Senior Sister / Charge Nurse - Pre Operative Assessment

The post holder will work closely and collaboratively with the Consultant Anaesthetist POA Matron and all health care professionals involved in the care pathway of the elective and urgent surgical patient including:

Preoperative Assessment team on a day to day basis

Clinical and administrative staff within POAC including nursing staff, anaesthetists,

POA assistant practioner and Support workers

Admissions and scheduling Staff across all surgical directorates

Involve patients and other users of the service to maintain a continuous service improvement cycle. Use Trust resources to develop own improvement skills.

Involve and motivate the multi-disciplinary team, to develop and promote the POA service and implement nurse led POA for all elective and emergency surgical patients Trust wide.

Performance and Activity

Tailor service and clinic templates so that the optimum numbers of patients are seen to meet the Trust capacity plan, whilst promoting and maintaining a high level of service quality.

Roles and responsibilities

1. Use the appropriate level of clinical and non-clinical skills to ensure all surgical patients are optimised prior to surgery within the remit of the Preoperative Assessment Centre

2. Prepare the patient physically, psychologically and socially for surgery and associated anaesthetic

3. Be accountable for assessing planning, implementing and evaluating pathways of care in a manner that reflects the Trusts Values.

4. Manage and participate in the clinical rota for the POAC, ensuring efficient patient flow and clinic templates that reflect demand on the service

5. In conjunction with the Consultant Anaesthetist, take responsibility for the management of complex cases, referring patients to the appropriate health care professional as necessary to ensure maximum preoperative optimisation is achieved

6. Safely perform the clinical interventions required to perform a holistic pre-operative assessment for elective patients

7. Request investigations and take on the associated accountabilities, using the Trust Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system

8. Plan and organize admission arrangements with relevant department to ensure patients safety and to minimise cancellation on the day.

9. Maintain standard of documentation in accordance with the NMC Standard for Records and Record Keeping

10. Act as a clinical role model for all POA team members in the delivery of a high standard of specialist nursing care within the areas designated for Pre-operative Assessment (POA).

1. Support patients, carers and staff through the information giving process, assessing level of understanding and comprehension, with appropriate attention to the process of informed consent

2. In collaboration with the MDT, develop patient information resources and ensure they are updated and revised in accordance with Trust policy

3. Use and develop negotiation skills both verbal and written

4. Chair POA/ relevant meetings and act as a recorder for meetings

5. Deal with inter-professional conflict and assist Divisional Nurse Lead in negotiating and problem solving

6. Pass on organisational, Directorate and service development updates to the whole POAC team and feedback local team views to senior management

7. Represent the Divisional Nurse Lead at POA meetings/events, when required

1. Manage the whole POAC Team on a day-to-day basis, ensuring an efficient elective and emergency POA service for all patients/Trust wide

2. Profile and develop skill mix based on clinical activity in order to ensure the delivery of appropriate care for all patients using the service

3. Organise time to ensure both clinical and management commitments are fulfilled.

4. Take responsibility for the recruitment and retention of new POAC staff and ensure all staff that participate, are trained in good recruitment and selection practice

5. Act as an authorised signatory for the hire of temporary staff under the direction of the DNL

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.

Education and Qualifications

Essential: - Registered Nurse; - Teaching and Assessing Qualification; - Evidence of post registration study

Desirable: - Management & Leadership qualifications; - Physical Assessment Module; - Relevant MSc level study; - Counselling certificate; - ILS Certificate

Experience

Essential: - 4 / 5 years post registration in Pre - Op; - Surgical ward / theatre experience; - Management & Leadership experience

Desirable: - Service Development; - Audit and research experience; - Benchmarking & monitoring

Skills and Knowledge

Essential: - Good knowledge of National POA guidelines; - Leadership skills; - Leadership skills; - Excellent Communication skills