Job summary
This post is based at Bedford Hospital

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Surgery for two full-time positions, one based at Luton and one based at Bedford (37.5 hours, Monday to Friday), working closely alongside the Surgical Practice Development Nurse (PDN) under their direct line management. Occasional cross-site working may be required to support training programmes and service development initiatives.

This role is for you if you like to work within the standards, procedures and protocols of the Trust and enjoy teaching others.

Surgical services at both Luton and Bedford are busy, fast-paced environments caring for a wide range of patient groups with varying clinical needs.

The role will support clinical staff and learners within practice by helping bridge knowledge and skills gaps through clinical teaching, supervision and pastoral support. This will support staff development, staff retention and the delivery of high-quality patient care.

The post holder will be required to support our nurses, nursing associates and CSWs in practice, bridging their knowledge and skills gap to help them reach their clinical potential. In addition, the role involves offering pastoral support which will improve staff satisfaction and retention as well as patient safety and experience.

It is essential that the post holder exercises initiative and clinical judgement using acquired skills and knowledge, maintaining confidentiality at all times.

Main duties of the job
To develop and deliver clinical skills and vocational training programmes for multi-professional audiences in support of identified training needs to support the delivery of learning within Surgery in conjunction with the Surgical Practice Development Nurse (PDN).

To work alongside nursing staff in clinical areas, offering 1:1 clinical teaching with guidance and supervision.

To actively promote patient safety and, through the facilitation of training programmes, departmental teaching or coaching ensure that learning reflects improvements to the patient experience.

To manage the process of assessment of clinical skills, ensuring that competency data is collected, maintained and reported on a quarterly basis to the Surgical Matron via the Surgical PDN.

The expectation is that this role will be based within the clinical areas - not office based.

To keep an updated database for continued professional development and competencies, with accurate attendance, completion and feedback records.

To provide educational direction, guidance and access to a range of learning opportunities for all registered staff in the surgical wards for maximum learning, by enhancing personal development, through framework of knowledge skills, educational programmes and support.

To facilitate and participate in research projects, sharing and comparing evidence based best practice and use findings to change practice where appropriate.

About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Job responsibilities

• To develop agreed training programmes for clinical practice ensuring that the programmes are updated; evidence based and that the process for assessed practice is monitored.
• To provide on-going support and assessment of clinical skills such as those requiring competency sign off in the practice areas ensuring the assessment documentation is completed to the expected standard creating an atmosphere conducive to learning i.e. Preceptorship Handbook, Care certificate, Apprenticeship course.
• To actively encourage and participate in sharing good practice throughout the Surgical division.
• To contribute to the training needs analysis of each clinical area in liaison with the Surgical PDN.
• In liaison with the Surgical PDN develop and facilitate new clinical skills training programmes and to design competency based training programmes where they do not exist to meet those needs.
• To reinforce training on new clinical equipment in each area.
• To support the newly qualified nurses at the Trust throughout the preceptorship period.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse with NMC Registration
• MSPP/ Practice Assessor or equivalent
• ALERT or equivalent
• Completed Preceptorship
• Evidence of CPD

Desirable

• ILS/ ALS
• Teaching qualification

Experience
Essential

• Surgical experience of pre, peri and post operative management
• Experience of mentoring or supervising learner
• Experience of providing education or training
• Experience of how to manage the deteriorating patient
• Experience working within an MDT

Desirable

• Involvement in QI Projects
• Experience of completing clinical audits
• Previous nurse in charge experience
• Multiple surgical speciality knowledge

Knowledge
Essential

• Understanding of clinical governance and patient safety
• Experience of assessing post operative surgical patients
• Evidence based approach to nursing

Desirable

• Knowledge of Healthcare Guardian/ InPhase investigations
• Experience/ knowledge of change management

Skills
Essential

• Broad range of clinical skills such as PCA, TPN, sliding scales, blood transfusions, catheterisation
• Competent in venepuncture and cannulation
• Excellent written communication
• Ability to deal with conflict and challenge
• Able to prioritise workload

Desirable

• Able to develop action learning and plans
• Facilitation and Presentation skills
• Experience creating competency/ teaching resources

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).