Deputy Department Lead

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Main area Gynaecology Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 36 hours per week (Will consist of long days 08.00-18.00, Earlies 08.00-13.30 and Lates 13.30-18.00 and cross site working is required) Job ref 866-DEC25

Employer University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Southlands/ Worthing Town Worthing Salary £38,682 - £46,580 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 06/01/:59

At UHSussex we're proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK's largest acute trusts, we're a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal - to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients, our people and our communities. Whatever your role here at UHSussex you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We value compassion, inclusion and respect as our core values. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research , we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

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We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview An exciting opportunity has arisen for a B and 6 Duty Department Lead Nurse post within the supportive friendly team within the Community Diagnostic Centre at Southlands and the Gynaecology Day and Ambulatory Unit at Worthing Hospital. We are looking for an enthusiastic nurse who is passionate about delivering efficient and holistic patient care to patients. Both units provide care and support to patients requiring urgent diagnostic assessment. The CDC Gynaecology Unit delivers outpatient care to patients attending the Hysteroscopy, Colposcopy and Rapid Access (urgent suspicion of cancer). The role will involve supporting patients, nursing staff and clinicians to sensitively deliver a consistent high standard of care.

The successful candidate will have a keen interest in expanding their knowledge and understanding of gynaecological conditions. They will be supported by a team of clinicians, nurses, nursing associates and healthcare assistants to help ensure that patients receive the highest quality care possible.

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria.

Main duties of the job The post holder will oversee the day-to-day delivery of clinical services, staff coordination, and demonstrate strong leadership. They will provide high-quality nursing care, supporting patient assessment and treatment while ensuring all interactions reflect excellence and compassion.

Key responsibilities include maintaining exemplary communication and fostering positive staff attitudes and behaviours. The role involves assisting with the smooth operation of the Early pregnancy service, Hysteroscopy, Minor Procedures, Colposcopy, Rapid Access clinics within the outpatient setting, as well as regularly taking charge as required.

The post holder must be adaptable, flexible, and able to respond effectively to changing priorities while providing clear leadership. The post holder will also need to contribute to policy and practice change arising from audits/feedback/complaints and be able to implement them within the outpatient setting.

The purpose of this role is to act as a team leader whilst having a high degree of responsibility for the day-to-day operational running of the clinical area. The post holder will be expected to support and lead staff within the outpatient setting to ensure a high quality of service is delivered.

Working for our organisation At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities Main duties for the role include;

• Act as a role model and assist in effective staff supervision with clinical practice, working with staff and patients in an advisory, teaching and support capacity and maintaining professional competence, authority and credibility.
• Work collaboratively with clinical nursing experts including Heads of Nursing, Clinical Teams, Consultant Nurses, Nurse Specialists and Practice Development Nurses in the development of expert, person-centred care.
• Develop, motivate and lead a team by using objectives in line with department, subspecialty and corporate goals in conjunction with the Gynaecology Matron and in their absence. Provide professional leadership within the department ensuring that all staff use evidence based practice and adhere to the NMC code of professional conduct.
• Be able to demonstrate a high degree of motivation and innovation.
• Communicate effectively with the departmental nursing team participating and helping to arrange monthly team meetings and ensure robust systems exist so that staff feel informed. To contribute positively to the effectiveness and efficiency of the teams in which he/she works.
• Work with PALS and the complaints department with the Gynaecology Matron to ensure that areas of concern are addressed effectively and in a timely manner, providing a response as required.
• Be able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team environment ensuring most effective use of all members of those professional teams.
• Display strong leadership and positivity to the department team during times of increased pressure on resources, staffing crises, or bed pressures, working with divisional leads to assess risks across the division and how these can be minimised.

Service delivery and improvement

• Demonstrate a logical, flexible and innovative approach to problem solving.
• Demonstrate a logical, flexible and innovative approach to analysing complex data and acting upon the results.
• Ability to assess patients with complex needs, ensuring person-centred care is planned to address identified needs.
• Assist with the monitoring of key performance indicators, helping to identify trends and take action to maintain levels of acceptable performance.
• Assist with ensuring the department objectives are set in line with the Divisional and Trust objectives.
• Assist with leading the Patient First initiatives, ensuring this is implemented in the department and has a high profile. Ensure that in the absence of the Gynaecology Matron any safeguarding issues are raised appropriately to lead nurses to enable investigation in relation to vulnerable adults or children.
• Ensure that requirements for Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty assessments are adhered to.
• Assist with ensuring equipment is regularly maintained and serviced in line with hospital policy and manufacturer's recommendations.
• Assist with ensuring the medical devices folder for all equipment in the department is kept updated with any new equipment and training records are up to date.
• Report / action any accidents, incidents or undue occurrences reported to you or witnessed by you in line with Trust policy using the Datix system.
• Ensure proactive investigation of any clinical incidents, undertaking root cause analysis if indicated, ensuring action plans are developed as needed, in the absence of and in conjunction with the ward sister.
• Assist in the risk management and health and safety in the workplace, by being proactive in raising risks with divisional management team and ensuring adequate controls are in place to manage these risks.
• Work in collaboration with clinical leads in relation to national initiatives such as the CNST/ NHSLA . click apply for full job details