Advertised role location: TOWER BLOCK
Official document: 55949672 JD 20.10.26 (docx)
JOB DESCRIPTION

POST: Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse

LOCATION: BHSCT Ward 1 South Belfast City Hospital HPB Unit.

GRADE: Band 6

REPORTS TO: Ward Sister/ Charge Nurse
RESPONSIBLE TO: Lead Nurse

REPONSIBLE FOR: Registered/Unregistered Staff as required


JOB SUMMARY / MAIN PURPOSE:

The post holder is responsible for the assessment of care needs and the development of programmes of care and/or the implementation and evaluation of patient centred care. The post holder is expected to play a supportive role in leading the development of the ward, seeking opportunities for learning and training. Drawing on their own expertise the post holder will disseminate expert evidence based knowledge and skills to maximise patient safety and positive outcomes for patients.
Main Duties / Responsibilities

Clinical Team Member

As a member of the clinical team, the nurse will:

Lead and contribute to:

· The assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care;
· Professional decision-making;
· Effective team working; maintaining staff relationships and morale amongst staff;
· Maintaining a quality service;
· Relevant clinical skills and functions commensurate with the role requirements, following appropriate training and assessment of other staff as appropriate
· Carry out evidence based practice and agreed care pathways.

Demonstrate an understanding of:
· Person centred nursing;
· Professional standards of practice;
· Supervision of the practice of pre and post registration students;
· Supervision of trained and untrained staff;
· Management within the practice setting when deemed competent.

Participate in monitoring of the systems in place to:
· Identify poor performance and practice;
· Provide person centred care to agreed standards.

Demonstrate an awareness of and adherence to strategies for:
· Communication between patients, staff and relatives; reporting issues to the line manager as required;
· Communication between members of the multi-disciplinary team;
· Liaising with community services;
· DHSSPS and NMC guidelines for safe handling, administration, storage and custody of medicinal products;
· Education of patients/relatives/carers regarding aspects of care and give appropriate health promotion and education as outlined by national and local health organizations;
· Ensuring all documentation is legible, accurate, is written in black ink and clearly signed/timed/dated in accordance with the NMC.

Managerial Responsibilities

The post holder will:
. Co-ordinate the flow of patient from the Emergency Department and the Surgical Ambulatory service into the EMSU service.
. Identify early patients fit for discharge and aid in this process.
. Work with the EMSU discharge co-ordinator to ensure flow continues throughout the department.
· Contribute to effective team working
· Act as a mentor/preceptor as required
· Take charge when necessary as part of continuing professional and managerial development
· Maintain staff relationships and morale amongst staff
· Delegate appropriately to staff
· Review staff performance in line with Trust Personal Performance Development Review as required
· Report any signs of ill health in colleagues
· Ensure personal and professional development in accordance with NMC requirements
· Participate in the Trust Personal Performance & Development Review
· Participate in staff induction, training and other learning as required
· Participate in practice development initiatives

Education, Research and Practice Development

Responsible for maintaining own:
· Registration with the NMC;
· Professional and personal development in accordance with NMC requirements within the Scope of Professional Practice;

Participates in:
· Staff appraisal scheme annually using appropriate framework;
· Identifying personal development plan;
· Identifying own limitations regarding clinical practice, making them known to the line manager and actively working towards addressing knowledge and skill deficits;
· Giving and receiving feedback on performance of self and others;
· Orientation and induction programmes;
· Research and evidence based practice and agreed care pathways for the enhancement of patient care;
· Reflective practice strategies;
· Life-long learning initiatives;
· Mentorship of others;
· Clinical audit.

General Responsibilities

Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:

At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.

Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.

Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.

Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment.

Ensure the on-going confidence of the public in-service provision.

Maintain high standards of personal accountability.

Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.

Records Management

All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails.  All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, Data Protection Act 1998 and GDPR (2018).  Employees are required to be conversant with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policy and procedure on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Environmental Cleaning Strategy

The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognizes the key principle that “Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners” Whilst there are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients, residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.

Infection Prevention and Control

The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with on-going reduction strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

This includes:-
Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitizer at the appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’);
Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique;
Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment;
Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found on intranet);
Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps)  and laundry;
Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately i.e. cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised;
Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.

Values

The Belfast Trust aims to recruit staff not only with the right skills but also with the right values to ensure the delivery of excellent patient care and experience. Staff will be expected to be committed to provide safe, effective, compassionate and person centred care by:-

Working Together
Excellence
Openness and Honesty
Compassion

By embedding the above values we will make a significant contribution to the delivery of the Trust’s Vision.

Personal Public Involvement

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s on-going commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf

Clause: This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE AND BAND: Deputy Ward Sister/Charge Nurse Band 6

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE EMSU Royal Victoria Hospital. Surgery

Notes to applicants:
You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA


SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

Registered Nurse on Part 1( Adult) of the live NMC Register

Have 3 years post-registration experience with at least 2 in General Surgery.

Demonstrate the ability to provide effective leadership skills or management training to meet the needs of the post in full


Shortlisting by Application Form



Other


At offer of post

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to take responsibility for their own personal and continuous development. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to identify, challenge and report potential risk / clinical risk situations.

Applicants must demonstrate full understanding of the NMC Scope of Professional Practice and Code of Conduct.

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to effectively manage an operational team to ensure positive patient outcomes are achieved.

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to manage change to improve patient care

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to work effectively as part of the multi – disciplinary team.

Interview / Test

DESIRABLE CRITERIA


SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Factor
Criteria
Method of Assessment

Experience

IT Literate
Shortlisting by Application Form


VALUE BASED RECRUITMENT

* Values Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Belfast Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust and incorporating the Healthcare Leadership Model.

It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.

In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Belfast Trust.

NOTE:
Where educational/professional qualifications form part of the criteria you will be required, if shortlisted for interview, to produce original certificates, and one photocopy of same, issued by the appropriate authority. Only those certificates relevant to the shortlisting criteria should be produced. If educational certificates are not available an original letter and photocopy of same detailing examination results from your school or college will be accepted as an alternative.

If successful you will be required to produce documentary evidence that you are legally entitled to live and work in the United Kingdom. This documentation can be a P45, payslip, National Insurance Card or a birth certificate confirming birth in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Failure to produce evidence will result in a non-appointment.

Belfast HSC Trust Values

Whilst employees will be expected to portray all the values, particular attention is drawn to the following values for this role:

RESPECT & DIGNITY
Being respectful to others
Showing compassion to those who are suffering
Acting fairly and even-handed
Acknowledging the good work of others
Supporting others to achieve positive results

OPENNESS & TRUST
Communicating openly and consistently
Listening to the opinions of others and acting sensitively
Being trustworthy & genuine
Ensuring that appropriate information is shared honestly

ACCOUNTABILITY
Taking responsibility for your own decisions and actions
Openly admitting your mistakes and learning from them
Using all available resources appropriately
Challenging failures and poor practice courageously

LEADING EDGE
Actively seeking out innovative practice
Participate in new approaches & service development opportunities
Share best practice with others
Promote the Trust as a centre of excellence

MAXIMISING LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Act as a role model for the development of others
Continuing to challenge my own practice
Fulfil my own statutory mandatory training requirements
Actively support the development of others