Job Description
Job title: Respite Nurse
Location: Kites Corner, Gloucester or inside a family home within Gloucestershire
Position Summary
As a proactive member of the Nursing Team you will assist in creating and maintaining a caring, supportive and safe environment for the children you look after. James Hopkins Trust offers family-centred care so you will work in partnership with the children and their families who are eligible to use James Hopkins Trust’s services.
You are self-motivated and can work either independently or as a team player and will be responsible for supporting the senior nurses with the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care provided to the children you are accountable for. In the absence of a senior nurse you may be required to manage and co-ordinate the care of children accessing respite care provision at Kites Corner whilst on shift.
You will welcome the opportunity to reflect on/assess your practice and competence through existing audit processes and regular supervisions to ensure you provide outstanding and safe care; which in turn demonstrates James Hopkins Trust’s compliance with CQC & Ofsted’s regulatory requirements.
You will be a key person that a family will regularly talk to about their children when they either bring their child to James Hopkins Trust for respite or you visit them in their own home to provide respite. You will have an insight and understanding of the issues facing families where there is a baby or young child with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. While interacting with the carer or parent you will show the family kindness and compassion as you assess their child’s nursing and care needs while evaluating the wellbeing of the whole family. You are committed to always delivering exceptional family-centred care, either at our respite centre or in families’ homes around Gloucestershire.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Nursing and Family Care
• Actively encourage a family atmosphere within Kites Corner.
• Contribute positively towards the maintenance of a child and family-focused environment when either working within Kites Corner or the child and family’s home.
• Recognise the skills and experience of the family in meeting the individual care needs of their child and work in partnership with them to provide holistic care.
• Use a systematic and individualised approach to plan care of the child and family both within their homes and Kites Corner to deliver quality care that is consistent with care delivered by other providers.
• Assess, maintain and evaluate agreed standards of care in partnership with family carers and the child
• Ensure all medication is accurately and safely administered, recorded and stored.
• Give total care to the child during the agreed period of respite.
• Identify and follow the child’s care routine and established pattern of care, negotiating any changes with the child and family.
• Attend, as necessary, multi-professional meetings or similar for the child and family as agreed by the Nursing Management Team and liaise with other relevant professionals as appropriate.
• Ensure that regular contact is made with the Nursing Management Team updating them of any changes in a child/family circumstance that may necessitate a review of the family’s respite allocation.
• Where appropriate, inform other relevant professionals of changes to the child’s care/management.
• Facilitate outings, play and activity that is appropriate to the age and development needs of the child.
• Use evidence to underpin practice by adhering to James Hopkins Trust’s policies and maintaining an awareness of new and developing care options.
• The safeguarding of children is everyone’s responsibility and you are expected to pass onto the appropriate manager any child safeguarding concerns that you may have that arise in the course of your work.
• Every staff member has a responsibility to maintain confidential, accurate and timely records.
• Maintain an awareness of the diversity of families supported by James Hopkins Trust and ensure that the cultural needs of the children and families are met appropriately.
• Ensure professional boundaries are maintained and that due attention is paid to confidentiality, privacy and dignity at all times.
Professional Development
• Identify and at all times work within your own professional competence and expertise whilst adhering to the NMC Code of Conduct.
• Take advantage of training opportunities to further develop your skills and expertise to enhance your role within the James Hopkin Trust Nursing Team including mandatory training sessions.
• Maintain professional registration with the NMC.
• Keep a Personal Professional Profile and ensure that all mandatory training is updated as appropriate.
• Every member of staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues required to deliver quality palliative care within Kites Corner or the family home.
• Every member of nursing staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues around care of children and young people with complex needs including LTV, TPN, Tracheotomies, Central Lines and any other complex care required.
• Attend and participate in an individual’s performance review and their clinical supervisions as and when required.
Responsibility for Clinical Governance and Quality
• Participate in quality control monitoring and auditing processes to ensure the safe delivery of care and maintain high standards through best practice
• Be proactive in identifying ways of improving practice.
• Contribute positively to the development and audit of standards and, when appropriate, taking responsibility for identified project work
• Identify ways of continued quality improvement, using reflective practice through clinical supervision
• Actively complete clinical incident documentation in line with a “no blame” approach and James Hopkins Trust’s whistle-blowing policy
• Adhere to and comply with all James Hopkins Trust’s policies and procedures
• Complete risk assessments within James Hopkins Trust as requested
Management and Team Awareness
• Take responsibility for ensuring good teamwork and a flexible approach are maintained within the Nursing Team and the wider Organisation.
• Act as Nurse-in-Charge of the shift at Kites Corner as required.
• Actively guide and supervise volunteers working with the children.
• Liaise with the Administration Supervisor regarding ordering and purchasing requirements as necessary for day-to-day running of James Hopkins Trust’s services.
• Inform the relevant line manager of incidents and concerns using agreed processes.
• Participate in the induction of new staff as and when required.
• Contribute to the mentorship of students on placement at James Hopkins Trust, using up to date knowledge of university requirements.
• Carry out any reasonable additional duty as agreed by the Nursing Management Team to meet the changing requirements of the service.
Communication
• In line with James Hopkins Trust’s vision, mission and values; encourage the philosophy of James Hopkins Trust with acts of kindness and helping to make magic memories.
• Always present a good public image.
• Liaise closely with the all professionals and volunteers working with the child and family to ensure a seamless service.
• Attend staff meetings and team briefings and participate in other meetings as appropriate (including external meetings).
• Take responsibility for using the appropriate channels to ensure good communication is maintained within the Organisation at all times.
Health and Safety
• Ensure that infection control guidelines and policies are strictly adhered to.
• Undertake risk assessment and management to ensure that children, families, visitors and colleagues are safe.
• Be aware of and work within James Hopkins Trust’s lone working policies.
• Be aware of all Health and Safety issues and adhere to all the James Hopkins Trust policies.
• Be aware of all Fire, Health and Safety regulations at Kites Corner and maintain a safe working environment at all times.
Ways of working and collaborating
• Make a positive contribution to the team and the wider Organisation by playing an active role in growing excellent working relationships within all areas of James Hopkins Trust, such as families, volunteers and staff members.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to creating an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace
• Work within all of James Hopkins Trust’s policies, processes and procedures at all times.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current and planned activities
• To carry out any additional tasks and projects as reasonably requested in line with the general responsibility of the role.
Lead by example and be an inspiring role model for others, building trust and living by our Vision, Mission & Values; always keeping children at the heart of what we do.
James Hopkins Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.