Guys and St Thomas is among the UKs busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.
Guys is home to the largest dental school in Europe and a £160 million Cancer Centre opened in 2016. As part of our commitment to provide care closer to home, in 2017 we also opened a cancer centre and a kidney treatment centre at Queen Marys Hospital in Sidcup. St Thomas has one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest emergency departments in London. It is also home to Evelina London Childrens Hospital.
Evelina London cares for local children in Lambeth and Southwark and provides specialist services across south east England including cardiac, renal and critical care services. We lead a number of specialist service networks aiming to ensure children are treated locally where possible, but have access to specialist expertise when they need it. Our community services include health visiting, school nursing and support for families of children with long-term conditions.
Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. Working with our partners in Lambeth and Southwark, we are focusing on new ways of working to improve care for local patients.
In February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield joined Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together world-leading expertise in the care and research of heart and lung disease. Our merger provides a once in a generation opportunity to build a lasting, world-renowned heart and lung centre, providing the highest quality care for patients and conducting world-leading research.
We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of Kings Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres. In partnership with Kings College London we have dedicated clinical research facilities and a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre.
Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of good. Our adult community services achieved a rating of outstanding.
The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS. We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients.
We have one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes anywhere in the NHS.
Job overview
To apply for this post you must hold an appropriate and current UK NMC professional registration
The post holder will work under the guidance of the Sister/Charge nurse and multi-disciplinary team members in monitoring and maintaining excellent standards of nursing care and staff development, as part of the ward team.
To assist in the continuing professional development and overall performance of learners and junior staff in the clinical area.
The post holder is expected to carry out all relevant forms of care with the guidance and support of more senior staff.
To be flexible in the approach to the clinical area and provide cover according to experience for any area specified.
The post holder will be accountable for their nursing practice, adhere to the policies and protocols of the Trust and the NMC. He/she will have a responsibility for their own personal and professional development.
Main duties of the job
Please refer to job description.
Patient/customer care (both direct & indirect
Seeking advice/guidance as necessary:
Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care, actively seeking evidence based practice which will improve the quality of care and meeting the needs of the patients.
A holistic approach to caring should be planned that will include the appropriate level of physiological, pathological, spiritual, socio-economical and cultural aspects which influence the care of clients within your specific speciality.
Implement a nursing plan for an assigned group of patients indicating assessment and re-assessment formulated for individual care pathways and discharge planning
Working for our organisation
Due to our everchanging and evolving critical care service we have several band 5 vacancies. We are currently one of the UKs largest and most experienced cardio-thoracic centres providing care for a variety of complex patients. Since March we have been one of the highest performing cardiac centres in the UK providing urgent/emergency surgery whilst continuing with the transplant programme.
Our ITU consists of 24 level 3 beds and the recovery unit consists of 5 cardiac recovery and 2 thoracic recovery beds. Staff work in both units. We care for a variety of patients with complex healthcare needs providing services such as mechanical support (ECMO, LVAD/Impella), IABP and hemofiltration. We care for patients pre and post heart/lung transplant, cardiac/thoracic surgery and post primary coronary intervention (PCI).
Our new starters are supported by our exceptional practice education team. We aim to provide staff of all grades with the essential knowledge and skills required in our busy, friendly department. New starters will be given a period of supernumerary time.
Successful applicants will be fully supported whilst gaining experience in the care of critically ill patients undergoing a variety of critical care interventions.
Following orientation and completion of step one Clinical competencies, staff will have the opportunity to access university-based post-graduate courses.
We welcome newly qualified nurses who previously have had an acute nursing placement.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Patient/customer care (both direct & indirect
Seeking advice/guidance as necessary:
Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care, actively seeking evidence based practice which will improve the quality of care and meeting the needs of the patients.
A holistic approach to caring should be planned that will include the appropriate level of physiological, pathological, spiritual, socio-economical and cultural aspects which influence the care of clients within your specific speciality.
Implement a nursing plan for an assigned group of patients indicating
assessment and re-assessment formulated for individual care pathways and discharge planning
Prioritise workload according to changing clinical need for shift.
Maintain excellent clinical standards of nursing practice.
Act as a patient advocate in line with the NHS plan.
Contribute to setting goals and benchmarking standards of care. Develop tools to improve the quality of the service and co-ordinate clinical services across the ward/department.
Ensure that nursing documentation is maintained to the Trust standard (including electronic records)
Participate in conducting nursing audit to achieve the agreed standards.
Contribute to and participate in the process of setting goals and benchmarking
standards ensuring CQUIN targets are met.
In conjunction with the staff team contribute to developing and maintaining a ward /department ethos and provide a standard approach to the delivery of excellent nursing care.
To demonstrate awareness and compliance with Trust policies, procedures, guidelines, standards, core behaviours, the 6Cs and the Trust Nursing strategy.
To be aware of the Trusts framework of clinical governance and patient safety walk rounds within the ward or department area, seeking advice or guidance where necessary.
Identify and report clinical risks to the ward/departmental Sister/Charge nurse, Modern Matron so that appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the Trust risk management policy.
To provide a suitable and safe environment for the physical, psychological and
spiritual well being of staff, patients/clients and their relatives/carers, seeking guidance or advice where necessary.
Record and report all incidents/complaints involving staff, patients and visitors in accordance with Trust policies and assist in any investigations as required.
Collaborating with other members of the ward team to ensure the patients needs are met to a consistently high standard.
To delegate tasks and activities to a range of team members in relation to
patient care. (for example when taking supervised charge or as a link nurse)
To actively promote a healthy lifestyle for patients and staff in line with national strategy requirements.
Communication
To demonstrate politeness, courtesy respect and sensitivity in dealing with patients/clients, visitors/relatives and colleagues, maintaining good customer relations.
Maintain and promote effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team and other Wards/Departments.
To adapt communication skills to meet the needs of patients who may have barriers to understanding e.g. language.
Contribute towards sharing good practice within the ward/department and Trust wide.
To promote a positive image of the Trust at all times.
To work cohesively with all members of the ward team in ensuring that the very best services to patients are provided at all times.
People management
Take active responsibility for own annual leave in line with Trust and local Policy and Procedure.
Participate in the Trusts appraisal and personal development plan schemes by meeting with the team leader/appraiser at least, to include feedback from a selection of internal staff and team members.
Participate in the programme for preceptorship and to be a support to new and junior staff as required.
Maintain a personal, professional profile, identifying role and skill developments in line with the Scope of Professional Practice.
Information management
Participate in the collection of audit and research data as required.
Use data which will contribute to the improvement of patient care.
To have an active Trust and email account and adhere to the Trusts Information Services and Information Governance Policies.
Use the Trust internet to enhance care and for professional development.
Undertake relevant training for electronic information systems in place and under development.
Following Trust/local guidelines to access results from the electronic databases
Resource management
To work together with the ward team to ensure effective use and maintenance of resources and adequate stock levels.
To actively engage with rostering in clinical ward or departments and adopt a flexible approach to personal rostering to ensure the needs of the service are met.
Service development
To contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive learning environment for colleagues, patients and visitors.
To participate in staff education and development, including utilising appropriate learning opportunities and to act as a resource for learners and the nursing team as/ when required.
Policy development
Under the supervision of the ward / department Sister/Charge Nurse to work on delegated projects relating to local policy development.
To be actively involved in the implementation of Trust policies and procedures at ward / department level, reinforcing their use.
Further sections
To work towards a senior staff nurse level the staff nurse will be expected to complete relevant clinical competencies, and would need to be at least one year post qualification.
To ensure all team members have a real voice in the development of the clinical service to patients/customers.
To ensure a safe and attractive working environment within available resources.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
Registered Nurse Training to a diploma/degree level
Experience
Essential criteria
Ability to practice within the scope of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
Ability to demonstrate application of the NHS Plan to own sphere of practice
Desirable criteria
Depending on previous experience the candidate may be expected to supervise junior staff
Awareness of the structure and organisation of the wider NHS
Skills
Essential criteria
Good basic level of English and excellent verbal communication skills
Desirable criteria
Able to manage difficult situations
Guys and St Thomas celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or studys at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.
