Sister/Charge Nurse - ED

Job overview

To be based in ED promoting a cohesive emergency services team.

To support the Unit Manager in leading the Unit team and in doing so:

• To be aware of the need to adhere to Trust Escalation Policy relaying timely information relating to activity and acuity therefore meeting National Targets.
• Act as a role model, demonstrating high levels of clinical expertise, leading, managing and delivering individual patient care.
• Proactively promote staff development ensuring its relevance to the practice area and individual needs.
• Facilitate a learning environment for staff and students allocated to the area.
• Deputise in the absence of the Unit Manager, managing staff and physical resources effectively.
• To promote and raise the profile of emergency nursing research and assist in the development and evaluation of new initiatives that are research and evidence based.
• To provide effective coordination of the Unit. Prioritisation and allocation of patients, directing transfers and facilitating admissions.

This is a Fixed Term contract for a period of 10 months. Secondments considered.

Main duties of the job

JOB PURPOSE:

To be based in ED promoting a cohesive emergency services team.

To support the Unit Manager in leading the Unit team and in doing so:

• To be aware of the need to adhere to Trust Escalation Policy relaying timely information relating to activity and acuity therefore meeting National Targets.
• Act as a role model, demonstrating high levels of clinical expertise, leading, managing and delivering individual patient care.
• Proactively promote staff development ensuring its relevance to the practice area and individual needs.
• Facilitate a learning environment for staff and students allocated to the area.
• Deputise in the absence of the Unit Manager, managing staff and physical resources effectively.
• To promote and raise the profile of emergency nursing research and assist in the development and evaluation of new initiatives that are research and evidence based.
• To provide effective coordination of the Unit. Prioritisation and allocation of patients, directing transfers and facilitating admissions.

Working for our organisation

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Ensure a high standard of nursing is delivered by self and others based on an assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, identifying priorities and realistic goals involving patients, relatives and the multi-disciplinary team.
2. Utilise leadership skills ensuring that the Unit runs smoothly in the absence of the Unit Manager.
3. Assist and support the Unit Manager in the safe, effective management of the area including management of personnel, facilities and the associated systems and processes.
4. Supervise and monitor the work of staff within the Unit, ensuring that practice is evidence based and agreed protocols adhered to.
5. Co-ordinate care across the Unit deploying staff and prioritising as necessary.
6. Ensure that staff rotas are planned in advance to provide adequate staffing and skill mix. Identify when shortfalls occur, or are likely to occur, taking appropriate remedial action.
7. Assist the Unit Manager to manage resources within agreed budgets as set by the Clinical Manager.
8. Assist the Unit Manager in the recruitment and selection of staff following agreed personnel policies.
9. Be fully conversant with all policies and procedures, including major incident, fire, health and safety, disciplinary, complaints and grievance and follow these as necessary.
10. Assist the Unit Manager to identify and manage performance issues including attendance, professional conduct, capability etc.
11. Actively promote professional development amongst staff within the area.
12. Assist the Unit Manager to ensure that all staff have agreed objectives and personal development plans.
13. Work closely with the Emergency Unit Co-ordinators Leads to foster a creative and open working culture to encourage new ideas and new ways of working to enhance the coordinators role.

1. Act as a role model in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of individual programmes of care for patients.
2. Review and evaluate the care given by other team members, ensuring that realistic goals are set in partnership with the patient, and interventions enable the achievement of optimal outcomes.
3. Identify the need for changes to practice and the implications (including budgets). Agree these with the Unit Manager and lead agreed practice change.
4. Ensure an approach to care which recognises the needs and views of patients and their carers, and which places the patient at the centre of all activities.
5. Ensure an approach to care which minimises clinical risk and maximises clinical effectiveness.
6. Ensure clinical and other untoward incidents are reported through the Trust’s incident reporting mechanism and that staff are supported in this process.
7. Assist in the investigation of clinical incidents and errors and to identify and support any required change to nursing practice.
8. Assist in the investigation of complaints through the Trust’s complaints procedure, using these as a learning opportunity and support the Unit Manager to change practice as a result, when appropriate.
9. Assist the Unit Manager in the setting of evidence-based clinical practice standards, guidelines and protocols, which are regularly audited.
10. Support the development of multidisciplinary clinical audit at Unit level.
11. Be involved in the process of clinical audit, using outcomes to further improve the quality of patient care and achieve national targets.

1. Assist in the development of communication systems and maintain existing effective systems within the clinical area, with nursing, the multi-disciplinary team, and support services staff.
2. Ensure effective communication takes place between patients and/or relatives and staff.
3. Participate and communicate effectively with the inter-professional team and other agencies as necessary.
4. Support bereaved and distressed patients/relatives.

1. Supervise and facilitate appropriate mentorship of students working within the area.
2. Work in partnership with other nurses and trainers within the Trust in the co-ordination and delivery of training and development programmes.
3. Support and facilitate staff to keep up to date with changes in nursing practice, technology, research and health care.
4. Provide practical support by working alongside nurses as a clinical and educational advisor.
5. Plan, co-ordinate and evaluate preceptorship programmes.
6. Participate in the delivery of the orientation programme for new staff ensuring individual and service needs are met within an appropriate time frame.
7. Cascade down all new policies, procedures and guidelines.
8. Participate in the development of mechanisms for staff support including clinical supervision.

1. Exercise professional accountability and uphold the NMC Code of professional conduct.
2. Use reflection to formulate and prioritise areas for self-development.
3. Develop and maintain own professional knowledge and skills through lifelong learning.

JOB PURPOSE:

To be based in ED promoting a cohesive emergency services team.

To support the Unit Manager in leading the Unit team and in doing so:

• To be aware of the need to adhere to Trust Escalation Policy relaying timely information relating to activity and acuity therefore meeting National Targets.
• Act as a role model, demonstrating high levels of clinical expertise, leading, managing and delivering individual patient care.
• Proactively promote staff development ensuring its relevance to the practice area and individual needs.
• Facilitate a learning environment for staff and students allocated to the area.
• Deputise in the absence of the Unit Manager, managing staff and physical resources effectively.
• To promote and raise the profile of emergency nursing research and assist in the development and evaluation of new initiatives that are research and evidence based.
• To provide effective coordination of the Unit. Prioritisation and allocation of patients, directing transfers and facilitating admissions.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• • NMC Registration
• • Teaching or Mentorship qualification
• • Evidence of ongoing professional development
• • ILS/ALERT
• • Diploma in Nursing

• • ALS
• • Working towards degree
• • ATLS
• • EPLS

Experience and knowledge

• • Significant previous experience at Band 5, working in the Emergency Department
• • Teaching experience
• • Management experience

• • Clinical Audit
• • Previous experience of working at Band 6

Skills and abilities

• • Mentorship skills. Sound underpinning knowledge of clinical practice within specialist and extended enhanced clinical skills
• • IV Drug Administration
• • IT skills
• • Research awareness
• • Venepuncture/cannulation • Able to prioritise care
• • Able to prioritise care
• • Sound underpinning knowledge of clinical practice within specialist and extended enhanced clinical skills

• Good understanding of recruitment, staff development and performance management

Teaching

• • Able to be a mentor
• • Evidence of the ability to teach/support staff
• • Ability to assist in creating a good learning environment Interest in staff development

• Previous mentorship experience

Research/Audit

• • Understanding of clinical effectiveness and quality issues • Awareness of current political/professional issues
• • Research aware
• • Awareness of current political/professional issues

• Experience in audit activities

Personal qualities

• • Ability to function and build interdepartmental relationships within the multidisciplinary team
• • Leadership qualities
• • Communication skills
• • Organisational skills
• • Commitment to delivering high quality service