Job overview
****** THIS POSITION IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST EMPLOYEES ******
An exciting opportunity for an aspiring Band 7 or established band 7 RGN or RMN wishing to take a sideways step or to act up into a band 7 role for a period of 9 months.
We are currently seeking a talented and compassionate Registered Nurse to join our Enhanced Observation team at Royal Sussex County Hospital. With a focus on providing high-quality care to some of the most vulnerable members of our society, this is a career that you can truly take pride in.
As a qualified Nurse, you will play a critical role in ensuring that patients with mental health conditions receive the highest standard of care possible. You will work closely with your colleagues to promote good teamwork and support each other in delivering the best possible outcomes for our patients.
Please note that this role is a secondment opportunity. Before applying you must seek agreement and authorisation from your current line manager. Secondments can’t be agreed without your current manager’s approval. If you are unable to gain your managers approval you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed term position
Main duties of the job
You will be one of 2-3 band 7s setting up and leading a mental health cohort area on the acute floor at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. The area is likely to comprise of both beds and chairs and will cater for those patients who present without acute medical needs or once they have been medically cleared. The area will be predominantly staffed by a combination of RMNs and HCAs whom you will lead.
Your role will encompass ensuring the medical and basic care needs of the patients are being met alongside providing visible leadership and excellent role modelling. There will be a governance aspect to this role ensuring dynamic risk assessments are undertaken within this area and in the management of datix and reporting issues to the senior team. You would report to the Acute Floor Matron’s, and you would be expected to have oversight of staffing and ensuring any temporary staff had a robust induction to the area as well clear roles and responsibilities.
Working for our organisation
Join us at UHSussex, every day is different, you can be the change, better never stops
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Improving lives: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put our Patient First. Our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
Build a career with us: As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication
· To establish and maintain effective communications with all members of the public, including challenging behaviour, aggressive behaviour, learning disability, mental illness, extremely emotive/sensitive patients, intoxicated, paediatrics of all ages and bereavement.
· Communicate effectively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team to encourage learning and improvement and to ensure adoption of evidence-based practice and facilitate the delivery of high quality care.
· On a daily basis to adapt high levels of interpersonal and communication skills to multiple and/or simultaneous situations.
· On a daily basis to communicate professionally and effectively in a hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere/environment.
· To ensure all communication is timely, accurate, honest, effective and is managed with discretion.
· Be responsible for protecting all confidential information concerning patients and staff obtained in the course of professional practice, adhering to Data Protection Act and Caldicott Report ensuring personal, staff and group compliance.
· To report clear and concisely, written, verbal and computer-entered relevant information regarding the care and well-being of patients.
· To provide patients and carers with relevant written and verbal care advice on any subject matter pertinent to their treatment or care.
· To co-operate and lead all staff in the care, treatment and safe discharge of patients providing specialist professional nursing advice to other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
· To communicate distressing/difficult information to patients and their carers on a regular basis.
· To act with kindness and courtesy to all members of the public, at all times, conveying genuine concern and willingness to help.
Service Delivery and Improvement
· To act as a positive, effective and appropriate role model at all times.
· Maintain and develop team morale, supporting all colleagues and assertively dealing with conflict.
· To work closely with the Matron and Lead Clinician so that the vision and the goals of the Emergency Department are translated into practice.
· To work with the Matron to proactively identify and participate in the implementation of changes to areas for improving nursing practice and service delivery.
· To be responsible for patient care, patient management and patient flow, throughout all areas of the emergency department during a given shift.
· As shift leader to validate breaches on daily basis.
· To attend daily site, operational and department huddle meetings to represent the department.
· Develop and maintain effective channels of communication between all members of the multidisciplinary team in order to ensure a high standard of coordinated patient care.
· Attend staff, department and trust wide meetings as directed by the Matron and support with the development of any department policies and procedures ensuring they are disseminated to all staff.
· To ensure that any incident, complaint or other undue occurrence is managed in accordance with Trust policy, and reported to the Matron.
· To respond to complaints, review incidents on datix and ensure investigated as required. Undertake duty of candour when required, understand the trust Serious Incidents process and aid in the maintenance of the departmental risk register.
· To identify areas of risk and poor quality, and address these through appropriate governance structures.
· To participate in health, safety, fire and quality audits and initiatives within the department.
· To be responsible for assessment, planning, development, implementation and evaluation of all programmes of care in the Unit on a daily basis without supervision.
· Implement and work within the Trusts Human Resources (HR) policies on all staffing matters, including sickness, capability and disciplinary issues. Take corrective measures if indicated in liaison with HR and the Matron.
· To be responsible for planning and scheduling duty rotas, annual leave, study leave, monitoring absences and the use of temporary staff.
· Ensure prudent use of bank and agency staff in line with trust/local policy and available budget, promoting the use of bank staff for unfilled shifts.
· To allocate staff resources appropriately within the department to given areas, taking into account departmental case mix, volume and acuity.
· To check staffing on a day to day shift basis for the following 48hrs, escalate unfilled shifts to bank and let the Matron know of any shortages or concerns.
· Monitor documentation, completed by departmental staff for accuracy and legibility and plan remedial action where necessary.
· To assist with the recruitment, selection, induction and training of new staff.
· To work to the management day structure outlined by the Matron.
· Undertake other duties as a result of changes in policy or practice.
· Observe and comply with the Trust’s policies and procedures for infection control ensuring the working environment is safe, clean and tidy.
· To be an authorised signatory for the ordering of controlled drugs.
· To be responsible for maintaining the department’s/Trust’s patient record information systems frequently throughout a given shift.
· Safeguard the health, safety and welfare of staff, patients, clients and visitors in line with local policy and statutory obligations
· To manage resources effectively and monitor the safe and economical use of all supplies and equipment. To report and replace equipment as necessary.
· To assess and report practical hazards and take any immediate and appropriate action commensurate to being the senior nurse on duty.
· The post holder will be responsible for a range of policy implementation and policy development which directly effects the Unit and will ensure all policies are adhered to whilst making a critical evaluation of the requirements for change
· The post holder will be expected to collect accurate data and participate in clinical trials and audit within the department and to recommend change.
· To ensure that own nursing practice is based on current research findings and an informed professional knowledge base and to filter this information through to staff.
Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
Person specification
Qualification
Essential criteria
1. RN
Desirable criteria
2. RMN
Training
Essential criteria
3. Undertaken additional Training in Acute Care
Desirable criteria
4. Additional Mental Health Care