Paediatric HDU Staff Nurse

Chelwest; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated paediatric nurse to join Apollo Ward, London’s only standalone Paediatric High Dependency Unit. The role focuses on high-dependency care for children from birth to 16 years and involves collaborative work with a multidisciplinary team.

You will deliver safe, evidence-based patient care, support complex clinical decisions, and contribute to a positive patient and family experience in a busy paediatric setting.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse on the NMC register and commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Mentorship/Teaching/assessing course completed.
• Proven clinical experience in relevant area including acute care.

Responsibilities

• Lead on assessing, planning and implementing high quality care for paediatric patients.
• Coordinate discharges and transfers with safe bed management.
• Provide evidence-based clinical advice and maintain infection control standards.

Skills

NMC registered

Communication skills

Independence

Team collaboration

Education

Registered Nurse on NMC register

Mentorship/Teaching/assessing course

Job description

We are an award winning organisation providing care at two main hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—and a number of community-based services across London, such as sexual health and HIV clinics.

With 6,700 members of staff, we are proud to care for a diverse population of one million people. We are committed to ensuring that our workforce is just as diverse with a strong mix of skills and abilities.

Our staff are at the very heart of our organisation and we recognise the valuable contribution that each and every person working at the Trust makes. One of our Trust priorities is to be an employer of choice—a place where people want to start their career and to grow with us through continued education, professional development and support .

Are you an enthusiastic and dynamic person striving to provide excellent nursing care who is looking for a new challenge working on Mars, Starlight, Neptune or Mercury ward then this is your opportunity to apply to transfer to Apollo ward.

Apollo Ward is the only standalone Paediatric High Dependency Unit in London which can provide up to 10 critical care level 2 beds to care for children and young people and their families from birth to 16 years old.

Main duties of the job

Apollo PHDU is an 10 bedded unit that cares for both medical and surgical high dependent children between the ages of 0-18 years. It is the only ‘stand‑alone’ Paediatric High Dependency Units in the London. The unit is currently undergoing an exciting period of development which includes opening additional beds to absorb some of the winter pressures as speciality commissioned by NHS England.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.

We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• Lead on assessing planning and implementing high quality care, and evaluating care options for patients in the clinical area, in line with the Trust values and objectives
• Lead on complex clinical care for patients within their area
• Ensure the safe custody, maintenance and administration of medication, in accordance with established Trust policy
• Promote and maintain a safe therapeutic environment for patients, their families and staff, according to national and local Infection Control guidelines, Health & Safety legislation and Trust policies and objectives
• Coordinate discharges and transfers, promoting timely and safe processes for them
• Ensure that patient flow and the management of beds is effective and safe
• Ensure the delivery of high quality end of life care in line with national pathways through the provision of holistic palliative and terminal care
• Provide sound evidence based clinical advice as required to staff and patients
• Maintain a good understanding and implementation of clinical escalation procedures as required
• Understand the Trust clinical governance framework, and participate in the promoting and safeguarding of high standards of care, through effective risk management & governance, and adherence to the Trust values
• Ensure that the team promote, ensure and adhere to the Trust safeguarding polices
• Undertake effective multi professionally work with colleagues to deliver care
• Coordinate specialist functions, including making clinical decisions where appropriate
• Monitor quality of standards of care, in line with CQC requirements and Trust and Divisional objectives
• Deliver and supervise a high quality patient experience
• Work with manager to collect and disseminate data on quality indicators etc, in line with national and Trust objectives
• Maintain a safe working environment, including ensuring equipment is safe, and used in line with Trust policy and values
• Promote and maintain patient safety at all times, including proactively implementing falls prevention
• Lead role in the detection, management and prevention of safeguarding issues
• Have an awareness of current professional and clinical developments within their area of practice and promote this to others

Professional

• Maintain professional behaviour at all times and promote a positive image of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust at all times, in line with Trust values.
• Contribute to a high quality safe working environment in which patients receive a high standard of care
• Participate in the setting of standards for nursing practice and for care involving the multi-disciplinary team
• Practice in accordance with, and aware of his/her responsibilities under, the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and other appropriate NMC guidelines
• Understand and practice in accordance with Trust and Unit policies and procedures, and ensure they are understood and practiced by staff
• Maintain a safe working environment recognising the health and safety requirements of patients, visitors and staff
• Ensure all strategies, policies and protocols relating to infection control are implemented and monitored and that appropriate and timely action is taken in response to ensuring the prevention of control of infection
• Protects patient confidentiality and acts according to the Data Protection Act
• Maintain clear and accurate documentation in line with unit and Trust standard
• Be aware of Clinical Governance and the impact it has on patient care
• Understand local audit processes and take opportunities to initiate local audit and participate in Trust audits locally.
• Participate in the ordering and maintenance of adequate stock level in an effective manner
• Work with members of the team in implementing a quality approach to service provision, in line with Trust quality care standards.
• Report all complaints, incidents or accidents to the Nurse in charge and take appropriate action
• Work shift patterns and weekends to suit the needs of service delivery
• Education and Development
• Be responsible for, and demonstrate personal professional development, maintain up to date clinical skills and ensure mandatory training is always current.
• Be aware of current developments within the nursing profession and within the NHS
• Participate in team and ward meetings
• Participate in established research projects and clinical audit in local area
• Assist in ongoing development of the ward as a positive learning environment
• Ensure own appraisal is always in date and personal development plan is completed.
• Work in a supportive way with learners and HCAS/MSW’s, providing knowledge and feedback as required.
• Participate in local teaching sessions.

Management and Leadership

• Manage a group of patients, in line with level of experience.
• Supervise under the direction of the Sister/Charge Nurse, the work of unqualified staff.
• Manage the ward/department in the absence of the Band 6 or 7 nurses, if senior enough to do so.
• Demonstrate effective time management and prioritization of workload.
• Take an active role in the induction and orientation of new staff
• Take responsibility for the teaching and education of pre and post registration students acting as a preceptor or mentor as appropriate.
• Demonstrate leadership and teaching skills in the supervision development and feedback of junior staff
• Demonstrate procedures and supervise junior staff and students in the practice of new skills
• Have an awareness of cost implications and assist in the management of resources within the clinical area e.g. equipment, supplies

Communication and relationship building

• Know and utilize Trust values in all working relationships to patients, carers and staff.
• Demonstrate good leadership skills and ensure that communication is effective between the patient, relatives and members of the multidisciplinary team, and ensure appropriate nursing input into patient care discussions
• Ensure communication is used effectively in the interests of patient care, including the use of clinical incident reporting if necessary.
• Communicate handover of care in a professional manner.
• Demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity in dealing with patients/clients, visitors/relatives and colleagues, maintaining good customer relations and recognising individuality and rights for each patient in line with Trust values.
• Work cohesively with all members of the ward team in ensuring that the very best services to patients are provided at all times
• Work effectively within a multi‑racial and cultural environment

Other

• It is your responsibility to familiarise and read all required policies and procedures and to know how to gain access to copies

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• Registered Nurse on NMC register
• Evidence of recent and ongoing professional development
• Mentorship/Teaching/assessing course

Experience

• Proven clinical experience in relevant area
• Experience with acutely ill patients
• Recent experience caring for children with elevated dependency needs

Skills and Knowledge

• Proven clinical skills in relevant area
• Demonstrates a genuine interest and has awareness of issues in specialty
• Knowledge of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
• Awareness of child protection issues and pathways
• Awareness of health and safety issues relating to children
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Evidence of working cooperatively in a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality
• Evidence of self development within speciality
• Awareness of current professional issues within children and young people’s nursing
• Ability and interest in supporting junior colleagues / students
• Awareness of NHS reforms and professional issues relating to specialty
• Specialist knowledge in area of speciality

Personal Qualities

• Maintain professional image / attitude at all times
• Friendly and approachable whilst professional
• Patient centred in all aspects, acts as an advocate for patient
• Flexible / adaptable
• Non‑judgemental attitude
• Ability to accept criticism constructively/aware of limitations
• Ability to cope with high pressures and stressful environments within area of speciality

Important

• There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date, this will be due to a high volume of applications. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please check your emails regularly (and your junk folder) as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
• In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
• During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine‑readable zone security features of the documents provided.
• Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.
• We operate a joint recruitment hub across the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative Group. As part of this, your application and personal data may be shared with partner trusts within the group for recruitment and workforce purposes, in line with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Right to work

If you need sponsorship to work in the UK, please visit the Home Office website for information on sponsorship and visa status before you fill in your application form. Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.