Sister / Charge Nurse - Harvey Ward

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wavea national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.

This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Job Summary

To provide expert, holistic care of a high standard to both patients and their relatives at The Princess Alexandra Hospital

To take direct managerial responsibility for the clinical area in the absence or as delegated by the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse / Head of Department

To assist in the leadership and development of an identified group of nurses within the ward / department complement

To act as a clinical resource with the ward and across the care directorate as necessary

To act as a positive role model to junior staff members. Particular emphasis is put at The Princess Alexandra Hospital on the need to ensure that all staff recognise their responsibility to deliver services in a high quality, courteous, patient focused manner and to maintain patient confidentiality at all times

Scope and range

The band 6 sister / charge nurse is an experienced nurse who must be able to interact at all levels of the nursing and midwifery profession. The individual is expected to represent the department they work supporting the clinical leadership team as well as the clinical team to support in the delivery of high quality, standardised evidenced based care.

• Associate Director of Nursing
• Head of Nursing
• Matrons
• Department / Ward manager
• Clinical site management team
• Ward / department team
• Wider MDT
• Specialist discharge team

Duties And Responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to this at all times
• To demonstrate clinical expertise in care of any patients receiving treatment in the ward / department
• To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the needs of patients on the ward / department on an ongoing basis, co-ordinating the care given by all members of the clinical team
• To accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patient’ condition, promptly report changes and instigate remedial action as appropriate
• To act as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice and support the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives
• To ensure that accurate records are maintained reflecting both changes in the patient’s condition and treatment delivered
• To ensure that patients and their relatives are updated regularly with accurate information and ensure that it is presented in a way that they understand
• To ensure that Clinical Guidelines are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with line manager and the practice development team
• To ensure that practice is evidence based and with support assist in the development of policies and protocols with the clinical area
• To uphold high standards of nursing care, according to existing policies and standards
• To support the Ward Managers / Department Leaders / Matron / Heads of Nursing and Associate Directors of Nursing in the process of continuous quality improvement, formally evaluating standards of care and assisting in the implementation of changes in the light of such findings
• To contribute to the health education of patients and their families, ensuring that all patients receive appropriate advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle
• To actively support the implementation of the Trust nursing strategy and uphold the Trust values

Education and Research

• To act as a mentor to junior staff members, responsible for orientation, supervision and ongoing development of junior and student nurses in conjunction with the departmental manager and relevant practice education team
• To act as a preceptor, responsible for completing competency documents for junior staff within agreed timeframes
• To act as a practice supervisor and practice assessor to nursing students undertaking further education as requested and required. Ensuring a positive learning experience and facilitating the development of their clinical skills
• To contribute to the wider educational activities within the directorate ensuring attendance at and contributing to the delivery of educational activities within the directorate
• To promote and encourage the application of research and evidence based practice
• To participate in any research projects conducted in the clinical area as appropriate

Management

• To manage the clinical workload effectively, ensuring care is prioritised appropriately
• To contribute positively towards the delivery of a cost effective service, adjusting staffing levels to meet demand and assisting the ward manager to keep within agreed resources
• To assist with the ongoing organisation of the ward / department, co-ordinating activities of the clinical area
• To liaise with the MDT, Bed managers and site managers to ensure optimal bed usage at all times, facilitating timely admission and discharge if patients
• To act as a team leader to an identified group of staff, monitoring and documenting the development of their clinical skills
• To develop own skills in recruitment and retention, sickness management and performance manager as determined by the line manager
• To actively support the process of patient safety and quality ensuring incidents are reported appropriately and helping identify ways of preventing errors and accidents to both patients and staff
• To make a positive contribution to service development affecting the clinical area and positively influence others to adapt to change
• To actively promote patient experience, assisting in resolving (informal) complaints and supporting the ward / departmental manager to investigate formal complaints
• To assist with the monitoring of stock levels of clinical stores and technical equipment, resolving any shortfall as appropriate
• To maintain standards of hygiene and cleanliness within the clinical area, taking appropriate action to remedy the situation appropriately and escalating deficits to the ward / departmental manager / matron as appropriate
• To communicate varied and complicated information (verbally and in writing) in a way that is understood and gets the important facts across
• To resolve local problems / conflicts, keeping managers / others informed and maintaining positive team dynamics across the ward / department at all times
• To take a leadership role in crisis situations, resolving problems across the directorate as necessary
• To maintain confidentiality with regards to personal information pertaining to staff
• To attend and contribute to departmental meetings as required

Personal professional development

• To work within and accept responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of clinical competence
• To keep up to date with NMC, Trust and directorate values and adhere to these at all times
• To be a fully active and committed member of the multidisciplinary team operating in the directorate
• To demonstrate an insight into own professional development, contributing to the process of identifying own educational needs and clinical training needs in conjunction with the ward / department manager
• Participate in own individual performance review and after suitable training to be responsible for undertaking for own team of staff
• To ensure own educational commitment is at least sufficient to maintain revalidation requirements and ensure own mandatory training certificates are current

General

• To maintain strict confidentiality of staff and patient records, in line with Trust policy: unauthorised breech with result in disciplinary action
• To ensure that acceptable standards of GDPR are maintain in accordance with Trust policy and the law
• To observe the rules, policies and procedures in place at The Princess Alexandra Hospital
• To carry out duties as an employee and service provider with due regard to the Trust equal opportunities policy
• To participate in team meetings as required by your line manager
• Under the Health and Safety at work act the post holder has a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of oneself, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital in addition to any specific risk management of clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post
• To undertake any other duties appropriate to the band which may be required from time to time

This is an outline job description designed to give an overview of the responsibilities of the post. The post holder will be expected to be flexible to respond to change and organisational need. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to the wider corporate and organisational needs of the Trust as appropriate

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