Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Delivering high-quality, evidence-based, and patient-focused clinical care through:

• Delivering a high standard of evidence-based care to patients.
• Demonstrating clinical expertise in the care of all patients receiving intensive, high-dependency, and special neonatal care in the unit.
• Adhering to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct at all times.
• Involving and supporting patients, relatives, and carers in the care process, promoting well-being, and involving parents in the care of their baby (Family Integrated Care).
• Assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the needs of babies on the unit on an ongoing basis, coordinating care given by all members of the clinical team.
• Accurately assimilating and interpreting clinical information about the baby’s condition, instigating appropriate remedial action, and promptly reporting changes.
• Ensuring parents/carers are updated regularly with accurate information in a sensitive, understandable manner.
• Actively involving parents/carers in providing feedback on their experience of the current service and suggestions for improvement.
• Acting as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice, and support to the MDT, patients, and parents/carers.
• Ensuring clear and accurate written and verbal information is given at all times.
• Maintaining contemporaneous record keeping at all times.
• Participating and contributing to the health education of families, ensuring that all families/carers receive appropriate advice and support to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Ensuring patients receive high-quality clinical care and a positive patient experience, respecting their customs, religious beliefs, and doctrines.
• Recognising and avoiding situations that may be detrimental to the health and well-being of individuals.
• Recognising the significance of observations made, using them to develop and initiate nursing assessments and devise care plans.
• Ensuring patients and parents/carers are informed appropriately and consent is obtained according to current policy.

Working effectively as part of the immediate team and wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) through:

• Liaising effectively with all members of the MDT to ensure patients’ needs are met.
• Exercising leadership and taking initiative where appropriate.
• Providing support and advice to ward/unit staff (especially junior staff) on clinical and administrative issues.
• Liaising with the medical and nursing teams to ensure effective admission and discharge of patients.
• Liaising with the transitional care nurse and postnatal ward to ensure smooth patient flow from the neonatal unit to neonatal transitional care or postnatal ward.
• Liaising with the Community Nursing team, Health Visitors, Safeguarding Team, Social Services, and Community Midwives to ensure seamless discharges home.
• Keeping the ward/unit sister or charge nurse informed of significant changes and/or anticipated problems.
• Together with the NIC, coordinating patient flow and care with the midwifery team for admissions and discharges to and from the unit, as well as across neonatal transitional care.

Upholding a duty of care and clinical governance through:

• Observing a general duty of care for the health, safety, and well-being of yourself, colleagues, visitors, and patients within the hospital.
• Ensuring that the rules, policies, procedures, and standards of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations, are adhered to at all times.
• Maintaining patient confidentiality, dignity, and privacy at all times.
• Adhering to the Trust’s policy on valuing equality and diversity, showing due regard for each patient’s cultural and religious beliefs, gender, ethnicity, age, and sexuality.
• Strictly following the National Code of Practice on Infection Control.
• Ensuring clinical guidelines, standards, and policies are implemented and actively participating in auditing practice alongside the Ward Manager and Practice Development staff.
• Supporting continuous quality improvement and implementation of Quality Improvement (QI) projects and lessons learned.
• Taking responsibility for personal development and keeping up to date with nursing and medical knowledge.
• Being aware of current research and its implications for the ward/unit specialty.
• Acting as a role model for all staff at all times.
• Acting as a Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor for junior and newly qualified staff, participating in their orientation, supervision, and ongoing development in conjunction with the Ward Manager and Practice Development staff.
• Acting as a mentor for staff undertaking further education as requested, ensuring a positive learning experience and facilitating the development of their clinical skills.
• Working with teaching staff to ensure effective staff development for yourself and others.
• Participating in Trust and Divisional initiatives to develop nursing practice and support change.

Management:

• Actively supporting the implementation of the Trust nursing strategy and upholding the ethos of the Trust’s philosophy.
• Contributing positively to the delivery of a cost-effective service by adjusting staffing levels to meet demand and assisting the Ward Manager in keeping within agreed resources.
• Supporting allocated staff through the appraisal process.
• Developing skills in recruitment and retention, sickness management, and performance management as determined by the Ward Manager.
• Supporting the process of risk management and health and safety compliance, upholding relevant policies, and ensuring incidents are reported appropriately. Helping to identify ways to prevent errors and accidents for patients, families, and staff.
• Making a positive contribution to service development affecting clinical areas and encouraging others to adapt to change.
• Actively promoting customer care, assisting in resolving local complaints informally, and supporting the Ward Manager in investigating formal complaints.
• Assisting with monitoring stock levels and technical equipment, resolving any shortfalls as appropriate.
• Maintaining high standards of hygiene and cleanliness within clinical areas, auditing as appropriate, and reporting deficits to the Ward Manager or Matron as necessary.
• Carrying the emergency bleep and attending neonatal crash calls as required.
• Attending and contributing to departmental meetings as required.