Senior Sister inColchester inColchester PUBLISHED THU 5 DEC 2024

St Helena is looking for a Senior Sister to provide clinical and professional leadership to the inpatient team, in order to ensure that staff have the relevant skills and competencies to deliver high quality holistic care to patients and families

Job plan to demonstrate split between managerial role with clinical work based on service needs.

Maintain and improve clinical standards within the inpatient unit, identify where existing standards should be updated and highlight new developments in practice to all clinical services across the organisation.

Work alongside the Matron, Associate Director of Clinical Services and Associate Director of Operations in developing a patient and family led service on the IPU.

Work as a member of the nursing team, providing high standards of specialist palliative and end of life care to patients and their relatives, including good customer care, providing a role model to other members of the team.

Work within the budgeted establishment, evidence-based staffing models and future electronic rostering system to ensure that safe staffing levels are planned and maintained escalating to Matron when safe staffing is compromised.

About us

Provide clinical leadership to the service, including direct and indirect management of individuals and resources including managing sickness, absence, compassionate leave, study leave and return to work interviews

In collaboration with the Matron, Associate Director of Clinical Services and Associate Director of Operations, participate in service planning

Encourage service development and provide guidance and support to all staff to manage change accordingly in collaboration with senior clinical colleagues

Participate in the audit process and encourage all staff to embrace the opportunities gained from audit

Assist in the identification and meeting of educational needs of staff and volunteers

Undertake staff development reviews in accordance with St Helena policy

Support Matron to maintain an awareness of health, safety and welfare at work issues (including infection control, risk assessment and management) within the service area.

Promote the use of the Royal Marsden Manual and specific St Helena policies and procedures.

Monitor and review policies and procedures working alongside the Policy and Procedure Group.

Facilitate an effective and open learning environment

Deputise for the Matron in periods of absence/unavailability

Participate in Clinical Supervision both as a recipient and a provider

In collaboration with Matron and Senior colleagues ensure the service complies with CQC 5 Quality Statements and regulations

Comply with NMC guidelines

Have oversight of respite and CHC placements.

Support the Operations Hub to manage flow throughout the unit.

Encourage open and honest communication within the team and with managers.

Encourage team members to use supervision, staff support and Health and Wellbeing Support appropriately

Organise own work load.

Lead in the appointment and development of new staff

Be aware of own emotional needs, relating to the palliative care environment, and how to meet them

Participate as a member of the inter-disciplinary team in assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating care and meeting the needs of patients

Work as part of a team to provide psychological, emotional, spiritual and social support to patients and families whose lives are affected by illness, loss and grief

To act as an advocate safeguarding the patients and familys rights and interests, abilities and aptitudes, encouraging empowerment and informed choice

Liaison with professionals from other agencies for the benefit of the patient and their family

Participate in meetings as required with patients and their families, including other agency professionals as is relevant

To communicate sensitively and effectively both verbally and in writing with patients, families and colleagues including volunteers. In some cases there may be barriers to understanding or highly sensitive communication required

To take a leading role in the co-ordination of care, treatment, resources and activities which will assist the patient and family involved towards quality of life and/or adjustment to loss

To ensure end of life procedures are carried out sensitively and appropriately

Demonstrate awareness of emotional needs of patients and families and the sensitivity and communication skills to meet these needs

Act as co-worker for patients providing effective communication with key-workers in order to ensure continuity of care for patients across hospice services