Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and proactive individual to become part of the Intensive Care team on our busy 24 bedded Intensive Care Unit at Harefield Hospital. This unit cares for patients with both cardiac and respiratory illness including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and the dynamic nature of our work makes it a very stimulating and exciting place to work. In return you will benefit from excellent training and development opportunities, and superb support from within our encouraging environment.
The successful applicant will be able to further develop their clinical and managerial skills within our unit and will need to be a professional role model, with an interest in leading, co-ordinating and developing the unit, team and service provision. The role involves taking continuing responsibility and accountability for the 24-hour management and organisation of the Intensive Care Unit and/or Recovery unit. This involves managing a wide range of complex and sometimes conflicting priorities.
Main duties of the job
To be a professional role model, leading and co-ordinating the ward/department team. Taking continuing responsibility and accountability for the 24-hour management and organisation of the Adult Intensive Care Unit. This involves managing a wide range of complex and sometimes conflicting priorities.
To be responsible for the continuing specialist professional development and overall performance of all staff in the Adult Intensive Care Unit.
Provide specialist nursing advice Trust wide to support and facilitate high quality, individualised care to patients /clients and relatives/carers in collaboration with the multi professional team, in line with the local and national targets.
To develop leadership strategy to ensure that the needs of the patient are placed at the centre of care delivery.
To be flexible in the approach to the clinical area and provide cover for any area specified.
Working for our organisation
The unit has 24 beds but in periods of surge the footprint of beds increases to accommodate patient requirements.
Key facts about us:
24 bedded intensive care unit
Cardiogenic Shock Centre
Regional Acute Aortic Dissection Centre
Specialist critical care service for patients requiring advanced cardiovascular or respiratory care
Within this ever changing and evolving environment we are looking to recruit a dynamic and enthusiastic staff member who will work well as part of the multi-disciplinary team. They will act as a role model, while supporting staff on a shift by shift basis and maintaining high standards of clinical practice. They will also actively lead and manage an allocated team of Critical Care nurses and the Intensive Care Unit on a day to day basis. In return the unit will provide exciting learning opportunities within both the clinical and educational setting.
Applicants must have evidence of the development of advanced Critical Care and leadership skills in line with the band 7 role. The successful candidate will have regularly acted as a shift leader in an acute clinical setting, and have been involved in the performance review of junior colleagues.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To provide sound clinical leadership and develop support mechanisms for sharing good practice within the Ward/Department and Trust wide.
Monitor the quality of nursing care and action audit information to achieve agreed standards and take the lead on customer care initiatives.
Takes the lead in ensuring the provision of care is in accordance with the Trust’s Polices & procedures.
In conjunction with the staff team, to lead in developing, implementing, evaluating and maintaining a Ward/Departmental ethos and a standard approach to the delivery of excellent nursing care.
To act as patient advocate in line with the NHS plan and to actively apply in depth knowledge of holistic/socio-economic and cultural aspects of the care to clients within your specific speciality, acting as a role model and resource for patients, relatives and staff.
Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care, actively seeking evidence based practice which will support clinical outcomes as appropriate.
Person specification
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential criteria
1. Registered Nurse
2. Has attained or is working towards a degree in management/professional nursing issues
Desirable criteria
3. Has attained or is working towards an MSc relevant to area of speciality
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria
4. Extensive Critical Care experience
5. Experience of staff management
6. Experience in change management
7. Experience of leading quality improvement work
8. Experience of incident management
Desirable criteria
9. Has experience working in different Trusts
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential criteria
10. Clinical expert in the field of ICU nursing
11. Evidence of staff management experience
12. Proven teaching and assessing skills
13. Proven oral and written communication skills
14. Able to manage difficult situations effectively
15. Demonstrates the ability to adapt to NHS and Trust service developments and new nursing theories for use in the clinical area
Desirable criteria
16. Demonstrate commitment through involvement in Trust wide initiatives/ committees.
17. Understanding of Microsoft office including Excel and Power point
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Essential criteria
18. Ability to adapt to changing needs of the service Assertive Enthusiastic Committed to delivering high quality patient care and service development Kind and compassionate Motivated and able to motivate others Calm and objective Approachable Punctual Smart appearance Caring nature Pleasant demeanour
Desirable criteria
19. Ability to adapt to changing needs of service
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.