Sister Special Care Baby Unit

at  University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
Southampton Neonatal Unit is looking for highly motivated, enthusiastic individuals to join our friendly ‘Woodland ward’ Special Care leadership team as a Band 6. We are looking for people who are dedicated to delivering high quality, family centred care and strive to make a difference to babies and their families.
As a Band 6, you will be leading and managing Woodland Ward and the nursing team on a daily basis.

We will have a purpose built, Nurse- led Special care unit caring for sick and preterm babies.

• The unit will have 16 cots, including 4 Family Integrated care rooms
• A welcoming, caring and safe environment for all
• Patients and families come first; Family is at the heart of what we do!
• There is space for a parent to stay with their baby 24 hours a day, encouraging unrestricted access to their baby
• We support, guide, and advise parents in a friendly and supportive environment enabling them to care for their baby. This helps them to develop close and loving relationships with their baby and values parents as partners in their care.

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to.
All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Here at UHS we are committed to ‘Always improving’. You will be well supported to further and enhance your clinical skills, knowledge and expertise to develop from novice to expert within neonatal special care nursing. We have a designated education team with an induction programme and supernumerary time. As part of the Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal Network, a foundation or Preceptorship programme is provided for staff new to the speciality. We also create a culture for Quality Improvement through feedback, audit and research.

• In liaison with the Senior Sister supervises and directs the work of the nursing staff on the Unit, exercising a leadership role and promoting optimal patient care

Collaborates with all members of the multidisciplinary team within the Neonatal Unit and the Princess Anne Hospital and ensures a team approach to care.

• Reports and receives information on the care and conditions of the babies
• You are responsible for ensuring that the patient, family and carers are at the centre of everything you do.
• Anticipates discharge of infants, co-ordinates arrangements and continuing care with community services in liaison with the multidisciplinary team.
• Is proactive in the education and training of junior members of staff on clinical practice, guidelines, policies and standards of the Unit.
• To demonstrate a positive approach to the managing complaints, ensuring appropriate action is taken.
• Manages adverse events, communicates to senior colleagues, and where appropriate completes an adverse event form.
• Be open, honest and willing to acknowledge when something has gone wrong. Make timely apologies and take action to report incidents, including near misses; to ensure that as an organisation we learn.
• You should continuously seek to reduce harm by speaking up to managers and leaders if you believe that a lack of skills, knowledge or resources place patients at a risk of harm or if your concerns are not being listened to. Managers and leaders must listen to others when they raise concerns and take action.
• Wholeheartedly commit to learning about safety, continually striving to improve excellent care. Develop your own ability to detect and correct defects.

ADDITIONAL MAIN DUTIES:

• We actively support and promote effective communication with parents during admission through their participation in ward rounds, providing continuity and consistency.
• Nurses and Allied Health Professionals will provide parent craft sessions in a safe, relaxed environment. These are provided with empathy, kindness and understanding therefore empowering them.
• Feeding progression is supported in conjunction with the Infant Feeding Team and SALT.
• We actively promote and support breastfeeding but also support parents feeding choices
• Parents are supported to confidently care for their baby to facilitate safe and timely discharge
• You will be working as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver a high standard of care.

We will have a purpose built, Nurse- led Special care unit caring for sick and preterm babies.

• The unit will have 16 cots, including 4 Family Integrated care rooms
• A welcoming, caring and safe environment for all
• Patients and families come first; Family is at the heart of what we do!
• There is space for a parent to stay with their baby 24 hours a day, encouraging unrestricted access to their baby
• We support, guide, and advise parents in a friendly and supportive environment enabling them to care for their baby. This helps them to develop close and loving relationships with their baby and values parents as partners in their care