The Sister/Charge Nurse will be responsible for the daily clinical and operational management of the paediatric clinical areas and the professional development of the staff within those areas. The Sister/Charge Nurse will provide support to all staff and will be required to work in partnership with all multi-disciplinary teams. They will be responsible for providing leadership and professional development for the nursing and support workers within the services
They will work with the other paediatric senior nurses to develop best practice and ensure that there is consistency across the paediatric unit. In collaboration with the relevant senior nursing team and Modern Matrons, they will be required to provide senior nursing cover for paediatric unit.
To be accountable for nursing practice and improve knowledge and professional competence of staff.
To be a clinical expert within the Paediatric speciality whilst delivering high levels of direct care to patients.
To initiate and lead in ensuring the development of nursing standards and policies.
To recognise deteriorations in clinical conditions and initiate a rapid and appropriate response
Maintaining appropriate staffing levels within set budgets and identify resource/staffing issues in advance.
Be responsible for providing a 24 hour nursing service for the clinical area demonstrating effective leadership and management skills.
Maintain a safe working environment and undertaking risk assessment and management on a shift basis.
To effectively manage the allocated budget , you will also be expected to deliver savings and efficiencies in line with the trust’s objectives.
To participate/lead in the investigation of complaints, incidents and other events and implement any required actions.
To lead in the recruitment and retention of staff for the area
To critically evaluate the research and audit findings and disseminate these to clinical practice areas and staff to develop best practice.
To attend relevant departmental and directorate meetings relating to clinical governance and to contribute to the clinical governance agenda.
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.
The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Clinical Component
1.1 To be accountable for nursing practice and take every opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge and professional competence of staff.
1.2 To be a clinical expert within the Paediatric speciality whilst delivering high levels of direct care to patients.
1.3 To initiate and lead in ensuring the development of nursing standards and policies.
1.4 To have responsibility for resolving patient/parent complaints relating to clinical care/operational issues within the area.
1.6 To act as a change agent utilising the principles of evidence based practice promoting family centred care.
1.7 To recognise deteriorations in clinical conditions and initiate a rapid and appropriate response
1.8 To lead on complex patient care and develop packages of care to ensure discharge processes are efficient and comprehensive, incorporating members of the multi-disciplinary team.
1.9 To act as an expert clinical resource maintaining a high clinical profile in the clinical area.
1.10 To make an assessment of the child and families psychological and social needs, implementing an agreed management plan including appropriate referral.
1.11 To ensure that audit procedures are in place for monitoring standards (Infection Control, Cleaning, Documentation and Risk) and audited within the agreed timeframe.
1.12 To work with the Paediatric Management Team/Clinical Site Manager to ensure timely discharges and admissions and to provide service cover when necessary.
1.13 To coordinate all Safeguarding referrals/concerns liaising with other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
1.14 Ensure that sensitive patient records are stored appropriately and that trust Information Governance policies are adhered to.
1.15 To communicate effectively in a skilled and sensitive manner in both written and verbal form.
1.16 To ensure all nursing documentation for all staff is concise and accurate and reflects the patient’s needs.
1.17 Maintaining appropriate staffing levels within set budgets and identify resource/staffing issues in advance.
1.18 Will work as a resource and providing clinical support/ facilitation to qualified staff.
1.19 To ensure smooth delivery of service including any KPI’s attached to the areas of responsibility.
Management Component
2.1 Be responsible for providing a 24 hour nursing service for the clinical area demonstrating effective leadership and management skills.
2.2 Maintain a safe working environment, recognising the health and safety requirements of patients, learners, staff and visitors within the area, and undertaking risk assessment and management on a shift basis.
2.3 To effectively manage the allocated budget ensuring that any actual or predicted overspends are reported and investigated. You will also be expected to deliver savings and efficiencies in line with the trust’s objectives.
2.4 To identify and investigate any issues of conduct, discipline and performance within the team in accordance with trust policy and to liaise with the designated Modern Matron and HR team.
2.5 To develop ward/unit policies and guidelines and to ensure these are implemented and audited to ensure compliance and best practice.
2.6 To participate in the organisation and management of any service change and project development in the clinical areas.
2.7 To act as a patient/staff advocate through the application of ethical, legal and professional knowledge and skills.
2.8 To participate/lead in the development of Ward/Department policies and guidelines and ensure these are communicated to all staff.
2.9 To participate/lead in the investigation of complaints, incidents and other events, under the direction of the Paediatric Matron and implement any required actions.
3.0 To lead in the recruitment and retention of staff for the area and report any foreseeable problems to the Paediatric Matron.
3.1 To be familiar with the trust and division objectives and to ensure key performance indicators are met in particular in relation to ‘saving lives’ and staff individual performance reviews.
3.2 To be involved and contribute to the development of the Paediatric service.
3.3 To lead on allocated responsibilities when instructed to do so from the Paediatric Matron.
Development and Education Component
4.0 To provide nursing leadership for implementation and evaluation of all education, training and development of staff. Develop, implement and evaluate policies, guidelines and protocols for the management of patients in the clinical area.
4.1 Create a learning environment for the staff and be aware of the educational needs of learners attending the area.
4.2 Actively support and assist the development of mentorship programmes in the area.
4.3 Provide clinical support and guidance to staff within the area.
4.4 Lead in appraising staff and in identifying training/educational needs and meeting the trust corporate objectives.
4.5 To actively participation in the orientation and development of new staff and students to the area.
4.6 Provide formal and informal training to a variety of staff under the direction of the Paediatric Matron.
4.7 Demonstrate a commitment to the application of new local/national guidelines across the Paediatric Unit.
4.8 Identify and be responsible for your own professional development and participate in your own yearly performance review with the Paediatric Matron.
4.9 Working with the Practice Educator, develop the training needs analysis, which reflects the future needs of the area.
4.10 Be responsible for the education of patients and carers focusing on the patient condition, recovery and health promotion.
Research/Audit/Quality Component
5.0 Develop an enquiring approach to nursing practice.
5.1 To participate and apply nursing research and audit findings in liaison with Sister/Charge Nurse and Senior Paediatric Nursing Team, and help facilitate appropriate research activities within the area.
5.2 To be responsible for the keeping of accurate and confidential records.
5.3 To critically evaluate the research and audit findings and disseminate these to clinical practice areas and staff to develop best practice.
5.4 Audit current practice comparing them to research and national guidance.
5.5 To attend relevant departmental and directorate meetings relating to clinical governance and to contribute to the clinical governance agenda.
Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.
