Senior Sister​/Charge Nurse

The Whittington Emergency Department (ED) serves the diverse local community of North London. We pride ourselves on providing high quality, compassionate care and give structured support and development to all our nurses. Our CQC inspection in January 2020 praised the teamwork displayed amongst our staff who support each other to provide good care. We are a dedicated trauma unit as part of the North East London and Essex Trauma Network.

Due to an increase in our Senior Nursing establishment, we have a vacancy for a dynamic, enthusiastic, innovative senior nurse who is looking for their next challenge to help us build on our reputation as one of the safest hospitals in England. The role of the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse is pivotal in providing leadership and support to our nurses, while ensuring the department is managed smoothly on each shift.

You will be given the freedom to manage your department and a team of nurses, with appropriate support and development opportunities. We have very strong nursing leadership and can offer support from our substantial senior team, which includes our two ED Matrons and a Practice Development Nurse who provide a clinical support rota.

You will be expected to work in all areas of the department acting as a role model and providing evidence-based care. You would also regularly act as a shift leader maintaining patient flow and ensuring patient safety and quality of care in the department. You will be given management time to undertake you line management duties and take on a key area of responsibility.

You may already be working at a Band 7 level or looking for your next challenge. We will tailor a development programme to meet your needs to excel in this role. This includes building upon your portfolio of courses, for example ALS, ATNC, APLS, Physical Assessment or Minor Illness/Injury. To support your leadership development the Trust offers both internal and external leadership courses.

There are also opportunities for teaching or involvement in research/national audit.

Applicants will have significant post registration experience with demonstrable experience in Emergency Care, educated to degree level and have a mentorship and A&E qualification.

The post will require full internal rotation of our shift patterns (flexible / part time working will be considered).

Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief.

The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

The post holder will uphold and display the Trust values of Innovation, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.

The Senior Sister/ Charge Nurse will be expected to:

• To lead the nursing workforce on a shift-by-shift basis, by taking charge of the department (or continuing accountability if this is delegated)
• Manage patient flows, ensuring safety and escalating potential issues appropriately
• Guiding the activity of nursing, medical and other staff to ensure rapid assessment, treatment and disposal of patients.
• Participate in educational and training programmes for junior nursing staff and students, including acting as a preceptor / mentor where required.
• Supervise staff to ensure that high standards of nursing care are delivered.
• Be able to work independently as an expert practitioner in all areas of the Emergency Department.

DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT

The post holder is part of a team with responsibility for the management of the Emergency Department on a shift basis. The overarching management of the nursing workforce and department is co-ordinated by the Lead Nurse / Matron in the Emergency Department. He/she will regularly take charge during his/her span of duty and will have undertaken responsibilities for aspects of the running and organisation of the department as directed by the Matron.

They will also be expected to deputise for the Matron as required.

The Nurse in Charge ensures:

• Available staff on the shift are deployed appropriately to meet changing demands.
• Patient flows are managed effectively in accordance with the Department of Health, ED Clinical Quality Indicators.
• That the activity of nursing, medical and other staff is guided to ensure the rapid assessment, treatment and disposal of patients.
• Staff are adequately supervised, supported and coached.
• That delegated responsibilities for…