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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

• Participates in ensuring effective multidisaplinary communication links within the ward and department and in areas within the trust.
• To communicate and discuss with senior members of staff at awaydays and meetings.
• To adhere to NMC guidelines on documentation accountability and responsibilty for record keeping.
• Responsible for effective shift handovers ensuring relevant detail is communicated and identifies and challenges any unprofessional or subjective comments made about patients.
• To communicate effectively and accurately to members of the Clinical site management team in a timely way, to ensure a safe pathway and be aware of the trust operational policy.
• Participates in ward rounds showing thoughough knowledge of the up to date situation and condition, with the ability to be able to present this concisely in an appropriate manner encouraging one stop ward rounds.
• Responsible for the discharge of patients from the ward and to mange complex patient case confrences which may involve end of life care.
• To be able to communicate effectively and resolve concerns from outside agencies such as District nurses ICT and GP’s.
• Support families and carers to understand complicated medical conditions.
• Recognize poor standards of care amongst the MDT and be able to highlight these to the appropriate personel at an appropriate time.

Service Delivery and Improvement

• In the absence of the Ward manager, to be a visible and accessible presence on the ward to whom the staff, patients and their relatives/careers can turn to for assistance.
• To act as an expert for the care of patients, providing effective leadership and acting as a positive role model.
• Assist the Ward Sister to ensure that there is regular review of documentation practice and that focused action plans are developed when areas of concern are identified.
• To ensure that admissions, transfers and discharges are planned in accordance with Trust policy, liaising effectively with partner agencies to ensure best outcome for the patient.
• To be responsible for ensuring that there is adherence to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults protocols within clinical practice.
• To work in partnership with the Infection Control Team to ensure best practice and to assist the Ward manager in ensuring that there are effective systems and processes in place for the prevention and control of infection. To ensure the adherence of all staff in infection control policies whilst leading the shift.  To assist the Ward manager in ensuring there is full participation by the clinical areas in the Trust Perfect Ward audits.
• You should be confident and competent to complete and present RCA’s as required.
• To participate in monitoring the cleanliness in the ward, liaising with housekeeping services to maintain high standards.
• To ensure that the nutritional needs of patients are assessed according to Trust policy. To assist the Ward manager in monitoring the catering service to the Ward, liaising with housekeeping and dietetic services to ensure that the nutritional needs of patients are met.  To participate in the implementation of Protected Meal Times.
• To assist the Ward manager in monitoring Privacy and Dignity and the End of Life Strategy. Also to assist in ensuring there is evidence of improvement in the quality of services through lessons learned.
• To assist the ward manager in the management of annual leave and sickness in her absence.
• To assist the ward manager in the effective management of the rosters to ensure patient safety at all times
• To assist the Ward manager in ensuring that mandatory audits are completed and results fed back to the Matron in timely fashion; to participate in the development and implementation of any necessary action plans ensuring they re evaluated for effectiveness in a timely manner.
• To assist the Ward manager in the completion of the benchmarking and quality audits & metrics. To participate in feedback of the results to staff and in the development and implementation of any necessary actions required to improve standards.

People Management and Development

• To assist and support band 5, 4, 3 and 2 nurses in their competencies
• Responsible for your own band 6 competencies sign off.
• To have a minimum of 2years post –graduate experience.
• To be responsible for own personal clinical and professional development in line with PREP/NMC supported with portfolio evidence.
• To work within the NMC Code of Professional conduct and scope of practice and at no time should the post holder work outside their defined level of competence.
• To assist with the orientation of new members of staff and student nurses.
• Participate in teaching in the clinical area providing accurate records of the same.
• To participate in competency based assessments to support the clinical educator and ward manager in their role
• To promote evidence based practice within the ward area.
• To participate in the annual appraisals by producing PDP for oneself and assist members of your own designated team.
• To support the Ward manager in the provision of a good quality clinical learning environment that supports students and the professional development for all staff.
•  To assist the Ward manager in ensuring that student nurse feedback is reviewed regularly and acted upon to improve the quality of the learning environment.
• To assist the Ward manager & practice development nurse in identifying current and future training/education needs to develop the ward staff.
• To assist the Ward manager in ensuring statutory and mandatory training programs are implemented and that all training is monitored, recorded and evaluated as being effective in meeting the needs of the service.
• To participate with the Ward manager in the development of a systematic approach to performance management, ensuring annual appraisals of all staff, establishment of personal and professional objectives and goals, with regular monitoring and feedback.
• To manage the performance review of a delegated number of ward/department staff ensuring that they have personal and professional objectives and goals which are regularly monitored and feedback given.
• To assist the Ward manager in supporting and coaching staff in their professional development, recognizing and utilizing individual skills and knowledge, and recognizing opportunities for further development.
• To ensure that patients and their carers receive a high standard of health education