Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To ensure safe and effective clinical practice.

• Practice within an ethical framework based upon respect for the well-being and safety of patients and clients.
• To be responsible and professionally accountable for the assessment of care needs; development of personalized plans of care, implementation and evaluation of care without supervision.
• Ensuring the planning and delivery of care is aligned to professional values of care, compassion and respect, act as a change agent, developing clinically effective practice through the effective utilization and integration of evidence based practice.
• Support the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse in ensuring a culture of protecting patients from harm and deprivation of basic rights ensuring a safe and effective service with continuous quality improvement.
• Promote a clean and safe environment for staff, patients and visitors by ensuring compliance with legislation, policies and protocols including health and safety, healthcare associated infection prevention, clinical governance, including risk management and critical incident reporting and root cause analysis
• Ensure a high standard of care and record keeping in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, national legislation and local standards.
• Demonstrating safe and effective care including; timely administration of medicines; effective observation of patients and demonstrate effective communication with the multi-professional team regarding patient care.
• Assess the risks involved in the care of patients and ensure utilization of practices and protocols to expected levels.
• Minimize those risks, including safe use of medical devices. To monitor the standards of care and with the support of the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse and take appropriate actions when standards fall below
• Report incidents and near misses promptly and appropriately and with the support of the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse take effective action to minimize future risk. Contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based protocols, standards, policies and clinical guidelines.
• Critically appraise and synthesize the outcomes of relevant research, evaluations and audits and apply information when seeking to improve practice

2. To enhance the patients experience  

• Ensure an effective and efficient patient’s journey by planning and coordinating the episode of care including the smooth transition to other settings, promoting safe and effective discharge and optimizing communication with inter-disciplinary and inter-agency teams as required.
• Ensure a culture of continuous quality improvement through the use of audit, patient feedback and reflection on practice by self and other members of the team.
• In the absence of the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse co-ordinate nursing / midwifery interventions, advise on clinical decisions and monitor the quality of patient care provided through using expert clinical knowledge relevant to own field of practice, underpinned by theory and experience. Act as the advocate for the patient ensuring safe and harm-free care is always uppermost in every decision.
• Within a multi-disciplinary team environment, support the development of a culture of person-centered care.
• As appropriate work within standards for non-medical prescribing/administration of medication in accordance with Patient Group Directive (PGD)
• Communicating regularly with patients, relatives and / or carers to promote transparency of service for patients and staff; promote a caring environment where equality and diversity issues are respected and patients are enabled to be partners in their care.
• Identify opportunities to develop care and services by supporting the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse in ensuring that there are effective systems in place to ascertain patient and carer experience / feedback and ensure complaints are managed in line with organizational policy.
• Ensure that everyone within the sphere of care is treated with dignity and humanity, understanding  

3. To manage and develop the performance of the team and self

• Individual needs, showing compassion and sensitivity and provide care in a way that respects all people equally.

• Act as a positive role model, adhering to expected standards of behavior, promoting a supportive ethos to empower staff to contribute to the delivery of high quality person-centered care.
• Lead by example, developing self and other staff and influencing the way care is provided in a manner that is innovative, open and responds to individual needs in line with the NHS duty of candour.
• Contribute to any management of change within the ward / clinical environment supporting a continuous improvement cycle.
• Establish and support robust communication networks within the team. Work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues, patients and clients and their carers, families and friends.
• In the absence of the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse take all reasonable care of health and safety at work for you, your team and others and to co-operate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements.       Report incidents and near misses promptly and appropriately and take effective action to minimize future risk.
•  Support the learning and development of junior staff including supporting staff to achieve registration or revalidation.
• Support the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse in creating and maintaining a learning environment that ensures effective learning opportunities for staff and students including appropriate orientation and induction programmes, a range of clinical support strategies (mentoring, coaching, clinical supervision, action learning and peer review).
• Manage the practice setting, taking account of role and competence of staff when delegating work.
• Delegate aspects of care to others and accept responsibility and accountability for such delegation.
• In the absence of the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse manage the nursing / midwifery team, ensuring compliance by self and others with professional standards, legislation, national and organizational policies.
• Participate in recruitment and selection within own practice setting.

4. To ensure effective contribution to the delivery of the organization's objectives

• Act up in the absence of the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse.
• Contribute to the development of an organizational culture that supports continuous learning and development, evidence-based practice and succession planning.
• Attend professional forums and disseminate information in the absence of the Senior Sister.
• Support the implementation of the Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Strategy for the organization.
• Within clinical area support the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse in ensuring knowledge and implementation of the organization's quality and safety agenda.
• Seek opportunities for personal and team development supporting the research agenda of the organization.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of local, national and professional strategy and policy, ensuing that organizational goals are reflected in personal objectives and in ward / department development plans.
• Demonstrate by self, and through team, compliance to the pledges of the NHS Constitution 2012.