Internationally renowned for clinical excellence, The Portland Hospital is the only independent hospital in the UK entirely dedicated to women and children. Our inpatient and outpatient specialties reflect this, providing clinical expertise in Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Women`s Health.

The hospital has been consistently growing over the past few years, almost doubling since 2008.

Our Paediatric wards hold 56 inpatient beds + 11 day case and are equipped with the latest technology to provide advanced medical and surgical care, including a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit which reflects the acuity and complex nature of the children who are admitted to our hospital.  The Portland Hospital has a large number of international Paediatric patients, often funded by relevant embassies.

The Portland Hospital is the only fully private maternity hospital in the UK.  The hospital provides for both consultant-led and midwifery-led deliveries, having an 18 bedded ward to facilitate this.  Alongside this there is a 12 bedded Gynecology and Women’s Health in-patient ward.  The Portland Hospital also has a large outpatient department for all areas of its clinical expertise, to facilitate continuous care or simpler procedures.  

The culture at The Portland Hospital is to provide support, an inspiring environment and positive ways of working to ensure everyone has a better day.  This is accomplished through our core set of ‘Positively Portland’ values that all employees will work to:

Greetings, Respect, Teamwork, Initiative, Responsibility and Acknowledgement

Job Description

We are looking for a Sister/Charge Nurse for our team, you will be a professional role model, leading and co-ordinating the ward team. Taking continuing responsibility and accountability for the 24-hour management and organisation of the ward. This involves managing a wide range of complex and sometimes conflicting priorities.

Provide specialist nursing advice to support and facilitate high quality, individualised care to patients/clients and relatives/carers in collaboration with the multi professional team, in line with HCA policies and guidelines and national best practice guidance.

Salary COMPETITIVE

Working hours 37.5 per week (rotational shifts)

Duties & Responsibilities

• To provide sound clinical leadership and develop support mechanisms for sharing good practice within the ward and department and hospital wide.
• Maintain and promote effective communication with ward team and all members of the multi-disciplinary team and other wards or departments, including formal presentation of information relating to your ward or department. Communication will take place using formal and informal methods
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care, actively seeking evidence based practice which will support clinical outcomes as appropriate
• Develop tools to improve the quality of the service and co-ordinate clinical services across the ward/ department ensuring any recommendations for action are implemented and regularly evaluated
• Liaise with the Paediatric Site Practitioner team, hospital Duty Manager and Chief Nursing Officer to make sure that the maximum beds are used. Identify any shortfall to these individuals if beds need to be closed for staffing or Infection reasons
• Monitor the quality of nursing care and action audit information to achieve agreed standards and take the lead on customer care initiatives. This will include the development and utilisation of local action plans.
• The post holder  will need to maintain department costs with the budget. They will need to produce weekly finance reports to the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer.
• Take an effective role in staff management ; including, recruitment  and retention, ensuring staff receive the necessary training and professional development they require, as well as managing the roster, holiday and sickness ensuring the unit is always appropriately staffed.

Skills & Experience

• RSCN / RN child
• Teaching course or teaching experience
• Valid APLS or EPLS
• Level 3 safeguarding children training undertaken within the last 12 months
• Ability to lead a team
• Ability to manage complex situations and solve complex problems
• Organisation and management skills.
• Negotiating skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines/ effective time management for self and others
• Quality measurement/standard setting/audit
• Relevant paediatric experience in an acute setting. For specialist areas able to demonstrate highly developed specialist knowledge of patient group

About The Individual

The successful candidate will be a strong team player with the ability to work flexibly and demonstrate tact and diplomacy. The ability to work under pressure is essential.