Senior Sister/Charge Nurse

Job overview

We are looking to appoint a passionate, motivated and dynamic individual to lead a team of nurses to deliver high standards of nursing care. Our multidisciplinary team are friendly and proactive, providing level 3 and level 2 Critical Care in a purpose built, spacious ten bedded unit. This very busy dynamic unit cares for complex, critically ill patients from a variety of specialities. As part of the Critical Care cross site Critical Care department, we also work collaboratively with the Critical Care units at the Denmark Hill site for both the delivery of patient care and provision of education.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to support the management of the unit, manage an allocated team of nurses, support all staff within the challenging critical care environment, and have knowledge of the complex systems within which we operate. Possessing exceptional interpersonal, communication, and organisational, skills is essential to this role to in order be able to provide excellent leadership, you will bring with you a proven track record of managing people, and have substantial experience at a band 6 level in a similar clinical environment.

Main duties of the job

To lead a team of nurses to deliver high standards of nursing care.

To work as an expert practitioner in Critical Care and shape the delivery of bed side care.

To demonstrate compassionate leadership and support of all staff.

To be an effective role model

To be responsible for direct management of delegated staff, ensuring robust staff management and performance

To act up for the matron as and when required.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

· To have advanced Critical Care expertise to use their knowledge and skills in an holistic approach, so that clinical decision-making leads to prompt and appropriate action in the best interests of the patient

· To be strongly visible in the clinical area and act as a resource for all staff and students

· Good verbal and written communication skills so that professional advice or care guidance and instructions are well understood by patients, their relatives and/or carers, and members of the multi-disciplinary team

· Ensures continuity of patient care through effective staff deployment

Ensure safe patient flow within the units, working closely with duty consultant, the clinical site practitioners and our outreach team.

Ensures good discharge planning so that step down areas and the wards are fully prepared for the patient arrival and that the patient and their families are fully informed.

Regularly checks patient care documentation to see that all aspects of care have been considered, individual patients’ needs identified and that an appropriate care plan exists in relation to meeting the identified needs.

To work in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct, and Trust Policies and Procedures.

· Communicates effectively with patients, their relatives and carers, colleagues and students.

Works effectively as part of the multi-professional, inter-disciplinary team.

Is clinically credible and professionally up-to-date with current trends and developments in the clinical specialty.

Functions as an effective role model in the clinical setting in demonstrating the application of breadth and depth of nursing knowledge, skills, behaviour and in advising and supporting members of the multi-disciplinary team

Facilitates and supports the professional development of other nurses.

To facilitate the cascade of information ensuring awareness of the Care Group, Trust and NHS initiatives, supporting staff discussion and responding to feedback

To ensure compliance with the Trust's EDI Policy, supporting the delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to positively promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring services are responsive to the needs of equality groups.

To have full knowledge of the Trust Major Incident Plan and your role within it.

Education and Training

To be a resource to staff, responsible for their orientation, supervision and ongoing development, working collaboratively with the Practice Development team

To have oversight of, and be responsible for, completing competency documents for staff within agreed timeframes.

To contribute to the wider educational activities within the service – ensuring attendance at and contributing to the delivery of educational activities to the multi-disciplinary team within Critical Care.

To promote, support and encourage the application of research and of evidence based practices.

To ensure all staff are engaged in the units clinical governance process, and to contribute to improvement strategies, disseminate them, and assist in their implementation

To have your own portfolio of responsibility including areas of clinical guidance, audit, research, and service development.

People Management and Performance

Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.

• Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.
• Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.
• Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, the roster is updated, and productivity is kept to the highest possible level.
• Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and process.
• Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.
• Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.
• Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.

General

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
• At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

Kind . We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

Respectful . We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

Team . We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.

Safe Guarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by; ​

• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
• reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse (Adult)
• Post registration award in critical care nursing
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of managing teams/individuals
• Active engagement with quality improvement & clinical governance processes
• Expert level of critical care nursing knowledge
• Able to analyse and interpret a variety of forms of information and plan appropriate action

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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