Nurse Associate

We're looking for Nurse Associates, with children's experience, to join our team, where the clinical tasks and fun of play combine to create magic memories for the families that we support. Our goal is to create a supportive, inclusive environment for children who are life-limited, life-threatened, or living with severe disabilities. Don't worry if you're not an expert in respite care, we'll provide all the training and support you need to be a star! As a Nurse Associate, you'll be a vital part of our Nursing Team, helping to provide top-notch care and support for medically fragile children and babies. You'll build lasting relationships with the children and their families, working alongside Senior Nurses, Respite Nurses, Health Care Assistants, and Play Specialists. You'll be a proactive self-starter with a positive, can-do attitude, always ready to learn and grow.

Main duties of the job

• Undertaking clinical tasks including NG and PEG feeding, administration of medication
• Providing support and care to the children we care for and their families
• Performing and recording clinical observations such as temperature, respirations and pulse
• Discussing and sharing information with registered nurses on a child's condition, behaviour, activity and responses
• Ensuring the privacy, dignity and safety of children is maintained at all times
• Recognising issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults

About us

Each role here at James Hopkins Trust is vital to enable us to provide high quality, family led care. Whether working as part of the clinical care team or as part of the Charity team, you'll know you're helping to improve the quality of life for life-limited and life-threatened young children and their families. You'll be working with a team of talented, passionate, caring individuals who are committed to making James Hopkins Trust the centre of excellence in Gloucestershire when it comes to providing nursing respite care for young children. We are dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all children to thrive and have some fun. We understand the challenges that families face when caring for children with complex medical needs, and we are committed to offering them a much-needed break while ensuring that their children receive the care and attention they deserve.

Job responsibilities

As a proactive member of the Nursing Team, you will assist in creating and maintaining a caring, supportive and safe environment for the children you look after. James Hopkins Trust offers family centred care so you will work in partnership with the children and their families who are eligible to use James Hopkins Trust's services. You are self-motivated and can work either independently with support from our Respite Nurses or as a team player. As part of the nursing team you will be responsible for assisting with the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care provided to the children you are accountable for. You will welcome the opportunity to reflect on/assess your practice and competence through existing audit processes and regular supervisions to ensure you provide outstanding and safe care; which in turn demonstrates James Hopkins Trust's compliance with CQC regulatory requirements.

You will be a key person that a family will regularly talk to about their children when they bring their child to James Hopkins Trust for respite. You will have an insight and understanding of the issues facing families where there is a baby or young child with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. While interacting with the carer or parent you will show the family kindness and compassion as you help to assess their child's nursing and care needs while evaluating the wellbeing of the whole family. You are committed to always delivering exceptional family centred care, at our respite centre.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Nursing and Family Care

• Actively encourage a family atmosphere within Kites Corner.
• Contribute positively towards the maintenance of a child and family focused environment when either working within Kites Corner or the child and family's home.
• Recognise the skills and experience of the family in meeting the individual care needs of their child and work in partnership with them to provide holistic care.
• Use a systematic and individualised approach to help plan care of the child at Kites Corner to deliver quality care that is consistent with care delivered by other providers.
• Assess, maintain and evaluate agreed standards of care in partnership with family carers and the child.
• Ensure all medication is accurately and safely administered, recorded and stored, in conjunction with Respite Nurse, where required.
• Give total care to the child during the agreed period of respite.
• Identify and follow the child's care routine and established pattern of care, negotiating any changes with the child and family.
• Ensure that regular contact is made with the Nursing Management Team updating them of any changes in a child/family circumstance that may necessitate a review of the family's respite allocation.
• Facilitate outings, play and activity that is appropriate to the age and development needs of the child.
• Use evidence to underpin practice by adhering to James Hopkins Trust's policies and maintaining an awareness of new and developing care options.
• The safeguarding of children is everyone's responsibility, and you are expected to pass onto the appropriate manager any child safeguarding concerns that you may have that arise in the course of your work.
• Every staff member has a responsibility to maintain confidential, accurate and timely records.
• Maintain an awareness of the diversity of families supported by James Hopkins Trust and ensure that the cultural needs of the children and families are met appropriately.
• Ensure professional boundaries are maintained and that due attention is paid to confidentiality, privacy and dignity at all times.

Professional Development

• Identify and at all times work within your own professional competence and expertise whilst adhering to the NMC Code of Conduct.
• Take advantage of training opportunities to further develop your skills and expertise to enhance your role within the James Hopkins Trust Nursing Team including mandatory training sessions.
• Maintain professional registration with the NMC.
• Keep a Personal Professional Profile and ensure that all mandatory training is updated as appropriate.
• Every member of staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up-to-date knowledge and awareness of issues required to deliver quality palliative care within Kites Corner or the family home.
• Every member of nursing staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up-to-date knowledge and awareness of issues around care of children and young people with complex needs.

Responsibility for Clinical Governance and Quality

• Participate in quality control monitoring and auditing processes to ensure the safe delivery of care and maintain high standards through best practice.
• Be proactive in identifying ways of improving practice.
• Contribute positively to the development and audit of standards and, when appropriate, taking responsibility for identified project work.
• Identify ways of continued quality improvement, using reflective practice through clinical supervision.
• Actively complete clinical incident documentation in line with a no blame approach and James Hopkins Trust's whistle-blowing policy.
• Adhere to and comply with all James Hopkins Trust's policies and procedures.
• Complete risk assessments within James Hopkins Trust as requested.

Management and Team Awareness

• Take responsibility for helping to promote good teamwork and a flexible approach within the Nursing Team and the wider Organisation.
• Inform the relevant manager of incidents and concerns using agreed processes.
• Participate in the induction of new staff as and when required.
• Contribute to the mentorship of students on placement at James Hopkins Trust, using up to date knowledge.
• Carry out any reasonable additional duty as agreed by the Nursing Management Team to meet the changing requirements of the service.

Communication

• In line with James Hopkins Trust's vision, mission and values; encourage the philosophy of James Hopkins Trust with acts of kindness and helping to make magic memories.
• Always present a good public image.
• Liaise closely with all professionals and volunteers working with the child and family to ensure a seamless service.
• Attend staff meetings and team briefings and participate in other meetings as appropriate.
• Take responsibility for using the appropriate channels to ensure good communication is maintained within the Organisation at all times.

Health and Safety

• Ensure that infection control guidelines and policies are strictly adhered to.
• Undertake risk assessment and management to ensure that children, families, visitors and colleagues are safe.
• Be aware of and work within James Hopkins Trust's lone working policies.
• Be aware of all Health and Safety issues and adhere to all the James Hopkins Trust policies.
• Be aware of all Fire, Health and Safety regulations at Kites Corner and maintain a safe working environment at all times.

Ways of working and collaborating

• Make a positive contribution to the team and the wider Organisation by playing an active role in growing excellent working relationships within all areas of James Hopkins Trust, such as families, volunteers and staff members.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to creating an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace.
• Work within all of James Hopkins Trust's policies, processes and procedures at all times.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current and planned activities.
• To carry out any additional tasks and projects as reasonably requested in line with the general responsibility of the role.
• Lead by example and be an inspiring role model for others, building trust and living by our Vision, Mission always keeping children at the heart of what we do.

James Hopkins Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Person Specification

• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain boundaries.
• Flexible and used to working on own initiative.
• Demonstrate practice is evidence based and up to date.
• Ability to take responsibility for adopting best practice in the implementation of individual care plans.
• Competent in drug calculations.
• Willingness to learn and undertake appropriate training.
• Proven experience of communicating sensitively in challenging situations with patients and families.
• Have an awareness of and be supportive of the organisational strategic plan.
• Proven ability to work constructively within a team.
• Ability to identify problems before they arise and take action to prevent them occurring.
• Demonstrates initiative, reliability and flexible approach to working.
• Highly self-motivated with ability to motivate others.
• Enthusiastic and committed individual.
• Ability to work rotational shifts including nights/weekend work.
• Ability and willingness to undergo further appropriate training.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Experience of working with children.
• Have undertaken communication training e.g. PECS/Makaton.
• Awareness of related voluntary and statutory organisations.
• To be able to support individuals who express strong emotions.
• Have a holistic approach to all care provided.
• Ability to work under pressure/tolerate stress within themselves and others.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse Associate.
• Live entry on NMC Register.
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Depending on experience, shift enhancements for weekends and overnights.