JOB DESCRIPTION

Safe, compassionate, effective care provided to our communities

with a transparent, open approach.

JOB TITLE: Senior Sister/Charge Nurse

GRADE: Band 7

BASE: Homerton University Hospital

MANAGED BY: Senior Nurse

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Directorate Senior Nurse

JOB SUMMARY
The role of the Sister/Charge Nurse is to provide leadership, management and support to
the ward team.

The postholder is responsible for the provision of patient care, ensuring that it is evidence
based and of a high standard.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

To be responsible for the overall ward management on a 24 hour basis.

To ensure the development, implementation and evaluation of cost effective nursing care
and the setting of standards of care on a ward.

To lead the nursing team and to participate in their career development.

To act as an expert resource and as a role model in the delivery of care.

To maintain effective communication links with the multi-disciplinary team and other
ward/departments

To ensure that effective discharge planning procedures are followed for all patients.

To keep up to date with clinical developments and issues pertinent to nursing at local
and National levels.

To support the delivery of objectives set by the Trusts Nursing Strategy and directorate
business plan.

To develop ward objectives on an annual basis in collaboration with the Directorate

Senior Nurse and report regularly on their progress.

To co-ordinate and monitor activity ensuring that nursing skill mix is utilised appropriately
in order to maintain patient safety.
 To review the overall workload of the ward on a daily basis, ensuring that the level and
skill mix of nursing staff is appropriate.

To liaise closely with the Matron/Directorate Senior Nurse when services cannot be
maintained or when a lack of resources poses a risk to the safe delivery of patient care.

To ensure that medical equipment is maintained and that all staff using it are competent
to do so.

To contribute to the Directorates developments and reviews.

To ensure sickness, establishment and agency usage figures are monitored monthly and
to take necessary action to remedy problems.

To assess the unit for potential risks in order to maintain health and safety requirements.

To report all incidents and complaints to the appropriate personnel and take the
necessary action to ensure that staff learn from the them and that the risk of further
occurrence is reduced.

To performance manage of staff as required.

To manage the recruitment of staff or contribute to generic recruitment initiatives - and

to develop strategies to ensure staff progression and retention.

To ensure that Trust policies and protocols are adhered to by the unit staff.

To monitor the use of supplies and equipment ensuring that acceptable stock levels are
not in excess of the units requirements.

To work with the Matron and Directorate Senior Nurse to ensure the ward/dept functions
within its agreed budget.

To ensure staffing resources, including bank and agency, are managed effectively and
within budget.

To produce a report on a quarterly basis outlining areas of greatest spend and in

particular will be able to account for any overspends and also include strategies to deal
with overspends.

To attend monthly Directorate Senior Nursing Staff Meeting and monthly Multidisciplinary
Departmental Meeting.

To effectively induct new staff into the ward/dept area in accordance with the Trusts
induction programme.

To monitor the level and standard of work undertaken by your staff and to guide, coach
and advise them as appropriate. To provide briefing prior to and debriefing after all
training and development activities.

To ensure that an effective learning environment is maintained for both qualified and
unqualified staff.

To ensure that all members of staff receive an annual appraisal.

To ensures all members of staff receive mandatory training and to keep accurate records
of such training.
 To participate in the development of a unit teaching programme.

To ensure HCAs are supported through NVQ programmes.

To use research and evidence to promote changes in practice.

To identify training needs with regards to the continuing development of the unit and to
ensure appropriate programmes of education are commissioned.

This job description outlines the current main responsibilities of the post. However the duties
of the post may change and develop over time and this job description may, therefore be
amended in consultation with the postholder.

The Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust sits in the middle of one of the
most diverse locations in the world. To this end we are committed to and champion equality
and diversity in all aspects of our employment practice and service delivery. All employees
are expected to understand and respect this commitment and work with us to promote
equality and diversity in the course of their work.

All employees are required to have the appropriate level of English language competence to
enable them to effectively carry out their role, deliver safe care and enhance the patient
experience.

Employees, in line with the Trusts commitment to the Health and Social Care Act 2008
(Previously known as the Hygiene Code), improving infection control and health and safety
are individually required to ensure that they make every effort to contribute to making the
Homerton Hospital a clean and safe environment within which to work and receive care.

All employees of the Trust are required to observe legislation, Trust policies, standards and
guidelines relating to Risk Management, Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality, Data
Protection, Freedom of Information and the Trust Code of Behaviour.

It is the responsibility of each member of staff to be aware of, and work in in accordance
with, the Trusts safeguarding children and adults policies and procedures. This includes
ensuring that they undertake statutory and mandatory safeguarding children and adult
training appropriate for their role. In addition to acquiring safeguarding knowledge and skills,
each member of staff must be competent and maintain their knowledge and skills in clinical
practice to safeguard the health and wellbeing of children and adults.

All staff have a responsibility to prevent and control infection within Homerton Hospital. This
includes ensuring personal and team compliance with the Hygiene Code (Health and Social
Care Act 2008) and all relevant policies including Hand Hygiene, Homerton Dress Code,
MRSA screening and Infection Control.

It is the responsibility of leaders of the Trust to demonstrate and foster the Trusts
commitment to environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility by acting as a
role model and enabling others. It is the responsibility of all staff to minimise the Trusts
environmental impact by recycling wherever possible, switching off lights, computers,
monitors and equipment when not in use, minimising water wastage and reporting faults
promptly.

Living Our Values How We at the Homerton Work

Safe We will do everything we can to make our services as safe as possible and create a
positive learning environment. We will do this by:
 being open and honest when we get things wrong, and doing all we can to correct and
learn from our mistakes
listening to our staff, patients, service users and their carers and using their feedback to
improve services
ensuring that we have the right staff, with the right skills, caring for each patient
constantly monitoring standards of care and responding quickly if there are concerns

Responsibility We will take responsibility for our actions and any problems that we come
across we lead by example. We will do this by:

being open and transparent about our performance and setting challenging improvement
targets
thinking differently and looking for new and innovative ways of working
ensuring our care is evidence based and follows best practice
doing the right thing, even when it is difficult

Personal We will provide care which addresses individual needs and focuses on our
patients, service users, their families and carers, and our staff. We will do this by:

ensuring that relationships with patients and service users are founded on compassion,
empathy and kindness
appreciating each person as an individual and addressing their specific needs
actively listening to and involving patients and service users in decisions about their care
providing continuity of care through good communication and teamwork

Respectful We will treat others as we would expect ourselves or our families to be treated
and cared for. We will do this by:

treating everyone with dignity and respect

listening to others and valuing their contribution
providing services that meet the diverse needs of our communities
valuing and supporting the health and wellbeing of all our staff