Job Description

Job title: Staff Nurse

Division: Queen Square

Board/corporate function: Specialist Hospital Board

Salary band: 5

Responsible to: Ward Sister/Charge Nurse or Department Manager

Accountable to: Chief Nurse

Hours per week: 37.5

Location: National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most
complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population.

We provide academically-led acute and specialist services, to people from the local
area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas.

Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education and world-class
research. We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

 University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

 National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
 Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital
 Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
 University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
 The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
 University College Hospitals at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH
specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological,
gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical
care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
CLINICAL BOARD

Various

DIVISION/DIRECTORATE

Various

Job Purpose

. To work according to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and relevant

professional guidelines as a named nurse or key worker (with facilitation) for a
defined group of patients and take responsibility for:
 Protecting and supporting the health of individual patients and clients
 Assessment of care and health education needs
 Development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care
including discharge planning for each patient

2. Under supervision, to gain experience and skills in:

 Clinical practice
 Facilitation and teaching
 Management (as appropriate)

3. To work in accordance with UCLH Nursing and Midwifery Strategy and Core
Standards and contribute towards achieving the Trust’s “Top 10” Objectives
4. To maintain effective communication
5. To provide a high standard of holistic patient-centred care
6. *To take charge of the ward/department in the absence of senior nursing staff
following performance review against the agreed KSF outline and progression
through the first gateway

This job description outlines the key contributions of the role of a Band 5 Staff Nurse
from entry level (foundation gateway) through to the second gateway.

*Progression between the gateways offers scope to acquire increased management,

leadership and teaching skills. Over time the post-holder will be expected to
demonstrate additional competencies and undertake further responsibilities; e.g.
taking charge of the ward.
 NMC Preceptorship

UCLH endorses the NMC recommendation that newly qualified nurses are offered
support to make the transition from student and to develop their practice further during
a formal period of preceptorship lasting six months; (see UCLH Nursing & Midwifery
Core Standard: Preceptorship).

DIMENSIONS

Key working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team, including
nursing and medical staff, allied health professionals and support workers

KEY RESULT AREAS

Communication

 Record observations accurately in accordance with the patients' condition.

Interpret and inform the nurse in charge of changing data and respond as
directed
 Assist patients to gain access to health and social care, information and
support relevant to their needs
 Participate in the promotion and maintenance of effective communication with
the patient and their carer(s)
 Provide information which enables patients to make choices about adopting a
healthier lifestyle
 Complete patient documentation correctly, appropriately and in a timely manner
 Develop communication skills in order to convey complex and sensitive
information effectively to patients, carers and other staff, overcoming any
barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional
events. This includes expanded role responsibilities, following appropriate
training
 Maintain patient confidentiality
 Maintain professional boundaries and working relationships with patients and
colleagues

Personal and People Development

 Educate patients and their carers as required where a need has been identified
 Participate in annual staff appraisal, staff development and in-service training
activities in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework
 Attend Trust/local orientation programmes, mandatory training sessions and
annual updates
 Be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, clinical skills and
professional awareness in accordance with CPD requirements and maintain a
professional profile
 Help maintain a suitable learning environment for staff and act as a facilitator in
the supervision and teaching of nursing students and others to develop their
competence
 Develop own teaching skills and participate in staff/student education
programmes that develop competence and performance
 Assist in the training and development of Health Care assistants and complete
assessors training as required
 Act as a preceptor/facilitator/mentor for junior staff nurses
  Take part in reflection and appropriate learning from practice, in order to
maintain and develop competence and performance

Health, Safety and Security

 Develop an awareness of personal responsibility with regard to maintenance of

a clean environment that is conducive to safe, therapeutic and ethical practice
 Be accountable for and ensure own competence in practice, e.g. use of
specialised equipment
 Be aware of own personal/professional limitations and seek help of others to
maintain safe practice.
 Assist in promoting nursing practice and care delivery in line with relevant
research and evidence base and with reference to trust policies and guidelines
 Identify potential risks for all staff, patients and visitors and adhere to relevant
incident reporting procedures
 Assist with the safe custody and administration of drugs in accordance with
local and Trust policy and legal requirements
 Handle and dispose of all body fluids in accordance with universal precautions

Service Improvement

 Assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of nursing practice

standards, guidelines, policies and care pathways
 Contribute to the setting and monitoring of measurable standards of care and
be accountable for maintaining standards
 Deliver care based on current evidence, best practice and validated research
when available
 Contribute to research and development programmes within the
ward/department
 Work with the Practice Development Team in developing and implementing
best practice

Quality

 Ensure a welcoming, caring and safe environment is provided for the patient
and their family/visitors/carers
 Promote a happy and supportive environment
 Maintain own awareness of the national, professional and local quality issues
relevant to the delivery of nursing services
 Uphold quality initiatives that improve ‘customer care’ and enhance the
interface between staff, patients and visitors and other wards and departments
within the trust
 Be aware of the role of the nurse in handling complaints in accordance with
UCLH policy
 Participate in audit process for monitoring and reviewing nursing quality
 Assist in raising the profile of the “Essence of Care” Benchmarking process and
implementing the action plans
Equality and Diversity

 Carry out duties and responsibilities with regard to the Trust’s Equal
Opportunity policy
 Recognise the importance of people’s rights and act in accordance with
legislation, policies and procedures
 Act in ways that acknowledge and recognise peoples’ expressed beliefs,
preferences and choices; respecting diversity and valuing people as individuals
 Take account of own behaviour and its effect on others

Assessment and care planning to meet health and wellbeing needs

 Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients and make changes as
necessary
 Produce care plans that are appropriate to the patient’s needs, monitor and
update them
 Plan and co-ordinate patients’ discharge arrangements

Provision of care to meet health and wellbeing needs

 Act as a Named Nurse (with facilitation) and maintain accountability for

assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating programmes of care
 Act as an advocate for the patient, providing information and directing them to
the relevant support services where appropriate
 Take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks
 Respect people’s dignity, wishes and beliefs; involve them in shared decision-
making and obtain their consent before undertaking nursing procedures
 Promote a patient focused multidisciplinary approach to care in collaboration
with carers, health care professionals and other agencies
 Ensure that treatments prescribed by the medical staff are carried out, and that
multidisciplinary team members are informed of changes in the patient’s
condition
 Ensure safe and timely transfer of patients in accordance with UCLH policy
 Ensure safe discharge of patients in accordance with UCLH Discharge Policy

Information Processing

 Use electronic patient records (EPR) and develop other computer literacy skills.
 Collect/record data accurately in accordance with professional guidelines and
UCLH Core Standards

The post holder is required to have a minimum of one year’s post-registration

experience (preferably in the speciality of the ward area) before they may take
charge of the ward/department in the absence of senior nursing staff. The
following section is key to defining this level of practice.

People Management

 Take charge of the shift in the absence of senior staff and co-ordinate the
multidisciplinary team
 Supervise and support team members and ensure that all patients receive
appropriate care
  Develop skills in efficient and effective resource management, e.g.
staffing, equipment and materials
 Assist in the assessment and monitoring of staffing requirements and
report problems to the appropriate manager
 Report when the availability of supplies falls below an acceptable standard
or level

General

 Adhere to the UCLH Service Commitment "Putting Patients First" and adopt
a professional approach to customer care at all times
 Comply with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and treat staff,
patients, colleagues and potential employees with dignity and respect at all
times
 Take personal responsibility for promoting a safe environment and safe
patient care by identifying areas of risk and following the Incident, Serious
Incidents and Near Misses reporting policy and procedure
 Take personal responsibility for ensuring that UCLH resources are
used efficiently and with minimum wastage, and to comply with the Trust's
Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs)
 Comply with Trust policies for personal and patient safety and for prevention
of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI); this includes a requirement for
rigorous
and consistent compliance with Trust policies for hand hygiene, use of
personal
protective equipment and safe disposal of
sharps
 In accordance with the Trust's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies
Act
2004 to undertake work and alternative duties as reasonably directed at
variable locations in the event of and for the duration of a significant internal
incident, major incident or pandemic
 Be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures, the Health
and
Safety at Work Act and the Data Protection
Act
 Maintain confidentiality at all times

Other

The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be
altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation
with the post holder.

You will be expected to actively participate in annual appraisals and set objectives in
conjunction with your manager. Performance will be monitored against set objectives.
Our Vision and Values

The Trust is committed to delivering top quality patient care, excellent education and
world-class research.

We deliver our vision through values to describe how we serve patients, their families
and how we are with colleagues in the Trust and beyond.

We put your safety and wellbeing above everything

Deliver the best Reassuringly Take personal

Keep people safe
outcomes professional responsibility
We offer you the kindness we would want for a loved one

Respect Friendly and Attentive and Protect your

individuals courteous helpful dignity
We achieve through teamwork

Work in Respect
Listen and hear Explain and involve
partnership everyone’s time
We strive to keep improving

Courage to give and Efficient and Develop through Innovate and

receive feedback simplified learning research
 KSF Outline for Band 5 Nurse

KSF Dimension, Level and Indicator

Dimen- Dimension Foundation Second Gateway

sion Gateway ( Full Outline)
Numbe ( Subset Outline)
r
Level Indicators Level Indicator
s
1 Communication 3 All 3 All
Dimension

2 Personal and People Development 2 All 3 All

Core

3 Health, Safety and Security 2 All 3 All

4 Service Improvement 1 All 2 All
5 Quality 2 All 3 All
6 Equality and Diversity 2 All 2 All

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

HW B2 Assessment & care planning to meet 3 All 3 All
people’s health & wellbeing needs indicators
with
supervision
Dimension

HW B4 Enablement to address health and

Specific

wellbeing needs
HW B5 Provision of care to meet health and 3 All 3 All
wellbeing needs
INFORMATION AND
KNOWLEDGE
IK1 Information processing 1 All 2 All
GENERAL
G6 People management 1 b), c), d) 1 All
 Person Specification

Post: Band 5 Staff Nurse Candidate’s Name:

Subset Outline – (SO) * *Essential / Desirable – E/D

Full Outline - (FO) **
HOW WILL CRITERIA BE ASSESSED?
(A)APPLICATION / (T) TEST / (I) INTERVIEW / (R) REFERENCES

REQUIREMENTS *E / How M Not EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT

D asses et Me ASSESSMENT
sed t
1. Knowledge & Qualifications
a. Registered Nurse Part 1, 2 or
relevant E A
section of the register D A
b. Relevant Teaching course (FO)** D A
c. NVQ assessor (FO)**

2. Experience
a. Up to 6 months post-registration E A
(SO)* E A
b. Passed Foundation gateway Level
(FO)

3. Communication
a. Demonstrates awareness of the E I
importance
of working as part of a multi
disciplinary E A /I
team.
b. Communicates effectively verbally, E I
in writing
and in electronic formats E I
c. Communicates with patients and
carers in
an empathetic manner
d. Demonstrates understanding of
good
practice in Customer Care

4. Personal And People

Development E A
a. Demonstrates evidence of
professional
development in line with KSF, E A/I
maintains
 updated Portfolio E A/I
b. Demonstrates an awareness of the
role of E A/I
facilitator
c. Demonstrates evidence of ability to
educate
others
d. Reflective in Practice
5. Health, Safety And Security
a. Monitors and maintains health, E I
safety and
security of self and others (SO)* E I
b. Promotes, monitors and maintains
best
practice in health, safety and security
(FO)**

6. Service Improvement
a. Demonstrates awareness of E I
research and
evidence-based practice E I
b. Willing to provide support to other
clinical
areas within the division

7. Quality
a. Demonstrates understanding of E A/I
principles of
Clinical Governance, e.g. Risk
Management,
audit & quality

8. Equality and Diversity

a. Respects the privacy and dignity of E I
the
individual E I
b. Understands the implications of
Equal
Opportunities in practice
9. Assessment and Care Planning to
Meet Health and Wellbeing Needs
a. Prioritises own workload (SO)* E I
b. Prioritises workload of others E I
dependent on
experience (FO)** E I
c. Works under own initiative within
boundaries E I
of role (SO)*
d. Acts on own initiative and problem-
solves
utilising resources available (FO)**
10. Provision of care to meet health
and wellbeing needs
a. Articulates reasons for desire to E A/I
work in this
clinical areas E I
b. Committed to providing safe,
effective and
timely patient-centred care in
accordance
with NMC Code of Conduct and
Trust Core
standards

11. Information processing

a. Willingness to work with electronic E I
patient
records (EPR)

12. Specific requirements

(E.g. Relevant
qualifications/experience for specialist E I
areas)
a. Flexible approach to shift patterns

*(Essential criteria for nurses who

have successfully passed
foundation gateway)*
13. People management (FO)** E A/I
a. Takes charge of ward in absence of
senior E I
staff
b. Able to develop awareness of
resource and
risk management issues within
boundaries of
role

Shortlist: Yes / No Reason:

Signatures:

Offer Post: Yes / No Reason:

Signatures: