Senior Staff Nurse - Panther Ward

Panther Ward is seeking a Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse who is keen to explore and develop their careers on a multi-speciality surgical ward. This role is also for you if you are an experienced band 5 looking to progress into band 6. You can make a real difference in the lives of our patients and their families. A big responsibility? Absolutely. But if you’re up for the challenge, we’re on the lookout for amazing professionals to join our team – talented individuals who can continue delivering our high level of care.

Panther Ward has 14 inpatient beds (2 of which are High Dependency), specialising in Ears, Nose and Throat, Ophthalmology, Plastics, Dental and Maxillofacial, Craniofacial, Audiology and Cleft. Patients having various surgical procedures requiring a different aspect of nursing care, offering you the opportunity to gain new clinical skills for caring for acutely unwell children. We are a friendly team, who supports one another. We have members of the team from different backgrounds, cultures and religions. We also have won a GEM award for working well together as one team, which embodies the Trust Always Values.

Main duties of the job

• To be a clinical expert within the specialty.
• To ensure the provision of excellent, evidence-based nursing care for the children, young people and their families at all times.
• Ensure that each child or young person is assessed, and that their care is planned, implemented and evaluated in negotiation with the family, and that this is accurately documented.
• Promote Family Centred Care and ensure the provision of a welcoming, caring, clean and safe environment for the children, young people and their families.
• Ensure the provision of appropriate supervision and support to members of the ward team.
• Support the provision of effective communication between all members of the multidisciplinary team, other hospital departments, relatives and visitors.
• Ensure quality care is given, by being familiar with agreed ward and Trust standards of care and to inform seniors, if the required standard cannot be reached.
• To actively assist in the education and practical training of learners, junior staff and multidisciplinary team members at every opportunity, through formal and informal teaching.
• Ensure the provision of and access to appropriate mentors for student nurses and provide a supportive and challenging environment for students in training.
• To maintain confidentiality surrounding the child’s admission and treatment at all times.

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. 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 know that we need to develop a more inclusive culture where everyone feels seen and heard. By growing an ever more diverse workforce, we’ll have a greater range of perspectives and knowledge in our GOSH community, meaning that we can provide the children and young people at our hospital with even better care. At GOSH we have opportunities for our staff to engage with colleagues through the following networks: REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) ENABLED (Enhancing Abilities & Leveraging Disabilities Network), PRIDE & Women’s networks.

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.

Person specification

GOSH Culture and Values

Essential criteria

• Our Always values.
• Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace.
• Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace.

Academic/Professional qualification/Training

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

Essential criteria

• 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

Essential criteria

• 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.