To jointly lead the nursing team within Critical Care in an engaged, collaborative, cohesive, pro-active and progressive manner to maintain 'Outstanding' standards of patient care and service delivery.
To deliver and role model expert clinical patient care and operational decision making within Critical Care.
To work in manner that promotes shared leadership and on-going professional development of self and others
To work collaboratively with the senior team to drive patient safety and quality forwards through the development and implementation of service and quality improvement projects.
- To take a joint strategic nursing lead to ensure the safe and effective delivery of care for patients within the defined clinical area.
- To take day to day responsibility for safe staffing levels and patient flow across the critical care service.
- To work alongside the Matron, the Band 7's and wider team to determine and deliver on service strategic objectives and to promote the overarching vision for the service.
- To work collaboratively and cohesively with the entire critical care inter-professional team to meet the needs of critically ill patients and their families.
- To maintain high visibility and clinical expertise, role modeling high standards of care, evidence based practice and effective leadership within UK law, NMC and Trust policies and guidelines.
- To take an active role within clinical governance and quality framework, helping to embed the culture of continuous improvement.
- To directly 'line manage' a defined group of DCC staff within Trust Human Resource policies and procedures.
- To undertake additional divisional and trust responsibilities as agreed, such as the support of surgical division staffing.
As a team within Critical Care, we are proud to achieved We are a motivated and enthusiastic cross site service who work creatively, collaboratively and inclusively in order to deliver expert care to critically ill patients and their families.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Knowledge, skill's and experience required
- Level 1 Registered Nurse
- Degree level education within relevant area of practice
- Recognised teaching and assessing qualification
- Critical Care course
- Have requisite level of Critical Care experience at Band 6 level or above
- Evidence of quality improvement work / project management
- Recognised for possessing expert critical care knowledge and clinical skills and for demonstrating high standards of patient care
- Recognised for supporting the development of others and building effective interpersonal skills
- Demonstrates a positive, forward thinking and creative approach to change and an ability to be resilient and self-resourceful
Organisational arrangements
- The Band 7 Ward Manager will work directly alongside the Band 7 nurse team (Ward Managers and Clinical Nurse Educator) and be line managed by the Matron for Critical Care and Pain Services
- The Band 7 Ward Manager will directly line manage a group of Health Care Assistants, Band 5 and 6 nurses and may be required to line manage other staff members as appropriate and agreed.
Main duties and responsibilities
Clinical
- Deliver, demonstrate and supervise safe and appropriate care within a challenging and changing clinical environment, using highly specialised equipment and resources
- Administer, demonstrate and supervise the delivery of medications, including multiple continuous infusions, within the Procedure for the Ordering, Prescribing, and Administration of Medications (POPAM) guidelines
- Work collaboratively alongside other health professionals to provide high standards of care for patients within DCC
- Take a key role in the implementation of any clinical initiative or introduction of new equipment within DCC
- Take an active clinical leadership role and act as shift co-ordinator when required
- Work continuously to promote and support clinical training, education and development of other staff within the DCC and beyond
Management
- Work alongside the Matron, Band 7s, consultants and wider team to determine and deliver on strategic service objectives
- Manage and lead the service within agreed standard operational procedures and support the development of new working practices as appropriate
- Work alongside the DCC, site and operational delivery teams to maintain patient flow and critical care capacity within agreed procedures
- Manage day to day safe staffing levels within critical care and escalate concerns using escalation processes
- Maintain the electronic roster, alongside the roster administrator, to ensure that it is kept up to date and record and monitor staff absences, making appropriate referrals to relevant line managers
- Line manage a defined group of staff, ensuring that appropriate human resource policies, procedures and practices are followed
- Identify and manage any staff under-performance and lead / assist in the development and implementation of performance action plans as appropriate
- Seek to eliminate / reduce any staff conflict and take any remedial and on-going action as appropriate
- Manage any patient, relative or staff complaints in line with the Trust complaints procedure
- Deliver and support staff appraisals and promote mandatory training to achieve key performance indicators
- Support the DCC recruitment and retention strategy and participate in the interviewing process for new staff
- Deputise for the Matron during any absence to represent DCC as required
- Take responsibility for the health and safety of patients, relatives and staff and contribute towards clinical and environmental risk assessments and risk reduction practices.
- Work in a manner that makes best use of available resources and aim to reduce unnecessary waste from a financial and environmental perspective
- Support the Matron to manage the pay and non-pay budgets as appropriate and agreed
Leadership
- Jointly lead on maximising the opportunities to develop a highly skilled, motivated and engaged workforce which continually strives to improve patient, relative and staff experience
- Demonstrate a positive and pro-active approach to the on-going support and development of nurses within DCC
- Role model high standards of patient care, communication, commitment and organisation for others to follow
- Maintain a creative, yet measured approach to service developments and use effective leadership skills to ensure effective change
- Encourage and promote a shared leadership model, enabling and empowering others, of all grades, to take the lead with various initiatives within DCC and the wider Trust whilst clearly demonstrating the Trust leadership values and behaviours.
- Lead or actively support all agreed quality improvements within DCC and link with other teams and services as appropriate within and outside of Trust.
- Collaborate with local, network and national colleagues as appropriate to maintain shared best practice within critical care
Communication, interpersonal skills, professionalism and personal qualities
- Deliver complex and contentious information to large and small groups sometimes in clinical areas where staff may be reluctant to be involved.
- Demonstrate an ability to work cohesively with all members of the Critical Care team
- Communicate with patients and their relatives with sensitivity and empathy
- Communicate sensitively with staff members, particularly when needing to lead difficult conversations or manage underperformance
- Demonstrate an ability to work under pressure and to agreed timescales
- Take initiative and demonstrate a progressive, creative and forward thinking approach
- Act as a good role model for others to follow to include personal appearance and adherence to Trust uniform policy
- Work in a manner to promote the Trust values and core objectives
- Work within the NMC code of conduct
- Maintain own professional development, mandatory training and NMC revalidation requirements
- Always seek advice and support when required and encourage others to do the same
Research and audit
- Work in a manner that promotes any audits or research taking place within DCC or the wider Trust as appropriate
- Promote and demonstrate the use of evidence-based practice and related policy, procedure and guidelines
- Assist in the collection and reporting of data as appropriate to maintain key performance indicators
Education and training
- In conjunction with the Matron for Critical Care, identify personal training and development needs through the Trust appraisal process
- Maintain and continually develop knowledge, competence and skills required to perform the role effectively.
- Undertake all mandatory training appropriate to role
- Support the training, education and development of staff within defined service as appropriate
Improving safety, quality and developing practice
- Work with senior staff undertaking audit and research projects. To be involved in making recommendations for changes to management practice and procedures and the implementation of those changes as appropriate.
- Contribute to the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda by active participation in service initiatives, health and safety and risk management.
- Take joint responsibility for leading on safe and effective infection, prevention and control measures
- Develop and share own knowledge with other members of the wider team both locally and nationally.
- Identify own development needs, aligning these to service requirements and personal aspirations. Proactively develop and improve own practice using all available resources
- Understand and contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of standard operational procedures, policies, protocols and guidelines relevant to the defined service
- Openly question and challenge strategic and operational practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved.
- Report and investigate incidents as appropriate within role and designated service
Physical, Mental & Emotional Effort & Working Conditions
- Comply with Trust and departmental policies and procedures e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times
- Required to utilise recognised manual handling techniques and guidelines
- Will be expected to frequently manoeuvre patients / objects over 15 kg using appropriate aids
- Will have exposure to, and will be required to follow policies and procedures pertaining to, infestations, bodily fluids, infection control and substances hazardous to health.
- Will have regular exposure to distressing and emotionally demanding situations involving staff, patients and relatives
- Will have regular exposure to patients displaying verbal and physical abuse
- Will be required to concentrate for long periods of time
- Will be expected to work and maintain a clinical presence within both Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospital as a member of the cross-county critical care leadership team.
- There will be an on-going requirement to maintain excellent standards of care whilst working under pressure in an ever-changing and challenging environment
- Ensure a smart, professional image that enhances the public perception of the Trust and the professionalism of its staff