Sister / Charge Nurse - Virtual Ward in Leyland

Do you want to be part of our developing Virtual Ward team? We are looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic and forward-thinking registered nurse to join our exciting service. Virtual Wards support patients to receive safe and convenient care, monitoring and treatments in their own homes rather than being in hospital. They can support patients from being admitted or reduce their length of stay in an acute hospital bed with an earlier supported discharge. Virtual Wards provide additional capacity to hospital beds enabling more patients to receive timely treatments that they require.

You will join the integrated Virtual Ward team working across community and acute settings to provide a high level of patient care across central Lancashire. You will also be a strong role model, provide leadership and direction ensuring excellent standards of care are met, and have an understanding of governance and the importance of promoting and maintaining a safe environment for our patients. The post is an opportunity for someone looking to work in a developing and innovative service who will support the development and expansion of the integrated virtual ward. Successful candidates will require access to their own car due to visiting patients within their own homes. This is a 7-day service working between the hours of 8am - 8pm. Car driver is essential.

Main duties of the job:

• To support the unit Manager or Matron in ensuring the provision of excellent care with compassion for the patients, relatives and visitors who use the Virtual Ward.
• With a flexible approach and a sound clinical evidence-based background and knowledge.
• You will require excellent communication skills, customer care and IT skills.
• Candidates will be able to prioritise their own workload without supervision, have an excellent telephone manner and be able to work well on their own initiative as well as part of a team.
• You will work closely with the MDT to support the delivery of excellent care and support the development and expansion of the service.
• To provide strong leadership and direction to the team, monitoring and maintaining standards of care and professional practice to support day-to-day efficient running of the service.
• Act as a strong role model and provide development, clinical supervision and advice for other staff and students to support them in reaching their full potential.
• Actively engage in research and development opportunities for the service.
• To act at all times in a manner that upholds the Trust’s values and Nursing & Midwifery Professional Framework goals, working as part of a team to ensure that patients and relatives receive excellent care with compassion.

Working for our organisation:

We have 10,000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area and give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire and Cumbria. Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely makes a difference to support our patients and staff, ensuring we keep thriving and delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns. You’ll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet great people and do things you’d never have done. You’ll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills and enhance your career path. You’ll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold and help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care and enhancing their experience which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• Support the Manager or Matron in ensuring the provision of excellent care with compassion for the patients, relatives, and visitors who are cared for within the Virtual Ward.
• Ensure a high standard of nursing is delivered by self and others based on assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care to meet patients’ needs in accordance with agreed local and National standards and evidence-based guidelines.
• Assist and support the Unit Manager in the safe, effective management of the area, including management of personnel, facilities, and the associated systems and processes.
• Act as a role model, presenting a positive image of self, team, and the organisation.
• Be responsible for the delivery and coordination of care through appropriate professional practice, delegation, and supervision of duties carried out by junior staff.
• Set, monitor, and maintain standards of care to improve the patient experience and outcome of care.
• Proactively manage risk and maintain patient safety, conforming to health, safety, and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Take an active role in communicating with all relevant multidisciplinary teams internally and with external organisations as required, to ensure seamless care and integrated patient pathways.
• Promote the provision of patient education and health promotion.
• Promote equality in care and practice by recognising, respecting, and meeting the needs and choices of individuals.
• Ensure the environment of care is safe, well equipped, and compliant with standards for hygiene and cleanliness.
• Participate in the education and training of junior staff.
• Maintain and develop own professional competence and seek to extend the scope of personal knowledge and skills within the scope of role and professional practice.

Person specification:

Qualifications & Education:

• Essential criteria:
• Appropriate NMC Registration
• Diploma or Degree in Nursing
• NMC recognised Mentorship qualification
• Evidence of continuing professional education or development in area of speciality
• Desirable criteria:
• Post registration qualification in area of speciality area

Knowledge & Experience:

• Essential criteria:
• Evidence of leadership experience and learning.
• Awareness of recent advances within Nursing practice
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance and safeguarding and the relevance to practice
• Knowledge of relevant policies and procedures
• Experience of implementing changes to benefit patients and improve nursing practice
• Knowledge of Ethical issues
• Desirable criteria:
• Previous experience of working in a band 6 clinical role
• Understanding of the Virtual Ward
• An understanding of the challenges of patient flow in the Acute setting
• Knowledge of Research and Development