Staff Nurse - Paediatrics (Ward 4F) NHS AfC: Band 5

Job overview

Are you a Registered Paediatric Nurse looking for a new challenge?

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are committed to providing 5 star patient care to children and young people, to join our highly-skilled Paediatric Department at Whiston Hospital.

Applicants are required to have a current NMC registration, and are desired to have substantial post registration experience. Applications will also be welcomed from newly qualified Registered Children’s Nurses, or Student Nurses due to qualify as Registered Children’s Nurses in August/September 2021.

Rotational posts within the department are available in order for staff to gain experience in all of the above areas.

An Enhanced DBS Certificate, with the checking of both the Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists is required for this post.

Interviews for this position will provisionally take place on 21st July, 2021.

Main duties of the job

• To be responsible in association with the team leader for the formulation and implementation of individual patient care plans.
• To participate in the holistic assessment of patients, and to formulate and review individual patient care plans and to act as ‘named nurse’ or associate for a group of patients from admission to discharge as determined by the Ward Manager.
• To commence and participate in research/special projects as directed by the ward manager.
• To contribute to the setting, maintaining and monitoring of standards of care within the ward.
• Help to ensure that all equipment is in safe working order in conjunction with the department equipment controller.
• Internal rotations onto night duty and twilight shifts are required.
• To assist in the promotion of effective communication with all ward staff and other departments as required.
• Promote the safeguarding of vulnerable patients in line with national and local policy

Working for our organisation

About Us!

The Paediatric Department consists of a team of experienced and dedicated Nursing and Medical staff providing care to approximately 6000 children per year, in addition approximately 800 children are admitted for surgical procedures.

Ward 3F provides 19 in-patient beds including our 2 bed state of the art dedicated high dependency (HDU) facility.

Ward 4F provides 12 inpatient/day case surgery beds, an 8 bedded Children’s Assessment Unit (CHOBS), along with a dedicated Paediatric Phlebotomy service and Dressing Clinic.

The Hospital at Home nursing team provide an early discharge service for children and young people who do not require 24-hour medical care and complete approximately 1000 visits per year.

The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) cares for approximately 300 sick or premature infants each year.

We also work closely with our Paediatric Emergency Department colleagues.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

To be responsible in association with the team leader for the formulation and implementation of individual patient care plans.

To participate in the holistic assessment of patients, and to formulate and review individual patient care plans and to act as ‘named nurse’ or associate for a group of patients from admission to discharge as determined by the Ward Manager.

To commence and participate in research/special projects as directed by the ward manager.

To contribute to the setting, maintaining and monitoring of standards of care within the ward.

Help to ensure that all equipment is in safe working order in conjunction with the department equipment controller.

Internal rotations onto night duty and twilight shifts are required.

To assist in the promotion of effective communication with all ward staff and other departments as required.

Promote the safeguarding of vulnerable patients in line with national and local policy

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL

• To be professionally accountable, to recognise and address own limitations and practice in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and the Scope of Professional Practice.
• To be a caring, clinically competent (develop clinical competence if newly qualified) registered children’s nurse (experienced registered nurse holding a Qualification in Speciality (QIS) on SCBU) who ensures patient safety and well-being is paramount at all times.
• To effectively manage (/ develop the leadership skills over time and as appropriate to effectively manage) the ward as a team leader on a shift basis in the absence of a sister or ward manager (holding a QIS on SCBU)
• To support and advise junior colleagues, students and unqualified staff and supervise the nursing care provided ensuring safe practice at all times.
• To be responsible for the assessment of patient care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care for all patients liaising with their families at all times.
• To be responsible for the assessment of care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of interventions for young people with mental health issues.
• To plan, with the family, at the earliest possible opportunity, the discharge of their child liaising closely with all members of the primary health care team.
• To recognise the importance of the role of the play specialist and involve as necessary.
• To ensure the confidentiality of patient information at all times.
• To ensure that all unit philosophy, policies and procedures are adhered to at all times and that any amendments to policies are acted upon immediately.
• To communicate effectively with staff and patients to ensure that the highest possible standard of care is provided to children and their families and that comprehensive information is documented.
• To ensure the privacy and dignity of patients is paramount and not compromised
• To have appropriate skills and knowledge relating to the process of safeguarding children and child protection including:
• Demonstrate sound knowledge of the current safeguarding agenda, legislation and statutory guidance.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the safeguarding framework, including Early Help, Child in Need and Child Protection procedures.
• Have an awareness of the impact of parental factors on a child including mental health, domestic abuse and drug substance misuse.
• Have an awareness of the increased vulnerabilities of looked after children and the risk of further maltreatment. Have an awareness of normal child development and the factors which could indicate abuse or neglect.
• Be able to recognise possible signs of maltreatment or abuse.
• Be able to document safeguarding / child protection concerns, and maintain appropriate record keeping, differentiating between fact and opinion
• Be able to share appropriate and relevant information between multi agency teams – in writing, via telephone and electronically.
• Be able to identify where further support is needed, when to take action, and when to refer to managers, supervisors or other professionals including social services.
• Be able to contribute to multi agency safeguarding / child protection procedures including risk assessments.
• Be able to work with children and families where there are child protection concerns.
• Be able to ensure that children are listened to, and have the opportunity to contribute in decision making as appropriate for their age and development.
• Be able to challenge other professional when required and provide supporting evidence. Understand the purpose of and guidance in relation to conducting serious case reviews, serious incident reviews and management reviews and be able to demonstrate learning from such cases
• To ensure the ward environment is clean, safe, welcoming, appropriate and child-friendly at all times.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure patient records are kept up to date and accurate and recording is done in line with Trust policies and procedures

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

To attend mandatory training, including Paediatric / Neonatal Life Support and Child Protection/ Safeguarding training according to Trust and local policy.

To participate in ward teaching programmes, e.g. informal bedside clinical teaching.

To participate in family education programmes and health promotion opportunities.

To demonstrate a commitment to personal continuing education.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

To act as preceptor /mentor to new members of staff, facilitating the achievement of their competencies throughout their preceptorship/orientation period in close collaboration with the ward manager and the nursing team.

To act as mentor to pre-registration nurses and other students/visitors to the ward ensuring that support and instruction is provided as appropriate.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

To participate in any research undertaken in the unit.

To actively assist in the Department’s Audit Programme