Job Description

At the heart of Kings is the Variety Children's Hospital (VCH) offering a wide range of services and specialities for children and young people at local, regional, and international level. Within the VCH is a 16 bedded Children's Critical Care Centre providing care to both high dependency and intensive care patients.



Working in Children's Critical Care will provide you with the opportunity to care for for families wo have children admitted under a variety of specialties:



Neurosurgery , trauma, general medicine and surgery, liver disease and transplantation, small bowel transplantation, neonatal surgery, intensive care and high dependency care.



Support and development opportunities are vital in our philosophy of providing the best care to our patients and in valuing our staff. Development opportunities are actively encouraged, and you will be supported in gaining relevant competencies and qualifications by both the PDN and clinical facilitation team.



We are looking for a nursing associate to provide high quality nursing care to patients and their families requiring treatment in the Children's critical Care Unit. This person will be responsible for their own patient workload. They will require excellent communication skills and a caring and compassionate attitude. You will be working collaboratively with the nursing and medical team the allied health professionals and the clerical team.



Clinical and Patient Care



Ensure excellent standards of care for the patient are maintained at all times. Provide compassionate, safe and effective evidence-based care and support to people in a range of care settings. Monitor the condition and health needs of people within their care on a continual basis in partnership with MDT, families, and carers, recognising when it is necessary to refer or escalate to others for reassessment. Develop understanding of caring for individuals with particular conditions aligning with the unit specialities, including liver, neurosurgical and trauma. Support patients and their families to improve and maintain their mental, physical, behavioural health and wellbeing through health education. Assist in the implementation of appropriate action to meet the specific physical, emotional and psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of patients, families and carers. Be actively involved in the prevention of and protection against disease and ill health. Perform and record clinical observations including blood pressure, temperature, respirations, and pulse. Accurately record nutritional and fluid intake. Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes. Ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of 1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.



We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.



King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible



Main Duties & Responsibilities



Delivering high quality, evidence-based and patient focused clinical care through:



Delivering a high standard of evidence-based care to patients. Ensuring good standards of care for the patient are maintained at all times. Adhering to NMC Code of Professional conduct at all times. Involving and supporting patients, relatives, carers and friends in the care process. Promoting well-being and involving patients and relatives in health education. Ensuring clear and accurate written and verbal information is given at all times. Ensuring contemporaneous record keeping at all times. Seeking advice from more senior/experienced members of staff where appropriate.

Working effectively as part of the immediate team and wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) through:



Liaising effectively with all members of the MDT to ensure patients' needs are met. Exercising leadership and taking the initiative where appropriate. Providing support and advice to ward/unit staff (especially junior staff) on clinical and administrative issues. Liaising with discharge coordinator / bed manager to ensure effective admission/discharge of patients. Keeping the ward/unit sister / charge nurse informed of significant changes and/or anticipated problems.

Upholding a duty of care and clinical governance through:

Observing a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of yourself, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital. Ensuring the rules, policies, procedures and standards of Kings College Hospital NHS Trust Foundation together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations are adhered to at all times. Maintaining patient confidentiality, dignity and privacy at all times. Adhering to the Trust's policy on valuing equality and diversity and showing due regard for each patient's cultural and religious beliefs, gender, ethnicity, age and sexuality. Strictly adhering to the National Code of Practice on Infection Control. Taking responsibility for your own personal development and keeping up to date with nursing and medical knowledge. Being aware of current research and the implications for the ward/unit speciality. Acting as a role model at all times and for all staff. Acting as practice supervisor and/or preceptor/mentor for junior and newly qualified staff. Working with appropriate members of the teaching staff to ensure effective staff development (own and others). Participating in Trust and Divisional initiatives to develop nursing practice and support change.

General



The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.

At King's we are a kind, respectful team:

Kind . We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work



Respectful . We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed



Team . We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional



To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.

All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.