Clinical Sister/Charge Nurse - Aylesford Unit in Warwick

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced cancer nurse to take on this specialist nursing role. You will primarily work within the Aylesford Unit at Warwick Hospital, with potential cross-site cover at the Rigby Unit, Stratford Hospital. The role requires vision, innovation and the ability to work across professional boundaries, underpinned by a real desire to provide the highest standards of patient care. You will work within the day case, out-patient and inpatient settings and undertake nurse-led assessment and clinics.

Main duties of the job

• Assist the Unit Manager in leading a team of nurses in the delivery of a high standard of care.
• Manage specialist care for inpatient, outpatient and day-case patients, including chemotherapy management and complications such as neutropenic sepsis.
• Participate in the acute oncology nurse rota.
• Carry out clinical duties: venesection, management of central venous access devices, peripheral cannulation and systemic anticancer drug (including chemotherapy) administration.
• Participate in patient chemotherapy clinics, including nurse-led telephone assessment, holistic assessment and end-of-chemotherapy reviews.
• Audit care against agreed standards and identify weaknesses, developing action plans.
• Implement information strategies to ensure patients and carers receive appropriate information.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information to patients/carers and support staff in supporting this role.
• Base practice on current best evidence.
• Lead on an agreed area of day unit/chemotherapy practice and evaluate current research findings for application to practice.
• Lead clinical audit projects.

Services

• Maintain services to meet contract and quality standards, take corrective action and inform the Unit Manager of unresolved problems.
• Review standard of care and documentation regularly, benchmarking performance against NMC guidelines and other national and local targets.
• Promote patient involvement and implement communication systems to keep patients and families informed of treatment progress.
• Undertake audits at required intervals to maintain standards of record keeping.
• Investigate complaints and untoward incidents in accordance with Trust policies and procedures, providing statements accurately and timely.
• Support the Unit Manager in improving systems to prevent recurrence.

Finance

• Contribute to planning, monitoring and control of unit resources, assisting the Unit Manager to keep expenditures within budgets.
• Assist the Unit Manager in optimising nursing resources by even distribution of staff annual leave and matching skill mix to workload.

People

• Contribute to recruitment and selection of quality staff for the unit, identifying future job requirements for profiling to complement the team.
• Contribute to the development of teams, individuals and self to enhance performance, facilitating staff development and monitoring staff performance.
• Plan, organise and evaluate work, ensuring adequate induction of new staff, effective preceptorship for newly qualified nurses or those new to specialty, and mentorship for student nurses on placement.
• Ensure the ward is staffed appropriately and within budget at all times.
• Create, maintain and enhance productive working relationships, minimising conflict and promoting positive team working.
• Promote staff compliance with Trust policies and procedures, undertaking counselling and reporting difficult cases to the Unit Manager.

Information

• Provide information and advice for action towards organisational objectives and attend divisional meetings to disseminate information.
• Assist the Unit Manager in collecting and organising information for incorporation into the Divisional service plans.

Professional

• Keep abreast of new healthcare developments, ensuring nursing practice is evidence-based and cost-effective.
• Be responsible for own personal and professional development and assist the Unit Manager in developing junior staff.
• Maintain own professional registration and ensure all qualified nurses have valid NMC registration and practice in accordance with NMC code of conduct.

Person Specification

Qualifications – Essential criteria

• First Level RN
• Teaching and assessing qualification
• Diploma/Degree in haematology/oncology
• Recognised chemotherapy qualification
• Moving and handling, basic CPR, IT skills, intravenous drug administration
• Venepuncture and cannulation skills

Experience – Essential criteria

• A minimum of 12 months experience at band 5 in haematology/oncology with evidence of continued professional development in this area.
• Evidence of recent experience in chemotherapy administration.

Skills – Essential criteria

• Can initiate and deliver high-quality nursing care.
• Can plan, delegate and supervise others.
• Can manage clinical area effectively.
• Can initiate the implementation of evidence-based practice.
• Can lead in clinical audit.
• Can assist in managing resources within a budget.
• Aware of current NHS issues and priorities.

Personal Qualities – Essential Criteria

• Can lead and develop an effective team.
• Can express self clearly and confidently – verbal and written within a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates commitment and ability to teach others.
• Initiates change.
• Can achieve personal objectives.

Other – Essential criteria

• Flexible working and able to change duties at short notice.