Sister/Charge Nurse - Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom - West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Description

Job summary

The successful candidate will be part of a fantastic team and be expected to take charge of all areas within the acute Assessment unit including the Same Day Emergency Care Unit and also caring for patients who attend with acute illnesses. The successful candidate will be an experienced staff nurse looking for self-development or someone wishing to expand their nursing portfolio.

Our Acute assessment unit is a is a thriving, innovative, front door service consistent of 23 assessment trolleys which operates 24 hours a day, it is a fast-paced unit which cares for patients with varied medical conditions in their acute phase. The unit is part of the Same Day Emergency Care program where we deliver rapid assessment of Medical and surgical patient's including diagnostic and treatment without being admitted to a ward. They can then go home on the same day if it is clinically safe to do so. You will have the opportunity the opportunity to work in a clinical environment striving for excellence, and be an integral part of our nursing team.

You will be supported by the ward manager and matron to undertake personal and professional development opportunities. The ward offers different learning opportunities as well as a chance to develop management and leadership skills.

Main duties of the job

Support and deliver a range of clinical activities within the work area and act as a role model, demonstrating high levels of clinical expertise and leading, managing and delivering individual patient care.

Exhibit a positive attitude, be receptive to change and lead a team of innovative and creative staff, delegated by the Unit Manager

Take charge of AAU, including the AEC and Monitored beds and to manage the teams within to deliver best practice standards to patients from the fundamental aspects to advanced care interventions

Promote strong clinical leadership into the clinical area to encourage a high-performance culture, improve the service user experience and really challenge traditional nursing through new insights and perspectives

Work alongside nursing staff to influence and enable change and work towards clinical excellence

Work with the Unit Manager to ensure the standard of care delivery, support to administrative parts of the service and supervision of staff

Support the Emergency Department and Wards to deliver performance targets

Ensure the safe operation of the Acute Assessment Unit inpatient bays and Ambulatory Emergency Care areas by utilising the appropriate clinical skills and knowledge to maintain patient flow, safety, supporting deteriorating patients and collecting/requesting appropriate patient investigations.

Deputise in the absence of the Unit Manager, managing staff and physical resources effectively

About us

#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?

Job responsibilities

Key Tasks & Responsibilities:

Coordinate a 23 bedded unit / SDEC

Shift by Shift responsibility for overall operational Running of the unit

Maintaining Quality and patient Safety.

Communication:

To work as a team member of the AAU, establishing effective communication networks across the multidisciplinary team, particularly the medical team, AEC/ED/Short Stay Registered Nurse in charge, Patient Flow Team, Senior Trust Staff and with patients/relatives and carers while offering support to colleagues and requesting assistance as necessary

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.

To report to the Unit Manager / Senior Nurse on duty in a timely manner, information relating to all work activity, identifying significant changes in relation to direct patient care/treatment plans

To act as advocate for patients individual needs and choices

Assist in the teaching of staff and learners in nursing practices, acting as link nurse/mentor for named learners as required.

Assist in the supervision, support, training and assessment of registered and non-registered skilled workers.

Participates in the induction of staff and preceptorship of staff.

Takes lead responsibility for teaching and assessing learners in practice and encourages critical reflection as in clinical supervision.

To identify ways of overcoming potential barriers to effective communication

To demonstrates verbal communication through the ability to give basic information and support to individuals. To listen effectively and modify communication to individual needs.

To demonstrates written communication through the ability to record accurate, succinct, clear and legible reports and documentation.

To escalate clinical concerns to the relevant clinician/teams as per escalation policies in a timely manner

To receive and respond appropriately to telephone calls, e-mails and personal enquires accurately, courteously, and competently.

2 Leadership and Management

Assesses nursing care to be delivered. Plans, prioritises and supervises care within an allocated time frame. Delegate activities to team members appropriately

Works collaboratively with the inter-professional team in order to comply with the Trust and Departmental escalation plans, ensuring that relevant senior staff have been informed of position and appropriate action taken.

Supervises the delivery of care to maintain agreed standards.

Assesses nursing care to be delivered. Plans, prioritises and supervises care within an allocated time frame. Delegate activities to team members appropriately

Works collaboratively with the patient Flow Team in relation to decisions on patient flow issues.

Assists and supports the Unit Manager in the safe, effective management of the area including management of personnel, facilities and the associated systems and processes.

Supervises and monitors the work of staff within the Unit, ensuring that practice is evidence based and agreed protocols adhered to.

Co-ordinate care across the unit deploying staff and prioritising as necessary.

Ensure that staff rotas are planned to provide adequate staffing and skill mix. Identify when shortfalls occur, or are likely to occur, taking appropriate remedial action and necessary documentation.

Assist the Unit Manager to manage resources within agreed budgets as set by the Service Manager (budget holder)

Assist the Unit Manager in the recruitment and selection of staff following agreed personnel policies.

Be fully conversant with all policies and procedures required for the role, including major incident, fire, health and safety, disciplinary, managing employees attendance, capability, complaints and grievance and follow these as necessary.

Assist the Unit Manager to identify and manage performance issues including attendance, professional conduct, capability, etc. and liaise with HR as required.

Actively promote professional development amongst staff within the area

Assist the Unit Manager to ensure that all staff have agreed objectives and personal development plans and to produce these concomitants with appraisal reports in a timely manner.

Reviews and evaluates the effectiveness of nursing care for area of responsibility for the shift.

Organises and deploys staff according to workload, ensuring appropriate staff cover and reporting any deficiencies to Unit Manager or to divisional staffing bleep holder 933.

Is able to deputise for the Unit Manager by holding the divisional staffing bleep when required and formulates appropriate staffing plans to ensure patient safety within the medical division with the Bronze/Silver manager on-duty.

Identifies problems and risks, decides on appropriate actions via a structured approach and reports promptly to other staff on matters requiring their input.

Works collaboratively with the inter-professional team and other members of staff on different wards/departments.

Ensures all emergencies, untoward incidents, complaints and grievances are responded to and reported in accordance with Trust Policies

Contributes to the effective and efficient use of resources. Including safe use, checking, maintenance and storage of equipment

Reviews and evaluates the effectiveness of nursing care for area of responsibility for the shift. Delivers clear, concise records and handover.

Manages own time and responds to unexpected demands in a professional manner.

Training & Development

To provide support and guidance to trained and untrained members of the team

Supervise and facilitate appropriate mentorship of students working within the area.

Work in partnership with other nurses and trainers within the Trust in the co-ordination and delivery of training and development programmes

Support and facilitate staff to keep up to date with changes in nursing practice, technology, research and health care.

Provide practical support by working alongside nurses as a clinical and educational advisor.

To include practical skills demonstration to nursing assistants new to the clinical area

To act as practice supervisor for Trainee Assistant Practitioners

To establish and lead on an aspect of care in a link role, disseminating changes and up to date information to the work team.

Ensure Mandatory Training and e-Learning are up to date or liaises with educational lead designated for the area to book these in a timely manner.

To liaise with educational leads for the Unit/Trust in ensuring team members are fully up to date with all e-Learning and Mandatory Training modules.

Education and qualifications

Essential

Desirable

Experience and knowledge

Essential

Desirable

Skills and abilities

Essential

Desirable

Personal qualities

Essential