Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Clinical Responsibilities

• Deliver fundamental nursing care independently in accordance with the NMC Code, Trust policies, and evidence-based practice.
• Undertake new or complex care interventions under appropriate supervision, ensuring patient safety and adherence to professional standards.
• Practise within the agreed clinical area and competency level, recognising and working within personal scope of practice.
• Apply safe manual handling techniques for patients and equipment in line with Trust policy and health and safety legislation.
• Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to support individualised care planning and decision-making.
• Maintain accurate, clear, and contemporaneous documentation and evaluate the effectiveness of care delivered.
• Identify potential clinical challenges and implement or escalate appropriate risk management strategies.
• Participate fully in rostered shift patterns, including weekdays, weekends, and unsocial hours, to maintain service continuity.
• Support the provision of a safe perioperative and procedural environment, including assisting with equipment checks and maintenance in collaboration with nursing and medical teams.
• Contribute to achieving, monitoring, and maintaining agreed standards of care, reporting promptly if standards fall below acceptable levels.
• Provide culturally sensitive care that respects the customs, values, and beliefs of all patients.
• To provide safe, effective, and holistic perioperative care for women undergoing obstetric and gynaecological surgical procedures, including caesarean sections and obstetric emergencies.
• Administer intravenous and oral medication only after formal assessment of competence, in line with local medicines management policy.
• Manage a defined patient caseload from admission to discharge within departmental guidelines.
• Deliver high-dependency care to adult patients within assessed competence and training.
• Provide basic parenting and infant feeding support where relevant, referring to a midwife, neonatal nurse, or health visitor if specialist input is required.
• Undertake basic newborn care limited to hygiene, feeding assistance, and observation, escalating any concerns promptly to appropriately trained professionals.
• Provide care and support to pregnant patients in line with adult nurse competencies, escalating to midwifery services for specialist maternity or obstetric care.
• Deliver nursing care for women with complex obstetric conditions requiring enhanced monitoring (e.g., pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, obstetric haemorrhage, sepsis, post-operative complications).

2. Responsibility for Patients

• Participate in MDT decision-making regarding changes to patient care plans and prioritisation of surgical lists.
• Demonstrate awareness of patients’ emotional, physical, and psychological needs, responding with sensitivity and compassion.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and colleagues, facilitating open dialogue and encouraging questions.
• Provide clear, rationale-based explanations of nursing interventions, using active listening skills and non-verbal communication effectively.
• Evaluate written information and ensure patient records meet NMC standards for clear, accurate, and contemporaneous documentation.

3. Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

• Communicate work priorities to junior colleagues to ensure smooth service delivery.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of service improvement initiatives.
• Report all accidents, incidents, and complaints promptly to the Team Leader in accordance with Trust procedures.
• Actively engage in team discussions to enhance quality and safety.

4. Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources

• Use clinical resources effectively and economically, in line with departmental protocols.
• Assist in maintaining equipment in safe working condition and report faults promptly.

5. Responsibility for Leading and Managing

• Support parenting and infant feeding where relevant, escalating newborn concerns to specialist staff.
• Participate in nursing and departmental audits and contribute to quality improvement activities.
• Demonstrate basic understanding of resource management in the clinical setting.
• Identify learning opportunities and take action to maintain and improve safe, effective practice.
• Contribute to the training, education, and supervision of colleagues and students.
• Promote evidence-based practice and engage with audit outcomes to enhance care quality.
• Utilise reflective practice and clinical supervision to support personal and professional development.

6. Responsibility for Information Resources

• Ensure patients are fully informed and involved in decisions about their care.
• Identify, assess, and escalate any potential risks to patient safety.
• Maintain professional knowledge and clinical skills through ongoing development activities.

7. Responsibility for Research and Development

• Identify personal training needs and undertake appropriate education and development opportunities.
• Participate in the annual appraisal process, agreeing objectives and development plans.
• Attend all statutory and mandatory training as required by the Trust.
• Promote and adhere to Trust health, safety, infection prevention, and safeguarding policies.
• Take reasonable care for the health, safety, and welfare of self, colleagues, and patients, reporting hazards or unsafe practices promptly.

This job description reflects the present requirements of the post and it does not form part of the contract of employment. As the duties of the post change and develop the job description will be reviewed and will be subject to amendment, in consultation with the postholder. It is the Trust’s aim to reach agreement on reasonable changes, but if agreement is not possible the Trust reserves the right to effect changes to the post holders job description after consultation with them. Appropriate notice of changes will be given.