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THE LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB DETAILS
Job Title:

Staff Nurse (Childrens Services)

Reports To:

Senior Sister/Charge Nurse

Accountable To:

Matron

Band:

Unit/Department:

TBC

Location:

LTHT

CSU:

Childrens

AfC Job No.

2418

Date:

April 2014

2. JOB PURPOSE
To provide and be responsible for the assessment, planning,
implementation and evaluation of individualised, family centred,
infant, child or young person focused programmes of care.
To deliver care without supervision.
To take charge of the ward or department as necessary in the
absence of the Sister or Charge Nurse.
To participate in the in-service training, preceptorship and
mentorship of junior staff, post basic learners and students.
To take responsibility as the prime care provider for a group of
patients.
To promote confidence in our commitment to provide excellent
companionate family centred, infant, child or young person focused
patient care.
3. JOB DIMENSIONS
Leeds Childrens Hospital is a large secondary and tertiary hospital
providing a wide range of specialities to the population of Leeds as well
as the wider North Region. The jobholder will work within an
environment caring for infants/neonates, children and or young people
in providing child or young person focused care.

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4. ORGANISATIONAL CHART
Matron

Senior Sister/Charge Nurse

Sister/Charge Nurse

Staff Nurse
(this post)

5. BASIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Qualifications
Registered Childrens Nurse (Level 1).
Training
Ability to demonstrate and explain skills to other staff.
Willing to undergo relevant training as necessary.
Skills
Literate and numerate.
Ability to perform accurate drug calculations.
Competent in written, and verbal communication skills.
Competent in the use of information technology.
Able to organise and prioritise workload.
Understand the skills and knowledge required to develop team
members.
Knowledge
Current issues in healthcare.
Current issues in health and social care of infants, children and young
people.
Standards of Professional Practice.
Personal Attributes
Ability to work as part of a team.

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Committed to working with infants, children, young people and their

families and or carers.
Demonstrates a commitment to personal development.
Compassionate, enthusiastic and motivated.
Flexible and adaptable.
Professional and patient focussed.
Courageous.
6. EXPECTED DEVELOPMENT IN ROLE
Following a preceptorship programme, or orientation, a structured
appraisal will identify further development needs in line with the clinical
area, personal and CSU objectives).
Development opportunities will include:
Completion of a recognised teaching and mentorship qualification (e.g.
Supporting Learners in Practice (SLIP).
Revision and expansion of professional knowledge base.
Revision and expansion of knowledge base with regards to speciality.
7. CORE VALUES
Commitment to maintain high standards of care in accordance with
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) guidelines and policies.
Commitment to own development and the development of junior staff.
Commitment to the development of nursing within the clinical setting.
Commitment to working in a multi-disciplinary team.
Commitment to support, uphold and demonstrate the core values and
behaviours of LTHT.
Commitment to lifelong learning, to maintain personal development
within the role.
8. CORE BEHAVIOUR AND SKILLS
Ability to act professionally at all times.
Effective communication skills.
Effective numeracy skills e.g. accurate drug calculations.
Ability to organise self and others.
Teaching and assessing skills.
Team player.
Effective time management skills.
9. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
An understanding of research and evidence based practice.
An understanding of the organisation and working practices of the
area.
An understanding of the process and philosophy of preceptorship.
An understanding of the training and development needs of junior
staff and students.

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10. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical
Acts in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Code
of Conduct.
Communicate with infants, children, young people, their families and
or carers to ensure they have access to appropriate information.
Maintain and deliver compassionate individualised, family centred,
child or young person focused care in accordance with LTHT
guideline, policies, values and behaviours.
Maintain a safe working environment.
Provide assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of
nursing care for infants children or young people , ensuring
documentation standards are upheld in accordance with NMC and
LTHT guidelines, whether written or computerised.
Promote and maintain positive relationships between all staff involved
in the care of patients.
Promote evidence based practice.
Participate in the audit and evaluation of clinical practice in the
interests of promoting and improving quality care through action on
findings.
Undertake duties on other wards or departments as and when
required by service demands or patient need.
Act in such a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children
and vulnerable adults at all times. Is familiar with and adheres to, the
LTHT safeguarding policies.
Education and Training
Contribute to the promotion of a positive clinical learning environment
within the clinical area.
Keep up to date with developments, advances and research in
individualised, family centred, infant child or young person focused
patient care.
Participate in research and or education programmes relating to
professional nursing issues and practice.
Complete mandatory training annually.
Participate in annual appraisal.
Participate in preceptorship and mentorship programmes.
Participate in teaching, supervising and assessing of student nurses
and other supervised staff, where allocated.
Undertake continuous professional and clinical development
constantly seeking opportunities to enhance skills.
Managerial
Demonstrate effective use of resources.
In the absence of the Sister or Charge Nurse take charge of the ward
or department and co-ordinate ward or department activities.
Take responsibility for the prime care provider for a group of patients
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When in charge of the ward takes responsibility for reporting,

investigating and responding to accidents, complaints, untoward
incidents and other significant events.
As delegated and directed by the Senior Sister or Charge Nurse,
participate in reporting, investigating and responding to accidents,
complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events.
Raise concerns with regards to risk, danger, malpractice or wrong
doing by following the LTHT Whistleblowing policy and supporting
processes.
HEALTH AND SAFETY/RISK MANAGEMENT
All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain
and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other
service users. This includes complying at all times with LTHT Policies,
including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed
safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust
Incident Reporting system.
INFECTION CONTROL
The jobholder must comply at all times with the LTHT Infection Control
policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control
Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact
with patients and their environment.
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to
ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways
that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person
whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable
treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual
orientation, religion etc.
PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in
evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen
to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements
based on patient feedback.
TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The jobholder must take responsibility, in agreement with his/her line
manager, for his/her own personal development by ensuring that
Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The job
holder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
RESPECT FOR PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY
The job holder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not
divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of
the role.

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11. COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Matron
All grades of nursing staff
Allied Health Professionals
Medical staff
Facilities staff
Patients, families and Carers
Social Care
12. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS
i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:
Frequent standing, sitting, walking, kneels and crouches to attend to
patient needs. Responding to changes patient condition.
Patient Care (e.g. drug administration). Shift working.
Moving & handling of patients and equipment on a daily basis:
Patients - up to 120kg (with lifting aids). Equipment - medical
equipment, specialised mattresses (weight 1-20kg).
ii) MENTAL EFFORT:
Continuous mental effort/concentration required in relation to
responding to and meeting patients nursing care needs (e.g. for 8-12
hour shift).
Co-ordinating Ward or Department activities in absence of a Sister or
Charge Nurse.
Responding to changing circumstances (e.g. changes in patient
condition, prioritisation of workload).
Dealing with complex and changing care needs of infants, children or
young people patients within an acute hospital environment (includes
communication with families and or carers). Calculating drug doses.
Robust verbal and written communication skills required at all times.
iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
Exposure to difficult situation including death and dying, distressed
infants, children or young people and their families and or carers.
Dealing with complex workload.
Dealing with staffing issues and or performance issues on shift basis.
iv) WORKING CONDITIONS:
Temperature - should be controlled, but may experience hot or cold
work environment.
Smells - dealing with body fluids.
Violence & Aggression - may experience violence and aggression from
patients and or relatives or carers.
Infection Control - exposure to patients with infections.

13. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT

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Jobholders Signature: Date:

Head of Departments Signature: Date:
Head of Departments Job Title: ...

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THE LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

Person Specification
Post title

Staff Nurse

Band

Department

TBC

CSU

Childrens

Location

LTHT
To provide and be responsible for the assessment,
planning, implementation and evaluation of
individualised programmes of care.
To deliver care without supervision.
To take charge of the ward or department as
necessary in the absence of the Sister or Charge
Nurse.
To participate in the in-service training, preceptorship
and mentorship of junior staff, post basic learners and
students.
To take responsibility as the prime care provider for a
group of patients.

Summary of Role

To promote confidence in our commitment to provide

excellent compassionate patient care
Criteria

Essential

Qualifications

Registered
Nurse Child
Level 1 )

Desirable

Evidence
obtained from:
Application form
NMC

Has current
registration on
the appropriate
part of the NMC
register
Training

Special knowledge

Willing to
undergo training
as necessary
Ability to
demonstrate and
explain skills to
other staff
Current issues in

Application form
Interview
References

Awareness of

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Application

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health care

speciality

Interview

Current issues
in health and
social care of
children and
young people
Behaviours

Caring,
compassionate
and motivated

Form

Capable of
lateral thinking

Reliable and
trustworthy

Application
Form
Interview
References

Excellent
interpersonal
skills
Practical Skills

Good written and

verbal skills

Application
Form

Able to provide
and be
responsible for
the assessment,
planning,
implementation
and evaluation of
individualised
programmes of
care

Interview
References

Ability to
organise and
prioritise
workload
Understanding of
skills and
knowledge
required to
develop team
members
Other requirements

Able to fulfil
Occupational
Health
requirements for
the post.
Full UK Driving
Licence is
essential for

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Occupational
Health
screening

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posts that
involve
community visits

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