NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

A.  MANAGEMENT / ORGANISATIONAL

1.    Effectively manage a multidisciplinary team in order to deliver a safe, efficient and high quality service within his/her sphere of responsibility, in at times, a highly stressful environment, including emergency situations.

2.    Plan and organise a broad range of highly complex activities, to ensure the smooth running of the areas within his/her sphere of responsibility, ensuring availability of appropriate resources such as staffing and equipment.

3.    Assist in managing the safe provision of services to other departments, e.g. obstetrics.

4.    Ensure the team achieve the Trusts financial objectives within the Trusts business plan.

5.    Ensure that the team adhere to the professional objectives laid out in the Nursing and Midwifery Strategy.

6.    Ensure that accurate and contemporaneous records are confidentially maintained within the specialist areas.

7.    Ensure that information systems are maintained that all staff are trained in the use of relevant IT systems.

8.    Ensure the safe control, custody of all drugs within the peri-operative area following the relevant Trust Policy and national legislation.

9.    In conjunction with the Theatre Manager and Matron participate in the management of change as required by senior Division/Trust management.

10. Identify and instigate change in clinical practice as necessary, using proven change management theory.

11. Ensure incident reporting procedure is followed and acted upon as appropriate.

12. Implement and develop new Theatre procedures, prepare and instigate new departmental policies when required.

13. Prioritise and plan (elective and emergency) patient care within the environmental, physical and financial constraints imposed by the Trust.

14. Take responsibility for effective utilisation or theatre session time, ensuring lists start promptly, delays are minimised and throughput is maintained.

15. Liaise with waiting list managers to ensure appropriate and efficient theatre scheduling.

16. In association with the Theatre Manager, ensure all staff attend mandatory training sessions at regular intervals as stipulated by the Trust and maintain records accordingly.

17. Assist with the identification and implementation of service improvements and develop practice in line with the Modernisation Agency, Trust, Directorate and Departmental objectives.

18. Ensure the provision of a safe environment for the staff and patients at all times in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act.

19. Deputise for the Theatre Manager as required.

20. Ensure the ‘out of hours’ on-call cover is provided and participate in major incidents as required by Trust policy.

21. Organise, chair and participate in senior staff meetings and departmental unit meetings.

22. Act as departmental representative attending Trust meetings relating to clinical and managerial role (i.e. infection control meetings, education link meetings, Trust G Grade meetings)

23. Ensure the security of the working area is maintained.

24. Ensure that specialist, technical and clinical advice is provided for patients, relatives and members of the multi-disciplinary team.

25. Ensure Standing Financial Instructions are followed, being an authorised signatory for the booking and employment of Bank and Agency staff and ensuring decisions are made within the financial constraints of the staffing budget as required.

26. Provide advice on product selection, assist in developing business cases for same and identify potential cost savings where possible.

27. Instigate product trials as required, co-operating with NHS Supplies, liasing with product representatives, clinicians and product users to ensure effective trial evaluations.

28. Ensure the appropriate tendering and procurement of equipment and supplies, co-operating with NHS Supplies.

29. Ensure safe and efficient transfer and handling of equipment between Trust and other sites and of loan sets from companies, according to Trust protocols.

30. Ensure effective care and maintenance of all stock and equipment within the clinical area.

31. Participate in the audit of unit stock levels to ensure that materials and stock are managed within budget.

32. Ensure a cost-effective approach to patient care is maintained, justifying and accounting for resources.

33. Analyse and monitor activity and financial information providing reports for own specialist areas. 

B     LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION

1.    Exercise role model and leadership skills to create a suitable and safe environment for a happy, effective and co-ordinated team.

2.    Ensure an effective, motivated and competent team to facilitate and plan the delivery of high quality patient care.

3.    Ensure due regard is given to the customs, values and spiritual beliefs of patients/clients and colleagues and equal opportunities are practiced.

4.    Establish and develop effective communication and negotiation with all disciplines, patients/clients and relatives. Be able to present complex, sensitive and sometimes contentious information where there are significant barriers to acceptance, which need to be overcome using highly developed negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills.

5.    Communicate effectively with other departments and external hospitals and companies to ensure the availability of resources for the efficient running of the department.

6.    Organise and hold regular team meetings to ensure team members are involved in decision making and feel empowered to implement Trust policies and objectives.

7.    Delegate areas of responsibility to team members, appropriately and safely.

8.    Participate in the recruitment and selection of Theatre staff, leading interview panels when appropriate.

9.    Be responsible for the support and development of individual team members, ensuring that they are annually appraised and their performance reviewed regularly between appraisals.

10. Ensure that team members understand all relevant Trust policies relating to safety including Health and Safety at Work, Fire and Manual Handling and COSHH and that they attend mandatory / statutory training as required.

11. Identify staff shortages and act accordingly to ensure safe and appropriate staffing levels and skill mix are maintained at all times, within the budget restraints.

12. Provide professional and clinical support for the team.

13. Be responsible for the continuous development of Clinical Supervision for self and team.

14. Provide specialist advice, support and guidance to non-departmental multidisciplinary team members.

15. When dealing with Personnel issues ensure Trust policies and guidelines are adhered to.

16. Ensure personnel records are maintained according to Trust policy.

17. In conjunction with Theatre Manager, demonstrate the required knowledge and skills to actively participate in HR procedures e.g. grievance procedures and competency procedures.

18. Effectively lead staff during times of change and stress, identifying the needs of individual members of the team.

C.    PROFESSIONAL

1.    Be responsible for the management of all patient processes within his/her sphere of responsibility.

2.    Be accountable for his/her practice and take every reasonable opportunity to develop professionally and improve his/her knowledge and professional competence.

3.    Participate in professional nursing initiatives as part of the Strategy for Nursing.

4.    Ensure that self and others practice in accordance with the NMC and/or HPC, Trust and statutory guidelines.

5.    Act professionally as an effective role model within the multidisciplinary team.

6.    Critically analyse and interpret information in order to resolve and address complex and conflicting issues.

7.    Initiate innovative ideas to improve the quality of patient care, in agreement with other members of the theatre leadership team.

8.    Ensure own personal and professional profile is maintained to achieve registration requirements.

9.    Through the appraisal process facilitate team members to maintain a personal and professional profile.

10. Demonstrate professional respect and support for all colleagues.

D.  CLINICAL

1.    In conjunction with other clinical staff, set, monitor & evaluate standards of care for patients

2.    Demonstrate effective management skills to co-ordinate all clinical groups in daily departmental activities and maximise departmental resource potential.

3.    Co-ordinate and implement the setting and monitoring of standards.

4.    Possess and regularly update the clinical skills, experience and specialist knowledge required to be an expert in their specialities.

5.    Be answerable to the Theatre Manager for clinical and managerial practices of the staff within their team.

6.    Actively ensure team members adhere to Trust Infection Control policy.

7.    Be responsible for ensuring the principles of best practice in peri-operative care are adhered to at all times.

8.    Be able to take the clinical lead managing emergency situations effectively and safely.

9.    Arrange equipment repairs/maintenance, liaising with other relevant departments as appropriate.

10. Effectively lead staff through times of unpredictable workload and stressful situations.

11. Ensure that staff adhere to current policies and procedures relevant to their practice.

12. Ensure the multidisciplinary team complete all necessary documentation and use information provided within the specialist peri-operative care pathway.