Senior Sister/Charge Nurse, Children's Emergency Department

Job summary

We are building a team of senior nurses and have an exciting opportunity for experienced Nurses to work within our busy Children's Emergency Department at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton. We are looking for enthusiastic, committed, and hardworking individuals who can work well under pressure, have a willingness to learn and develop their own skills. If this is you, we would love to hear from you.

The successful candidate will have shared responsibility for the Children's ED alongside a clinical team of band 7's , ED Consultants, medical team and Matron for Children's Emergency Care. You will be expected to work clinically in the department alongside the nursing staff, providing the additional support and clinical expertise. As part of the role you will be given opportunities to develop your management and leadership skills, whilst working in a supportive, diverse team.

As a Band 7 nurse you will be responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, and the setting of standards of care of the children and their family / carers whilst in the emergency department. Responsibilities also include liaising with the multidisciplinary team and providing leadership to nursing colleagues.

This is a clinical position and therefore the successful candidate will be expected to work clinical shifts alongside the other Band 7 with internal rotation to nights and weekends.

The role also includes 1 management week in 6

Main duties of the job

Role Summary

The post holder will support the Matron and senior sisters/charge nurses to ensure that high quality patient focused care is delivered within the Children's Emergency Service.

The post holder will actively participate in the day-to-day clinical and operational management of the department.

The post holder will act as a clinical leader and role model whilst providing direct quality patient care, sharing expertise with colleagues.

The post holder will work within the ED team on professional nursing issues and management of clinical governance issues

The post holder will guide the activity of nursing, medical and other staff to ensure rapid assessment, treatment and ultimately transfer/discharge of children and young people.

The post holder will participate in educational and training programmes for junior members of the team, including acting as a preceptor to newly qualified nurses.

The post holder will lead a team of nurses on a shift by shift basis.

The post holder will be required to work flexibly to achieve the key responsibilities of the post.

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex. .

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Practice

The post holder will provide specialist paediatric knowledge on the clinical care of emergency patients presenting with varying complaints and utilising advanced nursing skills across the childrens emergency care speciality. The post holder will, on a shift basis, ensure that all staff are aware of, and meet the needs of patients and relatives in a courteous, helpful and compassionate manner, whilst ensuring returned respect for staff members. The post holder will on a shift basis, maintain effective relationships between the multi-professional team in the clinical environment. The post holder will maintain and develop own clinical expertise and knowledge. The postholder will be aware of, and work in line with, our Trusts Safeguarding Adults and Children procedures.

Service delivery and improvement

The post holder on a daily basis act as the shift leader to supervise, co-ordinate and control the provision of high quality care within the childrens emergency service. The post holder will lead on the embedding and implementation of the Patient First Improvement System (PFIS) within the Childrens Emergency Department. The post holder will apply this methodology to all service improvement projects ensuring that a culture of continuous improvement is fostered within the department. The post holder will lead the regular CED huddles in collaboration with the consultant in charge and the bed coordinator for the RACH. The aim being to promote patient safety and experience whilst working to deliver; compliance with 4 hour standard, avoidance of long stays in the department and compliance with the 12 hour standard through forward planning of emergency admissions, escalation and resolution of staffing issues. The post holder will be required to account for the reasons that patients wait for longer than expected within the department recognising the importance of the emergency care standards. The post holder will lead on subsequent quality improvement projects, PDSA and learning cycles alongside the CED team, to ensure that the department gives patients the very best experience and continues to provide safe care.

Learning and Development

The post holder will work closely with the practice development team and will have a proactive approach towards and be involved in the emergency team development through ongoing education initiatives. The post holder will foster an environment which supports and encourages personal and professional development within the multi-professional ED team. The post holder will encourage innovation by all members of the team and will act as a resource for those seeking knowledge and experience relating to emergency care issues. The post holder will promote reflective practice in self and others. They will do this through creating a culture of learning and development within the department that ensures all staff are supported to grow and develop into effective childrens emergency nurses. The post holder will participate in the trust appraisal process and will actively strive to meet targets set by individual performance review in order to maintain professional and current expert emergency nursing knowledge.

Communications

The post holder will be responsible for protecting all confidential information concerning patients and staff obtained in the course of professional practice, adhering to trust and statutory policies. The post holder will be able to competently establish and maintain effective communication with patients, their carers and the multi-professional and multiagency team. Identifying any potential barriers and adapting communication style as required. The post holder will be a positive role model within childrens emergency nursing acting with kindness and courtesy at all times. The post holder will lead the team within the emergency department on a daily basis to facilitate the care, treatment and safe discharge of all patients, providing specialist nursing advice where appropriate. The post holder will provide clear and concise, written, verbal and computer entered relevant information regarding the care and wellbeing of patients. Maintaining good computer literacy and typing skills and ensuring that all of the above is adhered to by all staff reportable to them on a shift to shift basis.

Leadership and People Management

The post holder will act at all times in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and within the individual Scope of Professional Practice. The post holder will ensure that the stated professional, legal and statutory requirements are complied with and that agreed trust policies and procedures and implemented. The post holder will lead, direct, motivate and support the team on duty during a given shit as an exemplry and professional role model for all members of the staff. Ensuring high standards are met and challenging any poor practice. The post holder will be responsible for the management of patient care and flow through the emergency department,ensuring timely discharge or onward admission. This will include the responsibility to anticipate and correctly escalate issues that may affect flow and any potential delays to the emergency pathway. The postholder will have a detailed understanding of the implication this will have to patient care and experience. The post holder will manage resources, including staffing, equipment and supplies financial governance, to ensure the safe and effective running of the department within a finite budget.

Personal Learning and Development

Attend mandatory training updates as required. Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process. Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales. Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager Participate in the Trusts appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service. Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

NMC registration Degree in nursing or related subject APLS/EPLS provider Teaching and Assessing in Practice/ Mentorship module (or equivalent) RCN A&E competencies (level 2) evidence of post registration study in area related to paediatrics

Desirable

MSc level education - Acute care/emergency care/paediatrics APLS/EPLS inctructor History taking and physical assessment course Trauma qualification Management experience (including leading a team) Experience of supervising and appraising staff

Skills and Experience

Essential

Highly effective communication skills (verbal, non verbal and written) Awareness of equality and diversity Ability to motivate a team Ability to rapidly determine priorities for patient care Excellent management and leadership skills Experience working in acute/emergency paediatrics

Desirable

Awareness of own leadership style Experience of policy development Quality improvement experience/PFIS

Personal qualities

Essential

effective role model optimistic outlook - ideas for role development - clear why they want the role Enthusiastic Team player

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role). Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

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