Job Description

Mersey and West Lancashire NHS Trust (MWL) has a new and exciting opportunity to join the Medicine Division as Lead Nurse within Endoscopy.



The successful candidate will work with the clinical and management teams to harmonise practices on all 4 MWL sites, whilst being a positive and influential leader in the provision of high quality and safe care.



You will support the Site Leads in the formulation and implementation of policies, guidelines and protocols, thus ensuring the Trust is adhering to best practice guidelines whilst being committed to change management and service improvement.



Providing strong clinical leadership, you will be professionally accountable for the standards and co-ordination of patient care within the Endoscopy Department, ensuring that standards are continuously developed and maintained. This includes being responsible for completion of the Global Rating Scale (GRS) census and providing evidence required to sustain our JAG accreditation and revalidation on 2 sites and work towards obtaining JAG on a further 2 sites.



In addition, the role will carry overall responsibility for the organisation and management of the Endoscopy Unit, inspiring the staff within whilst coordinating the provision of high-quality Endoscopy services to external departments.



The post is an ideal opportunity for an experienced nurse to build upon and advance their leadership and managerial skills whilst being supported by the Senior Nursing, Management and Medical teams.



The post holder must be an experienced Endoscopy Nurse with detailed and extensive knowledge and skills to act as a positive role model through the provision of effective professional leadership and demonstration of competent, accountable clinical practice whilst undertaking the operational management and strategic development of the service

Actively support the Division in the provision of high quality, modern, dynamic and patient centred day case services through day to day visible, accessible and authoritative leadership within the clinical setting.

Provide professional and clinical leadership and support to the nursing workforce.

Maintain a high profile in supporting and managing staff, dealing with issues promptly and effectively that may impact on service delivery

Ensure the delivery of patient care is of the highest standard and patients and their families are treated with privacy and respect.

Ensure timely submission of all required data both internally (through trust established method i.e. PTL) and externally (JAG)

Implement strategies to ensure clinical care within the endoscopy units meets JAG and other national directives for waiting times and Trust annual objectives

Maintaining effective channels to obtain views and concerns of service users and to take action as appropriate where in use produce weekly reports derived from Patient Experience Audit.



Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.



We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our services:

Acute Care



Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.



Primary Care



Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.



Community Services



Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.



Specialist Regional Services



We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018

Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)

National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme



KEY DUTIES



Provide professional and clinical leadership and support to the nursing workforce. Ensure that performance and sickness management issues relating to nurses in the area of practice are dealt with promptly, sensitively, equally and without discrimination in accordance with Trust policy. Maintain a high profile in supporting and managing staff, dealing with issues promptly and effectively that may impact on service delivery. Contribute to directorate business planning, reviewing and agreeing nursing workforce plans. To ensure that effective emergency planning measures are in place inclusive of effective contingency and business continuity plans. Maintain an active role in the recruitment and retention of the nursing workforce, continually reviewing and adapting skill mix and staff establishments to meet patient need.

Provide advice and guidance for clinical teams on effective assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care according to changing health care needs, ensuring that patients, relatives / carers are involved in all aspects of care



Initiate and monitor changes and improvements to practice in terms of patient flow, admission and discharge arrangements according to service plans and objectives.



Provide advice and support for patients, carers and relatives, by being visible and accessible, acting as the first point of call for information and concerns referred on from the ward, liaising with other staff, clinical teams, patient services and external agencies as required



Provide advice and guidance on preparation of the clinical environment for safe practice, ensuring that the appropriate level of cleanliness is maintained, taking action to address issues and solve problems



Collect, collate, analyse and report information, ensuring that accurate patient records/documentation are maintained, taking action to address issues and solve problems



CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES



Maintain Professional Registration



Maintain clinical working and expected to be roster for 70 percent of job plan for clinical working



Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body



Act as a role model by demonstrating leadership and expertise, and by maintaining credibility within the Division, the wider health care community and external agencies, ensuring a positive image of the Trust is maintained.



Maintain high visibility in the clinical areas and be aware of current issues through undertaking activities such as clinical practice or observations of care. Develop a work programme that enables designated clinical time based on the unit.



QUALITY



Patient Safety



Ensure effective measurements are in place to promote a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff.

Ensure all sites working within guidance and expectations of JAG.



Ensure there is a robust system in place to ensure lessons are learnt with subsequent changes in practice when highlighted through incidents, complaints and claims both trust wide.



Ensure JAG, NHSE and other national endoscopy guidance are implemented in a timely and appropriate way.



Ensure the units meet the required CQC standards, policies and guidelines and systems and processes are in place to prepare for and monitor external assessment, accreditation and regulatory inspections.



Provide patient safety and governance reports for Divisional/speciality updates and any trust committees, collating key quality indicators to support assurance mechanisms to demonstrate compliance with key standards and to escalate where improvements need to be made



Ensure all unit senior nurses / coordinators participate in monthly nursing indicators audits, ensuring that action plans are implemented within agreed time frames



Ensure that the unit has systems in place to identify report and manage risk which involves taking action and monitoring work areas in accordance with Health and Safety legislation and guidance from the National Patient Safety Agency.



Undertake Clinical Risk Assessments as appropriate and as discussed with the Clinical Director Head of Nursing and Quality and Business Manager.



To ensure systems are in place for assessing and prioritising the purchasing of medical devices and ensuring staff are appropriately trained in their use. Work with the Divisional management team in the procurement, implementation and decontamination of medical equipment. Ensure systems are in place for training and recording competency in the use of new devices.



To ensure that there are high standards of documentation and care planning in all areas of practice. Ensuring there are regular reviews of all documentation, and focused action plans are produced when areas of concern are identified.



Lead and coordinate the ward staffing response to a major incident.



Oversee trials of new equipment and ensure appropriate legislation and safety measures are adhered



Patient Experience



To ensure that there are systems in place to capture and act upon information related to the patient experience

Promote a lesson learnt culture



Promote patient centred service delivery by providing visible and accessible senior professional presence to which staff, patients and their families can turn to for assistance.



Maintaining effective channels to obtain views and concerns of service users and to take action as appropriate where in use produce weekly reports derived from Patient Experience Audit.



Ensuring that the patient experience remains the focal point for service improvement within the Directorate.



Establish effective relationships with PALS and the complaints team encouraging the staff in the proactive resolution of concerns. Ensure that actions arising from patient feedback are progressed



Clinical Effectiveness



Implement strategies to ensure clinical care within the endoscopy units meets JAG and other national directives for waiting times and Trust annual objectives



To ensure the implementation of national, local and Trust standards of best practice and quality and monitor performance against these that informs the corporate performance review programme. and is utilised to improve the effectiveness of clinical practice and service delivery



Support Unit Involvement and delivery of local and national clinical audits.



ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES



Ensure accurate and contemporaneous records are kept for all patient care and interventions.



TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES



Take responsibility for own learning by full participation in appraisal, attending mandatory training, developing own "expert" knowledge and skills, maintaining a professional portfolio inclusive of advanced skills.



Lead on the development of the clinical team ensuring compliance with plans to improve knowledge/clinical practice within the team, taking action if plans are not met!



LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES



Provide leadership on making changes and improvements in quality of care and development of clinical teams, ensuring that plans are implemented by monitoring and reporting on the impact of change.



Provide advice and guidance on plans to encourage patient and public involvement activities in clinical areas, monitoring activity, and making recommendations for improvements.



Develop and maintain systems and processes to ensure that work is appropriately prioritised and allocated, and that effective supervision is in place to support work delegated to staff.



Develop and maintain systems and processes to ensure that staff appraisal is in place for all staff in the service.



Ensure that recruitment, staff induction and orientation, and mandatory training take place according to Trust policy.



Support the Division by the effective use of resources, e.g. staff, budget, premises, equipment, supplies and materials.



Develop and maintain systems and processes to promote, monitor and maintain a healthy, safe and secure working environment, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate documentation and reporting any concerns.



FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY



In Liaison with Finance department actively seek solutions to improve cost efficiency (95% challenge).

To contribute to the development of robust financial management systems. To ensure processes are in place to optimally utilise Medicine Clinical Directorate resources.



Meeting annual financial targets including CIP Savings.



Ensure business risk evaluation of all service developments.



To be accountable for the cost effective and efficient use of resources, ensuring that all senior staff are trained in resource management strategies.



Monitor agency and temporary staffing usage justifying against vacancies and staff absence (maternity, sickness etc) Ensure all staff make efficient and effective use of financial and other resources.

RESEARCH & AUDIT



Take an active role in the co-ordination and development of research and audit programmes within the nursing arena and apply the outcomes to improve patient care and service delivery. Take an active role with all GRS audits as directed by Clinical Director * Instigate and implement new innovations within nursing and develop these in collaboration with the nursing staff and team.