Senior Sister / Charge Nurse - Pre Operative Assessment


Company:	NHS Jobs
Salary:	£49,387 to £56,515 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	London, SW10 9NH
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	24 Sept 2026
Closing date:	7 Oct 2026

Apply for this job

Summary

Roles and responsibilities Clinical 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). Communication 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 Management of People/ Time/ Resources 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 6. Ensure all POAC staff are appraised and receive regular feedback on their progress in accordance with National and Trust Policy, Agenda for Change & Knowledge and Skills Framework. This should include ensuring all appraisers receive appropriate training 7. Lead and evaluate professional development programmes in accordance with Directorates development pathway 8. Ensure that the balance between workload and available resources is linked to appropriate levels of training and expertise. Assist with the development and implementation of education and training programme for junior staff 9. Manage the POAC budget and ensure efficient use of resources, with direction as necessary from the Clinical Nurse Lead 10. Delegate as appropriate to ensure that necessary stores and equipment are available and in good working order 11. Under the direction of the DNL participate in service development projects and assist with the setting and implementation of priorities and objectives 12. Promote and participate in POA service improvement and act as a key influencer for effective change management 13. In conjunction with the DNL, develop and maintain effective partnership working with the relevant medical leads; thus ensuring patient responsive practice and service improvement 14. Implement policies and propose changes to practice for preoperative assessment and the perioperative care service in response to patient or service needs. 15. Take responsibility with the DNL for ensuring that all staff are fully conversant with the Procedures to be used in emergency situations and for their attendance at mandatory ongoing training sessions Quality Improvement/ Clinical Governance 1. Take responsibility for auditing of clinical outcomes, standard setting and POAC staff involvement in improving quality of service 2. Take responsibility for developing a continuous programme of POAC performance monitoring, in collaboration with key stakeholders and the Information team 3. Take immediate local action to mitigate patient or user dissatisfaction or complaint Investigate any formal patient complaints in accordance with the Trust Complaints Procedure 4. In conjunction with the Divisional Nurse Lead, assist in the accurate and immediate investigation of all incidents and accidents to patients or staff, and instigate appropriate remedial action and risk reduction. Maintain risk register for POAC and take responsibility for departmental health and safety 5. Take local responsibility for the health and safety aspects in the POAC area to ensure a safe working and patient environment 6. Assist with or participate in departmental and Trust initiatives or audits, related to Service Improvement / Clinical Governance 7. Assist in the implementation of statutory guidelines e.g. NICE guidelines, National Service Frameworks 8. Follow the principles within the Clinical Governance and Research Governance Framework using clinical risk team as a resource 9. Act in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct & Scope of Professional Practice and guide others to do the same 10. Practice in accordance with the core principles of the Trusts Nursing & Midwifery Strategy 11. As agreed by the anaesthetic consultant, appropriate ICPs and models of care that reflect the need for service improvement and ensure a consistent and POA Service, appropriate to patient needs and with equity of access 12. Design service provision to ensure minimal waits and provide walk-in appointments so that all patients ultimately receive a timely POA Education & Training 1. Co-ordinate and participate in the continuous personal development of the POAC team in collaboration with Divisional Nurse Lead. This will include ensuring all staff receive regular appraisal and have Personal Development Plans as well as induction of new members of the team 2. In collaboration with DNL co-ordinate and evaluate educational initiatives in the POAC and ensure a comprehensive learning environment 3. Maintain records of performance reviews, study days, competency assessments of all staff within the department 4. Facilitate others to develop informal teaching skills 5. Act as a clinical resource role model and advisor 6. In collaboration with Divisional Nurse Lead undertake an annual (April)Training Needs Analysis Assessment for the service taking into account any changes in clinical service delivery or evidence based practice Job title - Job description Month Year Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 8 7. In collaboration with DNL and Anaesthetic Lead identify and develop appropriate teaching programmes for patients and carers and evaluate effectiveness 8. Actively participate in a periodic performance appraisal, in accordance with the Trust guidelines 9. Attend both personal and professional development activities that enhance the role and the service. This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.

Apply for this job