Clinical Sister/Charge Nurse

Join our CQC Outstanding Hospice and help shape exceptional end-of-life care. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, compassionate and motivated Registered Nurse to join the team at Teesside Hospice as a Sister/Charge Nurse within our Inpatient Unit. At Teesside Hospice, our commitment to providing outstanding care has been recognised with a CQC Outstanding rating. We are proud to deliver specialist palliative and end-of-life care that places patients and their families at the heart of everything we do. This is an opportunity to join an organisation with a strong reputation for excellence, innovation and compassionate care.

Main duties of the job

As a Sister/Charge Nurse, you will provide visible clinical leadership within our Inpatient Unit, supporting and developing colleagues to deliver the highest standards of care. You will work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team, advocate for patients and families, contribute to service development, and play a key role in ensuring a positive patient and staff experience. We are looking for an individual who combines excellent clinical skills with a passion for leadership and team development. Whether you are an experienced senior nurse looking for your next challenge or an ambitious nurse ready to take the next step in your career, we would love to hear from you.

What you'll bring

• A passion for delivering exceptional palliative and end-of-life care.
• Strong clinical judgement and decision-making skills.
• The ability to inspire, support and develop others.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and high-quality patient care.
• Excellent communication and collaborative working skills.

About us

• Work within a CQC Outstanding organisation.
• Be part of a highly skilled, supportive and compassionate team.
• Make a meaningful difference to patients and families when they need it most.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Help shape and influence the future of hospice care across Teesside.

This is a rewarding opportunity to develop your leadership career while making a lasting impact on the lives of those we support. At Teesside Hospice, we believe in making every moment count. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional, specialist care and support to patients and their families during challenging times. People are at our core. We offer a supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and are always aiming for the highest standards and working environment. Our teams work positively together, collaborating to ensure our patients get the best care, and staff enjoy a fulfilling career knowing they make a real difference in people's lives. Our values are Compassionate, Skilled, Accountable, Trustworthy and Principled - working here means being part of a community that focuses on empathy, respect and teamwork. We're there for everyone who needs us and are on a mission to change the way society and healthcare systems care for people.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• As a visible clinical leader will support the provision of direct, holistic, care for those requiring specialist palliative and end of life care on the unit.
• Utilising advanced specialist knowledge and skill in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating programmes of care for patients within IPU from admission to discharge.
• Ensure that clinical practices accurately reflect IPU and hospice policies whilst respecting the patients needs and dignity.
• Provide advice and support to patients and their families in complex and highly emotive situations whilst respecting their cultural and spiritual values.
• Plan a timely, organised, discharge of patients ensuring good communication with patient and their families and/or professionals involved in their care.
• As per hospice medicines policy follow the safe ordering, storage and administration of medicines.
• Act in the patients best interests working to protect values and rights of the patient with integrity and insight.
• Responsible for infection control and cleanliness standards on a shift-by-shift basis by ensuring that self and staff follow hospice policy.
• Always adheres to the NMC Code of conduct and acts as the patient advocates.
• Work as an effective member of the multidisciplinary team, providing visible nursing leadership within multidisciplinary discussion.
• Empower and support patients and the nursing team, confidently advocating for the nursing perspective and constructively challenging decisions where required to promote safe person-centred care.
• Ensure nursing views and clinical concerns are appropriately considered in treatment planning, risk management and discharge decision-making.
• Ensure standards of documentation are maintained in accordance with NMC and hospice guidelines for records and records keeping.
• Lead and participates in audit and evidence-based practice.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills systems with patients, their relatives and friends and other visitors.

Management

• Deputise for the IPU CTL.
• To act as an effective role model and resource/adviser to colleagues in the delivery of nursing care.
• To provide visible clinical leadership, support and guidance to staff in monitoring the planning delivery and evaluation of individualised care.
• Deputise for IPU Clinical Team Leader as and when required.
• Responsible for monitoring the workload/patient complexity and dependency using an evidence base tool within the unit when on shift to ensure that nurse staffing is adequate to provide a safe standard of nursing care.
• Ensure the cost-effective and appropriate use of staffing and materials with consideration and due regard to budgetary control.
• Exercise leadership and professional role modelling to motivate members of staff, achieve high morale and promote effective communication within the unit.
• Investigate all accidents, incidents and complaints, reporting them to the appropriate personnel, along with the relevant documentation, in a timely manner.
• Inform Clinical Team Leader when changes in circumstances occur which may affect safe and competent practice.
• Encourage new ideas and facilitate their implementation following discussion with the wider senior team.
• Facilitate the process of continuous quality improvement.
• Undertake regular performance reviews and appraisals in the development of Professional Development Plans for staff within team.
• Recognise and address poor performance or competency concerns promptly, taking appropriate action in line with organisational policies and procedures.
• Participate and lead in any grievance, disciplinary, performance or sickness issues as appropriate and in accordance with hospice procedures.
• Ensuring bank timesheets, you sign are an accurate representation of the time worked.
• The post holder will need to maintain a personal duty of care when handling patient valuables/property.
• Develop as a member of the wider senior hospice team.
• Will be accountable for their actions and act in accordance with NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
• Will act in accordance with hospice and statutory guidelines & policies including health and safety initiatives.
• Be responsible for own education, professional development (PDP) and professional portfolio for revalidation.
• Establish a relationship with a Clinical Supervisor.
• Will act as supervisor, where appropriate to junior members of staff and unqualified members of staff.
• Will work in accordance with Corporate Objectives.
• Will adopt a service-orientated approach to work.
• Will practice in a cost effective and cost aware manner.

Education & Training

• Provides visible clinical and managerial leadership to nursing, support staff and volunteers.
• Participate in the orientation of new staff to their duties, ensuring that expectations of the roles are discussed and developed.
• Provide support for and give guidance to junior staff.
• Support the delivery of formal and informal teaching sessions for all staff internal and external to the organisation.
• Act as a mentor and preceptor and assist in the management of preceptorship and mentorship arrangements for staff new to the unit.
• Provides clinical supervision to other staff and students.
• Participate in educational audits and ensure that the unit always provides an appropriate learning environment.
• Provide support to non-nursing, clerical and administrative staff and volunteers.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff for the unit.
• Assist in the maintenance and review of information technology systems within the unit.

Data Compliance and Confidentiality

• Within the constraints of patient confidentiality, ensure pertinent information is accurately conveyed to relevant personnel in a timely manner i.e. the multi-disciplinary team and all other health professionals.
• Communicate extremely sensitive or emotive information to families or visitors.
• Assist, in conjunction with IPU Clinical Team leader in ensuring that agreed programmes and standards of care are implemented and evaluated, thus providing high standards of patient care at all times.
• Work as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team and individually.
• Ensure that nursing care and clinical practice is research and/or evidence based.

Safeguarding

• To comply with Teesside Hospice and Tees Local Safeguarding Boards Policies, Procedures and Practice.
• To follow Teesside Hospice policy regarding the management of safeguarding concerns.
• To access mandatory safeguarding training and demonstrate competence at the required level.

Equality, Diversity and Rights

Teesside Hospice statement on ED is committed to improving the quality of its services to all people, irrespective of race/ethnicity, disability, gender, religion or belief, age or sexual orientation. Our objective is to deliver high quality services that are accessible, responsive, and appropriate to meet the diverse needs of different groups and individuals. As such, we will continue to take action to ensure that staff and volunteers employed by Teesside Hospice are culturally aware and treat every person with dignity, respect and fairness, in a way that is sensitively responsive to differences and similarities. Unlawful discrimination and other forms of exclusion have no place within Teesside Hospice. To support equality, diversity and rights of all patients and their families, staff and volunteers. To actively promote the consultation of patients and families and their involvement and participation in decision making. To work to the Hospice Equality and Diversity Policy.

Health & Safety

• To carry out duties placed on employees by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
• To comply with Health and Safety Policy.
• To take reasonable care for the Health and Safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
• To co-operate with their employer as far as is necessary to meet the requirements of the legislation.
• To not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare in the pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions.
• To be aware of and always adhere to current policies regarding infection control.
• To maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and presentation.
• To act at all times in a professional manner, respecting the needs of colleagues and cooperating to maintain a harmonious working environment.

Person Specification

Skills & Abilities

• Able to inspire, lead and develop the nursing team.
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to facilitate and lead a team and to act as a positive role model.
• Ability to prioritize own workload and that of others.
• Excellent IT Skills, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (level 1) with Degree.
• Post registration experience at Registered Nurse level.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Post Graduate qualification in Palliative, End of Life Care or other relevant post registration qualification.
• Advanced Communications Qualification.
• Specialist Palliative & End of Life Care competencies.
• Masters qualification or working towards Leadership &/ or Management Qualification.

Other

• Disclosure through DBS.
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet service needs.

Personal Attributes/Key skills

• Professional at all times.
• Motivated with a Can Do attitude and able to motivate others.
• Ability to deal with conflict/challenging situations.
• Alignment to Hospice values.

Experience

• Demonstrable clinical expertise, relevant to the area.
• Ward/unit skills and experience.
• Experience of leading multi-professional teams.
• Experience of participating in Audit, Research, Quality Improvement initiatives and service development.
• Experience of teaching and assessing staff at all levels and learners in clinical practice.
• Experience of staff development, staff induction, preceptorship and assessment of clinical competencies.
• Experience of performance review, and continuous professional development.

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.