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Job summary

Main area
Surgical Pre assessment
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Flexible across service needs)
Job ref
372-SURG1951
Employer
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
Town
Huddersfield
Salary
£37,338 - £44,962 pro rata per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/05/2025 23:59
Interview date
27/05/2025

Employer heading

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust logo

Surgical pre-op assessment Sister/Charge Nurse

NHS AfC: Band 6

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. 

We are committed to recruiting to our values.  Leading One Culture of Care underpins our values by creating an environment, tone and behaviours across all parts of the Trust that are fundamentally rooted in compassionate care.  

We are open to considering a wide range of flexible working arrangements. There are opportunities to flex the days of the week, hours and times of work and place of work including: part-time, job-share, flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home when appropriate. Please talk to us during the interview process to discuss any flexibility that you may require.

We received our Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we provided its statement of intent to support all Defence personnel and we welcome application to work for us.  Find out more - Why Choose CHFT?

Our Future Plans

The Department of Health and Social Care has awarded capital funding to invest in local health services at both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. This is a significant investment and an opportunity to enhance services for our populations in Calderdale and Huddersfield and West Yorkshire for generations to come. To find out more, please visit https://future.cht.nhs.uk/


 

Job overview

Surgical Pre-Assessment Sister/Charge Nurse 

Are you an enthusiastic, experienced and dynamic Pre-Assessment Nurse looking to progress further in the speciality. We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Pre-Assessment Sister/Charge Nurse with a keen interest in the optimisation of patients prior to surgery to join our team, playing a vital role in delivering effective care for patients undergoing surgical procedures.  

 

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Main duties of the job

As a Pre-Assessment Sister/Charge Nurse you will be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Pre-assessment Services within the Surgical Division. Providing clinical and managerial leadership for nursing and support staff across the unit ensuring equity of service. You will be working collaboratively with the Clinical Operations Manager to ensure patients receive safe, effective care and to deputise in their absence.    

This role offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact within a trust that has received national recognition for its innovation and service improvement within operating services and Surgery and Anaesthetics division. 

Working for our organisation

CHFT is nationally recognised for its innovation and commitment to delivering exceptional care. The Trust has received recent national recognition for its innovation and staff engagement in delivering theatre productivity improvements and reducing waiting times for patients:  

The Economist: The story of one NHS operation https://www.economist.com/britain/2024/10/08/the-story-of-one-nhs-operation  

Secretary of State for Health & Social Care https://x.com/wesstreeting/status/1876228022434742383 

We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients’ homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.

We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children’s and young people’s services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.

 

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • Act as a clinical role model, providing leadership and guidance to staff on operational and professional issues, ensuring clinical expertise and practice is enhanced. 

  • To safely and competently assess patients requiring surgery and taking a lead on complex patient's assessments. 

  • To act as clinical co-ordinator for the pre assessment department ensuring that services run smoothly and effectively. Ensuring patients are triaged, assessed and have a clear management plan in place alongside maintaining patient safety. 

  • Interpret ECG recordings and take appropriate action, escalating as required. 

  • To perform relevant cardiovascular/respiratory assessment of patients. 

  • Authorise and review relevant tests and results to include bloods and ECHO and overnight oximetry. 

  • To recognise changes in a patient’s condition which requires the intervention of others and refer the patients on as appropriate. 

  • Work alongside Senior Anaesthetists both in clinic and virtually to ensure patients are assessed and investigations completed/reviewed as required. 

  • Ensuring optimisation treatments and prophylactic treatments are provided to patients, completing and maintaining PGD’s to support.   

  • Lead on optimisation of patients prior to surgery, signposting to services available and liaising with primary care and hospital specialities to ensure patients are safely assessed and fit for surgery. 

  • To ensure high standards of nursing care are given and maintained, taking actions as required when standards are not being upheld. 

  • Be proactive in the development of the clinical area, supporting and planning process and service development, contribute new ideas to improve patient care. 

  • Act as a mentor/preceptor to students and new staff members and actively participate in training and teaching. 

  • Support the Clinical Operations Manager and Matron in leading the team to meet local divisional and Trust objectives, including treatment and recovery targets and minimising cancellations. 

  • Contribute to the audit process and utilise results in practice. 

  • Develop and motivate the team. 

  • Co-ordinate the service delivered at CHFT in line with regional and national guidelines. 

  • To take an active role in risk assessment, supporting the implementation of strategies to minimise risk. Ensure incidents and near misses are reported, through promotion of a no blame culture. 

  • Competently managing a team of staff including support with appraisals, mandatory training and sickness management 

  • To manage complaints and escalate where necessary. 

  • To establish and maintain effective communication, both verbal and written and build relationships within the multidisciplinary teams.  

  • To recognise and prevent where possible areas of conflict and escalate if necessary.  

  • Supervise and deploy staff appropriately considering knowledge and skill mix. 

  • Take an active role in the recruitment process. 

 

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING

Essential criteria
  • First level registration/ registered ODP
Desirable criteria
  • Degree in Healthcare / Management
  • Management certificate
  • Mentorship qualification
  • Nurse Prescribing qualification
  • Recruitment and selection
  • Specialist qualification in pre-operative assessment including interpretation of ECG and blood
  • Evidence of recent continuous professional development

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of a wide range of surgical specialties
  • Up to date professional knowledge of local and national pre-assessment strategies and guidelines.
  • Interpretation of ECG/Blood results
  • Extensive experience in surgical specialty in secondary care.
  • Significant experience as a band 5 within in a surgical pre-assessment department
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in acute medicine
  • Knowledge of Electronic patient record
  • Computer literate
  • Knowledge of future provision of services
  • Conducting appraisals

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of self-development/clinical knowledge
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience of evidence-based practice.
  • Proven ability to lead a team
  • Ability to foster multi-disciplinary working
  • Works within budgetary parameters
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of change management,
  • CHFT Leadership Passport

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDApprenticeships logoAge positiveCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthAccredited Menopause Friendly Employer

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional 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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Karen Lockwood
Job title
Clinical Operations Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01484 342652
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