ITU is an 11 bedded combined High Dependency and Intensive Care unit that cares for patients who are critically ill providing all aspects of nursing care and multidisciplinary rehabilitation after critical illness.

The jobholder will play an essential role assisting the Ward Manager/ Senior Nurse with the 24 hour continuing responsibility for the effective and efficient management 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 to develop and maintain a ward or departments philosophy that has the patient at the centre of compassionate safe and quality care delivery. As an experienced nurse the jobholder will assist in co-ordinating activities on the intensive care unit ensuring effective communication is maintained at all times, providing support to qualified and unqualified nurses within the ward/dept. They will play a key role in the assessment of patient care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work on a combined intensive care and high dependency unit and will support the Ward manager/ Senior Nurse in the day to day management and coordination of the unit.

Will assist with managing the administrative and financial aspects of the ward and the jobholder will support the cost effective use of resources.

Undertakes specialist assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of clinical care for caseload of patients/clients.

Provides specialist advice to patients/clients/carers

Is an accountable practitioner.

Maintains records as autonomous practitioner.

Skilled at assessing and managing risk.

Accepts the responsibility for 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 manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We 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-represented

From 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

Leadership

Support Senior Sister / Charge nurse in providing leadership to the clinical team

Support and inspire staff to provide efficient, effective, safe, quality care to patients

Deliver a positive patient experience

Promote the building of effective teams and collaboration between teams

Anticipate problems and take preventative or mitigating actions, or have contingency plans available

Assist in the line management of the nursing team, including individual and team performance, attendance, management and workforce planning

Help to ensure the effective deployment of staff is mapped against the flow of patients to provide safe and effective care

Support and participate in local and trust-wide recruitment events

Help to manage the use of bank and agency

Support the senior sister / charge nurse to Investigate and respond to accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events

Support in the delivery of an effective, safe, quality service within budgetary envelope

Raise and respond to concerns with regards to risk, danger, malpractice or wrongdoing by following the whistle blowing policy and supporting processes

Deputise for Senior Sister / Charge Nurse in their absence

Clinical

Act in accordance to the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code: Professional Standards Practice and Behaviour (March, 2015)

Fulfils the requirements as directed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council to maintain and revalidate registration

Supervise ward staff with regards clinical practice and patient experience to promote the delivery of excellent clinical standards

Provide a visible clinical lead and role model to the nursing and wider team by delivering high quality compassionate care as an expert practitioner

Ensure that documentation standards are maintained in accordance with NMC and CDDFT guidelines, whether written or computerised.

Promote and maintain positive working relationships between all staff, internal and external to the Trust, involved in the care of patients

Help to set, monitor and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care, including those standards defined in local and national guidance

Maintain a safe working environment

Ensure the safe use and efficient management of equipment and supplies

Promote compassionate evidence based practice, wherever possible

Work with Ward manager/ Senior Nurse to ensure that clinical governance processes at ward/dept level encompass measures to ensure the quality of the fundamental and essential aspects of care

Balance clinical risk and clinical decision making against context

Work with the Infection Prevention and Control Team and Facilities to monitor the environment to maintain and raise standards

Undertake duties on other wards or departments as and when required by the service

Act in such a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults at all times. Is familiar with and adheres to CDDFT safeguarding policies.

Quality Improvement

Has a responsibility to improve the quality and safety of our services. It is expected that in fulfilling a clinical leadership role you will be proactive in promoting continuous improvement and contribute to quality improvement programmes as required

Keep up to date with and communicate service developments, advances and research.

Through the use of audit, local research, metrics and feedback continually seek to identify practice that needs improvement. Implement and evaluate any resultant improvement plan.

Actively promote patient involvement and feedback within service improvements to promote a positive patient experience

Maintain and sustain the momentum of improvements until they are firmly embedded into the values and culture of the clinical area

Education and Training

Participate in personal appraisal and mandatory training at the required time periods

Help to ensure all new starters, inclusive of temporary staff, have a local induction to the clinical area

Help to ensure all staff have an individual performance development plan and a yearly appraisal

Help to ensure all nursing staff maintain mandatory and priority training requirement.

Support and facilitate re-validation for registered nursing staff, and self.

Promote a learning and development culture to the improve staff skills, knowledge and competence

Help to ensure the induction and development of staff

Promote a positive learning environment within the clinical area to support the development of knowledge and skills in learners.

Support and facilitate work-based inter-professional learning

This is not an exhaustive list of roles and responsibilities, and these may be subject 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

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9439-24-1307