Ward Sister, Same Day Emergency Care

Band 6 Sister/Charge Nurse required to cover maternity leave within Medical Same Day Emergency Care. 

Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) remains at the forefront of NHS England’s urgent, emergency care recover plan. North Bristol Medical SDEC, has received significant investment over the last two years, allowing the service to transform and grow since its colocation with surgical SDEC on gate 36. Following building alterations, the bespoke designed unit now assesses 35 -45 patients per day.

SDEC allows specialists, where appropriate, to assess, diagnose and treat patients on the same day of arrival who would otherwise have been admitted to hospital.

Under this care model, patients presenting at hospital with relevant conditions can be rapidly assessed, diagnosed and treated without being admitted to a ward, and if clinically safe to do so, will go home the same day their care is provided.

The unit accepts referrals form GP’S, the Emergency Department, and Southwest Ambulance service, as well as working closely with NHS at home. Following the expansion of the unit over the last two years we now provide specialist services within Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Infectious Disease, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Stroke, and Neurology.

Main duties of the job

• Coordinating the flow of patients though Medical SDEC on a daily basis.
• Supervising, teaching and managing performance of the nursing team.
• Completing e-rosters
• Deputising for the unit manager in their absence 
• Completing staff appraisals
• Completing audits and implementing quality improvement projects
• Investigating complaints and incidents, identifying and actioning improvement initiates.
• Communicating and celebrating achievements with staff. 

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust is a center of excellence for healthcare in the South West in a number of fields and is also one of the largest hospital trusts in the UK. 

Our annual turnover is around £950 million, and we employ over 13,000 staff, delivering healthcare at a number of sites including Southmead Hospital, Cossham Hospital, Bristol Centre for Enablement, and in the community at locations across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. 

We provide a range of services to a core population of around 750,000 people, from neonatal intensive care to care of the elderly, as well as a number of specialist services including Major Trauma, Neurosciences, Burns, Plastics, Stroke and Thrombectomy, Nephrology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases/ HIV, Transplant and Obstetric Medicine for the wider South West and beyond. 

We are also a major research centre and teaching trust, having close links to the Universities of Bristol, Bath, and the West of England.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Take charge of defined clinical areas on a daily basis.
• Assist Supervisory Sister/Charge Nurse and support cascade of information and key messages to team in a timely manner.
• Working with the Supervisory Sister/Charge Nurse, be responsible for the effective use of e-rostering to ensure optimum skill mix for the acuity of patients.
• Accountable for the monitoring and initial management of sick absence for own immediate team and escalating cases as appropriate in accordance with Trust policy.
•  For designated area tackle poor performance and standards of behaviour and, where necessary, initiate ad-hoc meetings for staff to discuss performance. Matters to be escalated to Supervisory Sister/Charge Nurse when necessary.
• Ensure all staff in their area work to the Professional Code of Conduct and/or Trust standards
• Ensure all Annual Development Reviews (ADRs) and Personal Development Plans are completed annually for staff within reporting chain.
•  Assist with the interview, selection and recruitment process for staff for their own designated areas and wider when requested by Supervisory Sister/Charge Nurse or Matron.
• Manage the training and further development for staff working in designated area for their assessment and continual professional development.
•  Participate in the teaching and supervision of the clinical team including trainee nurses and others under training who are allocated to the ward.
•  Assist the Supervisory Sister/Charge Nurse with the implementation of any local service programmes and to ensure they are consistent with Trust values and any other quality indicators/targets.
• As delegated, be responsible for the effective collection and interpretation of saving lives audit data and, when necessary, take corrective actions for area to ensure Trust standards are met.

Person specification

Essential

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience within the acute setting.
• Teaching Qualification.
• NMC registered.
• Effective written communication.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in research and audit.
• Relevant post graduation course.
• IT Skills.