Job overview

Are you looking for an opportunity to enhance your leadership skills by joining a nursing team that thrives on challenging themselves to improve all aspects of their ward performance and ensuring their patients always receive high standards of care? If so, we would love to have you join our team on the paediatric cardiac ward.

The Paediatric Cardiac Ward provides a dedicated 24-hour acute cardiac service for patients from a wide network including Oxford and the Channel Islands. We offer both cardiology and cardiac surgery experience, caring for those patients from just a few days of life, all the way up to the age of 18. We have our own integrated HDU within the ward footprint, as well as general cardiac beds and a nursery.

UHS offers fantastic training and development giving you the best possible opportunities to achieve the career you want. Development of our staff is central to the delivery of high quality, safe and effective care. We can offer opportunities to develop within a supportive environment, and our staff survey results reflect our commitment to facilitate your career progression. 

Main duties of the job

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting. 

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached. 

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Due to the nature of this role and service, this role is on-site and the hours are as advertised. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be responsible for assisting the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in the management of the ward over a 24-hour period, ensuring high standards of care are maintained and available resources are utilised effectively.
You will be assisting in the day-to-day management and organisation of the cardiac ward as required, demonstrating clinical expertise, and acting as a role model within the cardiac setting and across child health.

What we're looking for:
We are looking for an individual, who is a strong leader and is highly motivated with excellent communication skills. The Sister/Charge Nurse role requires a close working relationship with the multi-professional team to ensure that evidenced based quality care is delivered with compassion to every patient.
You will be required to have high clinical standards with a passion to make a difference for patients and staff alike. It is essential that you are good at promoting co-operation, building teams, and developing people for the future, as well as focusing on your own professional growth.

Person specification

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Registered nurse on relevant part of the NMC register
• Degree qualification or equivalent 120 credits at L6
• Post registration qualification within area of speciality.
• Completion of all Band 5 (preceptorship) competencies
• Provide evidence of supporting/ managing a range of learners in practice
• Provide evidence of supporting colleagues to promote effective learning in practice
• Extensive post registration experience within specialist area.
• Knowledge of current issues within the acute health service.
• Understanding of personal accountability.
• Confident of own knowledge base, aware of learning needs and seeks guidance when appropriate.
• Able to critically review and communicate clinical information.

Desirable criteria

• Registered on MSc Pathway – completion of HTPA Competencies
• Act in the role of Practice Assessor or supporting the progression of learners / supporting challenges as needed
• Counselling qualification
• Palliative care course
• IT training
• Change Management, clinical practice development.
• Multidisciplinary team working. Interest in nurse –led care.
• Organisational/strategic awareness.
• Clear about professional accountability and autonomous practice components of role.

Skills and competencies

Essential criteria

• Communication
• Self-motivated
• Problem solving
• Delegation
• Leadership
• Motivational
• Teamwork
• General IT skills
• Prioritisation
• Working under pressure

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.