Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·         Be actively involved in and support departmental education programs.

·         To consolidate and learn new skills and competencies to provide holistic care.  To develop clinical reasoning and treatment techniques through the active participation in training and development. To consolidate knowledge and skills learned through this process with the direction of senior staff.

·         To participate in the supervision, caseload monitoring and clinical education of student nurses and less experienced staff with support of senior staff, as required. Providing support, guidance, training, and assessing and evaluating competence, in order to fulfil clinical governance requirements and retain a skilled workforce.

·         Develop the skills to supervise, mentor, support and educate less experienced and non-registered staff in the clinical practice setting.

·         Undertake all mandatory training including E-learning and annual appraisals.

·         Demonstrate a commitment to research-based practice and clinical excellence and play and active part in the introduction of research-based change to improve patient centred care.

·         Maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct, or decision making in conjunction with lead staff.

·         Identify own development needs, aligning these to service requirements and personal aspirations. Proactively develop and improve own practice using all available resources. 

1.            Management and Leadership

·         Comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times. This will include demonstrating compliance with the terms of all safeguarding policies and processes relevant to the safeguarding of adults and children in the care of GHNHSFT and to undergo regular mandatory training concerned with safeguarding matters.

·         In conjunction with their manager, identify training needs of self, participating in clinical audit and quality projects which contribute to the departmental education programme.

·         Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury or medicine administration errors as detailed in the departmental and Trust protocols. Assist lead staff in investigating incidents as required.

·         Maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with lead staff.

·         Ensure a smart, professional image that enhances the public perception of the Trust and the professionalism of its staff is portrayed.

·         Co-ordinate shifts to ensure running effectively, to maintain patient flow and co-ordinate bed management.

·         Report personal sickness to the Senior Nurse in Charge.

·         To participate in the supervision, caseload monitoring and clinical education of student nurses and less experienced staff with support of senior staff, as required. Providing support, guidance, training, and assessing and evaluating competence, in order to fulfil clinical governance requirements and retain a skilled workforce.

·         Develop the skills to supervise, mentor, support and educate less experienced and non-registered staff in the clinical practice setting.

·         Develop and share own clinical knowledge with other members of the wider clinical team both locally and nationally. 

2.            Research and Development

·         Comply with requirements to register with the NMC and identify own learning needs and ensuring own professional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice developments.

·         Work with staff undertaking audit and research projects, to further own and team’s clinical practice within each rotation. To be involved in making recommendations for changes to practice and procedures for the relevant clinical area, and the implementation of these changes.

·         Develop and share own clinical knowledge with other members of the wider clinical team both locally and nationally.

·         Identify own development needs, aligning these to service requirements and personal aspirations. Proactively develop and improve own practice using all available resources

·         Understand and contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/ protocols/ guidelines relevant to the specialist area.

·         Openly question and challenge practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved.

3.         Communications and Working Relationships

·         Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury or medicine administration errors as detailed in the departmental and Trust protocols. Assist lead staff in investigating incidents as required.

·         Communicate effectively with patients, carers, relatives and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.

·         Communicate clearly and effectively with kindness and respect.

·         Actively encourage feedback as a key to continuous improvement.