Senior Staff Nurse in London

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse to join the Kangaroo team and take responsibility for clinical leadership to a designated nursing team and ensure the provision of high-quality nursing care to complex, long-term ventilated children and families. You will also be involved in the discharge process for these children and families.

Kangaroo Ward is a 9 bedded ward, with HDU beds caring for children requiring long-term ventilation via a tracheostomy, those requiring non-invasive ventilation and complex care needs transitioning from hospital to home. There is a dedicated sleep study bed and we also care for children with chronic respiratory conditions, including a variety of congenital anomalies, cystic fibrosis and nasopharyngeal airway (NPA). Our aim is to help patients achieve their full potential medically, developmentally and emotionally. The nursing team on Kangaroo provides varied input of nursing care from both low to high dependency, training and supporting families and community carers/nurses to prepare patients for discharge.

To be considered for this role you must be a registered nurse with excellent paediatric clinical skills with relevant background in respiratory care. It is essential to have demonstrable experience of taking charge of a clinical unit and show qualities of a team leader and role model.

Main duties of the job

This is a challenging role that is extremely rewarding. We are looking for an individual who is ready for the next move in their career and demonstrates a desire to deliver a positive patient experience, actively involved in discharge and supportive of the future developments of the service and promotes the effective flow of patients through the department. You will have support and opportunity to work closely with a team of Ward Managers, Long-term Ventilation, Non-invasive Ventilation Clinical Nurse Specialists and Matron who lead and manage other Cardiorespiratory Wards within Critical Care and Cardiorespiratory Unit.

• To provide clinical leadership to a designated nursing team and ensure the provision of high quality nursing care to children and families.
• To act as a role model and expert clinical practitioner.
• To assist in the safe, effective and efficient management of the department within allocated resources.
• To promote a progressive attitude to the continual improvement of patient care through research and evidence based practice.
• To undertake delegated responsibility for the department in the absence of the Ward Manager.
• To be familiar with and adopt the principles of the NHS Chief Nursing Officers vision for Compassion In Practice (NHS Commissioning Board Dec 2012).

Working for our organisation

GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed. We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion. We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women’s staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust’s mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

Essential criteria

• NMC Registered Nurse (appropriate to clinical speciality)
• Relevant nursing qualification
• Evidence of ongoing professional development relating to clinical speciality

Desirable criteria

• Assessor or practice supervisor qualification/experience

Experience/Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Experience of having worked with acute/chronically sick children or specialised transferable skills
• Understanding of professional and current issues in children’s nursing
• Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace.
• Understanding of the importance of research and evidence-based practice
• Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• Basic knowledge of computer skills
• Understanding or evidence of fulfilling requirements for Revalidation
• Understanding of safeguarding issues according to Trust policies and procedures
• Understanding of principles of clinical governance (risk management, audit, quality)

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of nursing practice and innovation outside of GOSH
• Knowledge of clinical incidents and complaints and reporting
• Previous experience in the relevant specialty of post (preferably in an NHS setting)

Skills/Abilities

• Ability to plan and prioritise care for patients
• Committed to family centred care
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent numeracy skills
• Good time management and teaching skills
• Ability to work well both in a team and on own initiative
• Ability to delegate tasks as appropriate
• Demonstrates Compassion in practice

Desirable criteria

• Administration of IV drugs
• Central venous access management