Job Description

To assist in the delivery of a high standard of care to children and young people and their families under the supervision of the registered nurses To provide support to all members of the multidisciplinary team ensuring a smooth and efficient service to children/young people and their families

To ensure family centred care is promoted on the ward and children and young people are treated with respect and dignity

To act with professionalism and integrity, being a role model to those around us and ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity

To provide a service that is tailored to meet the needs of the individual and to understand what our Children and young people need and be adaptable and responsive

To provide a high-quality customer service which complies with relevant legislation and NHS Employment check standards

To be honest and learn from mistakes, and help to create a "no-blame" culture were people feel able to share and learn from experiences together



To work as part of a team demonstrating effective communication, and working collaboratively with colleagues inside and out of the department

Acknowledge that you need to continually deliver greater value to customers

Be honest about your biggest challenges and create a culture of curiosity and openness

Make a deliberate effort to connect with strangers from different walks of life and invite them to share their ideas



Be curious and creative about new possibilities, whilst identifying what works well and to do more of it

Help to develop and foster a learning environment where feedback is welcomed and valued



To care and support and build trust with the child and family in what can be a very stressful time for them



Louisa Cary is an acute children's ward at Torbay hospital which cares for children and young people 0 - 18yrs on our 19 bedded ward which consists of 2 HDU beds, 11 cubicles and a separate 6 bedded young people's area. We also have a Short Stay Paediatric Assessment area (SSPAU) which is open Monday to Friday. Where family centred care is promoted.



The post will require close liaison with all areas where children are cared for within the trust, such as ED, day surgery, SCBU, children's community team and outpatients. We are a very supportive team which encourages personal development which is supported by the practice educator on the ward.



Communication and working relationships



To have good interpersonal skills with staff, relatives and patients.

To contribute positively to the team, ensuring effective communication with other members to work toward agreed objectives.

Demonstrate a caring, compassionate and friendly attitude. Able to deal with sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy and be approachable.

This position requires empathy and tact when dealing with families who may be angry or upset

To be an advocate for the child and family.



Planning and organisation



To support the preparation of Children who are undergoing procedures e.g., taking of bloods/particularly children who are needle phobic and preparation for surgery.

To be aware of all policies and procedures of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and to ensure that they are always adhered to.

To be aware of safeguarding children issues and seeks guidance from the Registered nurses.



To seek out clinical/safeguarding supervision at least 2 times a year

To ensure documentation is of a high standard that provides continuity of care and is completed in accordance with trust for record keeping being overseen by the Registered nurse

To ensure family centred care is promoted on the ward, SSPAU, outpatients and children and young people are treated with respect and dignity



Physical skills



Working in acute fast paced clinical areas. Manual dexterity to use a keyboard Ability to write legibly Required to use computer and telephone Be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the child/young person on their level

Patient and client care



Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.



To check that patients and families have all they need for a comfortable stay. To always ensure patient confidentiality.

To assist in the provision of care alongside of the Registered nurses to maintain a high standard of nursing care by carrying out instructions from the registered nurses and reporting outcomes

To follow prescribed standards of care formulated by the Registered Nurse to ensure continuity of care is maintained

To undertake skill-based practices by following a competency-based framework in order to be assessed as competent

To follow a framework of assessment so that individual children/young people are adequately assessed and awareness of needs are addressed

To work in all areas of child Health as the need arises Louisa Cary, Paediatric outpatients and Special care baby unit



Policy and service development



Participate in ward/unit environmental audits.

Evaluate own actions, reduce risks to health & safety and promote a health and safety culture in the workplace.

Ensure compliance with policies procedures and clinical guidelines for self and others.



Report any incidents, accidents or complaints to the nurse in charge of the ward, in accordance with Trust policy.

To be aware of child protection issues and seeks guidance from the Registered nurses



Finance, equipment and other resources



To monitor the environment to ensure all areas are clean and tidy. Remove clutter, tidy notice boards.



To report any faults or damage to the equipment, fabric of the department to Estates. Ensure all equipment/toys is cleaned to Trust standards and contamination No direct responsibility for budget. Must be aware of the cost implications when using materials and resources.

People management and training



Attend mandatory training and relevant study days to develop own knowledge and skills.



Information technology and administrative duties



Be familiar with relevant computerised systems integral to the running of the service. To report any faults or damage to the department to Estates. To be able to, scan and photocopy. Basic IT skills which can be developed.

Research and development



To actively participate in audits and surveys

Freedom to act



To comply with trust infection and control policies and always conduct him/herself in such a manner as to minimise the risk of healthcare associated infection. * To participate incident reporting in accordance with Trust policy.