Staff Nurse - Paediatrics

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Job overview

Staff Nurse

Band 5

Full Time x 2 posts

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Staff nurse to work on our Children's Ward at Ormskirk Hospital.

The Children's Ward comprises of a 17 bedded inpatient ward with one High Dependency bed and 4 day case beds, all supported by our busy 6 bed Paediatric Assessment and Observation Unit. We also have a dedicated Paediatric ED department, Outpatient clinics and a Children’s Community Outreach Team.

On site is also a 10 cot Level 2 Neonatal Unit.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Children’s nurse or Learning Disabilities nurse with an interest in Paediatric nursing, who is an excellent role model, self-motivated and committed to the delivery of high standards of quality care. Experience is preferred but not essential.

If you are a Children’s or LD nurse, committed to providing high quality care and would like to develop your clinical skills, this position could be for you.

The post is shift work, rotational to night duty and the ability to work as part of a team is essential.

The posts will have a rotational element to them to allow you to develop a wide range of skills across more than one area which will be discussed further at interview. Further information available on request.

Interview date: TBC

• 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
• Demonstrate effective communications skills with the wider MDT team
• 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 patient’s pathway
• 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

Working for our organisation

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

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.

• 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

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• 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 patient’s 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.

• 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 department’s 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.

• 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.

• To observe the provisions of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
• To actively participate in the annual performance review to identify personal development needs
• To attend Trust Statutory and Mandatory training sessions as required and any other training courses relevant to the post.
• To fully comply with the relevant sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act. They must also understand and implement Mersey and West Lancashire Hospitals NHS Hospitals Trust “Statement of Policy on Health and Safety at Work” and the Trust corporate “Health and Safety Policies and Procedures”. You are required to follow all applicable rules and procedures relating to Health and Safety at Work and to take all responsible precautions to avoid actions
• To be aware of the confidential aspects of the post. To keep up to date with the requirements of information governance; undertake mandatory training and follow Trust policies and procedures to ensure that trust information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently and effectively. Breaches of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action that may involve dismissal. You must maintain the confidentiality of information about service user staff and organisational business in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR) and Caldicott principles.
• The post holder should also be aware that, regardless of any action taken by the employing authority, breaches of confidentiality could result in civil action for damages.
• All staff will be treated with respect by management, colleagues, patients and visitors and equally staff will treat management, colleagues, patients and visitors with the same level of respect. Staff will be supported to challenge any discriminatory behaviour that may be based on differences in race, disability, language, culture, religion, sexuality, age, and gender or employment status.
• You will be expected to undertake the Trusts’ commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• To ensure that when creating, managing and sharing information records it is done in an appropriate way, subject to statutory requirements and agreed security and confidentiality policies, procedures and guidelines. All employees are responsible for implementing and maintaining data quality, ensuring that records are legible and attributable and that the record keeping is contemporaneous
• In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the post holder will actively participate in the prevention and control of infection within the capacity of their role. The Act requires the post holder to attend infection prevention and control training on induction and at regular updates and to take responsibility for the practical application of the training in the course of their work. Infection prevention and control must be included in any personal development plan and/or appraisal.
• To adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body (if appropriate)
• The post holder must be flexible in the duties performed and it is expected that similar duties, not specifically listed above, will be carried out as required and may be cross site.
• The duties contained in this job description are not intended to be exhaustive. The duties and responsibilities of this post are likely to evolve in line with the Trust’s continued organisational development.
• To adhere to the NHS Constitution and its principles and values. You must be aware of your Duty of Candour which means that you must be open and honest during your employment and if you see something wrong, you must raise it. You must read the NHS Constitution in full and can download this from the Trusts intranet site or the www.gov.uk website. Hard copies are available from the HR Department on request.
• The Trust is a non-smoking site. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action.

Please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated, should a sufficient number of applications be received, you are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

Closing Date - 21st February 2025

Person specification

Qualifications

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

Knowledge & Experience

• 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

• 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

Other

• 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.

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. You are part of an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact [email protected]

We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision-making process.

The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.

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).

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).

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click here to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 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.

Please note if applicable, applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment.

If you have not already done so, you are therefore encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service to which a small annual fee of £13 per year applies.

Flexible Working

We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that:

• All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
• There is no limit on the number of requests they can make.
• Employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason.

At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working. We would also encourage you to also discuss flexible working options at interview stage.

Working for Team MWL

Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

The Trust is a non-smoking across all our sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Smoke Free NHS website

You must ensure that your application, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Additional Information

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and Behaviours which are We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE, which can be found here.

An applicant guide to help and support you with your application and what to expect during your recruitment journey can be accessed in the supporting documents.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon.