Job summary
The registered nurse will act as a role model for junior members of the clinical team in the delivery of consistent high standards of nursing practice. They will provide guidance, support leadership and management of the department/ward. Focus will be on clinical effectiveness of the team with an emphasis on quality and clinical standards. They will have clinical responsibility for managing the department/ward in the absence of the clinical department / ward manager, including safe staffing, deployment, delegation and supervision of junior staff. They will be visible for both staff, patients and visitors acting professionally and upholding the trusts values, behaviours and codes of practice

Main duties of the job
The registered nurse will demonstrate the seven NMC Platforms of Proficiency by acting as an accountable professional, promoting health and preventing ill health, assessing needs, planning, delivering and evaluating care, leading and managing nursing care, improving the safety and quality of services, and coordinating care across the patient journey. They will ensure that all care is holistic, individualised and responsive to the physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients, working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to achieve the best possible outcomes.

As a senior member of the clinical team, the postholder will demonstrate leadership within the clinical environment and act as a positive role model for professional nursing practice. They will coordinate and prioritise patient care, ensuring appropriate delegation of duties while maintaining accountability for the overall standard of care delivered. In the absence of the ward or department manager, the postholder will take charge of the clinical area, providing operational leadership, supporting staff, managing patient flow and ensuring that clinical standards, staffing levels and patient safety are maintained. They will contribute to workforce planning, recruitment, induction, appraisal, performance management and absence management in accordance with Trust policies, fostering a culture of learning, accountability and continuous improvement.

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
The registered childrens nurse will promote and maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and colleagues by complying with health and safety legislation, infection prevention and control requirements, moving and handling guidance and risk management procedures. They will safely manoeuvre patients using appropriate equipment, including hoists, slide sheets, trolleys and beds, ensuring patient dignity, comfort and safety throughout. They will identify, assess and manage risks proactively, investigate nursing aspects of complaints and incidents where required, contribute to root cause analysis and implement learning to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

The postholder will contribute to the continuous improvement of services through participation in audit, quality improvement initiatives, research and evidence-based practice. They will support local and national quality programmes, monitor compliance with clinical standards, analyse outcomes and implement changes that improve patient experience, safety and effectiveness. They will encourage innovation, promote a culture of learning and actively contribute to service development initiatives that enhance patient care and organisational performance.

Person Specification
Statutory Registration
Essential

• Level 1 Registered Nurse (registration specific to role- i.e. RN child if working in paediatrics) on part 1 of the NMC register
• Valid UK NMC PIN
• Evidence of continual professional development in line with revalidation criteria (if newly qualified this would include pre registration period)

Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential

• Understands and acts in line with UK NMC professional standards for practice.
• meets the requirements for UK NMC professional revalidation
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
• Prepared to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision
• Up to date understanding of the scope of and role of the Nurse in context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
• Ability to seek advice, challenge and escalate as appropriate in line with relevant policy and process.
• Will provide leadership in the delivery of care for people in their care and act in best interests of people, putting them first and providing care that is person-centred, safe and compassionate.
• Safely lead and manage the nursing care of a group of people, demonstrating appropriate prioritization, delegation and assignment of care to others involved in patient care
• Able to organise and prioritise own delegated workload and prioritise the needs of people when assessing people and reviewing their mental, physical, cognitive, behavioural, social and spiritual needs
• Able to develop and share assessment, planning, decision making and goal setting when working with people, their families
• Proactively and promptly responds to signs of deterioration or distress
• Ability to deal with non- routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact, working with high levels of concentration.
• Competent IT Skills
• Be able to work flexibly within the service needs

Qualifications
Essential

• Nursing Degree or equivalent qualification leading to United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK NMC) registration to part 1 of the UK NMC register.
• Level 1 registrant, with registration appropriate to role.

Desirable

• Supervisor / Assessor for Pre-registration learners or equivalent teaching qualification (unless newly-qualified candidate).

Experience
Essential

• Able to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Able to develop effective and appropriate relationships to develop partnerships with people to promote shared decision making in order to support individuals, their families
• Will support and supervise / assess learners in the delivery of nursing care, promoting reflection and providing constructive feedback, and evaluating and documenting their performance within the clinical setting.
• Acute paediatric Nursing experience

Desirable

• High level of personal motivation

Special Requirements
Essential

• Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post.
• Rotate to other departments/wards and sites as the service requires
• Potential exposure to unpleasant working conditions. Such as body fluids/ aggression

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).