Senior Sister/Charge Nurse (XR07)

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY

The Jobholder will carry 24 hour continuing responsibility for the effective and efficient management of the ward/department. They will provide professional, clinical, managerial leadership and supervision for the nursing team. The jobholder is responsible for developing and maintaining a ward or departments philosophy that has the patient at the centre of compassionate safe and quality care delivery. Through managing the administrative and financial aspects of the ward, the jobholder will ensure cost effective use of resources.

As an experienced nurse the jobholder will assist in co-ordinating activities on the ward or department 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 jobholder will act as a role model, promoting quality evidence-based practice, developing the nursing team and ensuring effective management of the ward/department.

The role of the band 7 ward manager is pivotal in the success of the team. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate good leadership qualities, have an ability to motivate team members, have evidence of supporting change management, as well as excellent interpersonal and communication skills. A commitment to professional development and the development of the team is essential.

Successful candidates will be offered the opportunity to develop their leadership and management skills as well as clinical skills specific to this area with a structured development programme

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Leadership

Provide leadership to the clinical team.

Support and inspire staff to provide efficient, effective, safe, quality care to patients.

Deliver a positive patient experience.

Promote the building of effective teams and collaboration between teams.

Anticipate problems and take preventative or mitigating actions or have contingency plans available.

Work with Matron to lead the development of ward/department nursing practice, reflecting the Clinical Service Unit and Trust business plans.

Work with the Matron and or Head of Nursing to suggest and develop new roles/ways of working.

Delegate and empower staff whilst maintaining overall, continuing responsibility and accountability.

Line manage the nursing team, including individual and team performance, attendance, management, and workforce planning.

Ensure the effective deployment of staff is mapped against the flow of patients to provide safe and effective care.

Support and participate in local and trust wide recruitment events.

Manage the use of bank and agency.

Investigate and respond to accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events.

Deliver an effective, safe, quality service within budgetary envelope.

Raise and respond to concerns with regards to risk, danger, malpractice or wrongdoing by following the LTHT whistle blowing policy and supporting processes.

Deputise for Matron in their absence.

Clinical

Act in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code: Professional Standards Practice and Behaviour

Supervise ward staff with regards clinical practice and patient experience to promote the delivery of excellent clinical standards

Provide a visible clinical lead and role model to the nursing and wider team by delivering high quality compassionate care as an expert practitioner.

Ensure that documentation standards are maintained in accordance with NMC and LTHT guidelines, whether written or computerised.

Promote and maintain positive working relationships between all staff, internal and external to the Trust, involved in the care of patients.

Set, monitor and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care, including those standards defined in local and national guidance.

Maintain a safe working environment.

Ensure the safe use and efficient management of equipment and supplies.

Promote compassionate evidence-based practice, wherever possible

Work with Matron to ensure that clinical governance processes at ward/dept level encompass measures to ensure the quality of the fundamental and essential aspects of care.

Balance clinical risk and clinical decision making against context.

Work with the Infection Prevention and Control Team and Facilities to monitor the environment to maintain and raise standards.

Undertake duties on other wards or departments as and when required by the service.

Act in such a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults at all times. Is familiar with and adheres to the LTHT safeguarding policies.

Quality Improvement

Contribute to quality improvement programmes as required.

Provides a contextual information and or viewpoint to support quality improvement by contributing to professional conversations representing the ward and or speciality view

Keep up to date with and communicate service developments, advances, and research.

Through the use of audit, local research, metrics, and feedback continually seek to identify practice that needs improvement. Implement and evaluate any resultant improvement plan.

Actively promote patient involvement and feedback within service improvements to promote a positive patient experience.

Maintain and sustain the momentum of improvements until they are firmly embedded into the values and culture of the clinical area.

Education and Training

Participate in personal appraisal and mandatory training at the required time periods.

Ensure all new starters, inclusive of temporary staff, have a local induction to the clinical area.

Ensure all staff have an individual performance development plan and a yearly appraisal.

Ensure all nursing staff maintain mandatory and priority training requirement.

Support and facilitate re-validation for registered nursing staff, and self.

Promote a learning and development culture to the improve staff skills, knowledge, and competence.

Ensure the induction and development of staff.

Promote a positive learning environment within the clinical area to support the development of knowledge and skills in learners.

Support and facilitate work-based inter-professional learning.

This does not provide an exhaustive list of roles and responsibilities, and these may be subject to change with professional and service developments.

Experience

Essential

• Local and national nursing agenda
• Current issues in health and social care
• Standards of professional practice
• Extensive post registration experience
• Significant experience within a leadership role or equivalent
• Experience of managing and leading a team
• Experience of clinical audit & standard setting
• Service development and/or change management
• Understanding of performance management strategies
• Recruitment and selection knowledge
• Commitment to clinical audit, research and evidence-based practice
• Understanding of Human resources policies and guidance as pertinent to the management and leadership of the clinical team
• Understanding of organisational structures
• Understanding of relevant national service guidance pertinent to the service
• Understands the business of the ward

Desirable

• Clinical experience within the speciality
• Budget management
• Awareness of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (RN Adult for adult clinical areas or RN Child for childrens areas) (Level 1 or 2)
• Recognised teaching/assessing qualification.
• Degree in Nursing or related subject or equivalent professional experience
• Evidence of effective professional and leadership development
• Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

• Willing to undergo training as necessary

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Compassionate and caring
• Capable of lateral thinking
• Motivator of self and others and commitment to success
• Positive approach to change
• Assertive / courageous
• Flexible and Adaptable
• Innovator
• Role model
• Able to identify and manage stress in self and others.
• Self-confidence, uses this to lead, involve and challenge others appropriate.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ensures personal and professional behaviour and integrity at all times.
• Team player
• Learns from incidents and complaints.
• Uses initiative to resolve issues within their own control.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).