Lead Nurse - Outpatients

Clinical Leadership and Service Delivery:

• Lead and coordinate the daily clinical operations of your department, ensuring appropriate skill mix, safe staffing levels, and effective patient care.
• Supervise and support nursing staff, allocating duties based on patient need, competency, and development goals.
• Actively manage rotas, annual leave, and study leave to maintain service continuity.
• Work alongside the DOCS/CSM to support strategic service development, ensuring efficient delivery of care and positive patient outcomes.

2. Quality, Safety and Governance:

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, professional standards, and regulatory requirements (e.g., CQC, HIS, HIW).
• Maintain professional standards in accordance with the NMC Code and clinical best practice guidelines.
• Undertake and support departmental risk assessments, clinical audits, and the risk self-assessment cycle.
• Investigate incidents and lead on Root Cause Analysis (RCA) where required, taking remedial actions and ensuring learning is shared.
• Ensure full compliance with infection prevention, safeguarding, health and safety, manual handling, and information governance policies.

3. Staff Development and Clinical Supervision:

• Provide visible leadership, support, and clinical supervision for all nursing staff.
• Mentor junior nurses and students, and contribute to the induction, training, and professional development of staff.
• Ensure completion of mandatory training and role-specific competencies for yourself and your team.
• Participate in hospital on-call and resuscitation team rotas as required.

4. Business Management and Resource Planning:

• Work with leadership to manage departmental budgets, ensuring cost-effective staffing and use of resources.
• Oversee the deployment of agency and bank staff, ensuring clinical safety and financial control.
• Contribute to business planning, workforce planning, and departmental strategy to support sustainability and growth.
• Manage and maintain professional relationships with third-party providers where relevant.

5. Patient Experience and Customer Service:

• Act as a patient advocate, supporting patient-centred care and addressing concerns or complaints swiftly and effectively.
• Instil a culture of customer service throughout the department, using patient feedback and complaint data to drive improvement.
• Maintain positive communication with GPs, consultants, patients, and their families to support a seamless care journey.

6. Team Engagement and Hospital-Wide Collaboration:

• Foster high levels of staff engagement by providing clear direction, performance feedback, and opportunities for progression.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with consultants, clinical teams, and other departments.
• Collaborate with hospital leadership to deliver key clinical, operational, and commercial initiatives.
• Deputise for the DOCS/CSM in their absence and represent the department at relevant meetings and forums.