PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION POST: Sister/Charge Nurse Night Duty Band 7 DEPARTMENT: LOCATION: Emergency Care and Medicine South West Acute Hospital DATE: September 2012 FACTORS ESSENTIAL % DESIRABLE % QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR EXPERIENCE (Length and Type) Registered Nurse on Part 1 of the live NMC Register Minimum of 5years or above post registration experience working in an acute hospital setting. Evidence of continued professional development. Management Experience at Band 6 or above within an Acute Hospital Setting. Diploma/Degree in health related studies. Certificate/Diploma/Degree in Management ORGANISATIONAL KNOWLEDGE Provide evidence of personal and professional development. Have sound knowledge of changing trends within health and social care. Be conversant with current professional issues in relation to nursing. Demonstrate commitment to person-centred care and the enhancement of the patient/client experience. Provide evidence of maintaining and monitoring standards which 1
will enhance service user. Demonstrate how you have managed a service to ensure successful achievement of service objectives. Demonstrate ability to work effectively as part of a multi - disciplinary team. PERSONAL QUALITIES / COMPETENCES Have effective communication skills to meet the needs of the post in full. Ability to influence and manage change, including the promotion of evidence based practice. Ability to provide effective leadership to meet the needs of the post in full. Remains focused on strategic goals when faced with competing and, at times, conflicting demands arising from differing priorities. Appreciates the impact they have on others and the impact others have on them. Routinely seeks feedback and adapts their behavior appropriately. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES This post is mainly night duty but may require rotation to cover days on occasions. 2
South West Acute Hospital JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Sister/Charge Nurse Night Duty Grade: Band 7 Accountable to: Reports to: Assistant Director, Emergency Care & Medicine General Manager, Emergency/Unscheduled Care JOB PURPOSE The role of the Sister/Charge Nurse Night Duty is to be provide managerial support to Ward/Department based staff and manage the total hospital environment, across all divisions, at nights, including all services directly or indirectly managed. The position of the Sister/Charge Nurse is a management position, carrying responsibility for the management of the South West Acute Hospital site at night. Although clinical responsibility primarily rests with the Ward/Department based nursing staff, who are accountable to the Services Managers, the Sister/Charge Nurse will provide or facilitate clinical advice and support when requested by staff, or when deemed necessary. The Sister/Charge Nurse will liaise closely with the Services Mangers and Divisional Nurses on clinical, management and resource issues relating to their directorates/divisions. The Sister/Charge Nurse will be the first point of contact for external agencies at night, e.g. Press, Police or other emergency services. 1.0 MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 1.1 Establish good working relationships throughout the hospital both at night and day through good communication and co-operation. 1.2 Assess workload and staffing levels and where required allocate and reallocate resources between wards/directorates in order to meet demand and to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources at night. 1.3 Manage the utilisation of beds within the South West Acute Hospital in accordance with formal bed utilisation policy and in collaboration with Medical 3
and Nursing staff on wards where patients are required to outlie in other wards. 1.4 Ensure compliance with DHSSPS Emergency Care Targets is maintained during the night time shift. 1.5 Initiate the Major Emergency Plan within the South West Acute Hospital at night and co-ordinate activities from the Incident Control Room until relieved by a member of the Corporate Management Team. 1.6 Report relevant issues relating to clinical care and/or staffing to Ward Managers and Service Managers immediately if urgent or on next working day. 1.7 Ensure the Director of Nursing/Assistant Director of Nursing is informed of relevant professional, clinical and site management issues in a timely manner. 1.8 Act as the first point of contact at night for enquires from the public, and/or external agencies including press, PSNI etc. having due regard for Trust guidelines/policies in this area. 1.9 In conjunction with relevant Service Managers and Ward Managers ensure that all staff are familiar with and adhere to Trust polices in relation to the management of the hospital environment at night. 1.10 Contribute to the review and formulation of policies on the provision of patient services within the South West Acute Hospital as required. 1.11 Investigate all accident and untoward incidents, which occur during the night and report to the relevant manager so that appropriate action plans to prevent recurrence can be agreed. For major accidents/incidents inform Senior Manager on call immediately and respective Service Manager on the next working day. 1.12 Liaise closely with the Nurse Bank office for the South West Acute Hospital to meet the on-going demands of the Acute Service. 1.13 Ensure that Health and Safety Regulations are adhered to during the night particularly regular fire drills, EC 6 pack legislation and COSHH to provide a safe environment for both staff and patients. 1.14 Attend regular meeting with the General Manager Emergency/Unscheduled Care. 1.15 Work with clinical teams in ensuring that all patients requiring admission to the South West Acute Hospitals H&SS Trust are admitted, within the agreed time limits and in accordance with Priorities for Action targets and into the most appropriate clinical environment available. 1.16 Work in close collaboration with all disciplines to ensure that the discharge/ 4
transfer of patients is achieved in a way that meets the needs of the patient and complies with Priorities for Action targets. 1.17 Monitor and manage capacity and demand for planned and unplanned beds and appraise the General Manager and Assistant Director of Acute Services (Emergency Care & Medicine) of variances. Implement the Escalation Policy as and when required. 1.18 Provide active and visible support/lead in all patient flow processes. 1.19 Attend the evening handover and liaise closely with the Hospital At Night team. 2.0 CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES 2.1 Liaise with Ward Managers, Service Managers, Divisional Nurses and Heads of Department as appropriate to ensure that the delivery of patient services is efficient. 2.2 In association with the Assistant Director of Nursing and Service Managers initiate and encourage the development of quality improvement initiatives. 2.3 Initiate and participate in Clinical Audit projects as required. 3.0 PEOPLE MANAGEMENT 3.1 Supervise, teach, advise and support qualified and unqualified staff, where required, participate in staff induction, in service training and appraisal. 3.2 In conjunction with the relevant Ward Managers identify training and education needs of staff. 3.3 Initiate agreed disciplinary rules and procedures and where discipline is breached take appropriate action within defined authority. 3.4 Participate in selection and recruitment of staff as required. 3.5 Promote good disciplinary team working, good interpersonal relationships and communications. 3.6 Review complaints so lessons can be learned and remedial action plans initiated and implemented. 4.0 PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETENCE 4.1 Continually update and improve knowledge of relevant research, changes and developments in nursing and professional knowledge and competence. 5
4.2 Attend study days/courses as agreed and disseminate information/feedback appropriately. 4.3 Participate in individual performance review, on an annual basis, to assess present performance and future development needs. 4.4 Maintain a personal record of professional development. 5.0 General Duties 5.1 Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible. 5.2 Develop and maintain good communication with all levels of management and build partnerships with the wider HPSS, NHS and external organizations in the promotion of the Trust. 5.3 Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations. 5.4 Participate in grievance and disciplinary processes as required. 5.5 Promote equality of opportunity through his/her own actions and ensure this policy is adhered to by staff within your area of responsibility. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Service Quality Western Health and Social Care Trust is committed to providing the highest possible quality of service to all patients, clients and community through supporting and contributing to Trust quality initiatives. Employees are expected at all times to provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner. Conduct Employees must at all times abide by Trust policies and procedures and the terms of their contract of employment. They must conduct themselves with impartiality, integrity, objectivity and honesty and maintain high standards of personal and professional accountability. Performance Employees are expected to demonstrate commitment to the Trust by ensuring regular attendance at work and efficient completion of duties. Risk Management Employees must ensure that they comply with any risk management responsibilities specific to their post, and as set out in the Trust s Risk Management Strategy. 6
Governance The Trust is committed to the development and implementation of systems under Integrated Governance to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of services provided. Employees will be expected to co-operate and work with such systems. Records Management All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Data Protection Act 1998. Employees are required to be conversant with the Trust s policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt. Confidentiality All information concerning patients and staff must be held in the strictest confidence and may not be divulged to any unauthorized person. Equality & Human Rights Employees must ensure that equality and human rights issues are addressed within the post holder s area of responsibility in accordance with the Trust s Equality Scheme. Health and Safety Employees should note that under Health & Safety at Work Legislation they are required to take all reasonable steps while at work to ensure their own health and safety and the health and safety of those who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. Smoking, Alcohol & Health The Trust operates policies on smoking, alcohol and health. Environmental cleanliness The Trust promotes a culture of cleanliness and has adopted a partnership and collaborative approach that recognises cleanliness as the responsibility of everyone, cascading throughout every level of the organisation. The Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. The duties and responsibilities outlined in the above job description are not intended to be definitive nor restrictive, and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Trust. September 2012 7