Senior Staff Nurse

The Senior Staff Nurse (SSN) performs an essential role in maintaining a safe and efficient service in the department. The SSN supports the ward in the delivery of exceptional evidence based quality care to all patients. The SSN is required to be an experienced surgical nurse, a leader, role model, and take responsibility for the leadership of the ward when allocated as the Nurse In Charge. The SSN should support the senior leadership team in the effective and efficient use of resources including stock and nursing allocation. The SSN should step up when required and deputise for more senior positions such as the Sister / Charge Nurses.

Key Responsibilities

• Being responsible for the delivery of evidence based quality and safe care to all patients in line with policy.
• Deliver care without direct supervision, including the development, implementation and evaluation of care plans and escalating appropriately.
• Provide motivational and visible leadership, role model exemplary professional behaviours, encourage, support and develop the team.
• Act as the Nurse In Charge and ensure the day to day delivery of care is evidence based, according to policy and effective.
• When the Nurse In Charge, carry out the responsibilities of the position to best of their ability, escalating concerns, knowing when to get support and looking after their own wellbeing.
• Support the senior leadership team in ensuring the right number of nurses and skill mix are available each shift, and minimise the use of contingent staff.
• Support effective patient flow by collaborating with colleagues on bed mapping, supporting discharges, admissions and theatre start times.
• Have advanced clinical skills, able to manage complex patients, deteriorating patients, and be part of the daily resuscitation team.
• Be a visible, approachable and reassuring leader, creating a calm and safe environment.
• Respond effectively to patient and family concerns both on the ward and post discharge, be a point of contact for patients.
• Be an advanced communicator, able to diffuse situations, manage patient / relative concerns, act upon staff concerns and build rapport with key stakeholders, including consultants.
• Maintain detailed and accurate patient and operational records.
• Escalate concerns, look for solutions, be creative, flexible, problem solve and take initiative.
• Ensure the ward environment including stock and equipment is maintained to a high standard of safety, effectiveness and cleanliness in accordance with IPC requirements.
• When assigned, support managerial and governance duties of the ward including roster creation, inputting KPIs auditing.
• Contribute to quality initiatives, support change, bring ideas and solutions.
• Take responsibility for a link role on the ward, such as Infection Control, Blood, Tissue Viability or Falls.
• Remain up to date with national guidance, best practice, professional standards.
• Take development opportunities, be responsible for your own education and experience and disseminate learning to the team.
• Actively seek feedback on your leadership and overall performance.
• With senior support, take responsibility for a team of junior staff including junior nurses and HCAs. This includes one to ones, appraisals, objective setting, competencies, performance management, monitoring training and sickness.
• Support the leadership team with recruitment, retention and staff development.
• Mentor and coach students, nursing staff and colleagues. Provide support and feedback. Contribute to training when required.
• Support staff's wellbeing through empathy, compassion and respect.
• Deputise for Sisters / charge nurses when required.
• Support Fortius in its business objectives, CQC assessment and upholding the Fortius Values.
• Maintain and foster good working relationships with all colleagues and stakeholders.
• Support in serious clinical and non-clinical incidents, supporting patients and junior staff and being a professional resource for all.
• Take on responsibilities including but not limited to: Resuscitation team member, Responsible Nursing Officer for Medical Gas and Fire Warden.
• If asked, work in other areas of the hospital suitable to your role, experience and qualifications to support patients and operational delivery.

Qualifications

• Qualified RN and NMC registered Nursing degree
• Health or leadership related Masters
• Evidence of post registration education and development

Experience

• Significant surgical / ward based clinical experience (18 months +)
• Independent hospital experience
• NHS / public hospital experience
• People management experience including recruiting and giving feedback.
• Experience of managing staffing, rosters and patient flow
• Experience in contributing to incident investigations and managing patient concerns
• Experience in auditing and feeding back results

Skills

• Motivated, self-directed and ability to act on own initiative
• Positive attitude, inspiring, demonstrate the Fortius Values
• Time management, ability to prioritise and re-prioritise
• Accountable, professional takes responsibility for making decisions
• Inspire confidence in others, coaches, supports, directs