The post holder is responsible for maintaining high standards of care within the ward and will regularly take charge of co-ordinating the ward in the absence of the ward manager; they will lead shifts and have designated responsibilities from the ward manager as part of their portfolio., The post holder is expected to: ·Participate in the overall management of the ward including days, weekends, nights and bank holidays in conjunction with the Ward manager ·Take the lead for education and training of ward staff ·In co-ordination with the Ward Manager promotes delivery of high-quality research-based nursing care ·Participate in the implementation and monitoring of programmes of care ·Responsible for promoting effective and efficient utilisation of available resources. ·To facilitate an environment conductive to learning and professional development. ·Ensure that Trust policies and directives are adhered to at Ward level. ·Act in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Code of Conduct (NMC) ·Deputise for the Ward Manager as required.Working for our organisation We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 7,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work. An opportunity has arisen for a Sister to join the Emergency Surgical Assessment unit (ESU) at Royal Blackburn Hospital. The shift patterns are internal rotation including night shifts, 30 hours per week over flexible days, to include weekends and bank holidays, included as per rota. The Emergency Surgical Unit at Blackburn is a busy, modern unit with a professional but friendly team delivering high standards of care. We are looking for highly enthusiastic, motivated and committed Sister to join our forward thinking and ever developing team.Detailed job description and main responsibilities The post holder is expected to: ·Ensure effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team ·In accordance with the NHS and Community Care Act (1990), ensure that discharge planning for all patients is commenced on admission and involves all members of the Multidisciplinary Team. ·Take the lead and compile duty rotas for nursing staff with attention to efficient and effective skill mix. ·Be responsible for co-ordinating holiday leave, study leave and training ·Be involved in the investigation of complaints from patients, relatives, other staff and members of the public in accordance with Trust policy. ·Ensure the correct handling, storage, maintenance and utilisation of drugs, equipment and supplies. ·As a senior nurse on the unit advise staff in the absence of the Ward Manager ·Be responsible for ensuring that standards in the clinical area are in keeping with the NMC Code of Conduct. ·Participate in departmental and professional group meetings as required, and lead on other groups as directed by the Ward Manager. Professional: The post holder is expected to: ·Act as a resource for other Unit personnel, providing advice, nursing expertise and specialist knowledge as required. ·Be responsible for maintaining his/her own professional status and ensuring that the NMC's requirements for registration are adhered to. ·Participate in the Trust delivery of Essence of Care, Saving Lives Program and 'High Quality for all,' (Lord Darzi, June 2008) Personnel: The post holder is expected to: ·Participate with the recruitment and selection of staff in liaison with the Ward Manager ·Assist the Ward Manager in formulating a programme of appraisal for ward staff with provision of individualised training and development plans., ·Take the lead in education and training of pre and post registered students including preceptorship of newly qualified staff, cadets and Health Care Assistants undertaking NVQ training. ·Participate in the management provision of leadership experience and expertise on the ward. ·Be responsible for pursuing his/her own professional development. ·Assist with the development and up-dating of patient education and health promotion programmes for patients/relatives/carers. ·Assist to provide a good learning environment for both pre and post registration nurses, NVQ candidates and other learners. ·Actively encourage continuous development of nurses, providing suitable learning opportunities on the ward. Individual Responsibilities: The post holder is expected to: ·Adhere to Trust policies and procedures and relevant legislation including the requirements of the any professional bodies ·Attend mandatory training as identified by the Trust Confidentiality: All Trust staff and contractors working for the Trust have both a common law duty and a statutory duty of confidentiality to protect patient (and indeed any personally identifiable) information and only use it for the purposes for which it was intended. The disclosure and use of confidential patient information needs to be both lawful and ethical. Information Governance: Trust staff must keep up-to-date with the requirements of Information Governance and must follow Trust policies and procedures to ensure that Trust information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently and effectively. Staff must appropriately manage the records they create or hold during the course of their employment with the Trust, making the records available for sharing in a controlled manner, subject to statutory requirements and agreed security and confidentiality policies, procedures and guidelines (e.g. Freedom of Information Act 2000, Caldicott guidelines). If you are required to make entries into health records, you must ensure these entries are legible and attributable, and that record keeping is contemporaneous. Health & Safety: Each employee is responsible to take reasonable care for his or her own acts or omissions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of themselves or any other person. Every employee must use safety equipment or clothing in a proper manner and for the purpose intended. Any employee who intentionally or recklessly misuses anything supplied in the interests of health and safety will be subject to disciplinary procedures. Every employee must work in accordance with any health and safety procedures, instructions or training that has been given. No employee may undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and for which they are not adequately trained. Every employee is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment. All employees are under a duty to familiarise themselves with the Risk Management/Fire, Health & Safety Policies. The Trust provides an annual update on Governance and Health & Safety issues to staff. Risk Management: Ensure that you implement systems and procedures at local level to fulfill the requirements of the Trust's Risk Management Strategy including local management and resolution of complaints and concerns, management of Untoward Incidents / Near Misses, and compliance with the Risk Profiling Program. Your specific responsibility for Risk Management will be clarified to you by your Head of Department at your local induction Equal opportunities: The Trust has adopted an equal opportunities policy and all employees must be aware of their obligations to abide by the spirit and nature of the policy to avoid direct and indirect discrimination. Improving Working Lives: You will be expected to give a commitment to apply the principles of Improving Working Lives, and participate in any events and initiatives as and when appropriate. Child Protection: All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Further guidance can be sought from your Line Manager. Infection Control: All employees have a personal responsibility for adhering to the control of infection policy. Further guidance can be sought from your Line Manager. Records Management/Data Protection Act: As an employee of the Trust, you have a legal responsibility for all records, including patient health, financial, personal and administrative, that you gather or use as part of your work within the Trust. The records may be paper, electronic, microfiche, audio, video tapes, x-ray images etc. You must consult your manager if you have any doubt as to the correct management of the records with which you work. Standards of Conduct: Ensure that personal actions and conduct comply with the Trust Policies and Procedures e.g. Health and Safety, Tobacco Control Policy, equal opportunities, confidentiality, the Data Protection Act (1998), Moving and Handling Regulations. Attend training courses as required e.g. induction, moving and handling, fire lectures etc. Conduct duties with regard to values underpinning the Trust's Vision ·If its about me, involve me ·Working together in partnership ·Aspiring to excellence ·Ongoing improvement of our service Post holders are expected to work flexibly within their pay band. They should only be expected to carry our activities for which they are competent. Alternatively they may carry out the additional duties if they are receiving support or training in order to obtain the recognised level of competence. The Trust operates a Tobacco Control Policy This job description is a broad outline of the duties and responsibilities of the post. It will be subject to review and amendment in consultation with the post holder on an annual basis.

• Maintains high standards of professional appearance and conduct. Ability to pass pre-employment medical screening Consistent and reliable attendance
• First Level Registration Previous experience in speciality. Qualification in specialty to diploma/degree level, or willingness to undertake study Appropriate Teaching assessing certificate
• Effective communication skills, both written & verbal Promotes effective teamwork with own team and other members of the Multidisciplinary Team.
• Proven leadership and organisational skills. Ability to facilitate a cohesive team spirit and good team working. Ability to deal competently with conflict and complaints. Consistently strives to develop self and others. Demonstrates ability to effectively lead a team. Promotes quality in the clinical setting. Has introduced new concepts and projects.
• Professional, calm approachable Demonstrates a positive attitude. Reacts well to constructive criticism. Highly motivated and can motivate others. Promotes a good learning environment.
• Evidence of post basic continuing education. Keeps professionally updated. Promotes research and development.
• Ability to perform well under pressure. Can move forward with change and act as an effective change agent in the clinical setting. Keen to embrace new concepts.
Desirable criteria
• Experience of recent employment in a pre-registration student nurse area.
• Basic knowledge of IT and Integrated Personnel System
• Enthusiasm Must have a good sense of humour
• Actively involved with committees, working parties and groups of interest., You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
  
  At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.
We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.