JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Paediatric Site Practitioner
CLINICAL UNIT:
Paediatrics
BASE:
The Portland Hospital for Women and Children
MANAGED BY:
Modern Matron for inpatient wards
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Children Services Manager
HOSPITAL PROFILE
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 SUMMARY
The post holder will provide leadership and clinical support to paediatric clinical areas (including in patient,
day care and out patients) on a shift by shift basis. Out of hours they will work as part of the paediatric
hospital at night clinical team to ensure a timely and appropriate response to patients’ needs, in liaison
with the hospital’s duty manager and RMO’s. The post holder will ensure HCA policies and protocols are
adhered to, identifying shortfalls and intervening as necessary. The role delivers expert advice and will
practice expanded clinical skills within the paediatric department working collaboratively with the multi
professional team and liaising as appropriate with relevant consultants.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Operational Management
 To lead on paediatric site management within agreed policies, protocols and procedures, liaising
with the hospital duty manager and senior nursing team where necessary.
 Identify gaps in policy and develop new policy to support practice.
 To co-ordinate the provision of a safe environment for patients, carers and staff in accordance with
Health and Safety policy.
 To take appropriate action relating to complaints, accidents and untoward incidents, involving
patients, visitors and staff
 To act as an effective role model for all staff.
 Undertake such duties as required to maintain the efficient running of the Paediatric Department at
all times and out of hours, in conjunction with the senior management team.
Clinical and Professional Issues
 Provide a clinically credible paediatric nursing service, demonstrating expert knowledge and clinical
skills, as the practitioner responsible for the assessment of paediatric patients’ needs and
utilisation of appropriate resources to meet them, in association with the on-call paediatric RMO as
part of the paediatric hospital at night team.
 Provide expert advice on issues related to paediatric nursing.
 Liaise with the hospital duty manager and senior nurses to utilise all beds efficiently. Identify any
issues affecting bed utilisation such as staffing or infection concerns to the Chief Nursing Officer.
 To ensure that nursing practice is undertaken within the policies and procedures set by HCA.
 To provide a senior nursing response in the event of a major emergency.
 Work with the named and designated nurse/doctor/midwife for safeguarding children within the
hospital, ensuring that safeguarding issues are managed effectively and appropriately by the
relevant agencies. The post holder will demonstrate expertise and confidence in the Safeguarding
agenda and undertake annual training to level three and above.
 Facilitate optimal child centred pathways of care for children across all clinical areas, including
outpatients, day case, wards, PICU, radiology, theatres etc.
Communications
 To provide a calm, supportive and problem solving approach to situations.
 To be flexible and empathise with difficult situations
 To act as a co-ordinator in some situation
 Provide support and counselling when necessary.
 Promote and display the “Positively Portland“ values: greetings, respect, teamwork, initiative,
responsibility and acknowledgment”
Teaching and Supervision
 Assist with the development and delivery of training programmes for nursing and medical staff as
required.
 To support staff in undertaking intravenous drug administration and cannulation through
supervision
 To update own skills and knowledge as required by maintaining NMC registration.
 Assist in the development of research based practice.
Advanced Practice
 Each Paediatric Site Practitioner will undertake procedures for which they have received training
and feel competent to do so, as within the NMC Scope for Professional Practice Guidelines.
 Each Paediatric Site Practitioner will become fully competent in delivery of advanced practice roles.
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Each Paediatric Site Practitioner must be able to or be working towards undertaking the following
advanced practice roles:
Cannulation / phlebotomy
Catheterisation
In the event of a death of a child to advise and support the family/carers and multi disciplinary
team ensuring HCA policy is followed in respect of documentation, communication, and escalation
to the relevant agencies where necessary
Ability to analyse arterial blood gas samples using the relevant equipment.
Setting up and troubleshooting non invasive ventilation systems
Setting up and troubleshooting epidural and PCA delivery systems
Assessing the need for, and administering medications according to Patient Group Directions
(PGD’s)
Competent in assessment of a sick child and in collaboration with the MDT plan treatment and care
as appropriate
Conducting first line clinical assessment of patients as per PEWS (Paediatric Early Warning Score)
guidelines
Attend respiratory / cardiac arrest calls and assist with management of the patient
Provide resuscitation training for parents where necessary
Provide an out of hours pain service
Undertake E.C.G’s and pH studies where required
Provide clinical and professional advice to all paediatric nursing staff
Bed Management and Discharge Co-ordination
 The post holder will manage the emergency and elective admission processes across the paediatric
department, ensuring safe and appropriate patient placement,
 The post holder will work collaboratively with the senior management team and duty manager in
providing the paediatric link in the management of hospital issues.
 To lead on the achievement of length of stay reduction and efficiency within the paediatric wards /
outpatients service from a nursing perspective, and working collaboratively with the multi
professional team to remove obstructions to discharge.
 To be able to communicate effectively with parents/carers to impart the necessary knowledge for
safe discharge of the child/young person
 To assist in the discharge planning process for all patients from the point of admission, particularly
out of hours. This will be in collaboration with the multi professional team, paediatric ward sisters,
matrons and external agencies.
Work force planning
 To monitor nursing staffing levels and skill mix out of hours and liaise with ward sisters to
ensure safe and efficient staffing levels at all times.
 To inform ward sisters of any staffing issues highlighted out of hours eg, sickness, non
attendance at work, performance issues.
 Liaise with the Bank Office out of hours regarding booking of shifts as appropriate and
changes to be made to MAPS rotas/ workforce planning tool in relation to bank/
substantive staff.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Essential
 RSCN / RN child
 Teaching course or Teaching Experience
 Valid APLS or EPLS
 Experience of delivering advanced practice/patient assessment
 Level 3 safeguarding training undertaken within the last 12 months
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Computer skills
Ability to lead a team
Organisation and management skills.
Negotiating skills
Ability to work effectively under pressure
Quality measurement/
standard setting/audit
Relevant paediatric experience in an acute setting.
Evidence of significant continuing professional development
Articulate with advanced written and verbal communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills
Presentation skills
Practical approach to issues
Sufficient to fulfil the duties of the post with any reasonable adaptations.
Ability to work rotational shifts
Desirable
 Degree/MSc or equivalent
 Post basic critical care course
 Management / leadership qualification
 Paediatric physical assessment at MSc
 Medicines management or prescribing course
 Teaching hospital experience.
 HDU experience
 Currently involved in clinical practice
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/POLICIES
The post holder will have access to confidential information, which may only be disclosed to parties
entitled to receive it. Unauthorised disclosure is a disciplinary offence in accordance with the HCA
International Confidentiality and Security Agreement.
The Portland Hospital is a regulated organisation and as such, all post holders must have their criminal
record checked. You will be asked to declare any criminal convictions during the application process and if
you are the preferred candidate for the post an enhanced CRB record check will be made by HCA
International.
The Portland Hospital is a dynamic organisation; therefore this job description maybe subject to change in
accordance with the service provision of the ward and The Portland Hospital. Any proposed amendments
to reflect or anticipate changes to the post will be amended in consultation with the postholder.
Employee:
I agree that the attached job specification has been discussed with me and that I understand my primary
responsibilities within this role.
Name:
____________________________
Signature:
____________________________
Date:
____________________________
Manager/HR:
Name:
____________________________
Signature:
____________________________
Date:
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