STAFF NURSE - St Ann's Hospice

STAFF NURSEJOB PROFILEPost:- Staff Nurse – Band 5Responsible to:-Accountable to:-Ward Sister/Charge NurseWard ManagerJob SummaryWork within the policy framework of the Hospice in its provision of specialist palliative and supportive careby ensuring that the clinical aims and objectives of the organisation are met.Actively participate in the multi disciplinary team and foster good working relationships with otherhealthcare professionals and users of service to ensure the delivery of high standards of effectivehealthcare.Undertake the assessment, planning and delivery of a consistently high standard of specialist palliative andsupportive care in accordance with the Hospice policy procedures and standards.Act in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct.St Ann’s Hospice delivers a service across three sites. Whilst your position is site-specific, there may beoccasions where you are required to provide cross-site/service cover.Although this is a comprehensive job description, you may be required to undertake other duties assignedby your manager.Page 1 of 6Registered Charity No: 258085KSF Job Profile – Staff Nurse (updated 25 07.11)

CommunicationEnsure that patient documentation is accurate, disseminating all relevant changes in the patient’scondition to the multi disciplinary team.Foster good working relationships and effectively communicate with members of the multi disciplinaryteam, users of service and other healthcare professionals working externally.Act sensitively and, where appropriate, act in the role of advocate in order to enable patients toundertake informed decision making.Engage in the delivery of effective communication between clinical staff, patients and their carers.Work in accordance with hospice policies to ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times.Personal & PeopleMaintain own professional development to facilitate evidence based practice.Actively participate in the hospice Individual Performance Review process to identify own learningneeds and take necessary steps in order to reach personal/professional objectives.Utilise staff support systems, e.g. clinical supervision.Actively participate in the induction of new staff in accordance with hospice policy.Act as a mentor or preceptor and resource person within your team.Be personally accountable for actions and omissions in your practice and be always able to justify yourdecisions.With the support of the MDT utilise specialist knowledge to develop own competence in using differentinterventions in palliative and end of life care.Health, Safety & SecurityWork in accordance with Hospice policies, procedures and guidelines.Attend organisational mandatory training as required by your manager relevant to your role.In the absence of the Team Leader/Ward Manager, ensure that the off duty rota meets therequirements of the Inpatient Unit.Advise the team Leader/Ward Manager to advise of any staffing difficulties which may lead tocompromised care.In the absence of the Team Leader/Ward Manager take charge of the inpatient unit liaising with supportservices as required. Take charge of the hospice outside of normal working hours.Actively participating in and enabling others to carry out risk assessments within the ward environment.Ensure staff are trained and competent to use equipment safely.Ensure all equipment in the Inpatient Unit is used in accordance with instructions and departmentalprocedures, reporting faults as necessary.Ensure incident reporting is expedited promptly and appropriate action plans completed.Identify potential health, safety and security issues appertaining to the Inpatient Unit and report to yourLine Manager.In collaboration with the Infection Control Nurse, promote an environment that supports infectionprevention and control policies and procedures. Ensure that you and other staff practice in accordancewith these.Service ImprovementBe aware of organisational strategic direction and future issues pertaining to the provision of specialistpalliative and supportive care. Contribute to and participate in organisational service development.Participate in the monitoring and evaluation of clinical services.Page 2 of 6Registered Charity No: 258085KSF Job Profile – Staff Nurse (updated 25 07.11)

Following systematic evaluation support the team leader/ward manager in implementing agreedinitiatives, thus improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Inpatient service.Promote patient and public involvement in activities designed to inform service improvement e.g.comments cards, user group etc.QualityCollaborate with other members of the multi disciplinary team in the delivery of high standards ofeffective healthcare within best practice guidelines.Ensure own clinical practice is evidence-based, effective in clinical outcome and is patient-centred.Be aware of, and work in adherence to the national standards and requirements of the Care QualityCommission.Organise and manage own workload, ensuring it reflects on the core components of your role in amanner that ensures quality and reduces risk.Contribute to team meetings.With your line manager and identified others, contribute to the identification of practices relevant to yourrole that could improve service delivery outcomes through:Audit- Research- Evaluation- Education/training- User involvementRespond to informal and formal complaints in accordance with hospice policy and procedure.Equality & DiversityPromote a culture which respects and values diversity, and support patients, visitors and staff inexercising their rights.Ensure care within your practice is consistent with the 5 principles of the Mental Capacity Act Code ofPractice (2005).Recognise and report behaviour which undermines equality and diversity in accordance withorganisational policies and current legislation.Assessment & care planning to meet health and wellbeing needsAssess complex holistic needs of patients, families and carers.With the patient and carer identify their specific goals in relation to specialist palliative and supportivecare needs that may require input from health and social care teams.In conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team, discuss with patients implications of their programme ofcare including end of life care where appropriate.Contribute to the forward planning of patient care e.g. discharge planning, LCP and advanced careplanning.Act as a resource of specialised knowledge and clinical expertise to promote the delivery of care thatis appropriate and optimal, enabling recognition of condition changes.Develop and review care management plans to meet identified patient needs, utilising hospicedocumentation.Undertake and evaluate the effectiveness of specialist palliative care interventions which are consistentwith evidence based practice transferring and applying that knowledge and skills to meet the patient’sneeds.Enablement to address health and wellbeing needsPage 3 of 6Registered Charity No: 258085KSF Job Profile – Staff Nurse (updated 25 07.11)

Provide an environment that encourages the patient to play an active part in their care enabling themto voice their wishes about current and future care, e.g. the use of advanced care planning tools.Promote a culture that is conducive to the recognition of complex, physical, spiritual, social andpsychological needs and utilise internal referral system in a timely and appropriate manner.Provide support, information and advice to patients and carers to enable them to make informeddecisions about treatment and care in order to maximise their potential.Act as an advocate to ensure that the patient’s perspective is heard within the multi disciplinary team.Empower individuals to adjust to and manage large scale changes in their lives to maximise theirpotential within the constraints of their conditions and circumstances.Provision of care to meet health and wellbeing needsProvide care in line with the care management plan to meet the patient’s needs.Contribute to the delivery of supportive interventions e.g. blood transfusions, intra venous antibiotics inline with hospice policy.Continue to provide sensitive care to patients after death in a manner that respects dignity, culturalbeliefs and previously expressed wishes.Provide ongoing support to carers and relatives at the time of death and in the early days ofbereavement.Contribute to the provision of organisational bereavement support e.g. Thanksgiving & RemembranceService, Tree of Lights.Interventions & TreatmentsBe fully conversant with organisational medicines policies with palliative care guidelines and algorithms,and administer medication in line with them.Monitor effectiveness of medications and treatment and act in accordance with findings.Provide support, information and advice to patients, families, colleagues and other healthcareprofessional agencies, including the 24 Hour Advice Line, in line with hospice policy.Learning & DevelopmentContribute to the provision of an effective learning environment.Actively participate in student placements and staff training within the organisation.Act as a mentor and/or supervisor for students on placement ensuring that the clinical environment isconducive to learning.Page 4 of 6Registered Charity No: 258085KSF Job Profile – Staff Nurse (updated 25 07.11)

ST ANN’S KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FRAMEWORKTITLE OF POST: Staff NurseKSF DIMENSIONSCORE DIMENSIONS – relates to allpostsNeededforpost?FoundationGateway KSF subset for postIndicatorsFull KSF Outline2 nd Gateway1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4Communication YES X XPersonal People Development YES X XHealth, Safety and Security YES X XService Improvement YES X XQuality YES X XEquality and Diversity YES X XSPECIFIC DIMENSIONSAssessment and care planning tomeet health and wellbeing needsEnablement to address health andwellbeing needsProvision of care to meet health andwellbeing needsInterventions & TreatmentsLearning & DevelopmentYESYESYESYESYESXXXXXXXXXXYou will be expected to achieve Foundation Gateway after 12 months in post and full KSF Outlineby the time you reach your top gateway. This will be explained as part of your development review.Page 5 of 6Registered Charity No: 258085KSF Job Profile – Staff Nurse (updated 25 07.11)

PERSON SPECIFICATIONPost:Department:Responsible to:Accountable to:Staff Nurse band 5 (Junior)Inpatient UnitWard SisterWard ManagerQualifications • 1 st Level Registrationor Diploma level• Current registrationwith Nursing andMidwifery CouncilEssential Desirable Evidence• A willingness to undertakefurther relevant training.• Applicationform andcertificatesExperience • Able to demonstrate aninterest in specialistpalliative care• Evidence of relevantexperience gainedthrough training• Demonstrate experience oftaking charge of team of staffin absence of a more seniorcolleague• Experience of working withpatients with life limitingillness.• InterviewandapplicationformPersonal skills • Ability to work as partof a team• Organisational skills• Time managementskills• Effectivecommunication skills,written and verbalPersonalcharacteristics• Professional• Approachable• Empathetic• Motivated and able tomotivate• EnthusiasticOther • Involves shift workincluding weekends,Bank Holidays andnight duty.• May be required towork at all sites withinthe organisation.• The ability to demonstratethrough experience i.e.organisational and timemanagement skills• Ability to lead• Interviewandapplicationform• Innovative • Interview• InterviewPage 6 of 6Registered Charity No: 258085KSF Job Profile – Staff Nurse (updated 25 07.11)