Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

To assist the Unit Manager in leading a team of nurses in the delivery of a high standard of care.

To manage specialist care for both inpatient, outpatient and day case, patients including the management of patients receiving chemotherapy and those who present with complications for example neutropenic sepsis.

To participate in the acute oncology nurse rota.

To undertake clinical duties including venesection, management of central venous access devices, peripheral cannulation and systemic anticancer drugs (including chemotherapy) administration.

To participate in patient chemotherapy clinics including nurse led telephone assessment, holistic assessment and end of chemotherapy reviews.

To audit care against agreed standards.

To identify any weaknesses that are evident in the delivery of care and develop action plans to address weaknesses.

To implement information strategies ensuring that patients and carers are given as much information relating to their investigations and their disease as they need.

To communicate complex and sensitive information to patients/carers with cancer and support other staff in undertaking this role.

To base own practice on current best evidence.

To lead on an agreed area of day unit/chemotherapy practice.

To lead in the evaluation of current research findings and if appropriate implement into practice on unit.

To lead on identified clinical audit projects.

Services

To maintain services to meet contract and quality standards, take corrective action and inform the Unit Manager of unresolved problems.

To review the standard of care and documentation at regular intervals, benchmarking performance against NMC guidelines and other national and local targets.

To promote patient involvement in care. Implements communication system to keep patients and their relatives/families informed of treatment and progress.  Undertake audits at required intervals to maintain standards of record keeping.

To investigate complaints and untoward incidents in accordance with Trust policies and procedures. Provide statements accurately, timely and professionally.  Supports the Unit Manager in improving systems to prevent recurrence.

Finance

To contribute to the planning, monitoring and control of unit resources, assisting the Unit Manager to keep expenditures within budgets.

To assist the Unit Manager to optimise nursing resources by even distribution of staff annual leave and matching skill mix to workload.

People

To contribute to the recruitment and selection of quality staff for the unit, identifying future job requirements for profiling to complement team.

To contribute to the development of teams, individuals and self to enhance performance. Facilitate staff development to achieve ward objectives using the principles of IPR and PDP.  Monitor staff performance and report progress to the Unit Manager at regular intervals.

To contribute to the planning, organisation and evaluation of work, ensuring adequate induction of new staff including effective preceptorship for newly qualified nurses (and nurses new to specialty), monitoring of the practice of Band 5 and Band 2/3 staff and mentorship for student nurses on ward/ department placements. To ensure the ward is staff appropriately and within budget at all times.

To create, maintain and enhance productive working relationships within and outside the ward/department by minimising unproductive conflicts and promoting positive team working. Informs the Unit Manager of unresolved and potential problems.

To promote staff compliance of Trust policies and procedures. Undertake counselling as appropriate and report difficult cases to the Unit manager for further action.

Information

To provide information and advice for action towards organisational objectives. Attends divisional and other meetings (on behalf of Unit Manager as necessary) in order to disseminate information up and down the Directorate line management structure.

To assist the Unit Manager to collect and organise information for incorporation into the Divisional service plans.

Professional

To keep abreast of new health care related developments, ensuring that nursing practice is up to date, evidence based and cost effective.

To be responsible for own personal and professional development and assist the Unit Manager in the development of junior staff as required.

To be responsible for own professional registration and assist the Unit.

Manager in ensuring that all qualified nurses have valid NMC registration and practise in accordance with NMC code of professional conduct.