Paediatric Critical Care Out reach Team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Demonstrate specialist knowledge, skills and expertise in clinical practice.

2. Ensure the process of nursing is developed to meet the individual needs of each patient, providing well documented assessment, care planning and evaluation.

3. Accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the child’s condition, instigating appropriate remedial action and promptly reporting changes.

4. Provides technically skilled nursing care that is sensitive, relevant and responsive to the needs of the individual child/young person in liaison with their parent/carers

5. Provide leadership and management to the staff team at all times ensuring effective use of human resources on the ward to ensure safe and efficient service delivery

6. Ensure the effective use of acuity tools to safely identify acutely unwell children, within the children’s hospital.

7. To provide advice to clinical staff, within their scope of professional practice.

8. To ensure that the deteriorating patients outside of the PCCU, receive optimal care, and appropriate transfer.

9. To ensure that they participate in audit.

10. To take a role within the paediatric cardiac arrest team.

11. Ensure that a child and family-centred approach to care is provided in inpatient areas, which takes account of children’s individual medical, psychological, emotional and social needs.

12. Ensure children and families/carers’ views are sought and taken into account in the decision making process, acting as an advocate for vulnerable children with complex clinical and psychological needs.

13. Responsible for providing clinical support and guidance to peers, junior members of staff/students and other members of the multi disciplinary team and identification of opportunities for continued professional development and competencies.

14. Responsible for the safe co-ordination of transfers of the deteriorating child, within the ward environment

15. Undertake technically skilled clinical care as identified in line with scope for professional practice and/or advice to junior team members

16. Responsible for identifying and maintaining own professional development in line with Post Registration Education and Practice

17. Practice a high standard of professional conduct in accordance with the policies, protocols and guidelines of the Trust and the NMC Scope of Professional Conduct and Standard Documents

18. Liaises regularly with medical teams, bed manager and wards to ensure that there is optimal bed occupancy with timely admission and discharge of patients in/out of PCCU.

19. Liaises effectively with members of the multi-disciplinary and multi-professional teams to ensure delivery and implementation of nursing care and effective and co-ordinated discharge planning. Organise and chair discharge planning meetings when appropriate.

20. Be responsible for an identified area of specialist interest and development within the ward teams, ensuring up to date research methods are implemented in care delivery and planning.

21. In partnership with the Nurse Team Managers ensures the regular audit and evaluation of identified area of clinical practice and implementation of change management.

22. Ensures client confidentiality at all times in line with trust guidelines

23. Maintaining and accessing Electronic Patient Records and utilisation of software packages e.g.: outlook, word

24. Undertake role as advocate for child and family representing best interests of child or young person, in partnership with parents, at specialist meetings, in decision making etc

25. Being a clinical resource for other departments both in and outside the hospital.

26. Identifies and receives clinical supervision in line with Trust Policy

27. Maintaining nursing records to the Trust Standards and in accordance with the Standards for Records and Record keeping (NMC)

Professional/Managerial

1. Provide effective visible clinical leadership, acting as a role model for junior staff, in the provision and supervision of nursing care and children’s hospital operational management.

2. To assist the Lead Nurse in recruitment and selection of staff, managing health and attendance and performance management of staff.

3. To attend Team Meetings, Away Days and contribute to the development of Unit policies and procedures within the PCCU and wider children’s hospital

4. Acts as expert Preceptor for newly qualified staff nurses within the team and clinical supervisor to junior members of the team.

5. Is involved in the setting and maintaining of standards of care (including Health & Safety) in accordance with Trust policies.

6. Co-ordinates the care given by other professionals as appropriate within the Team.

7. Co-ordination and management of Child Protection Procedures in line with Trust policies and procedures, accessing regular supervision from Trust lead Child Protection Nurse Advisor.

8. Undertake proactive role in development of clinically effective care.

9. Advises parents, carers and child/young person in the promotion of health and safety, prevention of illness.

10. To maintain a high level of current research awareness and developments in the field of paediatric nursing, PCCU/high dependency nursing, and in the wider profession.

11. To participate in approved research relevant to the care of children and families.

            The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the postholder.

            The post holder might be required to work across the Trust at any time throughout the duration of his/her contract, which may entail travel and working at different hospital.

Performance management and appraisal

All staff are expected to participate in individual performance management process and reviews.

Personal development and training

Barts Health NHS Trust actively encourage development within the workforce and employees are required to comply with trust mandatory training.

Barts Health’s education academy aims to support high quality training to NHS staff through various services. The trust is committed to offering learning and development opportunities for all full-time and part-time employees.

No matter where you start within the NHS, you will have access to extra training and be given every chance to progress within the organisation. You will receive an annual personal review and development plan to support your career progression and you will be encouraged to develop your skills and experience.

Health and safety at work 

The postholder has a duty of care and personal obligation to act to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). They must attend mandatory training in infection prevention and control (IP&C) and be compliant with all measures required by the trust to reduce HCAIs. All post holders must comply with trust infection screening and immunisation policies as well as be familiar with the trust's IP&C policies, including those that apply to their duties, such as hand decontamination, personal protective equipment, aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps.

All staff must challenge noncompliance with infection, prevention and control policies immediately and feedback through the appropriate line managers if required.

Confidentiality and data protection

All employees are expected to comply with all trust policies and procedures related to confidentiality and data protection and to work in accordance of the Data Protection Act 1998. For those posts where there is management or supervision of other staff it is the responsibility of that employee to ensure that their staff receive appropriate training (e.g. HISS induction, organising refresher sessions for staff when necessary).

Conflict of interest

The trust is responsible for ensuring that the service provided for patients in its care meets the highest standard. Equally it is responsible for ensuring that staff do not abuse their official position for personal gain or to benefit their family or friends.  The trust’s standing orders require any officer to declare any interest, direct or indirect with contracts involving the trust. Staff are not allowed to further their private interests in the course of their NHS duties.

Equality and diversity

The trust values equality and diversity in employment and in the services we provide. It is committed to promoting equality and diversity in employment and will keep under review our policies and procedures to ensure that the job related needs of all staff working in the Trust are recognised.  The Trust will aim to ensure that all job applicants, employees or clients are treated fairly and valued equally regardless of sex, marital status, domestic circumstances, age, race, colour, disablement, ethnic or national origin, social background or employment status, sexual orientation, religion, beliefs, HIV status, gender reassignment, political affiliation or trade union membership.  Selection for training and development and promotion will be on the basis of the individual’s ability to meet the requirements for the job. 

You are responsible for ensuring that the trust’s policies, procedures and obligation in respect of promoting equality and diversity are adhered to in relation to both staff and services.

Barts Health values based leadership

Our leaders ensure a focus on health where patients are at the centre of all we do. They work to create a culture where innovation is promoted and encouraged. They lead by example and demonstrate value based decision making as being integral to the ways of working within the Trust.