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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties for child and Family

•    Acts as an advocate for child and family at all times.
•    Facilitates family centred care and provide information and support to families to enable them to continue to care for their child during the period of illness and hospitalisation.
•    Patient’s and families are to be treated with dignity, respect and discretion whilst maintaining their confidentiality.
  •    Ensuring children’s toilet’s needs are met, measuring urine and weighing nappies as required. Recording all children’s output on a fluid balance chart. 
  •    Monitor and record observations on patients including temperature, pulse, respirations and oxygen saturations.
  •    Monitor and record Blood pressure and Paediatric Early Warning Score.
  •    To perform monitor and record Blood Sugars as required
  •    To perform monitor and record capillary blood samples e.g. blood gases and bilirubin levels.
  •    To carry out routine urine testing, record results and report any abnormalities. Send urine specimens as appropriate.
  •    To escort patients to other departments throughout the hospital,
  •    To escort patients as appropriate to other hospitals/areas.
  •    After undertaking basic life support training, summon help and assist the qualified nurse in an emergency situations.
  •    To be able to deal with patients/families who have language barriers to enable understanding. Call interpreters as appropriate.

Nutrition.

•    To deliver meals to patients and families as appropriate.
  •    Assist in feeding patients as necessary. 
  •    Bottle/spoon feed babies as required. 
  •    Make up baby feeds as required
  •    Assess feeding requirements and refer to dietician, breastfeeding counsellor and speech and language therapist as required.
  •    Weigh and height children as required
  •    Order special feeds as necessary.

Moving and Handling

•    Adhere to Trust policy on moving and handling
  •    Is one of the designated Moving and handling links for the ward.
  •    Maintain the comfort of patients confined to the bed using moving and handling apparatus as required.

Documentation

•    Maintain nursing records in accordance with trust policy
  •    Complete all admission paperwork liaising and asking nursing staff for assistance as required.
  •    All written documentation must be clear, legible and signed. All entries must be counter-signed by a qualified member of staff.
  •    To fill in fluid charts and observation charts as required.
  •    Writing care plans using Clinical care guidelines after having teaching on care plans and been signed off as competent at writing care-plans. All entries must be signed off by a qualified member of staff.

Infection Control

•    Be aware of and adhere to the Trust guidelines relating to Infection control
  •    Take steps to prevent cross infection by using universal precautions and hand washing. This includes wearing uniform in accordance with hospital policy and the use of spirigel appropriately.
  •    Assist in keeping the ward clean and tidy in accordance to health and safety and Infection control.
  •    Bed linen to be changed daily. Beds, lockers bed tables and general bed areas to be cleaned thoroughly when patients are discharged or transferred.
  •    To follow the Trust policy on the safe disposal of sharps.

Communication.

•    To be able to communicate effectively with patients, families and members of the multidisciplinary team as well as other Trust staff and the general public.
  •    To answer the phone clearly and politely stating the ward name and who you are to relate all messages promptly and accurately.
  •    To be willing to undergo computer training and PAS training.

Health and Safety
•    To be able to do monthly Health and Safety checks and liaise with ward manager in doing so.
•    Report any accidents and incidents according to Trust Policy

3.1    Nursing duties to be undertaken under the guidance of a qualified nurse.

•    To undertake shared responsibility for delivering and maintaining a high standard of hygiene care to children - e.g. bathing, hair and skin care.  Reporting to the qualified nurse any changes in the child’s condition.
  •    To carryout weighing and heighting and recording this accurately in notes and child held record.
•    To ensure that children receive an adequate nutritional and well balance diet. Assisting with the serving of children’s meals and drinks and providing appropriate assistance to those children who may require it.
•    Taking and recording observations as directed by a qualified nurse.
•    Obtaining, testing and labelling routine specimens as directed by a qualified nurse.
•    To be aware of the emotional and physical needs of children whilst in hospital and to provide appropriate support in conjunction with and under the supervision of a qualified nurse.
•    To be aware of the needs of the families / carers and other visitors.
•    To be aware of the importance of infection control and take steps to prevent cross infection.
•    To actively participate in family centred care such that all direct nursing duties should be shared with parents if they so wish.
•    To maintain accurate and legible records of care given under the supervision of a qualified nurse.
•    To report any incident to the nurse in charge or ward manager.

3.2        Additional Duties and Responsibilities.

•    Making and cleaning of beds, couches, desks and clinic rooms  
  •    Ensuring that the immediate child’s environment is safe, clean and orderly.
•    Maintaining the general tidiness and neatness of all areas, being aware of safe requirements.
•    Maintaining unit stock at agreed levels, checking and emptying supplies, restocking, cleaning and tidying storage areas e.g. linen, equipment and treatment rooms.
•    Answer the telephone, taking messages, dealing with enquiries or referring the caller on to qualified staff as necessary.