In house Lead Nurse

Are you a motivated registered nurse with excellent leadership skills and experience of caring for life-limited children and their families? Are you passionate, and do you want to influence and develop your team to ensure the safe, effective and efficient delivery of excellent nursing care to babies, children and young people? If so, we can support you to be the nurse leader you've always wanted to be.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our in-house Lead Nurse team as we support the planned departure of a colleague. The role is based within our Guildford Hospice, supporting an established in-house care team. Shooting Star Children's Hospices is a leading children's hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families across London and Surrey.

As well as providing leadership and hands-on clinical care, at Shooting Star Children's Hospices, we also take time for making memories supporting children in our hydrotherapy pool, facilitating arts, crafts and music sessions, going on outings and helping children to relax in our multi-sensory room. The postholder will play an active role in the education and development of staff and be involved in clinical audit, innovation, Clinical Governance and risk groups. You will be expected to participate in the on-call rota to support the hospice 24/7 as required and availability to support a reasonable share of weekends and public holidays.

• To be a highly competent, knowledgeable and visible practitioner, ensuring the provision of excellent, evidence-based nursing care for the children, young people and their families at all times.
• Ensure that each child/young person is assessed, and that their care is planned, implemented and evaluated in negotiation with the family and that this is accurately documented and up to date.
• Liaise with clinical, non-clinical and facilities staff to maintain a safe, friendly and welcoming environment for the children/young people, families, visitors and staff.
• To act as an advocate for the child/young person and family ensuring the provision of appropriate information and support services.
• Ensure effective communication between all members of the multidisciplinary team, parents, relatives, visitors, and external agencies.
• In conjunction with the Head of In-patient Care, develop and monitor clinical and non-clinical performance standards, taking action as required.
• Monitor cleanliness and infection control standards within the clinical area, ensuring that all staff are aware of the uses, safety precautions, handling, cleaning, and maintenance of equipment in the hospice.
• To develop and maintain clinical skills and knowledge necessary to provide holistic, evidence-based nursing care; this includes completion of the Shooting Star Children's Hospices care competencies.
• Ensure that all appropriate staff are competent in the administration of medication.

About us: Shooting Star Children's Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition or who have been bereaved. Rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, we support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care. At the heart of what we do are our dedicated staff; their exceptional commitment and professionalism means every family has the opportunity to make every moment count.

• Experience of working in a children's hospice.
• Demonstrable experience of taking charge of a department and deputising for line manager.
• Experience of leading and managing a team of nurses.
• Previous experience of research and audit.

• NMC Registered Nurse (Child).
• Evidence of ongoing professional development within the clinical speciality.
• Assessing and mentoring.
• Possession of a relevant master's degree or in the process of obtaining.
• Leadership or management training.
• Palliative care module.

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.