Combined Haematology/Oncology Ward Sister/Charge Nurse

Job summary

Are you a nurse working in haematology or oncology who is passionate about cancer care? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment and aspire to deliver high quality, patient-centred care within a team of innovative professionals? If so, we would value you in our team

The Combined Haematology Oncology Centre (CHOC) at Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust comprises of 3 wards designed to accommodate the needs of our patients. We specialise in providing outstanding care to patients facing cancer diagnoses and haematology disorders. We are proficient in provision and administration of various anti-cancer treatments including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, bispecific treatment and radiotherapy. Whether our patients are newly diagnosed, receiving active treatment or reaching the end of their life, we are committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care at every stage of their journey. We aim to provide optimal comfort and dignity for each individual under our care.

As a Band 6 Ward Sister/Charge Nurse, you will contribute to the development of the ward team and support the Ward Manager in the delivery of a consistently high quality and cost-effective service and will be expected to deputise for the Ward Manager as required. You will have excellent communication skills and high clinical standards with a passion to make a difference for patients and staff alike. We have in house training courses, taught by our senior nurses/ACPs and practice development team.

Main duties of the job

In the absence of the senior ward sister, lead and coordinate the nursing team, taking responsibility for the management and organisation of the clinical area. Through effective leadership, ensure the clinical team deliver a safe, effective, responsive, caring and well-led service where compassion is embedded and a positive patient experience is achieved. Provide professional clinical and managerial leadership to nursing and act as a professional role model. A highly skilled clinical expert with specialised knowledge in caring for patients and their carers. A highly skilled haematology/oncology nurse who has all the requirements necessary to give chemotherapy (practical and theoretical) and has their chemotherapy competence signed off by the Lead Chemotherapy Nurse. Has an annual reaccreditation of chemotherapy competence.

About us

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Job description

Job responsibilities

C linical/Professional

Promoteand set high standards of professional nursing care and maintain the deliveryof quality care within the trust policies, protocols and guidelines. Implement the trust values and beliefsensuring they are embedded into everyday practice and evaluate their impact onthe patients experience. Provideprofessional nursing leadership to staff within sphere of clinicalresponsibility. Lead and motivate staff by giving clear direction and settingachievable objectives through APDR process. Responsiblefor the assessment of care needs, the development, implementation andevaluation of programmes of care on a day to day basis. Maintaina high visible presence within the clinical area ensuring that patients,visitors, healthcare staff and the multidisciplinary team, have access tosenior staff at all times. Act as aneffective professional role model andexpert clinician. Withthe Senior Sister/Charge Nurse contribute to the ward/department philosophy andmodels of care to ensure that all policies and procedures are implemented. Ensure that all staff understand thesignificance of this philosophy to practice, monitoring its impact on thepatient experience. Ensurethat all nursing issues relating to the implementation of patient quality andsafety are addressed on the ward/department. This includes monitoring andevaluating standards of care by the clinical team and providing regularfeedback to the ward team on the standards of nursing care. Implementevidence based practice, initiate, manage and evaluate changes that lead toimproved and high standards of care and in particular any service changesfollowing feedback from patients. Communicating,influencing and working with the multidisciplinary team in different ways toimprove quality of care, and informed clinical decisions. Promote innovationand participate in benchmarking and quality audits to measure effectiveness ofcurrent practices. Incollaboration with other areas and the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse, improve andmaintain standards of fundamental nursing care, using tools such as thePortsmouth Bundle. Incollaboration with members of the multidisciplinary team, ensure that the usersof the service and their families have a positive experience and using feedback(Elephant Surveys, Family and Friends Test, concerns and complaints) evaluatepatient processes and pathways of care are redesigned as required. Createa culture for learning and development that will sustain person-centred safeand effective care. Supportjunior colleagues in the provision of direct care; facilitate learning in andfrom practice at the same time as working alongside; or undertaking a care planreview if an when a serious incident or complaint has occurred. Ensureconcerns raised by patients and their families are dealt with in an open,honest and transparent way, quickly and effectively, in line with trustpolicies, procedures and Duty of Candour legislation. Ensuringthat accurate and timely nursing records are maintained, monitoring standardsand taking corrective action as required. Ensureall staff in the clinical area are competent in the use of medicaldevices/equipment and have access to training and monitoring compliance.

Management/Leadership

Responsiblefor the organisation and management of the ward/department when on duty. Have anoverall view of the intensity of the workload and the experience of the staffand act to utilise the nursing skill mix on duty to ensure the nursing coverachieves a high standard of nursing care. Withthe Senior Sister/Charge Nurse use the Trust Ward Accreditation Programme, anessential part of the organisations Safe and Effective Care Framework tostrive towards achieving excellence for the clinical area. Key quality indicators embedded in theframework, alongside trust peer reviews and focused CQC style reviews will betools to measure the ward/department performance and identify key areas forimprovement. Managethe discharge and transfer of patients by using the SAFER discharge bundle andother discharge policies to ensure a seamless transition from hospital to homeor other community care services. Activelycontribute to achieving the clinical governance goals/targets set by the trustand department and comply with reporting schedules for monitoring and reportingon clinical outcomes. Implementthe Nursing Strategy by setting clear achievable objectives for staff who thepost holder manages into annual performance and development reviews andevaluate performance. Robustroster management taking into consideration the skill mix and inform seniorsister/charge nurse of any issues as they arise. Working with the SeniorSister/Charge Nurse contribute to the recruitment, selection and retention ofthe nursing workforce. Withthe Senior Sister/Charge Nurse look a succession plan for any hard to recruitposts and use Talent Management skills to identify key staff for furtherdevelopment. Beproactive in the prevention and management of complaints (formal and those viaPatient Advice and Liaison Service) and when they occur investigate and respondin a timely manner. Use any learning to share widely with the multidisciplinaryteam and to improve care delivery. Responsiblefor the management of staff performance and attendance in line with trustpolicies. Promotethe health and well-being of staff, patients and their carers. Complyand promote compliance with Trust policies and guidelines Health andSafety, Clinical Risk and Infection Control. Takeappropriate action to address unexpected changes and situations, informing theSenior Sister/Charge Nurse or other if unable to resolve. Contributeto the ward/department pay and non-pay budgets to ensuring good housekeepingand economic use of resources. Delegateduties and tasks as appropriate to team members and evaluate the outcomes.Ensure efficient bed management. Workclosely with partners Engie, resolving any issues regarding cleanliness,provision of food and maintenance of the environment. Ensure staff are awarehow to escalate when issues cannot be resolved.

Research and Education

Research

Contributeto a research culture within the nursing team to identify current knowledge anddeliver evidence based care. Supportlocal research teams, actively contribute to local department multidisciplinaryaudits, represent the clinical area at governance meetings and highlight areasfor change. Liaisewith the relevant research nurse to ensure patients are identified to take partin clinical research studies and research is delivered safely on the ward. Reportresearch activity as standard practice and as part of the ward accreditationprocess. Embedin the team culture the concept of recruitment to clinical trials which is anational performance indicator.

Education

Ensurestaff under the post holder leadership has an annual personal developmentreview and set achievable objectives. Feed agreed development opportunitiesinto the department training plan. Createan environment that is conducive to learning and encourage team open-ness sothat an evidence based approach is utilised and applied to nursing care. Act as a mentor and coach for studentnurses, support staff and junior team members Committo and encourage a culture where students receive quality placements supportedby mentorship and teaching from the multi-professional team. Withthe Senior Sister/Charge Nurse ensure student mentors and sign off mentorswithin the clinical area are up-to-date with NMC standards, including annualupdates and undertaking triennial reviews. Responsiblefor ensuring that ward/department staff undertake essential training. Ensurethere are processes in place for the orientation of new/temp staff andpreceptorship for junior nurses.

Communicationand Working Relations

Communicatehighly sensitive and complex information with empathy ensuring that informationis understood. Communicatingand co-operating with other wards and departments, promoting and maintaininggood working relationships within own clinical area and across theorganisation, giving accurate information as required and keeping everyoneinformed of any untoward incidents. Developexpertise in dealing with interpersonal conflict and be responsible for theresolution of any adverse situation/incidents. Comply and promote compliance toTrust policies Harassment and Bullying. Anactive member of the clinical nursing team contributing to relevant Trust widenursing groups and meetings. Representthe Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in their absence at ward level.

Working Conditions and Effort

Frequent moderate effort for several shortperiods. Moves, manoeuvrespatients from bed to chair, wheelchair patients and transferring patients fromward to ward. May befrequently exposed to distressing circumstances if working with patientswho are terminally ill and their families and/or exposed to other conditions. Frequentexposure to unpleasant or highly unpleasant working conditions bodilyfluids, smell, etc. Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Current RN +/- RN, registration with NMC and any other relevant post registration qualifications BSc Degree in relevant field (Desirable - Masters degree and evidence of working towards) Post Reg. qualifications for specialty area Leadership development programme Teaching qualification /experience and accredited NMC before mentorship course Evidence of team leadership and change management with relevant management/leadership course Completion of SACT passport or equivalent qualification.

Experience

Essential

Current RN +/- RN, registration with NMC and any other relevant post registration qualifications BSc Degree in relevant field (Desirable - Masters degree and evidence of working towards) Post Reg. qualifications for specialty area Leadership development programme Teaching qualification /experience and accredited NMC before mentorship course Evidence of team leadership and change management with relevant management/leadership course Completion of SACT passport or equivalent qualification.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Clinically competent in SACT administration. Clinical decision-making skills Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Effective leadership and team building skills Organisational skills and forward planning Flexibility Able to support development of others Coaching and mentoring skills Critical appraisal skills Strong customer service skills. IT literate

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