Deputy Ward Lead (SMH Band 6) - Inpatient Unit
We are looking for an experiencedRegistered Nurse (Adult) to join our wonderful Inpatient team, as aDeputy Ward Lead. The successful candidate will be an NMC-registered nurse.This post will give the successful candidate an exciting opportunity to joinour inpatient team and shape the delivery of care that we provide. You will bea key member of the nursing team responsible for role modelling good care. You will need experience in TeamManagement and have a passion for developing staff to reach their fullpotential. You will have a passion and enthusiasmfor palliative care and all that a specialist hospice service can provide toits community.
Ideally with experience already withina hospice ward setting role but applicants with experience of palliative andend of life care in other settings should apply. We would expect you to adopt aflexible approach to the role which encompasses leadership, management andclinical responsibility. The successful applicant must be ableto evidence examples of their clinical leadership and managerial skills and experience.
Youwill have excellent communication,interpersonal skills and have a team player approach with a keenness to mentorand develop both yourself and the team.
Involves working shifts across long days, including both day and nightshifts. The 37.5hrs per week are worked over a 4-week roster period includingweekends, and nights. The shift times are 07:30-20:00 and 19:30-08:00.
Closing date - 30th June 2025
Main duties of the job
Youwill work alongside the IPU Lead to ensure the safe, effective and efficientrunning of the in-patient unit, working collaboratively with the widermulti-disciplinary team, provide holistic care that meets the physical,emotional, and spiritual needs of patients. You'll also play a key role incontributing to service improvement and promoting best practice in end-of-lifecare. You will regularly take the nurse incharge role and ensure the smooth operational and effective running of theshift. You will support junior staff indeveloping the skills for this role. Proactively manage the staffingrosters to ensure appropriate safe clinical staffing and skill mix is achieved. Provide strong leadership, support andguidance to colleagues in monitoring the planning, delivery and evaluation ofindividualised patient care. Provide clinical expertise within the speciality, particularly inrelation to symptom management. You will work alongside IPU Lead to manage all areas of staffperformance, including conducting annual appraisals andperformance reviews. We encourage continual learning and improvement and useQuality Improvement methodology that you would play an active role in. We offer many educational and training opportunities(both in house and externally) and aim to help all team members fulfil theirpotential.
About us
St.Michaels Hospice is a registered charity providing specialist palliative andend of life care services since 1992, for the people of North Hampshire. We arededicated to providing care to people throughout North Hampshire who areaffected by life limiting illness to attain the highest possible quality oflife by providing a choice of specialist care and support.
St.Michaels Hospice is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare ofvulnerable adults, children and young people. All staff are expected to sharethis commitment. Successful candidates will be required to undergo relevantbackground checks, including a DBS check and provide satisfactory referencebefore starting the role.
As acharity, we depend on the kindness and support of our local community tocontinue offering our services free of charge. This care is made possible bysupporters donating, taking part in fundraising events and activities, playingour lottery, shopping in our retail outlets, leaving gifts in their Wills orgiving freely of their time to volunteer.
We offer a competitive salary with attractive benefits,including, free parking, life assurance, 27 days annual leave plus bankholidays, and an extensive health and wellbeing plan and company pension.
Job responsibilities
To provide support to the IPU Lead with allaspects of management of the inpatient unit.
Deputise for the IPU Lead in their absence.
To provide clinical leadership and support tojunior colleagues to plan, monitor, evaluate and ensure evidence-based care topatients staying on the inpatient unit.
To act as a role model whilst providingspecialist knowledge within the palliative care environment and working as partof the team whilst supporting, mentoring.
Responsibilities
To regularly take the nurse in charge role andensure the smooth operational and effective running of the shift.
To attend the daily referral meeting and advise oninpatient bed status for potential admissions.
Ensure that all aspects of the day to day running ofthe inpatient unit are maintained to the highest standard.
To facilitate safe and effective admissions anddischarges to and from the inpatient unit.
Provide strong leadership, support and guidance tocolleagues in monitoring the planning, delivery and evaluation ofindividualised care.
Provide support, information and advice to patients,families and professional colleagues.
Provide clinical expertise within the speciality,particularly in relation to symptom management.
Support and supervise the work of junior colleagues,unqualified staff, students and volunteers.Challenge unacceptable behaviour.
Contribute to the education and development of staffwithin the speciality and manage change.
Conduct annual appraisals and performance reviews ofinpatient unit staff.
Work alongside IPU Lead to manage all areas ofperformance such as sickness absence, capability and conduct.
Proactive management of the staffing rosters toensure appropriate safe clinical staffing skill mix and ensure gaps in shiftcover is filled or mitigated for. Liaise with the CMTto ensure effective use of nursing skills and resources across all the SMHdepartments.
Ensure any safeguarding concerns are raised in linewith SMH policy and escalated to the SMH NominatedHealthcare Professional for Safeguarding or their deputy ora member of the Safeguarding Committee.
Clinical
Take the lead in the total care of patients andtheir families, ensuring physical, psychological, social and spiritual needsare also addressed.
Ensure that clinical practices accurately reflectSMH policies.
Respect the needs and dignity of our patients.
Initiate, supervise, and participate in nursing careand the work of the nursing team, review progress with nursing andmulti-professional team at regular intervals.
Anticipate and respond to patient/family need whilstmaintaining their independence, privacy and dignity. Address patient/family concerns.
Review, evaluate and update nursing care, ensuringaccurate documentation, and reporting.
Ensure adherence to patient/family confidentialityand data protection requirements at all times.
Be accountable for the custody and administration ofdrugs and the maintenance of records and to maintain up to date knowledge ofthe purpose, actions and side effects of drugs.
Develop competence in the skills determined in theSMH IPU Skills Profile and any other extended skills that may be identified aspart of a regular review process.
Complete competencies related to band and role.
Be proactive and involved in discharge planning.
Foster good relationships with other departments,the multidisciplinary team and visitors to the unit. Helps to achieve andmaintain high morale for both staff and patients.
Participate in the health education and explanationof care to patients and relatives.
Communication
Lead and participate in discussion duringmulti-professional ward rounds and meetings.
Communicate with colleagues within the team toensure a multi-disciplinary approach to care both verbally and by providingletters and reports.
Ensure accurate record keeping and ensure thatdocumentation is maintained by all staff on all aspects of care through thepatients stay.
Apply advanced skills when communicating difficultor sensitive information to patients, families, carers and other staff. Address patient and family concerns.
Liaise externally with other relevant professionalsto ensure appropriate care/treatment/support is continued.
Attend and participate in ward, teams, clinical,management and organisational meetings.
In the absence of the IPU Lead be responsible forthe safe management and leadership of the Inpatient Unit.
Assist with the management and development of thenursing and support team as delegated.
Provide feedback to the ward manager on individualstaff progression and identify any concerns.
Manage allocated resources effectively. Ensure competency in the use of function ofequipment report malfunctions.
Supervise the work of junior staff, students andvolunteers and challenge any problems.Be prepared to challenge unsatisfactory behaviour.
To provide support to theIPU Lead to effectively manage staff resources including recruitment selection,day-to-day operations, work performance, staff development and appraisals.
Undertake ward audits asdelegated by the IPU Lead.
Role model SMH values and expectationsof professional behaviour. Promote excellence in nursing practice.
Education
Develop teaching skills within the speciality andparticipate in the delivery of education and teaching sessions.
Act as a Supervisor / Assessor/ Mentor for pre andpost registration staff
Participate as required in the teaching and supportof newly appointed staff, learners and volunteers.
Contribute to the professional development of thenursing and multi-disciplinary team.
Take equal responsibility for own appraisal andinitiate own development within agreed parameters.
Ensure own specialist knowledge is updated tomaintain evidenced best practice.
Attend all mandatory training and ensure thatupdates are booked in a timely fashion and agreed with the ward manager.
Help in the implementation of group policies andensure that the organisations policies are adhered to.
Assist in the development, management andco-ordination of competency sign-off in line with current Hospice Practice.
Support the IPU staff to attend clinical supervisionand commit to own attendance.
Clinical Governance and Quality
Respond to initial patient/family complaints andreport to senior staff as appropriate.
Contribute to and actively participate in clinicalgovernance arrangements and the quality agenda.
To have an understanding of Quality Improvement (QI)processes and be able to initiate and deliver appropriate QI projects aimed atimproving care on the unit.
To participate in the QI projects as identified bythe IPU Lead.
To have an understanding of the wider Patient Safetyagenda and to understand how this shapes our services and the clinical care wedeliver
Actively manage and investigate the initial stagesof incident reports within the IPU, adopting the PSIRF approach and promotingthis response framework across the IPU.
Undertake any other duties as delegated, designed toimprove both patient care and the service provided by St MichaelsHospice.
Research and Practice Development
Deliver and promote evidence-based practice.
Participate as appropriate, in any relevantnational/local research initiatives or study days in which St. MichaelsHospice may be involved.
Professional
Operate within the Nursing and Midwifery CouncilProfessional Code of Conduct and Standards for professionals.
General Responsibilities
Work to maintain the values,vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.
Additional Duties In discussion with the line manager to undertakework, as and when required, in support of St. Michaels Hospice as anorganisation.
Public Relations To represent St. Michaels Hospice in the communityand public domain, including social media, appropriately.
Undertake all statutory andmandatory training, as required.
To be conversant with and adhere to all St. Michaels Hospice Policiesand Procedures.
Be responsible for upholding and promoting St. Michaels Hospicesafeguarding policies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals,and promptly reporting any concerns or incidents in accordance with establishedprocedures.
This is an outline job description and may be subject to change,according to the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder.
Take responsibility for own personal safety and of others whilst atwork. You will take appropriate action or report any concerns to address anyhealth and safety issues that you or members of your team may be aware of.
This job description is an outline of the role andresponsibilities. From time to time, dueto the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other dutiesthat are consistent with your role and banding, including project work,internal job rotation and absence cover.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Registered Nurse (Degree or equivalent, or can demonstrate study to Degree level).
* NMC Registered Nurse (Adult) with active NMC PIN (no restrictions on practice).
* Student Nurse Assessor/Supervisor course.
* Evidence of recent study / courses attended within relevant areas to a Specialist Palliative Care setting.
* Recruitment and selection training.
* Absence Management Training.
* Management Course.
* Advanced Communication course.
* Edward Jenner Leadership Course or similar.
* Teaching course e.g., PTLLS / DTLLS.
Experience
* Previous experience in an inpatient Palliative Care setting.
* Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate specialist care delivered to patients/clients and give relevant advice/information to patients and relatives.
* Ability to prioritise own workload and that of others.
* Experience in and/or supervision of junior staff members.
* Experience of intravenous injections, syringe drivers, infusions, endotracheal suctioning, insertion of urinary catheters and other similar procedures.
* Previous experience of practising in a variety of clinical settings and teams.
* Demonstrate experience of clinical governance and risk management.
* Ability to make judgements related to symptom management of patients that involve complex facts or situations, analysing what is needed and comparing a range of options.
* Experience within the community setting.
Skills, knowledge, abilities
* Evidence/Experience of being able to lead in and assist others in audits, surveys, and research & development.
* Demonstrate knowledge and experience in caring for palliative care patients.
* Demonstrate knowledge of incident reporting.
* Ability to communicate complex and highly sensitive information to patients and relatives.
* Demonstrates ability to influence and negotiate with others.
* Can demonstrate knowledge of complex symptom management of patients with life limiting illness.
* Budgetary awareness.
* Demonstrate ability and experience in the following:
* Leadership.
* Team building.
* Managing resources.
* Audit and research clinical governance.
* Ability to formulate improvement plans based on incident trends.
* Demonstrate extensive knowledge and experience in caring for palliative care patients.
* Ability to work on own initiative.
* Professional at all times.
* Motivated and able to motivate others.
* Calm and objective.
* Good interpersonal skills.
* Effective multi-professional working.
* Ability to work across St. Michaels Hospice services, as needs dictate.
* Able to demonstrate an active role in teaching.
* Positive and enthusiastic attitude.
* Approachable.
* Supportive.
* Flexibility.
* Ability to workdays, nights and weekends.
* Able to work under pressure.
* Numerate and literate in English.
Other requirements
* Full clean driving licence
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such 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.
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