Deputy Ward Leader in Leigh

People at the Heart. One Team. Your Career at WWL.

An exciting fixed-term opportunity has arisen for a Deputy Ward Leader on Ward 3, a day surgical unit at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. If you are forward thinking, dynamic and have experience in a surgical environment then we would like to hear from you. The post is full time and currently covers Monday - Sunday, a flexible working approach is necessary for this role. This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term basis as it has been established to cover maternity leave and will end in 12 months or when the substantive postholder returns. Whilst this post is advertised on an acting / secondment basis there is the potential that this post may become permanent in the future.

Main duties of the job

Ward 3 is a fast paced, surgical day case unit that covers elective surgery, we cover a variety of specialities including General Surgery, Urology, Gynaecology, Breast, Colorectal, Vascular surgery, Ophthalmology and Pain. We are seeking to appoint a dynamic, highly motivated and caring nurse with ward management/coordination experience. Candidates must be knowledgeable about elective surgery, have excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills, and must provide high standards of care at all times, putting the patient at the heart of everything that we do. The Deputy Ward Leader will support the Ward Leader to drive forward the ward with high standards and improve clinical pathways for patients based on up-to-date evidence based practice. The post holder will be able to work under pressure and manage difficult situations effectively in with support from both the Ward Leader and the Surgical Matron.

Working for our organisation

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values. WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Manage the ward in the absence of the Ward Manager, coordinating the activities of the ward team and deploying resources effectively.
• Ensure that effective communication is maintained both within the ward itself and with relevant external agencies or individuals.
• Organise own workload and adjust priorities in response to issues arising in the workplace.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to issues which require urgent or immediate attention, reporting to other members of the multi-disciplinary/management team as necessary.
• Deputise for the ward manager as requested at meetings and other events.
• Maintain ward management records and produce timely management reports at the request of the ward manager or as required in his/her absence.
• Maintain an awareness of current identified best practice within the relevant sphere of nursing.
• Deliver nursing care on the basis of available valid evidence and as detailed in clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Take a lead role in the audit of nursing care within the ward, share learning with others and assist in ensuring that identified scope for improvement is realised.
• Maintain effective registration in accordance with NMC standards.

Person specification

• Able to work day/evening/night duty over a 7 day week.
• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.

Knowledge

• Up to date clinical nursing knowledge relevant to the speciality.

Skills

• Specialist nursing skills relevant to the ward.
• Leadership.
• Clinical teaching and assessment skills.
• Basic ward management skills.

Experience

• Post registration experience relevant to the clinical speciality of the ward.
• Experience of teaching/assessing/supervising others in a clinical setting.
• Regularly in charge of a ward.

Qualifications

• 1st Level Registered Nurse (relevant branch).
• Evidence of continuing professional development since registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.