Senior Sister/ Charge Nurse - Willow Ward

Senior Sister/ Charge Nurse - Willow Ward Please Note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK independently, with a visa or immigration status that allows them to fulfil the full duration and type of contract offered. The Trust is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our senior nursing team. We are looking for a Band 7 Registered Children's Nurse to help lead and support the continued development of our Paediatric ward and PAU (Paediatric Assessment unit) at Darent Valley Hospital.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated and innovative Registered Children's Nurse to join our Paediatric Service to work as part of our senior nursing team, working alongside an existing full time Band 7 Senior Sister and two part time Senior Sisters. This post will contribute to covering weekends to provide robust Band 7 senior nursing leadership to both the Paediatric ward and to PAU across the 7 day week, and also hours in the week which can be flexible to ensure effective communication and collaboration between both Band 7 posts. Our band 7 team do an out of hours oncall between 17:00-22:00.

Internationally Educated Nurses: if applying, you will need to have submitted your registration for your Paediatric NMC pin. If you have applied for an Adult NMC pin, we cannot consider you for this role.

Main duties of the job Willow ward is a 22 bedded general paediatric ward caring for children aged 0-16 years with a variety of medical, surgical, orthopaedic and elective day-care surgery conditions. Willow ward also has two high dependency cubicles, and we are developing an enhanced care area within the ward to ensure a fully equipped and staffed enhanced care area for children and young people. Since February 2021 we have a brand new designed ED/PAU floor for Paediatrics which incorporates both Paediatric ED and PAU. Willow ward is open 24hrs a day; PAU is currently open 08:30-22:00hrs, seven days a week.

We would invite you to apply if you are a motivated clinical senior children's nurse, preferably with knowledge and experience in general paediatrics and PAU, but we would welcome applications if you are working in an acute Paediatric speciality. You will have excellent interpersonal, IT and communication skills with the ability to organise, manage and plan your own workload effectively. You will be dedicated and passionate in your role working with children and young people whilst demonstrating excellent leadership and team working. You will be energetic and dedicated in working as an advocate in support of our young people and their families.

About us We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical responsibilities: 1.1 Responsible for the assessment of the care needs of babies, children and adolescents, and develops programmes of care in relation to the needs of the child and family. 1.2 Responsible for the implementation of programmes of nursing care and evaluation of their effectiveness, ensuring that the care plan provides a continuous record of progress, response to treatment, rehabilitation and nursing care. 1.3 Responsible for the co-ordination of patient care throughout the 24 hour period. 1.4 Work in partnership with children and their families in order to support and encourage involvement in their care, thus supporting family centred care. 1.5 Takes the lead in supporting parents, carers, siblings and other members of the child's support network as appropriate. 1.6 Responsible for, and takes the lead in setting and maintaining optimum standards of nursing care, ensuring that nursing guidelines and policies are adhered to. 1.7 Co-ordinates the orientation of children and their families to the environment on Willow as part of their admission. 1.8 Co-ordinates the reception, care and discharge of children and their families ensuring they receive safe and competent care during their stay. 1.9 Receives with courtesy babies, their families and visitors into the ward area. 1.10 Co-ordinates chaperones for children, ensuring that all babies are safely accompanied to other wards, departments, hospitals etc. 1.11 Is aware of the spiritual, psychological and emotional needs of the child and their family and endeavours to meet these at all times. 1.12 Co-ordinates the preparation of children and their families for discharge addressing any practical, emotional or psychological issues and ensuring that there are clear plans for the future care of the child. 1.13 Liaises with the Children's Community Nursing Team, GP, Social Services, Health Visitor, Community Midwife or School Nurse to identify issues for children and their families on discharge. 1.14 Responsible for, and co-ordinates the custody of all drugs by checking, ordering and administering them in line with Trust policy and ensuring that more junior staff are instructed in their safe handling and administration. 1.15 Responsible for the location of emergency and resuscitation equipment and procedures, and coordinates the checking of emergency equipment each shift. 2. Managerial responsibilities: 2.1 Reports to the Senior Nurse or General Manager any concerns in relation to patient care, the environment, staffing or any thing that may affect the service as a whole to children and their families. 2.2 Reports any accidents or incidents involving children, relatives and staff to the Senior Nurse or General Manager. Completes statements and incident form, reporting such incidents appropriately, undertaking investigations as required. 2.3 Counsels staff and implements the first stage of the Trust disciplinary procedure as appropriate, liaising with the Senior Nurse. 2.4 Deals with staff grievances and complaints, referring on to the Senior Nurse or personnel as appropriate. 2.5 Undertakes return to work and sickness reviews in line with Trust policy, referring on to occupational health and personnel as appropriate. 2.6 Maintains accurate staff records in relation to study leave, annual leave, sickness, maternity leave, special leave and other meetings as they occur. 2.7 Reports any concerns to the Senior Nurse, General Manager or doctor in relation to child protection. Liaises with Named Nurse, Named Doctor or other professionals as appropriate. Responsible for ensuring that all staff attend child protection training annually. 2.8 Responsible for, and co-ordinates the provision of care, ensuring that there is effective communication within the ward and liaison with members of the multi-disciplinary team and other services as required. 2.9 Exercises leadership within the ward, and supervises and coordinates the work of the ward team. 2.10 Acts up and carries an air pager for the Senior Nurse in their absence to provide advice, expertise and management advice for Willow, Community Children's Nursing Team, Paediatric Outpatients and child protection advice for the Trust as a whole. 2.11 Undertakes duties on different wards or departments as required by service demands, within the 24hr period. 2.12 Responsible for organising the off duty rotas, ensuring that there is adequate skill mix for each span of duty in order to meet the needs of all children on the ward. 2.13 Arranges for property and valuables to be cared for according to Trust policy. 2.14 Responsible for adequate supplies of stores, having knowledge of budgeting costs in order that all resources are used appropriately and judiciously. 2.15 Responsible for ensuring that nursing staff are professionally competent in the performance of their duties, and that they receive relevant training and assessment before being asked to perform those duties. 2.16 Responsible for ensuring that all staff are aware of their responsibility in the prevention and control of infection, liaising with the Senior Nurse and members of the infection control team as required. 2.17 Assists in the recruitment and retention of all nursing staff, under the guidance of the Senior Nurse. 3. Professional responsibilities: 3.1 Organises, gives assistance to and mentors newly appointed staff, as part of their orientation process. 3.2 Acts as an effective role model to all staff, students, children and their families. 3.3 Promotes and maintains a professional appearance and manner at all times in accordance with Trust policy. 3.4 Promotes the Department and the Trust as a whole, in the most positive manner to the children, parents and local population at all times. 3 . click apply for full job details