JuniorSister/ChargeNurse Gynaecology

Job responsibilities

Post TitleSister / Charge Nurse

Pay Band6

HoursPart/Full time

ContractPermanent

Location / DepartmentEmergency Gynaecology Assessment Unit/Gynaecology Inpatients Unit

Accountable toDivisional Director of Nursing

Reports toWard Manager for Gynaecology

Key Working RelationshipsMatron for Acute Gynaecology Services, Ward Manager, Sister for Womens Health Unit, Staff Nurses, Health Care Assistants, Ward Clerk, Medical Secretaries and Administration Team, Housekeeping Team, Medical Staff for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Student Nurse Practice Facilitators/Assessors/Supervisors

Risk AssessmentThe post involves manual handling activities and exposure to body fluids and chemicals. May involve some VDU work and individuals may be exposed to violence and aggression. Requirement for Occupational Health Risk Assessment and current DBS.

Job Purpose

To ensure the maintenance of a high standard of nursing care at all times through the effective management of staff and resources and to be available for advice and support within the specialty

Provide effective leadership and to act as a good role model, as well as to liaise with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and co-ordinate all aspects of care in the best interests of the patient and family

To supervise junior staff and to teach qualified and unqualified staff as appropriate

To liaise closely with person carrying overall responsibility for the ward/department in the absence of that person.

Key Duties

Professional/Clinical Leadership

To assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care in the best interests of the patient

To take appropriate action to ensure the safety of patients, including the delegation of patient care to nurses with the appropriate level of skill at all times

To lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practice

To actively lead in team nursing and the development of nursing responsibilities for individual patients

To be responsible for the organisation of nursing care of patients

To discuss with the senior colleagues the development and changes, both nursing and medical, which affect patient care directly and indirectly

Establish and maintain communication with people about routine and daily activities overcoming any differences in communication between the people involved

To report any accidents/incidents/near misses via Datix and escalate to the Ward manager and/or Matron

To respond to Safeguarding concerns appropriately, adhering to the Trust policy and procedures

To ensure that nursing procedures are implemented and maintained in accordance with the policies of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Staff Development

Develop own knowledge and skills and contribute to the development of others

Supervise the training of qualified and unqualified staff in accordance to their level of competence, and assist junior staff to develop clinical and managerial skills

To act as a mentor for junior staff, to participate in teaching for all learners in accordance with their objectives

Working closely with Practice Facilitators/Assessors and Supervisors, provide support and supervision of student nurses

To participate in teaching programmes

Maintain a wide knowledge of current practice an issues within the speciality by reading relevant journals and attending study days where appropriate. Promoting the implementation and teaching of research based practice

To keep up to date with mandatory training

To organise and provide training programmes in accordance with the identified needs for the department

Clinical Governance

Promote best practice in health, safety and security

Contribute to quality improvement

Promote peoples equality, diversity and rights

Participate in personal and departmental clinical audit

To ensure that nursing procedures are implemented and maintained in accordance with the policies of the Trust

Management

Promote effective communication with ward/departmental staff and multidisciplinary teams

To manage effectively the ward/department in the absence of the ward manager/Matron

To prepare the duty rota for staff within the Ward establishment

To provide an effective and well balanced skill mix to meet the requirements for a 24 hour service and to ensure the presence of a suitably qualified and experienced nurse at all times

Maintain the custody of controlled drugs according to statutory procedure, ordering replacements, checking and administering all drugs according to the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust policy

To oversee and ensure adequate ordering and maintaining adequate stocks of supplies and provisions within the Ward/Department under the supervision of the budget holder

Contribute to the implementation of services

Plan, allocate, assess and provide feedback to team members

Maintain and support the efficient use of physical and/or financial resources

To collect information for and participate in studies to determine patient dependency and quality assurance

To take all measures to ensure safety and report all accidents/incidents to the Matron and to monitor the safe and effective use of all equipment and the economic use of supplies

Maintain contemporaneous, accurate records at all times, ensuring appropriate reporting mechanisms are used

Be conversant with Trust policies and procedures and national guidance/standards such as NICE

To work in accordance with government initiatives to ensure targets set are achieved

To assist across the gynaecology service of the Trust if the clinical situation or staffing levels demand

Maintain good relations and communication with other Departments and multi-disciplinary teams

To share nursing skills with the multi-disciplinary team from other clinical area

Professional

To maintain a professional attitude at all times developing the role of the nurse in the best interest of the patient and profession in accordance with Nursing & Midwifery Council

To be aware of personal and professional development

To attend courses and conferences as recommended and approved by the Matron

To be conversant and comply with the Trust policies and regulations and attend mandatory lectures as instructed

Participate in research projects where appropriate, report findings within a multidisciplinary framework

Implement research where appropriate

Personnel

To participate in the selection and interviewing of nursing staff within the ward/department

Participate in devising induction programmes for newly appointed staff

To assist the Matron in monitoring staff performance

Participate in staff appraisal and writing of reports

To assist in the maintenance of day to day discipline within the department

To inform the Matron of staff failing to meet the required standard of performance, and taking appropriate action where required

To counsel staff in relation to personnel and professional matters

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Standard Clauses
• A Disclosures and Barring Service check will be carried out where the position is eligible for a Disclosures and Barring Service Check in accordance with the 2012 Protection of Freedom Act and the guidance issued by the DBS.
• All posts working with children or vulnerable adults are required to have an Enhanced DBS checked including checking against DBS / ISA Vetting and barring lists.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of two years experience at Band 5 within gynaecology or related field
• Experience of working independently/prioritising own workload
• Experience of working within the Multidisciplinary team
• Shift management
• Teaching and assessing

Desirable

• Ward/Department based teaching
• Clinical audit activity
• Risk assessment reporting
• Carrying out staff appraisals and Professional Development Plan formation
• Sickness absence/monitoring
• Complaints handling

Qualifications

Essential

• First level NMC Registered Nurse
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Educated in nursing studies to degree level
• Leadership study/qualification
• Practice Supervisor and Assessor

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of being up to date with current NHS/professional issues including the NMC Code of Conduct
• Good interpersonal skills
• Good communication skills
• Experience and knowledge of womens health issues
• Clinical credibility
• Evidence of teaching and development skills
• Leadership skills and ability to inspire and motivate others
• Awareness of health and safety issues and management of them
• Awareness of safeguarding principles
• Able to prioritise workload
• Fully aware of principles of infection control.
• Fully aware of the principles of clinical governance and the application of clinical governance
• Computer literate as appropriate to the post
• Promote peoples equality, diversity and rights

Desirable

• Involvement in Clinical Supervision

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Compassionate and Empathetic
• Demonstrates initiative
• Assertive
• Enthusiastic, cheerful and dynamic
• Motivated with the ability to put changes into practice
• Organised and good time management

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).