Sister/Charge Nurse - NICU

Clinical Quality & Safety To ensure all families receive support and expert advice regarding care and development of their infant. Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates specialist care or treatment regimens for patients within the neonatal services, taking into consideration the lifestyle, gender, cultural background and preferences of the family, making reasonable adjustments to care where this is appropriate. To ensure that all staff encourage and support parents to develop an early relationship with their baby to support positive long term development in line with national guidance. To provide expert and professional support for staff; demonstrating a commitment to best practice in all areas. To work closely with the Infant Feeding MDT to implement and maintain the UNICEF best practice neonatal standards for infant feeding throughout the trust. Works independently and in conjunction with the Senior Nursing team to ensure that neonatal practices are both evidence based and developed in line with best practice literature. Identify and promote best practice, assist in developing and implementing innovative strategies to engage staff with personal development. To work with colleagues to ensure that families receive full information and enable choice and participation in care planning to maximise safe and quality outcomes for babies and their families. To enhance clinical skills in all aspects of nursing to further own professional development, skills and knowledge as require. To attend mandatory study days and identify any specialist additional training relevant to pathway required to enhance knowledge, skills enabling improved care of babies and their families. Manage a clinical nursing workloads and provide care for babies on the unit. In collaboration with the Senior Nursing team develop strategies and safety processes in order to enhance the neonatal service. Works as part of the MDT fostering effective professional relationships to ensure effective communication and seamless service for patients and families. Works across organisational boundaries as an expert practitioner in neonatal care. Practices within the scope of Trust policies and procedures, proposing changes to policy/guidance where updates are required. Works within the remit of national policy frameworks and guidelines relevant to the Neonatal Care (i.e. NICE standards, BFI, BAPM standards). Management and Leadership Assists the Senior Sisters / Senior Charge Nurses in the organisation and control of all patient care and treatment, maintaining high standards of care Develops leadership skills both professional and managerial Assists in ensuring effective communication with all levels of staff and the whole multidisciplinary team Assists in implementing and developing policies in relation to infant feeding and provide assurance of staff compliance to the management team. Assists in staff training, ensuring competence is achieved in all aspects of neonatal nursing. Initiates and develops new ideas for the improvement of services to patients and families in consultation with the senior leadership team Demonstrates a robust knowledge of health promotion and health education strategies Assists, investigates and reports on complaints from patients / relatives / carers and staff and reports/feeds back senior leadership team Investigates and reports incidents and untoward occurrences providing constructive feedback and solutions. Assists in fostering an environment that empowers staff and is conducive to change and development Maintains a safe environment on the unit for patients/staff and visitors, following trust and national Health & Safety policies Manages effectively, efficiently and economically all available resources both human and commodities Co-operates in the trials of equipment and resources Ensures the safe custody and storage of medications held in the unit (including expressed breast milk) and the practice of a regular checking system Collaborates with professions allied to medicine Attends and assists in service meetings where appropriate. This will include meetings both within and outside of the CBU where collaboration across professional boundaries will be necessary. (e.g. medical staff / midwifery teams) Professional Follows the NMC Codes of Conduct/Practice. Develops research skills in self and others that promotes evidence based practice. Maintains an environment conducive to learning for all staff in training. Is involved in educational audit and liaises with Link Lecturer. Assists in implementing and developing systems of care delivery. Ensures the secure storage of unit documentation. Exercise personal accountability for their practice and ensure that any enlargement or adjustment to practice is achieved without the scope of professional practice. Assists in developments relating to clinical governance. Staff / Self-Development Agrees personal development plan and reviews progress regularly Assists in maintaining accurate training records Assists in ensuring succession planning Ensures the environment and resources available for staff are conducive to job satisfaction and high morale Assists in ensuring that all staff attend statutory training sessions as per Trust Policy and NMC Regulations Is familiar with the responsibilities of the senior nursing team Assists in supporting the competency led induction programme for new colleagues Is involved in clinical supervision of the junior nursing and health care teams. Assists in setting standards in collaboration with senior staff Cascades standards and audit skills to junior staff Assists in maintaining accurate sickness records and follows Trust Sickness Policy Technology Assists in ensuring staff are trained in the correct usage of equipment. Co-operates with Maintenance Programmes. Assists in maintaining an accurate Asset Register. Assists in recording appropriate patient and staff statistical data. Assists in keeping accurate records of equipment on loan/hire. Communication & Working Relationships To liaise with and maintain good relationships and communication with all colleagues, seeking advice and support from senior colleagues where appropriate Communicates across organisational boundaries as required. Internal - All multidisciplinary staff across the organisation. External - Outside agencies as appropriate.