Deputy Sister

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Leadership

Deputise for the Outpatient nurse manager in her absence.

Be proactive in responding to datix , complaints and  concerns.

Able to deal difficult patient and family .

 Collect and collate statistical information relating to the planning and development of outpatient nurse-led services.

Liaise with senior nurse and hospital managers to evaluate the service and plan future developments.

Assist in setting, implementing and monitoring working practices / routines of junior nursing staff.

Support Outpatient Improvement Planning and assist with implementing change and new initiatives within the department.

ð       Promote good working relationships between nursing and other staff disciplines.

ð       Participate in the recruitment and selection of junior nursing staff.

ð       Attend, contribute and Chair (as required) daily staff meetings.

ð       Exercise leadership and supervise Clinic Assistant/Nurse Support staff.

ð       Carry out staff appraisals annually , and ensure personal objectives are set.

ð       Have an awareness (and ability to implement if required) of Child Protection issues, reporting procedures and processes to follow.

ð       Allocate staff to clinics/daily off-duty rota to cover clinics .

ð       Record and monitor staff   annual leave and absence.

ð       Contribute to outpatient risk register.

Comply with, and implement Health and Safety policies within the department.

Supporting Patient Excellence

In the absence of the ward Nurse Sister/Charge Nurse be a visible presence and act as the first contact point for patients, relatives and staff to address concerns and complaints. 

To be courteous and helpful to patients, families/carers, colleagues and all users to the trust. To act as a positive role model to the team. 

Responsible for the assessment of the care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of patient care.

Work collaboratively and co-operatively with others to meet the needs of patients and their families/carers. 

In the absence of the ward Nurse Sister/Charge Nurse to reinforce the culture that patients’, relatives and carers participate and understand treatment plans.

To monitor activity and patient dependency, escalating any concerns to the ward Sister/Charge Nurse. 

Adopt an open learning culture from clinical incidents and patient/staff feedback and implement improvements as necessary. 

Co-ordinate the patients’ discharge arrangements in accordance with the Trusts’ Local Discharge Policy. 

Ensure the education of patients and their families/carers as required where a need has been identified. 

Actively undertake education, development and supervision of other staff members, assisting them in meeting work demands to provide a quality patient experience. 

People/Management Excellence 

Assist the ward Sister/Charge Nurse in the monitoring of workload and skill mix, planning off duty and ensuring the unit operates effectively and safely. 

Assist the unit manager in the completion of a training needs analysis and ensure compliance of the team with Trust expectations in relation to mandatory training and appraisals. 

Assist the unit Sister/ Charge Nurse in managing the team in accordance with Trust policies and procedure. 

Participate in recruitment and selection of staff for the ward including orientation of new staff. 

Promote and maintain a suitable learning environment for staff and act as a facilitator / mentor / preceptor / coach in the supervision and teaching of less experienced staff, supporting and facilitating the development of competencies across all staff levels. 

Contribute to annual appraisals and be responsible for own personal performance/development plan. Promote staff wellbeing and resilience, considering flexible rostering and working patterns.

To assist the unit Sister/Charge Nurse in the investigation of complaints and/or adverse incidents, ensuring lessons are learnt and action plans implemented. 

Maintains competent computer skills and be able to access patient details and reports via the Trusts IT systems.

Supporting Financial Excellence

Develop and maintain an understanding of budgeting, supported by the unit Sister/ Charge Nurse. 

Responsible for the effective and efficient use of clinical and physical resources.

Professional Responsibilities

To be responsible for your own professional development, maintain a professional portfolio and keep up to date on current nursing and health service issues.

To take full responsibility for your own actions and to abide by The Code. 

Maintain own knowledge and clinical skills demonstrating competence in delivering a high standard of care. 

To act as the Confirmer for staff Revalidation when applicable, acting as a resource to empower staff to successfully complete the process.

To be conversant with all Nursing Policies and procedures 

Takes part in education and training programmes appropriately and feed back knowledge gained to their team. 

Maintain a current knowledge of professional issues, ensuring continued professional development is maintained. 

Identify learning needs in self, negotiating a Personal Development Plan recognising own limitations.

Quality Assurance and Monitoring

Actively promote evidence-based practice within the clinical area. 

Contribute to audit initiatives. 

Participate in setting and reviewing standards for practice and evaluating outcomes as part of the clinical governance agenda. 

Maintain and promote an awareness of evidence-based practice and participate in its implementation. 

Drive research and service improvement/ development programmes within the department. 

Participate in setting and reviewing standards for practice and evaluating outcomes as part of the clinical governance agenda.

Policy and Service Development Responsibilities

Ensure all staff work within the confines of Trust policies, protocols and other relevant documentation, taking appropriate action where compliance is breached.

Research, Development & Education Responsibilities

Participate in ensuring Trust competencies for all staff are implemented, maintained, updated and monitored. 

To have an awareness that all agreed action plans from national and local strategies, benchmarking standards, such as ward Assessment & Accreditation, and clinical audits are completed. If these are not maintained at a satisfactory level then contribute to put strategies in place to pursue their achievement. 

To participate in developing working guidelines, protocols and practices that enhances the patient experience in line with national and Trust policies. 

Will seek out ‘Best Practice’ to generate new ideas and generate change. 

Provide work based learning to staff at all levels, highlighting any development concerns. 

Has a well-developed understanding of clinical practice with effective supervision, mentoring and assessment skills. 

To act as the Confirmer for staff Revalidation when applicable, acting as a resource to empower staff to successfully complete the process.

To be conversant with all Nursing Policies and procedures.

In the absence of the ward Sister/ Charge Nurse ensure that contractual student placements are met and that all pre-registration students and other relevant undergraduates/apprentices are adequately coached and assessed within the work place. 

In the absence of the unit Sister/ Charge Nurse ensure the clinical area has adequate assessors/supervisors to facilitate student placements.