An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and proactive individual to become part of the Intensive Care team on our busy 18 bedded Intensive Care Unit at The Royal Brompton Hospital. This unit cares for patients with both cardiac and respiratory illness including extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and the dynamic nature of our work makes it a very stimulating and exciting place to work. In return you will benefit from excellent training and development opportunities, and superb support from within our encouraging environment.

The unit is 18 beds but in periods of surge the footprint of beds increases to accommodate patient requirements.

Key facts about us:

18 bedded intensive care unit

National ECMO Centre for Severe Acute Respiratory Failure

Cardiogenic Shock Centre

Regional Acute Aortic Dissection Centre

Specialist critical care service for patients requiring advanced cardiovascular or respiratory support

Closing date: 26/11/2023

Interview date: 05/12/2023

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be able to further develop their clinical and managerial skills within our unit and will need to be a professional role model, with an interest in leading, coordinating and developing the unit, team and service provision. The role involves taking continuing responsibility and accountability for the 24-hour management and organisation of the Adult Intensive Care Unit. This involves managing a wide range of complex and sometimes conflicting priorities.

Within this ever changing and evolving environment we are looking to recruit a dynamic and enthusiastic staff member who will work well as part of the multi-disciplinary team. They will act as a role model, while supporting staff on a shift by shift basis and maintaining high standards of clinical practice. They will also actively lead and manage an allocated team of Critical Care nurses and The Adult Intensive Care Unit on a day to day basis. In return the unit will provide exciting learning opportunities within both the clinical and educational setting.

Applicants must have evidence of the development of advanced Critical Care and leadership skills in line with the band 7 role. The successful candidate will have regularly acted as a shift leader in an acute clinical setting, and have been involved in the performance review of junior colleagues.

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

Our unit is exciting, challenging and supportive and you will gain the opportunity to work as part of a highly skilled, dynamic and friendly team. If you are looking for a challenge and eager to provide a high quality service to patients, relatives and carers then this is the opportunity for you.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job summary:

To be a professional role model, leading and coordinating the ward/department team. Taking continuing responsibility and accountability for the 24-hour management and organisation of the Adult Intensive Care Unit. This involves managing a wide range of complex and sometimes conflicting priorities

To be responsible for the continuing specialist professional development and overall performance of all staff in the Adult Intensive Care Unit

Provide specialist nursing advice Trust wide to support and facilitate high quality, individualised care to patients /clients and relatives/carers in collaboration with the multi professional team, in line with the local and national targets

To develop leadership strategy to ensure that the needs of the patient are placed at the centre of care delivery

To be flexible in the approach to the clinical area and provide cover for any area specified.

Main tasks & responsibilities:

• Patient/customer care (both direct & indirect)
• To provide sound clinical leadership and develop support mechanisms for sharing good practice within the Ward/Department and Trust wide
• Monitor the quality of nursing care and action audit information to achieve agreed standards and take the lead on customer care initiatives
• Takes the lead in ensuring the provision of care is in accordance with the Trusts Polices & procedures
• In conjunction with the staff team, to lead in developing, implementing, evaluating and maintaining a Ward/Departmental ethos and a standard approach to the delivery of excellent nursing care
• To act as patient advocate in line with the NHS plan and to actively apply in depth knowledge of holistic/socio-economic and cultural aspects of the care to clients within your specific speciality, acting as a role model and resource for patients, relatives and staff
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care, actively seeking evidence-based practice which will support clinical outcomes as appropriate
• Ensure that nursing documentation is maintained to the Trust standard (including electronic records) and implement nursing audit of records to measure and evaluate care planning
• To be aware of and champion current trends and developments in nursing and in the NHS and be responsible for taking the lead in the continuing professional development of ward/departmental staff and self
• To lead on the implementation of the Trusts framework for Clinical Governance within the Adult Intensive Care Unit
• In conjunction with the staff develop a mechanism for setting goals and benchmarking standards of care. Develop tools to improve the quality of the service and co-ordinate clinical services across the Ward/Department.
• Have continuing responsibility for the provision of a suitable, clean, uncluttered and safe environment for the physical and psychological wellbeing of staff, patients/clients and their relatives. Identify clinical risks and ensure that appropriate action is taken under the supervision of the modern matron/senior nurse manager, in accordance with the Trust Risk Management policy
• To take overall responsibility for the clinical area utilising resources effectively and to ensure that safe staffing levels are maintained for their shifts
• Work in partnership with support staff to ensure that care, treatment and service needs are met, ensuring a standard approach to the delivery of excellent nursing care
• To investigate complaints, accident reports and untoward incidents within the ward/ department in line with Trust Policies and procedures and in conjunction with the Directorate Senior Nurse and implement recommendations for action
• To take the lead in ensuring compliance to Trust policies and procedures amongst the multi-disciplinary team
• Provide information and support to relatives/carers as appropriate, following consultation with members of the multi-disciplinary team. Leading in assessment, re-assessment and discharge pathways for patients
• To take a lead role in promoting a healthy lifestyle for patients and staff, in line with national strategy requirements.

• Communication
• Delegate tasks and activities to a range of team members ensuring that staff have the appropriate support to take on projects. Ensure that all outcomes are evaluated
• Maintain and promote effective communication with ward team and all members of the multi-disciplinary team and other Wards/ Departments, including formal presentation of information relating to your ward/ Departmen
• Promote the corporate image of the Trust to all individuals, groups and organisations both within the Trust and to the community at large.
• To support the Directorate Senior Nurse and to deputise for them in their absence.

• People management
• Provide effective orientation of staff, including welcome to the department and early objective setting and follow-up
• To ensure appropriate staffing levels and skill mix are in place to reflect the workload and meet the needs of the patient
• To investigate and manage staff issues that relate to sickness and absence, poor performance, harassment, disciplinary and grievance issues using the relevant Trust policies and in liaison with your Directorate management team, implement recommendations for actio
• To actively support the implementing of flexible working practice, in line with Improving Working Lives Standards and Trust Change Management Policy
• Participate in the Trusts appraisal and personal development plan schemes by meeting with the manager at least annually and to take the perform appraisals on a delegated group of staff and to ensure personal development plans for individuals
• To ensure that a suitable learning environment is maintained for all grades of staff and implement ward teaching programmes
• To take the lead on planning, implementing and evaluating a programme for clinical supervision for all registered nurses, as required, working in the Adult Intensive Care Unit in line with Trust guidance.

• Service development
• To set annual Ward/Departmental objectives with the General Manager and/or Directorate Senior Nurses ensuring that all staff are aware of them and their implementation
• In conjunction with the Directorate Management participate in the Trust Business Planning cycle, identifying areas of service development.
• To involve staff in the developments and business of the Trust. Actively encourage and promote, supporting where possible within the constraints of service delivery, staff membership of Trust wide initiatives/committees, professional organisations/forums and/or relevant Trade Unions.

• Resource management
• To recruit, retain and select staff within the budgeted establishment
• To manage the efficient and effective use of supplies, provisions and equipment of the Adult Intensive Care Unit within the designated budget. This includes management of the temporary staff and environmental budget
• In conjunction with the Directorate Management team identify, analyse and discuss cost pressure and financial constraints in a timely manner
• To act as a role model to others by adopting a flexible approach to personal rostering

• Policy development
• Plan and lead projects relating to local policy development
• To be actively involved in the development of Trust policies and procedures at ward / department level, lead the implementation and reinforce their use

• To actively promote a healthy lifestyle for patients and staff appreciating national strategy requirements.
• Information management
• Plan, lead and delegate local audit and research as required, ensure findings are disseminated appropriately and recommendations implemented
• Maintain data quality standards for PAS for ward / department or similar systems in the future
• Ensure self and team undertake training for electronic information systems in place & under development
• To have an active email account and use this as one of the methods of disseminating information to ward team
• Role model use of Trust intranet and internet to staff.

Further sections

• To ensure all team members have a real voice in the development of the clinical areas service to patients/customers
• To maximise the potential of all team members
• To ensure that all team members have a meaningful appraisal/personal development plan that includes feedback to the individual from a selection of internal customers and team members
• To provide a safe and attractive working environment for team members within available resources
• To attend and play a major role in corporate groups as a representative of the directorate and team
• To represent the Trust at regional and national conferences and on working groups as appropriate.
• To Act up in the absence of the Senior Nurse/Modern Matron.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse
• 60 credits ICU course
• Has attained or is working towards a degree in management/professional nursing issues

Desirable

• Has attained or is working towards an MSc relevant to area of speciality

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Extensive Critical Care experience
• Experience of staff management
• Experience in change management
• Experience of leading quality improvement work
• Experience of incident management

Desirable

• Has experience working in different Trusts

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
  
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