Critical Care Sister

Job summary ITUis an 11 bedded combined High Dependency and Intensive Care unit that cares forpatients who are critically ill; providing all aspects of nursing care andmultidisciplinary rehabilitation after critical illness.
Thejobholder will play an essential role assisting the Ward Manager/ Senior Nursewith the 24 hour continuing responsibility for the effective and efficientmanagement of the intensive care unit.They will contribute to the provision of professional, clinical,managerial leadership and supervision for the nursing team.
The jobholder is responsible for helping todevelop and maintain a ward or departments philosophy that has the patient atthe centre of compassionate safe and quality care delivery.
As an experienced nurse the jobholder willassist in co-ordinating activities on the intensive care unit ensuringeffective communication is maintained at all times, providing support toqualified and unqualified nurses within the ward/dept.
They will play a key role in the assessmentof patient care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation ofprogrammes of care.
Main duties of the job Thepost holder will work on a combined intensive care and high dependency unit andwill support the Ward manager/ Senior Nurse in the day to day management andcoordination of the unit.
Will assist with managingthe administrative and financial aspects of the ward and the jobholder willsupport the cost effective use of resources.Undertakes specialistassessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of clinical care forcaseload of patients/clients.Provides specialist adviceto patients/clients/carersIs an accountablepractitioner.Maintains records asautonomous practitioner.Skilled at assessing andmanaging risk.Accepts the responsibilityfor decisions made and actions taken.
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 managerYou must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checksWe 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-representedFrom April 1 2024 we are unable to offer sponsorship for healthcare roles that do not meet the minimum salary, If you are in the UK on a VISA please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents Job description Job responsibilities LeadershipSupport Senior Sister /Charge nurse in providing leadership to the clinical team Support and inspire staffto provide efficient, effective, safe, quality care to patientsDeliver a positive patientexperiencePromote the building ofeffective teams and collaboration between teamsAnticipate problems andtake preventative or mitigating actions,or have contingency plans availableAssist in the linemanagement of the nursing team,including individual and team performance, attendance, management and workforceplanningHelp to ensure theeffective deployment of staff is mapped against the flow of patients to providesafe and effective careSupport and participate inlocal and trust-wide recruitment eventsHelp to manage the use ofbank and agency Support the senior sister/ charge nurse to Investigate and respond to accidents, complaints, untowardincidents and other significant eventsSupport in the delivery ofan effective, safe, quality service within budgetary envelopeRaise and respond toconcerns with regards to risk, danger, malpractice or wrongdoing by followingthe whistle blowing policy and supporting processesDeputise for Senior Sister/ Charge Nurse in their absenceClinicalAct in accordance to theNursing and Midwifery Councils Code: Professional Standards Practice andBehaviour (March, 2015)Fulfils the requirementsas directed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council to maintain and revalidateregistrationSupervise ward staff withregards clinical practice and patient experience to promote the delivery ofexcellent clinical standardsProvide a visible clinicallead and role model to the nursing and widerteam by delivering high quality compassionate care as an expertpractitionerEnsure that documentationstandards are maintained in accordance with NMC and CDDFT guidelines, whetherwritten or computerised.Promote and maintain positiveworking relationships between all staff, internal and external to theTrust, involved in the care of patientsHelp to set, monitor andseek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care,including those standards defined in local and national guidance Maintain a safe workingenvironmentEnsure the safe use andefficient management of equipment and suppliesPromote compassionateevidence based practice, wherever possibleWork with Ward manager/Senior Nurse to ensure that clinical governance processes at ward/dept levelencompass measures to ensure the quality of the fundamental and essentialaspects of careBalance clinical risk andclinical decision making against contextWork with the InfectionPrevention and Control Team and Facilities to monitor the environment tomaintain and raise standardsUndertake duties on otherwards or departments as and when required by the serviceAct in such a way thatsafeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults at alltimes.
Is familiar with and adheres to CDDFT safeguarding policies.Quality ImprovementHas a responsibility toimprove the quality and safety of our services.It is expected that in fulfilling a clinical leadership role you will beproactive in promoting continuous improvement and contribute to qualityimprovement programmes as requiredKeep up to date with andcommunicate service developments, advances and research.Through the use of audit,local research, metrics and feedback continually seek to identify practice thatneeds improvement.
Implement and evaluate any resultant improvement plan.
Actively promote patientinvolvement and feedback within service improvements to promote a positivepatient experience Maintain and sustain themomentum of improvements until they are firmly embedded into the values andculture of the clinical areaEducation and TrainingParticipate in personalappraisal and mandatory training at the required time periodsHelp to ensure all newstarters, inclusive of temporary staff, have a local induction to the clinicalareaHelp to ensure all staffhave an individual performance development plan and a yearly appraisalHelp to ensure all nursingstaff maintain mandatory and priority training requirement.Support and facilitatere-validation for registered nursing staff, and self.Promote a learning anddevelopment culture to the improve staff skills, knowledge and competenceHelp to ensure theinduction and development of staffPromote a positivelearning environment within the clinical area to support the development ofknowledge and skills in learners.Support and facilitatework-based inter-professional learning Thisis not an exhaustive list of roles and responsibilities, and these may besubject to change with professional and service developments Person Specification Special Skills & Knowledge Essential Ability to work effectively as member of the team as well as practicing autonomously Effective decision making skills and ability to problem solve Capability and motivation to undertake continuing high level self-directed learning Excellent and effective communication skills -verbally and written, excellent interpersonal and organisational skills Ability to effectively organise and prioritise own and team workload Ability to work effectively under pressure in an often stressful environment Ability to cope with emotional issues presented in the course of work and to support others Act as a role model and as a mentor/assessor Flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of a changing service Commitment to the development and provision of high quality nursing care Awareness of professional responsibilities to self and others Desirable Involvement in specialist groups Qualifications Essential Adult Nursing qualification Current NMC registration Evidence of ongoing professional Development Post graduate Critical Care course A teaching/ mentoring qualification and/or the ability to facilitate and mentor the learning of others Desirable Leadership and Management Course Statutory Registration Essential Registered qualified nurse.
NMC Registration Experience Essential Significant relevant post qualification experience in a critical care setting.
Desirable Appropriate proven leadership and management experience Experience of change management Budget awareness Evidence of participation in staff development including appraisal process