Responsibilities
This role will work alongside the ED Matron in ensuring effective service delivery, maintaining high quality patient care, achieving key performance indicators and management of the large team. The senior nurse will provide professional nursing leadership in the Emergency Department, lead a patient‑centred nursing service in collaboration with the Matron, and practice as a senior clinical nurse for at least 25% of the role with professionalism, authority and expertise. They will act as a role model for other nursing staff, undertake full strategic and operational responsibility on behalf of the Matron in their absence, and facilitate the efficient and effective management of resources within the Emergency Department. In conjunction with the Matron, the senior nurse will ensure that the standards of the service meet the strategic aims and development of the Trust, ensuring the efficient and effective operation of the unit on a day‑to‑day basis. They will supervise and directly manage the senior nursing team, contribute to the strategic development for the unit, and lead areas of development and responsibility as dictated by the requirements of the unit.
The senior nurse will participate in the Silver Rota external to ED and act as the divisional representative on the working day rostered. Together with the Matron they will develop a strategy for the implementation and evaluation of evidence‑based Protocols/Guidelines, provide support and direction to the unit Sisters/Charge Nurses, education nurses and senior nursing team, and implement and support quality initiatives within the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) guidelines. They will encourage communication with patients, visitors and staff, observe practice, monitor standards and ensure the maintenance of an optimal environment for patient care with particular emphasis on ensuring generic standards of care are of a high quality and implementing appropriate action if standards are suboptimised.
The senior nurse will collaborate with the Infection Control Team on cleaning contracts, ensure the patient environment is well maintained, clean and safe, establish a cleanliness culture, encourage patient involvement in monitoring and reporting on cleanliness standards, and take action in accordance with the Trust Cleaning Policy where standards are suboptimised or concerns raised. They will maintain infection control standards, ensure staff are properly trained in infection prevention and control, and demonstrate effective project and change management skills. They will undertake 24‑hour responsibility for ensuring safe and efficient nurse staffing levels within the Emergency Department, contribute to the strategic planning of services within emergency medicine, identify future resourcing requirements, and ensure the department meets contractual and other requirements. They will deliver a responsive, high‑quality, value‑for‑money service, meet patient access standards and activity targets, develop best practice, service modernisation and improvement plans, and enhance the patient experience.
In business planning and financial management, the senior nurse will enunciate an effective and viable business plan for the emergency department, manage expenditure within designated control levels, generate monthly business and financial reports for the Matron, identify areas of deficit and develop corrective action. They will monitor performance against set targets, address variances, manage workforce establishment control, use a balanced scorecard approach and provide monthly summaries of financial and activity performance to relevant meetings. In human resources management, they will lead, manage, motivate and develop staff, communicate the Trust’s objectives, identify training and development needs, line‑manage staff in line with Trust HR policies, provide annual appraisals, and maintain high staff morale. They will implement local workforce plans, employee engagement plans, and workforce productivity plans, ensuring recruitment, appraisal, performance management and other policies are followed, and promote equal opportunities in accordance with Trust policy. They will provide support and mentorship to Sisters/Charge Nurses, lead projects and manage teams, maintain personal development, adhere to the NMC code, and actively contribute to nursing practice within the Trust.
In quality, clinical governance and risk management, the senior nurse will resolve complaints, investigate relevant complaints, write responses, and maintain professional and polite engagement with all users. They will uphold user‑aware standards and uphold the Trust’s commitment to zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour, thereby fostering a safe, respectful, and competent operational culture.
Qualifications & Experience
* Band 7 experience for a minimum of three years
* Emergency nursing experience
* Experience of line management
* Demonstrated knowledge and experience of governance
* Post‑registration qualification in a relevant field
* Desirable: change management experience and appropriate UK professional registration
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