Job Description

Post: Clinical Nurse Specialist for Orthopaedic and SpinalSurgery
Department: Children and Young People’s Nursing Service
Band: 7
Base: Portland Hospital for Women and Children , Children’s In
Patient Department and Out PatientDepartment
(including the Shard)
Reports To: Children’s Services Manager
Responsible To: Chief Nursing Officer

HOSPITAL PROFILE

Internationally renowned for clinical excellence, The Portland Hospital is the only independent hospital in the UK entirely dedicated to women and children. Our inpatient and outpatient specialties reflect this, providing clinical expertise in Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Women`s Health.

The Portland Hospital prides itself on the longstanding principles to provide support, an inspiring working environment and positive energy to ensure everyone has a better day and receive gold standard quality service.

This is accomplished and reflected through our core set of ‘Positively Portland’ values that all employees adhere to and promote each and every day:

“Greetings, Respect, Teamwork, Initiative, Responsibility and Acknowledgement”.

The hospital has been consistently growing over the past few years, almost doubling since 2008. Our Paediatric wards hold 56 inpatient beds + 11 day case and are equipped with the latest technology to provide advanced medical and surgical care, including a 10 bed Paediatric Intensive Care Unit which reflects the acuity and complex nature of the children who are admitted to our hospital, including a proportion of international patients who are sent for specialist treatment and/or investigations by their embassies.

Our busy Children’s Outpatients Department has a large range of specialist Paediatrics clinics including: Allergy, Dermatology, General Paediatrics, ENT, Urology, Plastics ,Orthopaedics and Spinal.

The department consists of an expanding team made up of health care assistants and registered nurses who all work as part of the wider multidisciplinary team.

The children’s Out Patient Department is spread over three sites - two located on the hospital’s main site in Great Portland street, with the third newest addition to our facilities being located at The Shard, London Bridge site, with its own designated Children’s Out Patient consulting suites.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will be the lead nurse, taking responsibility for providing specialist knowledge, clinical skills and expertise in the treatment and management of Children and Young people with orthopaedic and spinal conditions that attend the Portland Hospital for a variety of diagnostic and investigative procedures, as well as consultation and specialist advice.

The CNS is responsible and accountable for their own practice, working independently delivering high quality, safe, evidence based practice, whilst adhering to and following all appropriate corporate and local policies, complying with Clinical Governance at all times.

Although the majority of the CNS role is working independently, the post holder is expected to work within the wider multi-disciplinary team including specialist orthopaedic consultants, paediatricians, nursing and therapy staff.

The post holder requires excellent organisational and management skills with the ability to work flexibly responding to the needs of the service. They must maintain excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to converse with a broad spectrum of individuals effectively and professionally.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Leadership and Management

1.1To work in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics

1.2To be a highly visible role model to all nurses within the team.

1.3Provides expert guidance and ongoing support to any nursing team involved in the care of children and young people diagnosed with or undergoing investigations or treatment for orthopaedic / spinal conditions.

1.4Leads and participates in co-ordinating all aspects of patient care, maintaining the best interest of the child and family at all times.

1.5The post holder will be an advocate for every child and young person attending the hospital for either investigations and/or procedures for orthopaedic/spinal conditions.

1.6Liaises effectivelywith members of the multi professional team, patients, families and visitors.

1.7Participates in the Clinical Governance process, including risk assessing, incident reporting and investigation and provides accurate and contemporaneous reports to the Senior Management Team where required.

1.8Works in line with CQC requirements and participates in relevant and appropriate meetings to ensure standards are met and maintained.

1.9Participates in the audit process and if applicable presents relevant audit findings in relation to their speciality at the hospital Audit and Guidelines group.

1.10Contributes to the annual service plan review process and ensures these are kept in line with the overall company business plan.

1.11The post holder will ensure they receive customer feedback and create action plans accordingly to improve the Patient Experience.

  1. Clinical Practice

2.1Demonstrate excellent clinical skills and be accountable for their own practice in line with NMC guidelines.

2.2The post holder will ensure their practice is up to date, evidenced based and follows local and national (NICE) guidelines associated to the speciality.

2.3Actively participates in and develops patient clinical pathways for all children and young people attending the hospital for investigation and treatment of orthopaedic/spinal conditions.

2.4Takes responsibility for the assessment, plan of care and setting of standards for all orthopaedic/spinal patients, in collaboration with the multi professional team, in particular the specialist orthopaedic consultants.

2.5Manages their own patient caseload providing direct care to all orthopaedic/spinal patients attending the hospital, ensuring their admission process is appropriately planned, pre-assessment has taken place and discharge planning processes met in accordance with HCA discharge policy.

2.6Assists with pre assessment of patients prior to surgery

2.7Ensures care provided adheres to infection control standards.

2.8Ensures all medications, where applicable, are appropriately prescribed and administered in according with Medication Management Policy and HCA allergy protocols.

2.9Ensures safe and effective use of all equipment and supplies.

2.10Ensures the patient and families are counselled on their condition and appropriate patient information is readily available for them.

2.11The post holder will be trained to level 3 safeguarding of children and be able to identify children who may be at risk and initiate appropriate escalation of concerns in accordance with HCA policy and national guidance.

  1. Practice Development , Education and Research

3.1The post holder will play an integral part in the training, education and development of the nursing team delivering care to orthopaedic/spinal patients, working collaboratively with the HCA education and practice facilitating team.

3.2Responsible for initiating, developing and promoting evidenced based practice within the speciality.

3.3Takes responsibility for assessing staff as competent to undertake specific clinical practices within their area of expertise.

3.4Ensures all hospital policies for the orthopaedic/spinal service are kept up to date and reviewed in accordance with HCA policy.

3.5The post holder will ensure they maintain their skills and knowledge by attending relevant training and education opportunities to perform advanced clinical practices where appropriate.

3.6Provides effective health promotion to patients and staff.

3.7Participate as appropriate in research initiatives relevant to speciality

3.8Demonstrate initiatives in the development of new knowledge and clinical skills aiming to ensure practice is evidence based.

  1. Managing Information and Communication
  2. Ensures patient privacy and dignity are respected at all times, maintaining patient confidentiality and ensuring information is kept in accordance with Caldicott and Information Governance principles
  3. Maintains accurate and comprehensive patient records
  4. Maintains an accurate work diary detailing all activities undertaken
  5. Provides evidence based patient information as agreed with the patient’s consultant
  6. Demonstrates excellent verbal and non- verbal communication skills at all times
  7. Displays the Positively Portland values at all times.
  1. Financial Management

5.1 The post holder will manage resources as relevant to their clinical practice

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

  • Children’s Nursing Qualification – RN Child or RSCN with valid NMC registration
  • 5 years post registration experience in Children’s nursing
  • First degree in nursing or health related subject
  • Relevant qualification in specialist area with at least 12 months experience
  • Mentorship qualification
  • Basic/Intermediate Paediatric Life Support
  • Experience of audit and research relevant to specialism
  • Knowledge of safeguarding processes, with up to date level 3 Safeguarding qualification
  • Knowledge of clinical governance and managing risk
  • Excellent verbal and non verbal communication skills
  • Organisational skills and ability to prioritise workload effectively
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet set deadlines
  • Maintain own professional development
  • Computer literate, competent in the use of Outlook, Excel, Word and Powerpoint
  • Positive role model, enthusiastic and motivated
  • Assertive and confident
  • Flexible and approachable

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/POLICIES

The post holder will have access to confidential information, which may only be disclosed to parties entitled to receive it. Unauthorised disclosure is a disciplinary offence in accordance with the HCA International Confidentiality and Security Agreement.

The Portland Hospital is a regulated organisation and as such, all post holders must have their criminal record checked. You will be asked to declare any criminal convictions during the application process and if you are the preferred candidate for the post an enhanced CRB record check will be made by HCA International.

All staff have a responsibility to prevent and control infection with The Portland Hospital. This ensures compliance with local Prevention and Control of Infection Policies and all other relevant policies including dress code and MRSA screening.

HCA International and The Portland Hospital are a non-smoking organisation. Smoking is not allowed on any of its premises.

The Portland Hospital is a dynamic organisation; therefore this job description maybe subject to change in accordance with the service provision of the ward and The Portland Hospital. Any proposed amendments to reflect or anticipate changes to the post will be amended in consultation with the postholder.