a wide range of professionals including medical, nursing and management colleagues

Other

Essential

• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for post
• Occupational Health Screening
• Application form Interview

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).