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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Performance Management 

To manage the delivery of all nursing aspects of the agreed outputs for their area of responsibility, by: 

Holding Senior Sister / Charge Nurse to account for delivery of their objectives in clinical areas 

Ensuring effective action is taken where nursing performance is at risk of falling below expected levels and standards are not maintained 

Ensuring that the Trust’s nursing and midwifery priorities are implemented locally 

Risk and Clinical Governance 

Ensure patients are cared for in a clean and safe environment taking remedial action if standards are not maintained

Be champions for driving the infection prevention and control agenda and challenging poor practice

Manage and respond to complaints and adverse incidents

Undertake root cause analysis and develop action plans, ensuring that this leads to change in practice

Establish and maintain effective communication with patients, relatives and staff to contribute to the active resolution of potentially complex situations, conflicts and issues  Lead on the implementation of patient safety strategies such as Saving Lives and Patient Safety Thermometer

Share best practice and drive improvements in patient care through the Trust Nursing and Midwifery Strategy group and Matrons meeting

In conjunction with the Deputy Director of Nursing, the Matron will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining excellent clinical standards within clinical teams

Professional leadership and staff management 

Be a visible leader who is accessible to patients, visitors and staff

Provide professional and clinical leadership

Take forward and develop the specialist contribution nursing and midwifery can make in the designated areas

Develop Senior Sister / Charge Nurse in leadership and management

Ensure that nursing staff comply with Trust-wide policies and procedures. Represent the Trust at local and National forums promoting achievements in patient care 

Departmental and staff organisation 

Work in collaboration with the clinical teams on a daily basis. Monitor and action decisions in relation to clinical areas, ensuring an appropriate nursing skill mix in relation to activity and acuity. Manage and report any risk issues to the Deputy Director of Nursing, in a timely manner. 

The Matron will: 

Review skill mix and deployment of staff within the area of responsibility, working closely with other Matrons within the Division. 

Ensure nurse rostering meets service demands and is cost effective and adheres to Trust guidelines.

Review and agree bank and agency requirements and usage, and control bank and agency spend. 

Oversee recruitment processes and ensure they are adhered to in a timely manner. 

Performance manages staff with direct responsibility for the continuous performance review / appraisal of Senior Sisters / Charge Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists (and Research Nurses where applicable).

Support Senior Sister / charge Nurse in managing staff absence and report trends in sickness absence to Deputy Director of Nursing   Oversee the process of continuous performance review within the allocated area of responsibility. 

Empower and enable staff to perform their roles effectively.

Strategy and Service Improvement  

Collaborate with the Divisional Team in developing the Clinical Divisional service and business strategy. 

Participate in service improvement projects or development programmes that contribute to the modernisation of patient services, providing both professional and clinical advice as necessary. 

Work in close partnership with appropriate Clinical Leads and Service Managers to ensure all local, corporate and national initiatives and targets are met.

Where appropriate, support the Clinical Division as agreed with the Deputy Director of Nursing, and the senior Divisional management team: (i) to represent the Trust within the NHS and community, and with partner organisation, (ii) to work closely with them to institute integrated working in the best interests of patient care, (iii) to ensure appropriate public and patient involvement in assessing service quality and improvements. 

Identify and take forward the specific contribution nursing and midwifery can make to the development of the service. 

Financial Management 

Act as an authorising signatory for nursing within agreed limits. 

Monitor Ward and Departmental nursing budgets with the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse for each clinical area ensuring effective budget management. 

Manage nursing resources on a day to day basis with particular attention to Bank and Agency expenditure. 

Report monthly positions to the Deputy Director of Nursing. 1.7 R&D, education and training.

R&D, education and Training 

Undertake training needs analysis in conjunction with Deputy Director of Nursing  Support the development and implementation of education and training programmes within area of responsibility for nurses and midwives. 

Be responsible for developing own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others. 

Provide advice relating to approved R & D projects  Work in collaboration with the Senior Sisters / Charge Nurses to monitor and regulate training and development of all staff to ensure:  

All nursing staff are appraised. 

All mandatory training is undertaken and recorded  - Monitor and regulate study leave to ensure consistency and equality. 

Ensure clinical environments are fit to receive students and are regularly audited. 

All staff are competent in acute care skills and have passed their Medicines Management Test. 

Support the Deputy Director of Nursing in implementing robust systems of audit.

Professional standards and patient experience 

Promote excellent standards in all wards / departments through: 

Promotion of a nurturing environment for patients, relatives, visitors and staff through monitoring, measuring and auctioning and evaluating. 

Advocating for patients at all times. 

Daily ward rounds and monitoring observations of care. 

Implementing a system for gaining patient feedback, responding to adverse outcomes. 

Driving privacy and dignity across all departments / wards.