Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen, within our thoracic surgical unit, for a permanent band 6 sister/charge nurse.

We are looking for a highly motivated and innovative sister/charge nurse to become part of the leadership team on Oak ward at the outstanding Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the provision, delivery and evaluation of highly skilled individualised care to all patients, whilst also supporting and guiding junior staff. He/she will actively support senior colleagues, and take charge of the ward in the absence of the Ward Manager. The post holder will develop, assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of evidence based nursing care. They will practice within a clinical governance framework to create an environment where excellence in clinical care will flourish. The post holder will actively participate in and coordinate the supervision, learning and development of other staff members, act as a clinical mentor and be a role model to all staff. They will have the ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with others to meet the needs of patients and their families. They will act as an ambassador to promote patient and family centred care and promote the core values of Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.

About us
As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.

We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community.

We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering the best care for our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and our encouragement of flexible working in a variety of forms.

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Job responsibilities
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Act as ward coordinator on a shift by shift basis
• Provide support to the Ward Manager in the management and development of staff and their clinical skills
• Provide leadership to team members and act as a role model
• To supervise and instruct junior colleagues and be a resource for them in the ward area
• Alongside other staff provide efficient communication which will ensure dissemination of information to all staff
• Act as an effective role model and resource/advisor to colleagues in the delivery of nursing care
• Demonstrate robust and effective management and organisational skills

CLINICAL

• Perform comprehensive assessment of patient nursing needs
• Plan, implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health needs and varying levels of complexity
• Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate patient records
• Involve patients and carers/relatives in the planning and delivery of care
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure patient needs are met, especially ongoing care needs and discharge arrangements
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers/relatives
• Hold relevant skills for this level
• Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations, and support staff members
• Collect, collate and report information, maintaining accurate records in line with NMC and Trust Policies and Caldicott principles
• Demonstrate competency in using specialist equipment and display a sound knowledge of the care
• Promote and maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for patients and families in line with the Trusts Risk Management Strategy and Policies
• Instruct nursing staff in the correct use of equipment, cleaning after use, removing from use, and labelling of any faulty or broken items before returning to Medical Equipment Library/Medical Engineering, ensuring the Nurse in Charge is informed
• Coordinate cardiac arrest events on the ward

MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP

• Deputise for the Ward Manager in the management and organisation of the ward
• Accept delegated line management responsibilities for other team members including performance, development and appraisals
• Support the Ward Manager to maximise the best use of clinical resources, implementing best practice in patient flow, admission and discharge
• Participate in the recruitment and retention of staff
• Support the Ward Manager with the monitoring of performance of staff ensuring that learning needs are identified through personal development and PACT
• Promote the development of services within the ward area and assist the Ward Manager to implement changes/improvements
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources, fulfil the responsibility of the authorised signatory
• Supervise and instruct junior colleagues and be a resource for them in the clinical area
• Act as an effective role model and resource/advisor to colleagues in the delivery of nursing care
• Ensure staffing levels and skill mix are adequate to meet the acuity of patient needs and match the agreed staffing levels
• Lead role as link nurse
• Ability to create rosters and understand the nursing establishment required
• Have an awareness of budget setting and control
• Participate in organisational cost improvement programmes
• Encourage and disseminate to staff Trust quality objectives and HNS objectives
• Manage staff attendance
• Ensure staff appraisals and mandatory training meet the Trust objectives

ORGANISATIONAL

• Provide leadership
• Have a good awareness of Trust strategic objectives
• Undertake investigations in relation to incidents, accidents and complaints
• Assist the Ward Manager in ward audits and the development and implementation of any ward action plans
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures and clinical guidelines for self and others, participate in the development of local policies and procedures
• Continually monitor standards of care and lead improvements when required
• Assist in patient and public involvement activities in the ward area which lead to service improvement
• Promote peoples equality, diversity and rights, and take action when your own or others actions undermine these rights

PROFESSIONAL

• Keep up to date with clinical developments relevant to the specialty and current issues within nursing and healthcare
• Promote and maintain safe and therapeutic environment for patients in line with the Trusts Risk Management Strategy and Policies
• Maintain a personal development plan and assist in the formulation and updating of personal development plans with junior colleagues (OurPACT)
• Maintain active status on NMC register and ensure revalidation happens in a timely manner
• Adhere to Trust Policies and Procedures and ensure self and others participate in the development of same
• Undertake Clinical Supervision if required and support its use with other staff
• Maintain up to date skills and knowledge
• Maintain good awareness of current professional and healthcare issues
• Maintain a professional portfolio
• Continually monitor standards of care and lead improvement work, through audit and research
• Promote equality and diversity and rights, taking action when individual or other peoples actions undermine these rights.

QUALITY

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of Clinical Quality and ensure that nursing care and clinical practice are research and evidence based and actively reflects the Trusts standards
• Assist the Division in achieving the Trust Quality Indicators including minimising patient harms. This includes the prevalence of unavoidable pressure ulcers, medicine errors and incidences of infections.
• Maintain an active involvement in patient and family centred strategies
• Investigate all incidents, accidents and complaints, reporting them appropriately using relevant systems
• Monitor and report when standards of cleanliness and availability of supplies falls below an acceptable level
• Deploy staff with appropriate skills to ensure safe patient care
• Deploy staff to other areas when required to support patient safety
• Evaluate care delivered.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• To provide clinical care taking the opportunity to lead and teach by example in the clinical setting.
• To act as a clinical expert leading best practice and professionalism.
• To identify and manage a comprehensive teaching programme which is flexible and adaptable to the needs of all grades of staff and student nurses.
• In collaboration with the management team identify the individual learning needs of all staff through personal development plans / appraisal systems.
• Participate in and facilitate innovations in collaboration with the MDT and product representatives.
• Regularly undertake formal teaching sessions on post-registration pathways related to the clinical speciality internally and externally.
• Liaise with other disciplines to facilitate and promote local study days.
• To establish and maintain an active learning environment in all aspects of critical care.
• To coordinate, maintain and participate in formal critical care education programme in conjunction with the Critical Care Directorate education team, ensuring all staff members fully participate in delivery of educational lectures.
• Encourage reflective practice including ongoing development.
• To maintain and improve own knowledge base by attending appropriate courses and undertaking research-based projects.

CONFIDENTIALITY
All employees must adhere to policies and procedures relating to Information Governance, Confidentiality and Information Security

RISK MANAGEMENT
The Trust is committed to approaching the control of risks in a strategic and organised manner. The post holder must be aware of their individual responsibilities as detailed in the Trusts Risk Management, Health & Safety and Incident policies, and those under the Health and Safety at Work Act. This includes the reporting of any untoward incident, accident, potential or actual hazard identified.

SAFEGUARDING
All staff are required to be familiar with the arrangements for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and support the organisation in promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Staff working directly with children, young people and vulnerable adults will have a responsibility to ensure safeguarding and promoting their welfare forms an integral part of their duties.

Staff who come into contact with children, vulnerable adults, parents and carers in the course of their work and/or have access to records will have responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Staff who come into contact in the course of their duties, with parents, carers or other significant adults or children, young people and vulnerable adults should always be mindful of safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of these individuals.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING
The Trust is a Health Promoting Hospital. The Trust expects that when you are presented with opportunities to improve the lifestyle of our patients you seek help from appropriately trained clinical staff to ensure patients are supported and assisted in making the necessary lifestyle changes. This is in accordance with best practice as described in the DoH white paper Choosing Health Making Healthy Choices Easier.

Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential

• Registered Nurse
• Holds (or working towards) post registration Diploma or Degree
• Holds Mentorship qualification
• Evidence of continued further study

Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Post registration experience some of which must be cardiothoracic nursing
• Experience of managing patients with highly dependent needs
• Experience of involvement in successful change management
• Experience of data collection for audit/quality monitoring
• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues

Desirable

• Understanding of HR Policies and Procedures
• Basic knowledge of financial management within the clinical setting
• Knowledge of COSHH procedures and risk management

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Evidence of strong leadership and management skills
• Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to communicate unpleasant and sensitive information
• Ability to present written information in a logical manner
• Good IT skills
• Good facilitation, presentation, teaching and assessing skills
• Ability to place the patient at the centre of care delivery and plan effectively for patients with complex care needs
• Good problem solving ability
• Excellent organisational skills
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Demonstrates as desire to explore new ways of delivering service
• Previous experience of team leading/staff management

Values and behaviours
Essential

• Inclusive
• Make a difference
• Person centered
• Accountable
• Continuous improvement
• Teamwork

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).