Sister/Charge Nurse - Paediatric Emergency Department

at  Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Are you a dynamic individual looking for a new challenge?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly enthusiastic Registered Nurse to join the Paediatric Emergency Department as a Band 6 Ward Sister/Charge Nurse. We are just moving into an extended and redeveloped department which will ensure that the children are treated in the best environment possible.
If you are an efficient worker with strong clinical knowledge, excellent communication skills and able to work under pressure whilst remaining focused on safe good quality care, seeking a new personal challenge we look forward to your application.
You will need to have significant post registration experience and a sound clinical background as well as a valid RSCN/RN Child NMC registration. We are seeking an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and self-motivated Band 5/6 with a ‘can do’ mind-set and a strong interest in patient flow and the need to ensure patients are not admitted to hospital when there are other options for their treatment.
If successful you will be part of a fantastically motivated and forward thinking team who constantly strive to give the highest standards of care.
The post holder should have up to date knowledge of current issues in patient flow and changes within the NHS. The role is challenging and instrumental to the day to day operations within the Trust.
To deputise for the Paediatric Lead Nurse with continuing responsibility for providing a seamless, safe service.
To ensure the optimum, cost-effective use of staffing and resources to maintain and develop standards of care and safety as appropriate.
To assist in implementing changes and maintain standards, to ensure the care delivered to families is according to relevant national access and treatment targets, national guidance, standards, recommendations, and legislation.

To participate fully and provide evidence that the clinical governance agenda is active, effective and continuous throughout the Paediatric Emergency Department including: -

• standard setting
• policies and guidelines (including Trust policies, Paediatric clinical policies, and local Paediatric operational policies)
• benchmarking locally and nationally
• risk management
• clinical audit
• ensuring clinical practice is protocol and/or pathway driven, evidence-based or guided by best practice if the evidence is not available.

To ensure the Paediatric Emergency team work to safe practices at all times and work proactively to monitor standards throughout the department, acquiring evidence and acting on findings.
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.

KEY DUTIES CONTINUED

To ensure families experience an excellent service during their time in the Paediatric Department dealing with any issues, matters arising, informal and formal complaints immediately and effectively, according to Trust policy.
To be flexible and be prepared to support other Paediatric Clinical areas as required working closely with the Paediatric Senior Nurse Bleep holder, prioritising patient need accordingly at all times.
To be competent at Safeguarding children and implementing the Child Protection procedures as appropriate.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain Professional Registration
Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body.
Optimum use of resources so that standards of care and safety are not compromised.
Maintain effective communication systems, so that all staff can practice in an informed and professional manner.
Maintain effective communication with patients, relatives, visitors and staff as required, i.e., Medical Coordinator, Senior Manager for ED, Directorate Manager.
To investigate any untoward incident/complaint thoroughly.
Liaise promptly with the Emergency Care Manager, Lead Nurse, or Directorate Manager
To liaise with the Medical Coordinator around the needs and demands of departmental activity.
Deputise for Senior Nursing staff as directed.
Be fully conversant with the Major Incident Policy and be prepared to support its activation as required.
Ensure effective infection prevention and control methods are followed.
Maintain effective allocation of staff utilising appropriate skill mix.
To delivery training and teaching packages of a competency-based nature to families, non-parent’s, carers, and staff in educational, social and voluntary settings.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

To be competent at safeguarding children and implementing the Child in Need and Child Protection procedures as appropriate includes the following skills, competencies and knowledge: -
Be able to recognise child abuse.
Be able to document accurately safeguarding concerns according to Laming recommendations, differentiating fact from opinion.
Know who to contact / inform / seek advice from; and how to escalate safeguarding concerns according to Trust and Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards policies and procedures.
Understand the steps in the child protection process.
Know when and how to act, when and how to refer and the importance of following up a referral.
Understand which groups of children are at risk of harm or neglect.
Know how to share information – in writing, by telephone, electronically or in person.
Know who to share information with and when, understanding the difference between information sharing on individual, organisational and professional levels.
Work collaboratively with existing health services, social services and other agencies to ensure partnership working and sharing information to support children and families.
Have an understanding of your own (and others’) professional roles and boundaries, including the Named professionals, trust managers and social workers.
Have a working knowledge of the implications of key national documents / reports.
Understand multi-agency frameworks, investigations, working and child protection assessment processes including the use of the Common Assessment Framework / investigation/working.
Be able to present child protection concerns at multi agency meetings / child protection conferences.
Demonstrate ability to work with families where there are child protection concerns.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure that the recording of patient care is comprehensive, concise and in line with the NMC Record Keeping guidance.
Ensure Emergency Department Patient Tracking IT systems are current and reflective of department activity.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibility for designated nursing staff within team including appraisals, HR management and support in clinical practice in conjunction with the Practice Development Nurse and Emergency Care Manager
To assist the Lead Nurse in planning, recruiting, retaining and developing staff to meet the service needs as required.
To take an active role in facilitating staff to complete annual mandatory training, including safeguarding training, in accordance with Trust and departmental policy.
To manage situations as they arise and report to the appropriate person as soon as is possible.
To participate and support the induction and orientation of new starters.
To be responsible for the annual appraisals of a team of nurses and health care assistants in agreement with the Lead Nurse, and to ensure their agreed personal development plans (PDPs) are operational.
To manage the sickness and absence of a team of nurses and health care assistants working closely with the Lead Nurse and to escalate and manage any issues alongside the human resources/absence support team.
To monitor and develop clinical competencies of a team of nurses providing supervision, support, mentorship and preceptorship is a key component of the role.