Service Sister / Charge Nurse - WATCh

This is an exciting opportunity to become a member of the WATCh Service as the Service Sister / Charge Nurse. The successful applicant will join an experienced, innovative, and passionate team that is continuously striving for improvement. The post has existed for less than one year, so it is still evolving.  

WATCh is one of 12 Paediatric Critical Care Transport Services in the UK that covers one of the largest geographical areas. This 24 hour Service is commissioned to provide advice and where necessary the transport of critically ill children from the 22 district general hospitals in South Wales and South West England. WATCh works in collaboration with the Tertiary Children’s Hospitals in Bristol and Cardiff to ensure that all children have access to specialist care.

The post has a mix of clinical and non-clinical duties to allow the post holder to maintain their clinical skills and clinical credibility. The post holder will work closely with the Lead Nurse and the Clinical Lead to deliver the day-to-day operational / logistical and strategic management of the Service, whilst acting as a resource for the clinical and non-clinical team members. As a senior member of the team they will be expected to contribute to Quality Improvement projects, deliver change and disseminate best practice.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will need to demonstrate natural leadership skills and be a role model for the team and, when required, will be delegated responsibility for the service in the absence of the Lead Nurse. The role will also contribute to the out of hours, senior nurse, on call rota.  

Applicants must have significant post registration experience in Paediatric Critical Care or a related speciality, as well as Band 6 / 7 experience within a paediatric or neonatal critical care transport service.  

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Person specification

Training & Education

Essential criteria

• Relevant professional registration with the NMC
• Educated to 1st degree level
• Speciality qualification in Paediatric Critical Care
• Advanced clinical assessment skills module (e.g. Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning for the Presenting Child or equivalent)
• APLS / EPALS provider certificate or equivalent
• FLAPP or equivalent qualification

Desirable criteria

• Leadership training or management qualification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant post registration experience in Paediatric Critical Care or related speciality
• Band 6 experience within a paediatric / neonatal critical care transport service
• Portfolio of evidence demonstrating ongoing professional development
• Evidence of recent teaching experience
• Demonstrate leadership skills and knowledge

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of recent project experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

• Ability to work in highly demanding and unfamiliar environments
• Possess a high level of skill and competency in paediatric critical care nursing practice
• Ability to manage own and other’s workload, meet deadlines and work autonomously
• Able to work across professional team and organisational boundaries
• Ability to demonstrate effective use of resources
• Delivery of evidence based practice
• Has an interest in the use of clinical systems to facilitate research
• Ability to work with advanced technologies
• Competent in the use of IT packages such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
• Good knowledge of clinical information systems e.g. ICE / Medway / Insignia
• Demonstrates knowledge of audit processes
• Competent in the use of databases and spreadsheets

Desirable criteria

• Research and audit experience
• Evidence of implementation of research-based practice