Name of Policy:Job Description

ST. LUKE’S HOSPICE

NAME OF POLICY:JOB DESCRIPTION

SCALE 6 NURSE

DATE:JANUARY 2012

WRITER:DEB HICKEY

HEAD OF CARE SERVICES

SUZANNE SALES

CLINICAL NURSING

SERVICES MANAGER

REVIEW DATE:JANUARY 2015

FILE:a)Strategies

b) Essential Reading

c) Corporate Policies

d) Clinical Policies 

e) Departmental Policies

f) Induction

TOTAL NUMBER

OF PAGES:9

ST. LUKE’S HOSPICE

BASILDON

JOB DESCRIPTION

Our Statement of Purpose is:

“In partnership with the community and the multidisciplinary team our organisation is committed to providing high quality, safe and supportive specialist palliative care services that will enable people to live as independently as possible and die with dignity and choice”.

CONTROLS ASSURANCE STATEMENT

The purpose of this job description is to outline the level of responsibility and accountability of this post. This will ensure that all work undertaken by our staff is identified and lines of accountability made clear.

POST TITLE:Staff Nurse

GRADE/SALARY:Scale 6

ACCOUNTABLE TO:Clinical Nursing Services Manager

RESPONSIBLE TO:Unit Nurse Managers

QUALIFICATIONS:

The Postholder is required to have a first level or a second level registration, plus an appropriate recordable post basic Certificate/Statement of Competence, or equivalent level of skill acquired through experience.

The Postholder in addition to their first level registration, is required to have a minimum of two years post basic experience, one year of which should be in a specialist palliative care environment.

In addition, the Postholder should have the ENB 931 and preferably Mentorship and Work-Based Learning and Assessment in Health and Social Care, Validated completion of St. Luke’s Qualified Nurse Competencies and Syringe Driver Competency. For those newly employed on Grade E the St. Luke’s competencies will need to be achieved within the six month induction period.

MAIN DUTIES:

The Postholder will participate as a member of the nursing team in the maintenance and development of agreed standards. He/She will be expected to carry out all relevant forms of care to a high level and will be designated to regularly take charge in the absence of the Nurse Manager. He/She will supervise and direct junior members of staff and participate in teaching of qualified and non-qualified staff, including basic and/or post basic students. He/She will be required to actively contribute to the development and well-being of the whole Unit Team.

RESPONSIBILITES:

1.Clinical

1.1Ensure the physical, spiritual, emotional, psychological, social and cultural needs of patients are identified and attended to, providing and maintaining the highest possible level of nursing care.

1.2Develop, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients under his/her direct care to meet identified needs, encouraging discussion and participation by all team members; giving and receiving patient-centred handovers.

1.3In conjunction with other members of the team identify and provide support to relatives and friends of patients, maintaining confidentiality at all times and ensuring good relationships with patients’ relatives by providing frequent contact and availability.

1.4Ensure that all medication, treatments, therapies and care interventions are administered in accordance with Legal & Hospice Philosophy, Policies and Procedures.

To ensure the safe custody, storage and control of all drugs at Unit level.

1.5Ensure that agreed standards are maintained.

To have a through working knowledge of these standards and identify where existing standards should be reviewed.

1.6Ensure that both verbal and written communication is provided to a high standard and that documentation is completed accurately.

To be pro-active in checking standards in this area.

1.7In conjunction with the Nurse Manager and/or Senior Nurses, liase directly or indirectly with Hospice staff and other agencies as required, ensuring good communications exist between all health care professionals and promote harmonious working relationships and safe working practices.

1.8To be responsible for risk management and assessment within the work place, taking all steps possible to safeguard the health, welfare and safety of all staff, patients and visitors.

1.9Should be providing, or working towards providing, a specialist level of practice in all areas of palliative care provision.

2Education/Research/Development

2.1Attendance at In-House Study Days and staff meetings is compulsory.

2.2Participate as required in programmes of education provided by the Hospice. Staff will be required to report back to remainder of nursing staff following attendance at external Study Days.

2.3Assist in the identification and meeting of educational needs of current junior staff.

2.4To act as facilitator for all new members of staff and students on clinical placements as required.

2.5To assist with the provision of an environment conducive to the education and

development of all staff.

2.5To be involved in formal teaching internally and externally as required.

3Managerial/Organisational

3.1To take a lead position as required in the day-to-day running of the Unit.

3.2To demonstrate and maintain good Unit management and organisational skills.

3.3To participate in Unit duty rota preparation sharing responsibility for maintaining adequate staffing levels and skill mix in own department; being responsive to changing Unit workload.

3.4To assist and supervise other members of the nursing team to ensure all staff work to achieve an acceptable safe standard and quality of care.

3.5To report and investigate complaints/untoward incidents and complete relevant documentation

3.6To exercise sound leadership and clinical decision-making skills at all times and facilitate the development of same in other staff members.

3.7To participate in the development and on-going review of Policies, Procedures and Standards as required and implementation of same within the Unit/Hospice.

3.8To contribute to the strategic planning for the development of staff and the service provided within the Unit.

4General:

4.1In the absence of Senior staff to take charge as required and liase with Senior staff on call as necessary.

4.2The Postholder must acquire and maintain an up-to-date working knowledge of all Hospice Policies and Procedures.

4.3Ensure Health & Safety regulations are adhered to.

4.4Assist in ensuring the economical use and ordering of materials and equipment, maintaining an awareness of the need for good housekeeping and helping to ensure unit expenditure is within budgetary limits.

4.5To maintain strict confidentiality within the Hospice and ensure that all staff and volunteers under their management are aware of the Hospice Confidentiality Policy.

4.6Liase with other agencies as necessary.

4.7Participate in other activities as may occur from time to time in order to promote the Hospice within the community.

4.8Each nurse once inducted, is expected to take on a special interest or Link responsibility, in which they will be expected to act as an information resource to the rest of the team, and provide practice evidence based in that area.

4.9To undertake any other duties which are considered to be consistent and relevant to the post.

Notes

i)You must be sympathetic to and able to project the philosophy and concept of the Hospice.

ii)You will potentially have access to confidential data on staff and/or patients and/or services within the Hospice. Failure to maintain confidentiality will lead to disciplinary action which could ultimately lead to dismissal.

iii)You will be required to assess all risks to your systems, processes and environment and contribute towards the clinical and/or corporate governance agenda as appropriate.

iv)You will be expected to produce work to a high standard and to promote quality in all areas at all times.

v)The managerial and clinical philosophy of the Hospice is based on a multi-disciplinary approach. Staff regardless of grade or discipline are required to participate in this concept.

vi)You will be expected to keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Hospice policy. You are responsible for familiarising yourself with matters relating to Health & Safety management as they affect you personally, your department and/or the Hospice.

vii)You will be expected to participate in an Individual performance Review for yourself and/or the staff you manage.

viii)There is hope and expectation that you will attend some functions and fundraising events outside your normal working hours from time to time for which no additional payment will be made.

ix)The above job description does not purport to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The Postholder will be expected to undertake additional duties as the requirements of the department and/or post change and/or develop.

UKCC: (for qualified nursing staff)

The Postholder should work in accordance with the UKCC codes. Evidence of continuous periodic registration is a requirement of employment within this organisation.

SMOKING POLICY:

St. Luke’s is committed to a policy which actively discourages smoking while allowing for patient choice.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:

St. Luke’s Hospice operates an Equal Opportunities Policy and expects staff to have a commitment to equal opportunity policies in relation to employment and service delivery.

CHANGES TO THIS JOB DESCRIPTION:

You have the responsibility to discuss any job changes with your Line Manager at the time the change occurs and agree any permanent substantial change.

DATE COMMENCED IN POST: ………………………………………………..

SIGNATURE: (new employee) …………………………. DATE: ……………

SIGNATURE: (Line Manager) …………………………. DATE: …………….

and Title: ……………………………………………………

ST. LUKE’S HOSPICE

PERSON SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE:Staff Nurse

GRADE:6

DEPARTMENT:Clinical Area ______

PAGE 1 OF 9REVISION 05/2012JOB DESCRIPTION SCALE 6 NURSE

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