Staff Nurse (Registered Nursing Associates Will Be Considered)

Job summary

Staff Nurse Permanent Contract

Salary: Weldmar Clinical Band 5 £32,073 - £39,043 per annum

Hours: 37.5 but 30 hours per week will be considered

Enhancements paid for Nights and Weekends

If you're looking for a nursing role that allows you to really make a difference by spending time with patients and their loved ones, this role may be for you. With an attractive nurse to patient ratio, we provide high-quality, person-centred care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at our beautiful Inpatient Unit in Dorchester. We're looking for an enthusiastic nurse, who is caring and a good team player, to become part of our dedicated and supportive team. Supported by professionals and volunteers, we ensure patients and their families receive unparalleled support during life's most challenging moments, working closely with the NHS to maintain the highest standards of care. This could be an opportunity to develop your career, with a move into palliative care. Registered Nursing Associates will also be considered. We are able to continue your NHS pension and also recognise NHS service for annual leave. We also offer free counselling, a comprehensive benefits package, free parking and subsidised meals to mention a few! An Enhanced plus barred list Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check is required.

Main duties of the job

• To be an effective part of the Nursing Team
• To ensure the provision of a high level of specialist palliative care within a multi-disciplinary approach, for patients and their family/carers.
• To support the principles of team nursing, and oversee the work of junior staff.
• To actively participate in Clinical Governance programme.
• The Staff Nurse will take overall responsibility for the management of the unit, to act as nominated Fire Officer and supervise the staff team in the absence of the Sister (c.2-3 shifts a week).
• To performance review up to 2 Health Care Assistants.

About us

Weldmar Hospicecare provides specialist care for adults in Dorset who have a life limiting illness, and support for their loved ones. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion across all aspects of our organisation. Our Inpatient Unit is a 12 bedded palliative care unit caring for patients in the last year of life. The unit has a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care with an emphasis on providing high standards of care.

Job responsibilities

• Responsible and accountable for planning, implementing and evaluating physical, social, psychological, emotional and spiritual care for the patient/carer on a day-to-day basis; referring to the sister as and when required.
• The post holder is required to contribute to the supervision of junior/new members of staff in conjunction with the sister.
• In absence of a Sister takes charge of the team and the inpatient unit as required.
• Helps foster a supportive working environment and maintenance of staff morale through mutual regard and respect.
• In absence of a Sister, maintains a skilled nursing presence so as to facilitate a team approach to nursing intervention and multi-disciplinary team working.
• Is aware of all Hospice policies & procedures and collaborates with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure they are adhered to.
• Works closely with the Sisters to ensure clinical standards of care are achieved and participated in the audit of clinical care.
• Promotes a safe clinical environment for all patients, visitors and staff, adhering to health and safety standards and infection prevention procedures.
• The post holder has no direct budget responsibility but must be aware of cost implications and make effective use of resources.
• To be a safe practitioner and work within the NMC Codes of Conduct and Practice, maintaining registration and PREP; also ensuring that all staff within their sphere of responsibility follows the codes.
• Responsible for offering 'out of hours' advice to other health care professionals.
• Management of pharmacy provision.
• Maintaining an overview across all patients within the unit.
• To practice safely according to the charity's policies, procedures and competencies.
• To be responsible for maintaining a personal awareness of professional developments in nursing in general but particularly in palliative care and to undertake relevant further education.
• Maintain quality of care by organising self and others, in assessing, planning, implementing and accurately documenting care, in accordance with the hospice philosophy.
• Acts as patient advocate.
• To maintain a safe environment within the ward areas and to ensure that all equipment is clean, safe and maintained in good working order.
• Attend monthly nurse team meetings (when available) for updating of all aspects of clinical and organisation information and for support of colleagues.
• Also to attend meetings called by the Chief Executive Officer.
• To participate in clinical governance and other corporate change projects as delegated.
• Act as a shift leader in the absence of a Sister, taking overall responsibility for the hospice and its environment.
• To meet with delegated staff every 6 weeks to review performance and complete 1:1s.
• To attend mandatory training.
• To update professional specialist palliative care knowledge by attending in house and external courses, education sessions and conferences.
• To attend appropriate courses leading to recognised post registration qualification.
• To act as a mentor/supervisor to Health Care Assistants.
• Act as a link nurse for a specialist topic, appropriate to specialist palliative care, liaising with the general hospital and community colleagues.
• Participate in agreed audit and research programmes.
• Act as a mentor/supervisor to nurses new staff, those attending courses or student nurses on placement.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential
• Registered Nurse
• Drug Administration Requirement to register and maintain registration with NMC
• IV Drug Administration
• Working towards post registration qualification in Palliative Care
• Willingness to work towards Diploma / Degree
• Desirable
• Some knowledge of, and genuine interest in palliative care
• Knowledge of local and national initiatives and trends in health care

Experience

• Essential
• RN experience, ideally including experience within a relevant field
• Experience of working within more than one health care field
• Desirable

Other Requirements

• Essential
• An Enhanced plus barred list Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: which will disclose any spent and unspent convictions and cautions (subject to filtering), as well as any relevant police information plus a check of the relevant Barred List/s.
• Commitment to the values and ethos of Weldmar Hospicecare
• Act as an advocate and ambassador for the Charity
• Commitment to and understanding of equality and diversity and how this translates into good practice
• Understands and conforms to Weldmar Hospicecare infection prevention and health and safety policies and actively promotes best practice at all times.
• Commitment to own continued professional and personal development
• Desirable
• Ability to travel which requires a full valid driving licence and business insurance (if applicable)

Skills and Abilities

• Essential
• Ability to practice as a proficient practitioner
• Ability to manage time effectively
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to provide non-judgemental and empathic emotional support to patients whilst maintaining safe and appropriate boundaries
• Emotionally able to work within the field of palliative care
• Understanding of clinical governance and its requirements
• Understanding of team nursing
• Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality
• Flexible approach to working arrangements
• Knowledge of clinical audit
• Understanding of hospice philosophy and the structure and nature of specialist palliative care services
• IT skills
• Ability to supervise, lead and support the work of other staff
• Confidence and skills to manage the unit in the absence of a Sister
• Effective problem solving skills
• Able judgement to know which decisions need to be referred on to a senior colleague during their absence
• Evidence of an area of special interest
• Good communication skills, including listening, negotiating skills, communication of ideas and ability to provide advice to other health professionals.
• Ability to have overall vision of the ward to enable planning and prioritization of care

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.

Employer details

Employer name: Weldmar Hospicecare

Address: Herringston Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2SL, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.weld-hospice.org.uk/

Employer contact details

Recruitment: recruitment@weld-hospice.org.uk

Phone: 01305269898