AGENDA FOR CHANGE

NHS JOB EVALUATION SCHEME

JOB DESCRIPTION

1.  JOB IDENTIFICATION

Job Title: Combined Post - Staff Nurse Children’s Ward with Community Care Rotation Component
Reports to: Ward Manager/Senior Charge Nurse,
Department, Ward or Section: Paediatrics
CHP, Directorate or Corporate Department: Medical & diagnostic Division
Job Reference: SSMEDDRAIGPAED04
No of Job Holders:
Last Update : New Post June 2011

2. JOB PURPOSE

The post holder will work in partnership with the multidisciplinary team to deliver a high standard of care to children and their families.
The post holder will be caring for children on the childrens ward, (including day case and High dependency area), but with an additional requirement to rotate to the community setting to provide high quality holistic nursing care for children with exceptional health care needs (this may include accompanying children to school if required)
·  Provide safe and effective clinical practice within both ward and community settings
·  Mentor students and support other Band 5 nurses as required/able
·  Contribute to the delivery of the organisations objectives
·  Work with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure family centred evidence based care is delivered
·  Work with parents and families to ensure family focused care is delivered within the community setting
·  Provide high standards of care by acting as a role model to students and other ward staff nurses
3. DIMENSIONS
·  The post holder will undertake clinical care of patients aged 0-16 yrs within the 30 bed in patient care, High-dependency area and 6 bed day case – caring for children with a range of specialities.
·  The post holder with provide high quality nursing care to support children and young people with exceptional health care needs in their homes, which may include accompanying the child or young person to school.
·  The Post Holder will support the orientation of new staff and will work with supervisor/mentor as necessary
·  Ensure the rights, dignity and confidentiality of the child are paramount at all times
·  To independently carry out nursing procedures in accordance with NHS highland policy, protocols and guidelines
·  To work within the context of multi-disciplinary teams, and agencies including social work, educational and the voluntary sector.

4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION

Community Childrens Nurse Team Leader Senior Charge Nurse
(during community work) (during ward work)

Senior Staff Nurse

THIS POST – Combined Staff Nurse Band 5 Staff nurses

5. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT / SERVICE

The childrens department provides a 30 bed inpatient facility, which incorporates a high Dependency Area, and an additional Day Case facility. It covers all specialities including General surgery, medicine, mental health, ENT, ophthalmology and orthopaedics.
Community Care team provide nursing support at home for children with exceptional health care needs (including over night ventilation, total parental nutrition, complex respiratory as examples.
·  Provide a high quality, safe and supportive service for children and their families within both areas
·  Provide a high quality, safe and supportive environment for students and other staff enhancing their learning experience
·  Develop and deliver both clinical and family centred care within both areas
·  support continual service improvement by supporting senior staff to undertake audit and implement change as able

6. MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PROFESSIONAL:
·  Practice at all times within the NMC code of Professional conduct
·  Undertake clinical evidence based practice in accordance with national guidelines and standards
·  Act as a role model to junior staff and students
·  Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
·  Maintain up-to-date clinical skills and knowledge for delivering care to this identified group of patients
·  Ensure own development and maintenance of professional registration
LEADERSHIP and MANAGEMENT:
·  Responsible to the Senior Charge Nurse, or a deputy, for operational and professional management and formal appraisal and review
·  Supervise and support junior staff, and student learners, ensuring competencies are met to support work within ward and community setting.
·  The post holder is not responsible for managing the budget but needs to be aware of resources available
·  Ensure the equipment is maintained, and stock levels maintained
CLINICAL:
·  Work within and monitor standards of care within the defined standards and protocols of the ward and community settings to ensure the delivery of a high quality service
·  Act as a resource and educator and mentor for junior nursing staff, and students
·  Assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of care plans for children, ensuring delivery of high standard care within both ward and community settings
·  Maintain effective communications with children, parents and carers
·  Maintain effective communication with other members of the Multi-disciplinary team, and other professionals out with NHS Highland ensuring appropriate information is shared eg, social work, GPs school nurses etc
·  Develop and maintain a sound knowledge base and practice relevant to Paediatrics
·  Attend and participate in meetings including those relevant to patient care, staff education and professional development as required.
CLINICAL GOVERNANCE:
·  Ensures documentation complies with NMC standards

7a. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

The post holder is expected to have the knowledge and skills necessary to use all equipment safely in the area and share this information with other staff members
Some of this equipment is specialised eg. CPAP machines, PCA pumps, Cardiac monitors, Epidural Pumps and it is expected that the post holder will be suitably experienced that they have a working knowledge of the equipment
Equipment Use
Tunnelled central lines Provide central venous access for IV drugs
Totally Implantable Venous Access Devices Provide permanent central venous access for
IV drug administration
Peripherally inserted Central Catheter Provide temporary central venous
Peripheral Cannula Provide temporary peripheral venous access Syringes, needles & sundries
Butterfly devices/vacu-tainers Collection of blood samples
Cardiac Monitor To monitor ECG traces
Syringe drivers/SC devices Subcutaneous drug administration
Thermometer Temperature monitoring
Pulse oximeter To measure & monitor oxygen saturation
Stethoscope Chest auscultation
Phototherapy Lights to provide phototherapy to newborns
Nebulisers & Compressors To deliver drugs to the resp system
Blood Gas syringes/capillary tubes To monitor gas analysis
Anaphylaxis kit management of anaphylaxis
Nasogastric tubes, feeding sets & pump To feed directly to the stomach (temporary)
Jeujstomy tubes,Gastrostomy buttons/tubes, Enteral feeding (may be temp or permanent)
feeding sets & pump
Oxygen delivery equipment (nasal cannulae, masks Delivery of supplemental oxygen
Flow meters, conservers, cylinders, concentrators)
Suction machines Maintain clear airways from secretions
Computer, printer Internet, Intranet, Word, e mail,
, Communication
Safe moving and handling of equipment Ensure safe moving and handling practice beds,
wheelchairs and hoists
Pneumatic Tube system For delivering (& receiving) articles to and . from other departments
7b. SYSTEMS
·  Maintain patient records in accordance with NMC and NHS Highland standards and guidelines.
·  Comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act at all levels of practice.
·  Responsible for attending mandatory training courses – fire safety, resuscitation, risk assessment, moving and handling, violence and aggression, child protection

8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK

·  The post holder will work within both ward and community settings as patient activity and service demands dictate. Therefore, the post holder will be assigned patient care from the childrens ward or allocated a period of rotation into the community caring for a child with complex needs.
·  The work is reviewed and generated in order to meet service requirements
·  Workload, and review will be under the supervision Senior Charge Nurse during allocation to ward work and Community Childrens Team Leader during rotational phase to community
·  The post holder will have a professional Personal Development Plan reviewed annually
9. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
·  Assess any changes to patient condition and ensure appropriate action is taken and communicated to senior staff whilst in the ward
·  Whilst in the community the post holder works with a degree of autonomy, in liaison with the family and child, but support and advise is obtainable where necessary from appropriate person (dependant on child and condition)
·  The post holder is expected to make clinical decisions on a daily basis
·  The post holder is expected to analyse and assess the childs condition to establish continuing care planning
·  The post holder is expected to work within ones own limitations of their own accountability and responsibility
·  The post holder is expected to understand the Child protection policy and act appropriately

10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB

·  Unpredictability of patient activity and demands, and changing between ward and community settings.
·  Supporting the continual development and promotion of the service
·  Addressing the equality and diverse needs of children and recognising and respecting the uniqueness of each child and family
·  Supporting and caring for the differing needs of the child and family within the home setting
·  Supporting children and families with life limiting conditions
·  Promoting a high quality of life for the child and family
·  Lone working whilst in the community setting

11. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

·  Communicate with the child, parent and carers on the delivery of patient care on a regular basis

·  Communicate with other members of the MDT, medical staff, play specialists etc

·  Effective communication with professionals outwith the immediate MDT; such as, child protection officers, social work, teachers etc

·  Ability to deal with distressed, upset or angry patients and families in a diplomatic and supportive manner

·  Excellent communication links are crucial particularly in the community setting to establish trusting relationships with patients and families

·  Post holder will need to be an advocate for the patients, to ensure best interests of the child are met, and are paramount to care decisions

12. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
·  Administer intravenous and sub-cutaneous injections
·  Application of topical local anaesthetic
·  Insertion of cannula and venepuncture
·  Advanced maintenance of patients airway (ambu-bagging and CPAP maintenance)
·  Setting of syringe drivers/pumps and infusion device
·  Standing/walking for the majority of the shifts
·  Patient moving, sometimes with the use of hoists and mechanical aids
·  Manoeurve trolleys, equipment etc
·  Concentration required due to the nature of the role
·  Decision making when reviewing a student or junior nurse
·  Work within health and safety policies
·  Responsible for organising and prioritising own work and caseload of patients on a daily basis
·  Be confident in a crisis.
·  Responsible for collecting specimens –sputum, cough swabs, venous and capillary bloods, wound swabs, urine specimen, sweat.
·  Adhere to human resources policies and procedures
·  Have fine motor dexterity and be skilled in accessing central venous access devices, venepuncture, passing nasogastric tubes, changing gastrostomy buttons and other clinical skills as needed.
·  Be computer literate – keyboard, email, database, spreadsheet, internet skills
·  Emotional effort of working with patients that have complex, and life limiting needs
·  Provide support for patients, families, schools, carers, junior staff and multi-disciplinary team coping with the same.
·  Skill in calculating drug dosages

13.  KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB

·  Registered Sick Children’s Nurse with an ability to demonstrate post-registration professional practice within community would be desirable
·  Ability to work independently and under pressure
·  Excellent listener and communicator
·  study demonstrating further education in continual professional development
·  Evidence and experience of providing education and training
·  Evidence of ongoing professional development
·  Effective listening and inter-personal skills
·  Time management skills and ability to prioritise own workload
·  IT management skills
·  Full current driving licence and use of own car for work purposes
14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
I agree that the above Job Description is an accurate reflection of my duties and responsibilities at the date of signing.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Manager’s Signature: / Date:
Date:

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