Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen on the Regional Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital. We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Nursing Associate, with a passion for excellence within the delivery of patient care
Mersey Regional Plastics Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital provides treatment and repair of major lacerations where there is loss of tissue/ function, Re-attachment of severed body parts (re-implantation), Reconstruction surgery including where there is loss of tissue e.g. due to cancer or severe infections or trauma.
The post holder will be responsible for the clinical assessment of wounds and the treatment, and you should be able to work autonomously within this area, as the clinic is predominantly nurse led.
Experience in wound care is essential.
The successful candidate must have excellent communication skills when dealing with both patients & relatives and have the ability to make a clear decision with confidence and communicate this effectively. You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and work effectively with outside agencies.
Your professional development is important to us, we believe this enables you to give the best possible care to our patients and visitors. The post holder will be fully supported throughout their role within a friendly and dynamic team structure.
An Enhanced DBS Certificate with both the Children's and Adults' Barred Lists is required for this post.
Main duties of the job
- To develop the skills to care for acutely unwell patients.
- Liaise with senior Medical/Medical staff to provide a high quality service to patients and their families.
- Offer advice / support to staff as required.
- Work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team to maximise best use of resources.
- Demonstrate commitment to the principles of Improving Working Lives.
- Promote a safe working environment in accordance with Risk Management principles.
Interview Date - To Be Considered
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our Services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communications and relationship skills
- Provides and receives complex information, communicating sensitively and confidentially information relating to patients/clients (for example, provide information relating to patient care plans to junior staff and receive complex information from senior colleague).
- 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
Clinical Skills
- Work as part of a designated clinical and care team delivering care that focuses on the direct needs of the individual.
- Maintain understanding of all elements of the nursing process and be able to assist the registered nurse in on-going assessment, planning, management and evaluation of care.
- Deliver high quality, compassionate care under the supervision of a registered Nurse (or other registered professional dependent on the setting) with a focus on promoting health and independence focusing on the needs of the patient.
- Where appropriate manage work without direct supervision, at times delivering care independently in line with the individuals plan of care, within designated parameters of practice of the Registered Nursing Associate role,
- Access clinical and care advice when needed, recognize signs of deterioration/change and respond according to protocol.
- Support individuals with all aspects of care including activities of daily living, providing person-centred care and promoting health and independence.
- Work within the scope of the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Nursing Associates and Trust policies when administering/checking medications.
- Maintain appropriate levels of training and competencies for clinical skills as needed within scope of practice.
- Undertake clinical procedures within agreed competencies that are relevant to the speciality e.g. cannulation, venepuncture, ECGs, blood glucose, catheterisation and any additional tasks that are required by speciality / organisation as reflected in Trust policy.
- Work within the organisational policy, standard operating procedures and guidelines.
- Assist in the assessment of and management of risk across the environment where care is being administered.
- Ensure that privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times.
Budget Responsibilities
- 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
- Liaise with the Roster Coordinator to ensure your personal roster is balanced within the roster period.
- To order and receipt goods in accordance with the Trusts financial framework.
Team Development
- To manage own time and that of others, through delegations to ensure high quality service delivery.
- To share best practice with junior staff and students to support their learning and development.
- To participate in the setting of yearly personal and professional objectives for self and support the departments appraisal process for junior staff by providing feedback on their performance.
- To act as assessor/supervisor for junior staff and students, where appropriate.
Research and Audit
- To contribute to the collection of data for research and audit purposes.
- To identify audit topics relevant to the ward/department.
Personal Development
- To identify areas for self-development, areas of interest and training requirements within your 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
- Contribute towards developing a culture of learning and innovation, developing high quality learning environments
- Adopt a reflective approach to own practice with a view to continually improve.
- To be flexible in the delivery of safe staffing across the Trust and participate in redeployment requirements within scope of practice
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communications and relationship skills
- Provides and receives complex information, communicating sensitively and confidentially information relating to patients/clients (for example, provide information relating to patient care plans to junior staff and receive complex information from senior colleague).
- 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
Clinical Skills
- Work as part of a designated clinical and care team delivering care that focuses on the direct needs of the individual.
- Maintain understanding of all elements of the nursing process and be able to assist the registered nurse in on-going assessment, planning, management and evaluation of care.
- Deliver high quality, compassionate care under the supervision of a registered Nurse (or other registered professional dependent on the setting) with a focus on promoting health and independence focusing on the needs of the patient.
- Where appropriate manage work without direct supervision, at times delivering care independently in line with the individuals plan of care, within designated parameters of practice of the Registered Nursing Associate role,
- Access clinical and care advice when needed, recognize signs of deterioration/change and respond according to protocol.
- Support individuals with all aspects of care including activities of daily living, providing person-centred care and promoting health and independence.
- Work within the scope of the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Nursing Associates and Trust policies when administering/checking medications.
- Maintain appropriate levels of training and competencies for clinical skills as needed within scope of practice.
- Undertake clinical procedures within agreed competencies that are relevant to the speciality e.g. cannulation, venepuncture, ECGs, blood glucose, catheterisation and any additional tasks that are required by speciality / organisation as reflected in Trust policy.
- Work within the organisational policy, standard operating procedures and guidelines.
- Assist in the assessment of and management of risk across the environment where care is being administered.
- Ensure that privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times.
Budget Responsibilities
- 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
- Liaise with the Roster Coordinator to ensure your personal roster is balanced within the roster period.
- To order and receipt goods in accordance with the Trusts financial framework.
Team Development
- To manage own time and that of others, through delegations to ensure high quality service delivery.
- To share best practice with junior staff and students to support their learning and development.
- To participate in the setting of yearly personal and professional objectives for self and support the departments appraisal process for junior staff by providing feedback on their performance.
- To act as assessor/supervisor for junior staff and students, where appropriate.
Research and Audit
- To contribute to the collection of data for research and audit purposes.
- To identify audit topics relevant to the ward/department.
Personal Development
- To identify areas for self-development, areas of interest and training requirements within your 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
- Contribute towards developing a culture of learning and innovation, developing high quality learning environments
- Adopt a reflective approach to own practice with a view to continually improve.
- To be flexible in the delivery of safe staffing across the Trust and participate in redeployment requirements within scope of practice
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Nursing Associate Foundation degree
- Current NMC registration
- GCSE Grade A-C in Maths & English or skills level 2 Maths & English or equivalent
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
- Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice contained within The Code
- Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice
- Understand requirements for NMC professional Revalidation
- Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans
- Experience of working in teams under appropriate supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
- Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information
Skills
Essential
- Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
- Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload
- Ability to deal with non- routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact
- Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues
- Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting.
- Computer literacy e.g. experience of electronic patient record
Other
Essential
- Ability to work within highly distressing or emotional circumstances eg 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
- Nursing Associate Foundation degree
- Current NMC registration
- GCSE Grade A-C in Maths & English or skills level 2 Maths & English or equivalent
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
- Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice contained within The Code
- Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice
- Understand requirements for NMC professional Revalidation
- Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans
- Experience of working in teams under appropriate supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
- Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information
Skills
Essential
- Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
- Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload
- Ability to deal with non- routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact
- Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues
- Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting.
- Computer literacy e.g. experience of electronic patient record
Other
Essential
- Ability to work within highly distressing or emotional circumstances eg 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).
