Job summary
Paediatrics is currently undergoing a period of rapid quality and safety improvement and therefore this role is being offered until the 31st of March to support the work being undertaken.

The fundamental purpose of this role will be to lead and take ownership of service improvement workstreams to augment the effectiveness and pace of the changes within the service. This role is required to not only lead the service changes but to ensure changes are embedded and evidenced for internal and external assurance.

Main duties of the job
This new post provides the opportunity to work alongside the matron team and gain insight into the role of Matron via leading on Quality and Safety improvement workstreams within Paediatrics.

Whilst this role will focus on the leadership of Service improvement, there will be some duties delegated from the Paediatric Matron to support overall Nursing leadership capacity within the directorate. They will work with Matrons / clinical teams to maintain excellent standards of care, robust infection control practices, high standards of cleanliness and ensure that patients privacy and dignity is maintained at all times.

Alongside the Matron, this post holder will be a highly visible role model, accessible to staff, patients and visitors/family members and be able to assist where issues cannot be resolved by the Sisters/Charge Nurses/Team Leaders.

Effective line management of Senior Sisters / Charge Nurses/Team Leaders within the area for which they are responsible is fundamental in order to support a culture of consciousness to deliver financial balance and achievement of efficiencies.

About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Job responsibilities
Nursing Excellence
The post holder will:

• Maintain own clinical credibility and attain all requirements in relation to revalidation
• Demonstrate specific clinical competencies and develop skills of junior staff
• Support the matron to assess and monitor areas where concerns related to nursing care have been identified from Quality Matters or CQIF audits
• Attend the Matrons Meeting and contribute to the overall direction of nursing and midwifery in the Trust
• Support the ward managers and senior nursing colleagues to develop a culture of nursing excellence
• Deputise for the Matron as and when appropriate

Service Improvement
The post holder will support service improvement projects (including the Productive Ward/Productive Community) to:

• Reduce waste at team level and streamline processes
• Maintain effective communications within the multi-disciplinary team
• Reduce the number of adverse incidents by focusing the ward/clinical team on any areas of concern.
• Support the ward/team managers in process mapping and involving the staff in the change
• Ensure that standardised processes which demonstrate benefit to patients are shared across sites
• Contribute to the development of nursing metrics which provide evidence of quality and effectiveness
• Work with the matron to take an analytical approach to information received and act on findings
• Ensure opportunities for service development, improvement, and transformation are identified and implemented
• Work with the matron to facilitate the development of new roles and new ways of working for registered staff alongside supporting roles
• Liaise with the Corporate Nursing Directorate Lead for education and practice development to promote and deliver corporate education and training priorities
• Work with the triumvirate to meet the development needs of nurses through a variety of mechanisms including Professional Forums, working groups and development sessions
• Pro-actively encourage involvement in nursing research and audit within the Care Group, ensuring that nursing practice is evidence based
• Work with the matron to Lead and co-ordinate patient experience initiatives across the Care Group identifying areas for service improvement that will lead to a better patient experience and outcome
• Ensure mechanisms are in place to promote patient and public involvement in the review and development of services within the Care Group
• Promote the needs of patients and public in the development of the Care Group
• Actively promote a culture in which concerns related to clinical care are raised immediately and escalated appropriately
• Work alongside staff as necessary to monitor and assess standards of care
• Model clinical expertise and skill whilst maintaining own clinical competence and credibility
• Discuss highly sensitive, very complex and highly contentious information with staff from all levels of seniority within the Trust and patients, using negotiating, persuasive and empathetic skills. Ensure that highly sensitive and highly contentious information is communicated to the correct departments and staff at the appropriate time
• Work effectively as a member of the Care Group in close liaison with multi-disciplinary clinical teams and Clinical Leaders
• Work collaboratively with the Senior Nursing leads across the Care Groups and the Corporate Nursing Directorate
• Contribute to the Trust leadership community acting as a role model for new and aspiring leaders
• Any other duties commensurate with Band

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Experience in working in Paediatric Services
• Clinical Governance experience
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Able diffuse conflict.
• Workforce leadership
• Experience managing complaints

Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential

• Ability to prioritize
• Authentic leadership style.
• Sound understanding of IG principles
• Team working
• Able to use own initiative and problem solve.
• Clinical Audit experience
• Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post

Desirable

• Service improvement experience.

Statutory Registration
Essential

• RCN Childrens Nursing

Qualifications
Essential

• RCN Childrens Nursing

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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).

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

Employer details
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 6HX
United Kingdom

Employer's website
https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Matron
Alison Crozier
alison.crozier@nhs.net

Supporting documents
Supporting links (all open in new tabs)
Library knowledge and learning centre services
CDDFT
Credit union
Cycle to Work Link
Pension Scheme

Privacy notice
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)

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).