Charge Nurses

Overview

HPFT is committed to investing in and developing staff. We are recruiting additional experienced registered nurses to the team at the Astley Court, Little Plumstead Hospital, Norfolk, NR13 5EW
. We are looking for Learning Disabilities Nurses and Mental Health Nurses to join our team. As a Charge Nurse you will be responsible for the day-to-day running of a learning disability assessment and treatment service and will assist the Team Leader in maintaining effective team working processes. Charge Nurses must be able to exercise a considerable degree of initiative, possess mature judgment and maintain a calm, friendly and efficient manner when dealing with patients, their relatives, colleagues, and visitors.

The post involves 24-hour rotation. We offer extra payments for unsocial hours worked and a recruitment and retention premium (RRP) of £6,000 per year on top of the Band 6 salary (subject to terms and conditions).

• Will function as a supervisor to named nurse as allocated, taking responsibility for ensuring that named nurses formulate appropriate care plans.
• Will ensure all staff are fully conversant with all aspects regarding the service user's care and treatment.
• Will identify the individual care needs of allocated service users, plan, implement and evaluate all care programmes in conjunction with the unit's nursing team and the MDT.
• Will maintain close liaison with all department staff involved in a service user's care and report on progress and effectiveness to the MDT.
• Will participate in ward rounds, case conferences, etc., and will prepare reports on service users as required.
• Will be aware of all policy documents and legal requirements concerning the unit and ensure that these are adhered to (e.g., MHA, administration of drugs) and implement appropriately.
• Will demonstrate and serve as an example for all clinical activities to appropriate grades of staff.
• Will be fully conversant and ensure compliance with NMC codes of conduct and practice, relevant legislation and policies and procedures.
• To participate in assessment, with management, care planning, and review of all individuals referred to unit as appropriate, with the relevant discipline; NB - The post holder is required to maintain current registration with the NMC.
• Will exercise leadership and develop a good working relationship with colleagues in the MDT and the unit as a whole.
• To ensure that the Trust policies/procedures, NMC guidelines and protocols are adhered to at all times.
• To monitor and review sickness/absence, in partnership with the team leader.
• To participate in the recruitment and selection of junior staff.
• To participate in positive, regular clinical supervision and formal appraisal systems in line with the Trust policy.
• To contribute to the orientation/induction programmes for new staff and to the training/development programmes for all staff and students.
• Ensuring the physical environment is conducive to developing and maintaining a therapeutic environment consistent with the well being of both service-users and staff.
• To develop regular teaching sessions within the clinical environment.
• To act as a mentor to student nurses, providing ongoing support.
• To act as site nurse in charge out of hours on a rotational basis.
• Will be required to act up in the absence of the Team Leader.
• To take charge of the Unit as required.

• RMN/RLDN or Dip/ Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health/ Learning Disability Nursing
• ENB 998 / Preceptorship and Mentorship, Relevant experience at Band 5.
• Evidence of continuing professional development

• Experience of working in other clinical settings
• Ability to communicate effectively within a multi- professional team.
• Confidence to work autonomously, use own initiative, and make decisions in complex situations.
• Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or reassuring skills are required.
• Ability to deal with distressing circumstances and challenging behaviour.
• Experience of risk assessment and management.
• Ability to cope with an unpredictable work pattern and frequent interruptions.
• Understanding of legal framework MHA, MCA, DoL, safeguarding and social factors involved in care.
• Supervision skills
• Specific clinical skills applicable e.g. brief therapy, cognitive therapy and anxiety management.
• Implementing quality improvement initiatives.
• Ability to work flexibly according to client / service needs.
• Receptive to changing environments and an ability to promote positive approaches to implementing changes according to service and client need.
• Leadership qualities
• Ability to remain calm in difficult situations.
• Positive approach to work
• Attention to detail.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to…