Junior Sister - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Job overview

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kings is on the Denmark Hill site and has 36 cots.

We provide level 3 Medical and Surgical care to sick term babies and preterm babies born as early as 22 weeks gestation. We are a major referral centre providing a first-class intensive care service to Southeast London, Kent and the Medway towns, Brighton and West Sussex and beyond.

We pride ourselves on having one of the lowest mortality rates in the country. With a team of Neonatal therapists who work closely with our patients, families and staff our Neurodevelopmental outcomes are optimal. We actively encourage Family Integrated Care and have recently started weekly Parent led ward rounds in our lower dependency areas.

Our team of experienced PDNs and Senior Sisters will support you in your new role; ensuring you have a bespoke orientation programme as well as a personalised career pathway aimed at identifying and supporting your career progression

We work closely with our sister unit – Local Neonatal Unit at Princess Royal University Hospital and provide the opportunity for you to work cross – site as part of your development in the Junior sister role

Our maternity department caters for over 6,000 deliveries per annum and is well supported by the world-renowned Harris Birthright Fetal Medicine Centre led by Professor Nikolaides.

Main duties of the job

Our nurses have the responsibility for planning, managing and coordinating clinical care for babies requiring high level of nursing care and supporting staff to develop these skills on the unit.

We focus on developing nursing leaders for the future and therefore alongside a full team of Practice Development Nurses, provide individualised professional leadership and clinical development.

Our goal to be a hospital of choice by improving all aspects of the patient experience relies upon us having a highly skilled, motivated, diverse, productive and patient focused workforce.

• To provide expert, care of a high standard to critically ill and stable babies and their parents/carers within the King's College Hospital.
• To take direct managerial responsibility for the clinical area in the absence of senior sister or as delegated by the Senior Nurse.
• To assist in the leadership and development of an identified group of nurses within the Unit.
• To act as a clinical resource and link nurse within the Unit and across the Care Group as necessary.
• To act as a positive role model to junior staff members.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. Transforming Healthcare is the vision at the heart of the King’s Strategy – 2026 to 2031. Together, we are pursuing six strategic ambitions: delivering high-quality patient care; being a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.  Achieving these ambitions will require all of us to work as one Team King’s, united by a shared commitment to our values of being caring, collaborative, inclusive and innovative. By living these values every day, we will transform healthcare for our patients, our communities and each other

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to this at all times.
• To demonstrate clinical expertise in the care of any patients receiving treatment in the ward/ department
• To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the needs of patients on the Ward on an ongoing basis, co-ordinating the care given by all members of the clinical team.
• To accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patients’ condition, promptly report changes and instigate remedial action as appropriate.
• To act as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.
• To ensure that accurate records are maintained reflecting both changes in the patient’s condition and the treatment delivered.
• To ensure that patients and their relatives are updated regularly with accurate information, and ensure that this is presented in a way that they understand.
• To ensure that Clinical Guidelines are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with Line Manager and practice development staff.
• To ensure that practice is evidence based and with support assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area.
• To uphold high standards of nursing care, according to existing policies and standards.
• To support the Ward Managers and Modern Matron in processes of continuous quality improvement, formally evaluating standards of care and assisting in the implementation of changes in the light of such findings.
• To contribute to the health education of patients and their families, ensuring that all patients receive appropriate advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• To actively support the implementation of the Trust nursing strategy and uphold the ethos of the local philosophy.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• 1st level Registered Paediatric Nurse
• Further relevant post registration professional studies: ENB 405, 415, neonatal intensive care module or equivalent
• Mentorship programme or equivalent teaching qualification

Desirable criteria

• Degree in Nursing or Equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable clinical expertise, relevant to the area.
• Demonstrable interest in and commitment to the professional development of others.
• Awareness and understanding of current health issues and in particular to demonstrate a good understanding of the NHS Plan and recent initiatives
• Sound knowledge and ability to implement Trust’s safeguarding/child protection policies and procedures

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of HR processes and issues pertaining to staff management
• Previous experience of leading change in a clinical environment

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Ability to organise and manage day to day departmental activities and the activities of large multidisciplinary team within this.
• Communication skills – able to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions. Adapts communication style as necessary and is able to work with and through others.
• Flexibility – Able to adapt to ensure achievement of objectives within constantly changing situations and environments
• Customer focused – committed to ensuring a positive hospital experience for patients and their relatives/ carers
• Team building and working skills – able to lead a team to achieve results

Desirable criteria

• Computer literacy

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success because automatically generated answers:

• might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
• often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
• could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience 

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

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King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.