JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE OF POST:Team Leader

LOCATION:You will be employed at the hospice at North Anston but may be required to

work at alternative locations as reasonably required to meet the need of

your duties.

RESPONSIBLE TO:Care Team Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO:Director of Care

JOB PURPOSE:To provide and ensure a high standard of holistic care to children and young

people with life limiting/life threatening conditions alongside the family at

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and in the community.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical:

  1. Provide specialist palliative care, advice and symptom control for children and young people.
  2. Carry out assessments and plan, implement, deliver and evaluate holistic care for all children and young people for whom you have continuing responsibility, in accordance with Bluebell Wood policies and procedures and evidence based guidelines.
  3. Participate in discharge planning to ensure care planning is comprehensive and effective, including the development of Advanced Care Plans.
  4. Take a lead in re-assessment of care needs.
  5. Develop and sustain partnership working with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, including health, education, social care and the voluntary sector.
  6. Identify options and actions for co-ordinated packages of care and support for children, young people, parents and families.
  7. Act as an advocate for families whilst also empowering families and encouraging parental participation in care.
  8. Liaise, make and receive referrals from other disciplines and make decisions regarding treatments/outcomes.
  9. Work autonomously and manage and prioritise own workload.
  10. Work collaboratively with all other healthcare professionals.
  11. Participate in the on-call rota system.
  12. Attend the Assessment Panel and carry out the required follow-up work.
  13. Be sensitive to the palliative care needs of patients and families from all ethnic backgrounds and respect their right to confidentiality.
  14. Use clinical knowledge and expertise in deciding appropriate administration of drugs, route to be administered and doses of the drug, within a set of prescribed defined parameters.
  15. To function as a non-medical prescriber following training.
  16. Have up to date knowledge of safeguarding procedures and support referral processes.
  17. Ensure accurate record keeping in accordance with all relevant guidelines in force.

Audit and research:

  1. Undertake research, surveys, audits in connection with own work and that of others.
  2. Ensure the clinical nursing practice is research based and develop nursing practice with the staff team using evidence based models of care, which combine theory and practice.
  3. Assist the Care Team Manager and Community Team Manager with updating or writing new care plans, protocols, policies and competencies.
  4. Support the clinical governance agenda within the hospice.

Teaching:

  1. Act as an educational resource within Bluebell Wood
  2. Participate in formal and informal education within and outside Bluebell Wood
  3. Lead training sessions (theoretical and practical) for staff
  4. Provide educational input for students and others

Leadership:

  1. Work towards achieving and maintaining qualified Mentor status.
  2. Provide mentorship of nursing students, assist other team members to provide support in all aspects of clinical care, and be a positive role model of professional conduct.

Management:

  1. Contribute to the development and implementation of policy and care delivery strategies, acting as a source of advice on clinical matters and decision making.
  2. Participate in service planning.
  3. Work with other health care professionals and multi-disciplinary staff to co-ordinate care needs.
  4. Complete accurate statistical returns on a regular basis, as required.
  5. Participate in working groups in order to propose changes to policy, procedure and guidelines on care.
  6. Attend and participate in relevant local and national networks.
  7. Act as a confirmer within the revalidation process.
  8. Provide regular clinical supervision for others promoting reflective practices.
  9. Undertake the 360 appraisal process identifying training and development needs.
  10. Effectively manage the performance of allocated team

Personal and professional growth and development:

  1. Attend relevant meetings, courses, seminars and keep professionally up-to-date.
  2. Maintain and develop personal knowledge.
  3. Participate in clinical supervision and appraisal
  4. Be responsible for developing self-awareness through reflective practice.
  5. Contribute to the development of the care services.
  6. Be a role model in clinical practice and professional conduct.
  7. Value the knowledge, skills and expertise of all team members to maintain an efficient and mutually respectful working environment.

Networking:

  1. Develop and maintain links with others working in similar settings.
  2. Share knowledge via conferences, study days and publications.
  3. Respond appropriately to requests for information regarding the care needs of our children and young people.
  4. Network with other palliative care nurses.
  5. Attend events/teaching sessions as required.

Miscellaneous:

  1. Maintain a high standard of professional conduct and nursing care at all times in according with Bluebell Wood and NMC professional standards.
  2. Work within the framework of clinical governance.
  3. Have an awareness of and take responsibility for applying the complaints policy as appropriate to protect children and young people and support staff.
  4. Develop and review risk assessments, responding appropriately to critical incidents and clinical risk issues.

SAFEGUARDING

  • Maintain high standards of support at all times, adhering to policy and procedures around safeguarding children and young adults, record keeping, information sharing, health and safety and all related policies and procedures.
  • Have up to date knowledge of safeguarding procedures and support referral processes.
  • Act as a safeguarding supervisor

GENERAL

All Bluebell Wood employees are required to:

  • Abide by the Health & Safety at Work Act
  • Adhere to policy and procedures around safeguarding children and young adults
  • Respect confidentiality applying to all Hospice areas
  • Work within Hospice policies and procedures
  • Comply with the Hospice no smoking policy
  • Participate in and contribute to team meetings
  • Co-operate and liaise with colleagues
  • Behave in a professional manner at all times, reflecting and maintaining the values and ethos of Bluebell Wood

All Bluebell Wood employees are expected to:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to their own development, to take advantage of education and training opportunities and develop their own competence.
  • Support and encourage harmonious internal and external working relationships.
  • Make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice.

This Job Description is not exhaustive. It will be subject to periodic review and may be amended following discussion between the post-holder and employer.

Date issued:February 2017

Date of review:February 2018

PERSON SPECIFICATION

CRITERIA / STANDARD / *E or D / MEASURED BY
Qualifications/ Training / RN (Adult, Children or Learning Disabilities) plus evidence of recent professional development / E / Application and provision of certificates
Clinical qualification in teaching, ie. ENB998 City and Guilds Teaching and Assessment / E / Application and provision of certificates
Qualification in a related area of practice e.g. children’s palliative care / D / Application and provision of certificates
Non-medical prescriber or be able to successfully complete this training within a defined period / E / Application and provision of certificates
Registration / Current registration with the Nursing Midwifery Council / E / Application, interview, references
Experience / Significant experience of supporting end of life care using pathways, LOTA’s and advanced care planning / E / Application, interview, references
Experience of managing complex situations, managing small cohorts of staff providing clear leadership whilst co-ordinating episodes of care. / E / Application, interview, references
Considerable experience of working with children and young people in palliative care in palliative care and complex health needs / E / Application, interview, references
Experience of taking responsibility for on call requirements / D / Application, interview, references
Significant experience of symptom control/management in children’s palliative care / E / Application, interview, references
Skills/Knowledge / Ability to communicate clearly in writing and orally with staff, volunteers and external contacts at all levels / E / Application, interview, references
Ability to prioritise the workload of self and others, use initiative and meet changing demands / E / Application, interview, references
Ability to adapt to different care scenarios and environments / E / Application, interview, references
Ability to provide and evaluate care according to complex needs and in collaboration with all other agencies involved. / E / Application, interview, references
Clear understanding of the needs of bereaved adults and children. / E / Application, interview, references
Personal Qualities / Confident and assertive / E / Interview
Cheerful and positive outlook and attitude / E / Interview
A good negotiator and communicator / E / Interview
Other / Legally entitled to work in this country / E / Application, interview, documentation check
Ability to travel extensively to meet the needs of our children, young people and their families. / E / Application, interview
* Essential or Desirable