Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Staff Nurse - Short Stay Unit

The closing date is 29 May 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a Band 5 staff Nurse to our SSU team.

SSU is a 24hr unit caring for patients who require a short period of assessment in hospital. This is a fast paced & challenging unit, caring for predominantly medical patients. We receive our patients directly from AED AMU or SDEC with a plan for early discharge.

As a nursing team we work closely with and are well supported by our MDT colleagues to ensure our patients receive the best possible care and treatment to ensure they can be treated and discharged as quickly as possible.

We are looking for a band 5 nurse who are committed, motivated, and ready to be challenged and willing to engage. Shift patterns available in-line with trust policy.

Experience within an urgent care environment would be an advantage, but not essential.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 5 RN on our SSU you will be responsible for delivering high quality care in a fast paced environment, and so we are looking for an enthusiastic individuals to join our team who can demonstrate a commitment to the provision of high quality patient centred care.

On a day-to-day basis you will be responsible for managing the care of a group of patients, facilitating early discharge and arranging on-going care needs.

You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a demonstrable ability to work creatively both independently, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

About us

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.

From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.

The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:

  • CARE that is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
  • SAFETY that is of the highest standards
  • COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
  • SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
  • PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients

Our achievements include:

  • Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
  • Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
  • Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits.

Details

Date posted

20 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

409-7023783

Job locations

Southport

Town Lane, Kew

Southport

PR8 6PN


Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

  • Provides and receives complex information, communicating sensitively and confidentially information relating to patients/clients (for example, care plan discussions with patients).

  • Communicates in a compassionate and empathetic manner, using persuasion and Reassurance.

  • Ability to recognise barriers to communication, and ability to modify communication style as and when required.

  • Ability to effectively communicate whilst providing training to students.

  • Demonstrate effective communications skills with the wider MDT team.

  • Maintain appropriate levels of training for clinical skills as needed within scope of practice.

  • To maintain safe custody of drugs, ensuring that checking, witnessing and administration procedures are compatible with statutory and trust requirements.

  • In the absence of Sister/Charge Nurse effectively respond to complaints/concerns and escalate as required.

  • To ensure clinical incident/near misses are managed and reported and escalated in a timely manner.

  • To be part of the multidisciplinary team decision making, acting when required as the patients advocate in order to support the patients pathway.

  • Work within the organisational policy, standard operating procedures and guidelines.

  • To undertake risk assessments and implement risk reducing measures. To report and escalate to the Line Manager any deficiencies in the arrangements for minimizing risk.

  • Ensure that privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times.

  • To actively participate in the effective and efficient use of the ward/departmental resources and equipment, including stock management and care and maintenance of equipment.

  • Handles patients valuables, ensuring safe storage and transportation.

  • Sign off agency timesheets in order to verify and record the hours worked.

  • Liaise with the Roster Coordinator to ensure your personal roster is balanced within the roster period.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To deputise in the absence of the Sister / Charge Nurse.

  • To manage own time and that of others, through delegations to ensure high quality service

delivery.

  • To act as assessor/supervisor for junior staff and students.

  • To participate in the setting of yearly personal and professional objectives for self.

  • Support the departments appraisal process for junior staff, by providing feedback.

  • To be flexible in the delivery of safe staffing across the Trust and participate in redeployment requirements within scope of practice

RESEARCH & AUDIT

  • To contribute to the collection of data for research and audit purposes.

  • To identify audit topics relevant to the ward/department.

  • To critically evaluate research before applying to clinic practice in order to enhance patient care.

  • To identify areas for self-development, areas of interest and training requirements within individual personal performance planning and development review.

  • To maintain a professional portfolio and reflective diary for developmental purposes and revalidation.

  • Support the rest of the team by recognising own and promoting self-help and wellbeing.

  • Develop a culture of learning and innovation, developing high quality learning environments.

  • Adopt a reflective approach to own practice with a view to continually improve.

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

  • Provides and receives complex information, communicating sensitively and confidentially information relating to patients/clients (for example, care plan discussions with patients).

  • Communicates in a compassionate and empathetic manner, using persuasion and Reassurance.

  • Ability to recognise barriers to communication, and ability to modify communication style as and when required.

  • Ability to effectively communicate whilst providing training to students.

  • Demonstrate effective communications skills with the wider MDT team.

  • Maintain appropriate levels of training for clinical skills as needed within scope of practice.

  • To maintain safe custody of drugs, ensuring that checking, witnessing and administration procedures are compatible with statutory and trust requirements.

  • In the absence of Sister/Charge Nurse effectively respond to complaints/concerns and escalate as required.

  • To ensure clinical incident/near misses are managed and reported and escalated in a timely manner.

  • To be part of the multidisciplinary team decision making, acting when required as the patients advocate in order to support the patients pathway.

  • Work within the organisational policy, standard operating procedures and guidelines.

  • To undertake risk assessments and implement risk reducing measures. To report and escalate to the Line Manager any deficiencies in the arrangements for minimizing risk.

  • Ensure that privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times.

  • To actively participate in the effective and efficient use of the ward/departmental resources and equipment, including stock management and care and maintenance of equipment.

  • Handles patients valuables, ensuring safe storage and transportation.

  • Sign off agency timesheets in order to verify and record the hours worked.

  • Liaise with the Roster Coordinator to ensure your personal roster is balanced within the roster period.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To deputise in the absence of the Sister / Charge Nurse.

  • To manage own time and that of others, through delegations to ensure high quality service

delivery.

  • To act as assessor/supervisor for junior staff and students.

  • To participate in the setting of yearly personal and professional objectives for self.

  • Support the departments appraisal process for junior staff, by providing feedback.

  • To be flexible in the delivery of safe staffing across the Trust and participate in redeployment requirements within scope of practice

RESEARCH & AUDIT

  • To contribute to the collection of data for research and audit purposes.

  • To identify audit topics relevant to the ward/department.

  • To critically evaluate research before applying to clinic practice in order to enhance patient care.

  • To identify areas for self-development, areas of interest and training requirements within individual personal performance planning and development review.

  • To maintain a professional portfolio and reflective diary for developmental purposes and revalidation.

  • Support the rest of the team by recognising own and promoting self-help and wellbeing.

  • Develop a culture of learning and innovation, developing high quality learning environments.

  • Adopt a reflective approach to own practice with a view to continually improve.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 1st Level Registered Nurse (degree/diploma)
  • Current NMC Registration
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate knowledge of NMC professional standards for practice contained within the code.
  • Experience of working in a clinical environment
  • Understand requirements for NMC professional Revalidation
  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
  • An understanding of national, regional, and local NHS issues
  • Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to network and build relationships at all levels.
  • Effectively prioritises and co-ordinates own workload.
  • Ability to de-escalate complex situations
  • Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Awareness of the need for confidentiality at all times
  • Computer literacy e.g. experience of electronic patient record

Others

Essential

  • Frequent moderate effort for several short periods of time such as manual handling of patients and equipment.
  • Frequent concentration required for drug calculation and Administration.
  • Dealing with frequent interruptions and competing demands
  • Ability to work within highly distressing or emotional circumstances e.g. end of life care.
  • Ability to communicate distressing information.
  • Ability to communicate in a challenging environment
  • Able to carry out direct clinical care as required on ward or department.
  • Potential blood or body fluids exposure.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 1st Level Registered Nurse (degree/diploma)
  • Current NMC Registration
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate knowledge of NMC professional standards for practice contained within the code.
  • Experience of working in a clinical environment
  • Understand requirements for NMC professional Revalidation
  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
  • An understanding of national, regional, and local NHS issues
  • Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to network and build relationships at all levels.
  • Effectively prioritises and co-ordinates own workload.
  • Ability to de-escalate complex situations
  • Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Awareness of the need for confidentiality at all times
  • Computer literacy e.g. experience of electronic patient record

Others

Essential

  • Frequent moderate effort for several short periods of time such as manual handling of patients and equipment.
  • Frequent concentration required for drug calculation and Administration.
  • Dealing with frequent interruptions and competing demands
  • Ability to work within highly distressing or emotional circumstances e.g. end of life care.
  • Ability to communicate distressing information.
  • Ability to communicate in a challenging environment
  • Able to carry out direct clinical care as required on ward or department.
  • Potential blood or body fluids exposure.

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Southport

Town Lane, Kew

Southport

PR8 6PN


Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Southport

Town Lane, Kew

Southport

PR8 6PN


Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward Manager

Kirsty Ball

kirsty.ball@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk

01704704241

Details

Date posted

20 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

409-7023783

Job locations

Southport

Town Lane, Kew

Southport

PR8 6PN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)