Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Summary
The post holder will have management responsibility for the ward/department over the 24 hr period, ensuring a high standard of nursing care.
Key responsibilities will include the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, effective leadership and staff management/development.
The post holder will always work within the NMCs Code of Professional Conduct.

Key responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
Coordination of the ward on a day to day basis including planning, allocation and evaluation of work carried out by teams or individuals and self.
Provide specialist knowledge to all Nursing staff on the ward
Will promote a critical, analytical approach to the delivery of nursing care, ensuring that the ward environment is responsive to current issues.
Ensure that all existing procedures and protocols relating to the care of patients are reviewed and updated as required.
Develop methods for identifying, maintaining and improving the quality of patient care through facilitation of best practice and clinical benchmarking.
Ensure due regard is given to the customs, values and spiritual beliefs of patients/clients.
Explore and undertake expanded practice to optimise patient care as required within specialist
area, in accordance with Trust policies.
Management/Leadership Responsibilities
Exercise strong and effective leadership, acting as an exemplary role model for the ward/department team.
Maintain adequate staff cover and skill mix on the ward through effective use of staffing rotas
Ensure staff compliance with mandatory training and maintain current records
Ensure effective communication with patients and their carers.
Liaise with nursing, medical and allied health professional colleagues to ensure that all facets of the patients care are covered.
Ensure effective communication with relatives, community nursing staff, other hospitals and local agencies to facilitate the smooth transfer and after-care of patients/clients
Lead ward team meeting to ensure appropriate information is communicated to all team members
Ensure that the ward participates in maintaining standards relating to clinical governance.
Responsible for the implementation of risk management policies within the ward/department, including the development, implementation and monitoring of action plans to address identified risks.
Responds within appropriate timeframes to patient complaints and concerns and ensure outcomes and action plans are implemented and monitored.
Responsible for ensuring compliance with Trust policies and procedures
In collaboration with the matron, implement the Trust grievance/disciplinary policy with the aim of ensuring early identification of performance issues.
Monitor and manage staff sickness/absence following the Trust guidelines, and liaise with the Matron as necessary.
Participate in recruitment and selection of staff within the nursing ream ensuring appropriate policies are adhered to.
Support the implementation of the Trusts Human Resources Strategy, including the principles of Improving Working Lives and Investors in People.
Monitor performance of staff ensuring that learning needs are identified through personal development plans, appraisal systems and supervised practice.
Contribute to planning, monitoring and control of resources
Contribute to nursing developments across the organisation via appropriate forums as required.
Support the implementation of the Trusts Strategy for Nursing at ward/department level
Participate in Senior Nurse Directorate cover as necessary
Education Responsibilities
Identify staff training and development needs via personal development plans ensuring that this
informs the Trusts annual Training Needs Analysis
Ensure appropriate allocation of study time for professional development and staff compliance with Trusts study leave policy
Ensure dissemination of information from individuals undertaking professional development to the ward team, patients and carers; inclusive of the link nurse network
Collaborate with the clinical practice facilitators and institutes of higher education to develop and promote an effective and responsive clinical learning environment.
Ensure that nursing care is wherever possible is evidence based. Encourage and initiate nursing audit and research, assisting with the implementation of findings where appropriate
Develop competency based training packages for use within the ward/department; inclusive of preceptorship, pre and post registration nurses.
Professional Responsibilities
Act at all times in a manner that upholds the reputation of the Trust and safeguards the wellbeing and dignity of patients and their relatives.
Act always in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct and Guidance documents and maintain active status on NMC Register
Take every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge
Identify objectives within a PDP that support the delivery of high standards of clinical care.
*The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues
*The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation Equality and Diversity
It is the responsibility of every member of staff to understand our equality and diversity commitments and statutory obligations under current equality legislation (the Equality Act 2010) and to:
Act in ways that support equality and diversity and recognises the importance of people’s rights in accordance with legislation, policies, procedures and good practice;
Valuing people as individuals and treating everyone with dignity and respect, consideration and without prejudice, respecting diversity and recognising peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices in working with others and delivering appropriate services;
Recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality under Trust policy.
Be consciously aware of own behaviour and encourage the same levels of behaviour in colleagues.
 Acknowledge others’ different perspectives and recognise the diverse needs and experiences of everyone they come into contact with.
 With the support of managers develop an equality and diversity objective through the personal development review process.
Values and Behaviours
We are Caring
We are kind to each other and always show compassion to ourselves and others.
We know we are doing this when:
• We are always kind and compassionate to ourselves, our patients, families and colleagues;
• We recognise and appreciate each other, taking pride in working here and our contribution to success;
• We are professional and always seek to deliver the best standards of care.
We are Fair
We treat people equitably and value their differences.
We know we are doing this when:
• We value everyone for their unique contribution and we embrace diversity;
• We are confident in speaking up and we support all our colleagues to do the same;
• We are open and honest.
We Are Innovative
We work as a team to continuously improve the way we deliver and transform health care.
We know we are doing this when:
• We continuously improve the services we deliver and pioneer new ways of doing things;
• We learn from mistakes, striving to ensure we get things right first time;
• We create and share knowledge with each other, patients and our professional communities.
Infection Prevention & Control
All staff will adhere to infection control policies and procedures at all times and carry out role specific duties as per roles and responsibilities.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality/Data Protection regarding all personal information and Trust activity must be maintained at all times (both in and out of working hours). All staff should ensure that they are familiar with and adhere to all Trust privacy, confidentiality and security policies and procedures. Any breach of confidentiality will be taken seriously and appropriate disciplinary action taken.
Freedom of Information
In accordance with Freedom of Information and other associated legislation, the Trust may be required to make public recorded information available upon a request, or do this as part of a publication scheme. Please note, that in your public role, your name or job role may be contained in a document that is published in accordance with such legislation.
Management of Risk & Health and Safety
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care to avoid injury to themselves or to others and to co-operate with the Trust in meeting its statutory requirements.
All employees will proactively contribute to the management of risk by identifying hazards in the workplace which have the potential to cause harm, raising issues of concern and risk to the appropriate level.
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
All trust employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults. Familiarisation with and adherence to trust Safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees, as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training.
IT Skills
All staff are expected to have or to gain a minimum of basic level IT skills to enable them to use the Trust IT systems to support Trust services and needs. All staff should be familiar with relevant IT systems and security policies and procedures.
Records Management
All staff are personally responsible for record keeping. A record is anything that contains information in any medium e.g. paper, tapes, computer information, etc. which have been created or gathered as a result of any NHS activity. All individuals within the Trust are responsible for any records they create or use. Please ensure that records are retained in accordance with the Records Management Policy and are stored in a manner that allows them to be easily located in the event of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.