Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical responsibilities 

• The practitioner is expected to ensure that their own clinical practice and that of the staff within which they are working, is of a safe and high standard and is in accordance with the unit and Trust policies at all times.
• To ensure practice is continually reviewed through 
• Audit

o   Learning from Clinical Incidents

o   Clinical Outcomes

o   Complaints

o   Recommendations from external assessments

o   Benchmarking with national clinical standards or centres of excellence

• To provide neonatal nursing clinical expertise by being a pro-active member of the Guideline Group, Clinical Governance and the Trust wide Practice Development Team (PDT) meetings
• Be responsible for ensuring that all student nurses are allocated a mentor and that off duty for students is written on the electronic rostering system.
•  To work clinically alongside newly qualified nurses and those that are new to neonatal nursing to ensure that they provide support in the clinical environment.
• Demonstrate exceptional clinical skills in all areas of Neonatal Nursing and possess the ability to develop and teach others.
• Initiate, facilitate and support innovative change within NICU in line with current clinical and academic evidence, national standards and relevant reports

 Planning and Organisational

·         To co-ordinate the Preceptorship Programme for newly qualified nurses and for those that are new to neonatal nursing

·         Participate in staff selection and recruitment were requested

·         Promote commitment to personal development planning, clinical supervision and mentorship within NICU.

·         Act as an appraiser for a defined group of junior staff.

·         To undertake regular clinical shifts included in the nursing roster to maintain own clinical practice

·         Alongside the Clinical Educator the post holder is responsible for supporting mentors where there are concerns regarding students’ clinical practice

·         The practitioner is seen as a clinically credible professional role model and reflects this in the enactment of their role.

·         Act as a credible clinical lead and role model for staff within NICU ensuring practice is of a safe standard and in accordance with local, regional and National guidance/policy as well as wider public health care agendas.

·         Support an environment in which clinical practice is developed and evaluated through promoting good practice and challenging poor professional conduct or performance.

·         Ensure the promotion of safety for patients, staff and visitors to the Unit.

·         Be part of on call rota as required

·         The post holder is responsible for escalating any concerns regarding the number of mentors/supervisors to the Ward Manager

 Communication responsibilities

·         The post holder in partnership with the senior management team should develop a working environment that supports learning and promotes excellent standards of care

Educational 

• To represent neonatal nursing in the Trust Practice Development Team.
• Ensure that all newly qualified nurses are allocated a Preceptor and are given a Preceptorship package. The post holder should also ensure that a support package is in place for those that are new to neonatal nursing.
• To be responsible for regularly reviewing and updating the Preceptorship Programme so that it reflects current clinical evidence, local policies, guidelines and relevant NMC guidance on professional practice.
• The post holder in partnership with the NICU manager should ensure that there is an orientation check list and staff learning resources available.
• The post holder will facilitate the Mandatory Training for Neonatal Services ensuring that there is an accurate database for attendance
• In partnership with the NICU manager the post holder is expected to ensure that any training and development needs identified in individual staff appraisal’s is facilitated where resources allow.
• To evaluate programmes of training and education in collaboration with ward/departmental managers.
•  Assist in the implementation of change programmes and EoE ODN initiatives.
• Provide leadership and supervision to less experienced staff working in the clinical environment
• Develop improvement plans for staff in partnership with management where capability concerns are being dealt with.
• To facilitate Mandatory Training for the Neonatal Services ensuring that there is an accurate database for attendance.
• Be responsible (alongside the Lead for Neonatal Services) for ensuring that the training needs analysis (TNA) is kept up to date.  This involves working with the Learning and Development Department

Personal Development 

• Maintain current NMC Registration
•         Maintain current NLS instructor status
•           To have the skill to critically reflect and analyses own practice identifying strengths and development needs to maintain and develop own practice.
•            Attend relevant meetings to keep professionally updated, contributing to debate and decision-making processes.
•            Works across professional boundaries, acting as a professional role model to all staff.
•            Demonstrate commitment to Continuing Professional Development through maintenance of a Professional Portfolio in line with professional regulations

Service and Policy Development

·  To liaise with multi-disciplinary team to ensure high standards of care working within the clinical governance agenda

·     To work alongside the senior managers initiating change by providing practice development initiatives across Neonatal Services.

Research and Development (includes Risk & Governance Management

• To provide neonatal nursing clinical expertise by being a pro-active member of Clinical Directorate Meetings and the Neonates and Paediatrics Risk and Governance Group. Participate in the development and initiation of policy change within the Unit. Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and guidelines that ensure staff competency and promote evidence-based care