Welcome to NHS Greater and Clyde

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is the largest local healthcare ROYAL system in … and one of the largest in the as a whole. In April 2006, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was established by redrawing the boundaries of NHS Greater Glasgow and incorporating a large area of the now dissolved NHS Argyll and Clyde. This links together Scotland’s HOSPITAL FOR major urban areas and key facilities and services in a single healthcare system, so presenting further opportunities to take forward the modernisation process begun in Glasgow. Over the coming years, new plans will be drawn up to create first-class services for the region and the nation as a whole. SICK CHILDREN Employing over forty-four thousand staff and serving a population of one point two million, we offer a world-class range of opportunities for job satisfaction and career development – all within a working environment undergoing modernisation through YORKHILL the largest-ever investment programme in the history of Scottish healthcare.

Our hospitals and staff have a world-renowned reputation, backed up by a long tradition of excellence – antiseptic surgery and ultrasound, as well as many other innovations, were pioneered in our hospitals. And we count on excellent undergraduate and postgraduate teaching facilities - supported by the world-famous Medical School and Glasgow Caledonian University with links to research facilities like the Beatson Institute.

We spend over one and half billion pounds a year caring for our population - a significant proportion of who present serious medical and public health challenges.

THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES Provide opportunity and support to study to degree level and DIRECTORATE actively support the NHS Flying Start programme. We have a dedicated team of Clinical Educators to support staff development National services include – Acute Children’s services • Cardiac Surgery The Acute Children’s Services based at Yorkhill employs the • Nephrology largest cohort of nurses caring for children in Scotland. It is the • ECMO second largest children’s hospital in the United Kingdom and • Bone Marrow Transplant provides secondary and tertiary care for NHS Greater Glasgow • Complex airways and Clyde and beyond. The hospital provides care to children Cleft surgery from birth until, at times, early adulthood. There are additional • children’s acute in patient beds at the Southern General Hospital • Specialist Services include - Haematology / Oncology (Ward 66), Glasgow and the Royal Alexandra Hospital (Ward 15), • Surgical and Medical Neonatal Care - medical Paisley. neonatal care is across 4 sites in Glasgow and Clyde. • Long Term Home Ventilation Service We are … • Child and Family Mental Health • Dermatology The main provider for children’s nursing students clinical practice • Gastroenterology experience and are a dedicated undergraduate and postgraduate child health teaching unit, with close links to The University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of the West of Scotland. Proactive approach to ongoing service development and delivery Supportive approach to staff development - e.g. access to

• Open Learning Centre • Dedicated Clinical Skills Area • Paediatric Advanced Life Support training • Foundation and Intermediate Programme in Neonatal Care • Cardiac Care Programme • Paediatric Intensive Care Programme • Paediatric Nephrology Programme • Clinical Leadership Programmes • Return to Practice • Clinical Rotation Programme for newly qualified nurses

ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN The Future (YORKHILL) This is an exciting time for Acute Children’s Services within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. With the advent of a new children’s The Royal Hospital for Sick Children has 266 inpatient beds, 12 hospital, planned to open in early 2013, the future is very bright. daycase beds, and handles approximately 90,000 out-patients, The New Children’s Hospital Project is a key part of the Acute 15,000 in-patients, 7,300 daycases and 35,000 A&E attendances Services Review within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and is every year. The hospital provides care for newborn babies right working closely with the new South Glasgow Hospitals Project. up to children around 13 years of age. The new children’s hospital will provide state-of-the-art medical care to children and young people in a safe, happy, child-friendly There are close links with the community where we provide a environment and will be a worthy successor to the Royal Hospital wide range of services from four Child Development Centres at - for Sick Children at Yorkhill. The new hospital will admit and care Bridgeton Health Centre, Health Centre, for infants, children and young people from birth to 16 years and Health Centre and the new Southbank Centre in the . will continue to be a local and national tertiary centre and provide These centres run various clinics dealing with speech, hearing, opportunities for all staff working within the service. emotional or behavioural problems, as well as organising immunisation programmes in local schools. A wide range of staff provide these services, including consultant community Paediatricians, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech & language therapists and school nurses amongst others. Image

In its role as a major academic institution, the hospital is home to a number of University departments as well as internationally acclaimed research groups. The Division's significant commitment to the teaching and training of new doctors, nurses, midwives and other health professionals ensures that highly trained NHS staff are ready to care for the mothers and children of tomorrow.

We are dedicated to providing all aspects of care at Yorkhill in a child focused and friendly environment. In order to achieve this, we are actively involving patients and their families through the Patient Focus Public Involvement (PFPI) initiative. This work is ongoing throughout and allows the patients and families actually using our services to tell us they feel and what could be improved at Yorkhill.

Living and working in Glasgow Scotland’s people know how to enjoy themselves. The pace of life is less frantic here – it’s simply more relaxed and friendly than If you’ve never visited Scotland before, prepare to be surprised. many other places. Breathtaking scenery, outdoor pursuits, a vibrant cultural life, the HOUSING buzz of major cities – there is something for Wherever you hail from, you’ll find Glasgow and the West of everyone. A country Scotland offers exceptional value. renowned for unspoiled natural habitats and a Living in the city centre is certainly an option. The upmarket sense of history, there’s and waterfront developments offer dramatic a huge amount to views of the – and easy access to all of Glasgow’s discover in this modern amenities. country. Glasgow’s west end is the place for elegant townhouses, wide Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city. From its foundation by Saint boulevards and sophisticated living. It’s also the heart of Mungo, to the incredible wealth of tobacco trading – and then Glasgow’s academic life – giving the area an eclectic, youthful Glasgow’s reputation of workshop of the world – the city has feel. changed, and thrived, at every turn.

Today, Glasgow is a compact, vibrant and modern city. In fact, The is another Glasgow’s scale comes a surprise to some people. It has the city-centre location – this time largest suburban rail network with an even more youthful outside London, and is second approach. Tobacco only to the UK capital as a retail warehouses are now loft centre. apartments – ancient markets are now concert venues. Add this to high quality housing, Stylish and extremely central, good schools, thorough this area is especially popular transport links – and you can with young professionals. understand why people here enjoy a unique standard of If you want to escape the city, excellent transport links allow you a living. huge range of options.

Helensburgh offers spectacular views of the Clyde estuary – and Scotland is a base for just about every outdoor pursuit – from features many fine Victorian and Edwardian villas. Milngavie and climbing to horse riding and water sports. And of course, golfers Bearsden are popular suburbs to the north of the city – close to can choose from the world’s most famous courses, including The the countryside, yet with excellent local facilities. Netherlee and Old Course at St Andrews, Turnberry and Loch Lomond. Newton Mearns are popular locations to the south – with first class transport links and schools. Back in Glasgow, you’ll find an equally impressive amount of ways to spend your time. The main Slightly further afield, Bothwell, Bridge of Weir, Renfrew and shopping areas feature stunning Lenzie offer a wide range of high quality housing. original architecture and broad pedestrian-only streets – not to mention the UK’s best selection of LEISURE shops outside London.

Glasgow doesn’t just offer This throng of style is just minutes you a huge choice of leisure away from many of Glasgow’s wide activities – it offers you more open spaces. The city’s fathers made time to pursue them. With sure workers had somewhere to retreat short commuting times – from Glasgow’s industrial past. With over 70 public parks it’s no and its proximity to the great surprise Glasgow is known as the “dear green place”. outdoors – working in Glasgow will give you more If all that fresh air makes you feel hungry (and thirsty), you’ll never time to call your own. be far from a restaurant or bar.

Culture is well served: with the world famous Citizen’s, Tron, SCHOOLING Arches and Tramway theatres staging many cutting-edge productions. Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera are based in If you have a young family, you’ll be glad to hear there are many Glasgow, and the Royal Concert Hall plays host to every kind of excellent local authority schools in Glasgow and the West of music, from classical to pop. Scotland.

Venturing outdoors, Loch Lomond Shores offers a gateway to In particular, the commuter suburbs to the north and south of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Just 40 minutes from the city city are home to schools which consistently top the national centre, Loch Lomond is popular with people living in the west league tables. coast and further afield. However, vast areas soon absorb the visitors – so it’s rarely crowded. However, if you decide upon independent schooling there is an equally wide choice.

TRAVEL As well as co-educational, there are first rate boys’ and girls’ schools. Mainly situated in the city’s west end and commuter Getting to the West of Scotland is easy. And getting around is suburbs, these are amongst Scotland’s finest schools. Many of even easier. Scotland’s most prestigious boarding schools are also within easy reach. Glasgow International Airport is just 15 minutes from . It connects Glasgow with all the main London airports – including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. Then there’s Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol… not to mention Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Chicago.

The West of Scotland is also well served by Glasgow Prestwick and Edinburgh airports. So you’re never short of options.

Then there’s rail – the east and west coast main lines connect to all of England’s major cities.

Scotland’s motorway network is centred around the west – with links to England, as well as the north, west and east of Scotland The choice of Further and Higher Education is equally impressive. Glasgow University and Strathclyde University are joined by the However, the real revelation is local transport – allowing you to newer Glasgow Caledonian and West of Scotland universities. commute easily to and from work. The West of Scotland’s roads That’s before adding the 19 further education colleges in the area. are less congested than many other areas in the UK – largely due It’s easy to see why Scotland’s unique education system has long to excellent public transport. From the underground railway, to an enjoyed an excellent reputation. extensive rail network and frequent bus services, the area has invested heavily in transport.

Now all you need to do is get here.

NHS Benefits YORKHILL SPECIALISED UNITS

We offer all our successful candidates: Accident & Emergency

• Relocation Assistance where appropriate Activities

• Continuity of NHS Service The Emergency Department sees approximately thirty – • Final Salary Pension Scheme nine thousand new patients per year. • An environment offering unique opportunities to build and develop your clinical skills General Information

• The opportunity to gain expertise in a wide range of clinical The Emergency Department conditions in a world renowned facility provides a 24-hour service for a wide variety of conditions • Staff Bursary Scheme to support continuing education and ranging from minor injury or training illness, burns, falls, to medical and surgical emergencies, as • Child care vouchers well as major trauma such as Road Vehicle Collisions.

• Interest free loan to purchase Zonecard’s - a flexible season The department has ten clinical treatment rooms, which are ticket for unlimited travel by rail, subway, most buses and utilised by all specialities. even some ferries The assessment unit has ten beds available and at present sees • A genuine commitment to supporting professional all triage 3 category medical patients. This will change next year development through competency based training when it is expected that all specialties will be seen.

• Cycle to Work Scheme, for staff to purchase a bicycle and It is supported by qualified medical and nursing staff, who work in any equipment needed and then repay those costs through collaboration with a range of specialised medical, nursing, their salary physiotherapists, radiology and allied professional staff throughout the hospital and the community, to provide quality • Specialist training programmes in association with Higher care for our patients’ and their families. Education establishments and professional bodies.

For more information about the benefits and discounts available to NHSGGC staff visit www.nhsstaffbenefits.co.uk and www.nhsdiscounts.com

We offer excellent opportunities for clinical professional Day Surgery Unit development. New members of staff are fully supported by an orientation programme, preceptors and mentors. Ongoing The building was officially opened in April 1998 almost two years education is offered within the department on a weekly basis. after its commencement.

Day Surgery opens daily Monday – Friday, 7.00am – 7.00pm. A shift pattern of nursing staff ensure that both the morning surgery patients, who attend the Unit at 8.00am for a 9.00am start, and afternoon patients who attend from 11.00am for a 1.30pm start are well catered for in terms of a dedicated nursing team.

Apart from general surgical procedures –

• Hernias • Hydrocele orchidopexy • Circumcision

• EUA’s rectal biopsy

• Anal stretch

Dermoid cyst • • Labial adhesions • Foreskin stretch/prepuceplasty • Toenail and tingue tie

- being performed daily, the children can attend for dental treatment under G.A. CT scan or MRI scans also ophthalmology and a variety of ENT surgery

• Grommets • Myringotomy cautery • SMD • Atrial lavage • ERA

Oncology patients attend on a Tuesday afternoon for bone marrow aspirate or lumber puncture under G.A.

There is a pre-op play area, which is well equipped with toys, and Theatre games and the play specialist can provide arts and crafts to entertain and amuse the children while they wait their turn to be taken to theatre. The adolescent room is used every day by the The Theatre Suite at Yorkhill was more technically minded youngsters enjoying video games and commissioned in 1997 and is play station amusements. one of the newest purpose-built suites in the hospital. It consists Today this system of caring for children requiring surgery certainly of 7 operating theatres, 1 minor seems to be the preferred method by the family. It allows for less surgery/ endoscopy room and is disruption in the lives of children and their families and care supported by a dedicated carer provided post-op in the community by the District Nurse, if friendly reception area and 12 necessary, is certainly much appreciated by those families whose recovery bays. It supports all elective and emergency surgery on stay in hospital may have been prolonged if such a service did not the site to include neonates. The hospital provides secondary exist. care services to the West of Scotland, tertiary care services to all of Scotland and is the national centre in Scotland for cardiac surgery, renal transplant surgery and major airway surgery in children. As yet there are no defined neurosurgical operating sessions in Yorkhill but plans to offer this service on site are part of NHS Greater Glasgow’s redesign process. Yorkhill has the accommodation to support this surgery but would require recurring investment to do so.

6 of the 7 theatres, the minor surgery room and 8 recovery bays are fully equipped and staffed. The remaining areas are unstaffed but partially equipped and offer great potential for service development in support of ever increasing clinical pressures on all specialities and the constant move to provide paediatric services in dedicated centres.

Staffing

Theatre staff include paediatric and general trained nurses, operating

department practitioners, perfusionists and theatre support The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and workers. 15 consultant paediatric anaesthetists provide Neonatal Surgical High Dependency Unit (NSHDU). anaesthetic cover for all elective and emergency procedures. The department boasts an excellent support network for continuing professional department with a dedicated clinical educator’s post. The newly integrated level 4 medical and surgical neonatal The department also supports rotational anaesthetic trainees. intensiv There is a dedicated emergency team 24 hours per day and a e care separate, dedicated on- call cardiac team from 1700 to 0800 unit every night and 24hrs at the weekend. offers exciting Caseload/ mix opportu nities In 2004 a total of 10,200 procedures were carried out. 7,840 of for these were elective of which 50% were day cases. The remaining nurses 2360 were emergencies. to There are in excess of 18 different speciality groups who use the extend theatre facility for operating. Listed below is a short summary of their the major ones. knowledge and skills. The unit has 6 neonatal surgical and 10 neonatal medical cots. The NSHDU has a further 16 high Elective (of the 7840) Emergency (of the 2360) dependency and 5 special care cots.

General Surgery/ Urology 30% 40% In addition to local neonatal services the units provide the Orthopaedics 9% 22% following specialist services: Cardiac Surgery 4% 2% ENT 18% 3% • National neonatal cardiac service Dental 10% 3% • National neonatal extracorporeal life support

• National management of cerebro-vascular anomalies Although cardiac appears to provide a small proportion of the • National neonatal complex airway management workload, their dedicated session time amounts to 15% of all operating time, which reflects the length and complexity of these • Regional neonatal surgery cases. The remaining mix of cases and specialities ranges across The multidisciplinary team works closely with the Fetal Medicine surgery and into paediatric medicine where large proportions of Unit to ensure the monitoring, safe delivery and subsequent patients also require interventional procedures. neonatal care of infants diagnosed with conditions such as diaphragmatic hernia, abdominal wall defects and cardiac and renal anomalies.

Close liaison with the West of Scotland Neonatal Transfer Service Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) and High provides safe transfer of infants throughout the country. Dependency unit

Staff rotate between the units and also PICU Information have the opportunity to develop newborn life support skills by attending The intensive care unit has 16 beds and admits approximately deliveries in the adjoining maternity seven hundred patients per year. The unit provides a 24-hour unit. service for paediatric medical, surgical, trauma, oncology, burns, renal, cardiology, and cardiac surgical patients. The unit is able to A comprehensive competency package deliver an extensive range of specialised support, for example, is in place and staff are encouraged to attend study days and haemofiltration, nitric oxide therapy, and high frequency courses to ensure practice is evidence based. oscillation ventilation.

The unit has a retrieval team which operates throughout Scotland. An Extra-Corporal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) service is also available which treats children from all over the United Kingdom.

HDU Information

The high dependency unit has 6 beds and provides a 24-hour service for emergency and elective general surgery, orthopaedics, trauma, ENT, plastic surgery, and general medical patients requiring close observation and monitoring. We offer excellent opportunities for clinical professional development. New members of staff are fully supported by a competency based orientation programme, lecturer/practitioner, and preceptors. Ongoing formal education is offered in the form of BSC Specialist Nurse (PICU) degree course and Cardiac course.

Schiehallion Unit At RHSC we not only provide day-care and clinic facilities for Haematology/ Oncology children, but also offer better post Schiehallion is a 22 bedded Haematology/Oncology Unit, Bone treatment follow up in conjunction with the endocrine consultant. Marrow Transplant Centre. We also treat children with other blood For the older children, who are maybe at University/College or in disorders including Haemophilia, Thalassaemia, Sickle Cell employment there is a three monthly evening clinic. Disease and many more.Schiehallion is a new unit, purpose built in 1996 to meet the needs of an increasing client group The All the trained nursing staff have received specialised training in whole inpatient area is supplied with both a filtered air and water order to undertake the following procedures. supply. The boundaries of the ward are within the airlock system. • Administration of intravenous drugs. • The Unit consists of: • Addition of drugs to intravenous fluid bags. • 10 single cubicles • Administration of intravenous fluids to central line • 6 Hepafiltered cubicles and peripheral lines. • 2 Laminar airflow cubicles • Administration of blood products. • 2 double-bedded areas • Parent’s suite We also have on-site nurse specialists. • Adolescent room • Schoolroom • Paediatric Macmillan Nurse. • Playroom • Clinical nurse specialist Haematology/Oncology. • Nurse Practitioner. Although incidences of disease may • Clinical nurse specialist Haemophilia. not have changed over the last five Years, general activity has In Schiehallion, we believe in emphasising a family centred increased. Chemotherapy regimes approach to care, by involving the parents/guardians in the for a number of disorders has intensified and relapsed disease, in planning and delivering of the child’s care. Each child/family on particular, is now routinely treated and aggressively, sometimes admission will be allocated a primary nurse, and this nurse will repeatedly. follow the child throughout their treatment.

Clinical developments which have changed the dependency of our patient. Group includes: - • Increasingly intensive chemotherapy requiring the use of growth Factors. • The increase in transplantation using matched unrelated donors. • Peripheral stem cells and cord stem cell transplants.

Medical Layout

Ward 6B The ward has 24 beds/cots to accommodate various age groups. We have 8 cubicles which can be used either for mother and child Philosophy accommodation or isolation purposes. These cubicles are self- contained with shower and toilet. The remainder of the ward is 3 We believed that open areas. Off the main corridor are the kitchen, bathroom, children have the right treatment room and preparation room. to receive A parent can stay with their child throughout their admission. If a individualised care cubicle is not available alternative accommodation will be offered provided by the in form of a room in Ronald McDonald house (availability priority parents/carers in decided by RMcD staff) or a reclining chair at the bedside. partnership with appropriately trained Cystic Fibrosis Service medical and nursing staff. Children have CF service cares for children from diagnosis to approx 15 yrs old. the right to be treated with dignity and compassion and to be This is primarily a home care service allowing children to receive considered in the context of the total family unit whose social, IV antibiotic therapy in the community. CF staff are available cultural and emotional needs are acknowledged and respected. during your admission for any enquiries. At all times children and their families should be supported in a warm and welcoming child friendly environment. Ward 7A Ward Philosophy 6B is an acute medical ward specialising in chronic respiratory disease such as Cystic Fibrosis, ventilation and many other We believe in planning general medical conditions. We receive all known patients to us and delivering as well as via A & E /SSW. We admit via clinics which cover the individualised patient care West of Scotland and all outlying areas. Referrals are made to for children which our specialists via other regions. We cater for all age groups from promotes a family centred birth to sixteen using the best available modern equipment/skills. approach. Parents are involved in planning and participating in their child’s care during their hospital stay.

Each parent and patient shall be given factual information, The remainder of the ward is divided into three open-plan bed support and understanding to promote recovery and encourage bays, i.e. one small 4-bedded bay and two 6-bedded bays. child development and healthy living. The aim of the nursing staff is to be an advocate for the child and family, to deliver high Nursing Team standards of care and promote a safe and friendly environment to minimise the effects of hospitalisation on the family unit. Within the staff group there will always be Ward Business someone who can respond to each family’s Ward 7A is a 24 bedded unit, designed to care for children needs or initiate the suffering from medical conditions, rare metabolic disorders and process of involving any neurological conditions. We receive transfers from out Short Stay other professional Ward when the acute receiving ward is full. In addition, patients colleague more appropriately able to meet the identified needs. that are known to us, whether they are medical or specialised, can be admitted to our ward at any time. Outpatient catchment Continuing Education area covers the West of Scotland and other outlying areas, plus we also take referrals from any other region for specialised Ongoing staff development is encouraged at all times. There is an treatments and/or investigations. These could be as either day abundance of nursing journals and a wide variety of literature on patients or inpatients. the ward for all to read. Newly appointed staff are involved in an induction programme and all grades of staff are allocated We cater for all ages form birth to 16 years, but at all times we somebody to work with for a settling-in period. As opportunities offer the best available monitoring and skills. The ward works arise, staff can attend study days, conferences or courses that closely with the Fraser of Allander Assessment. Unit and offers a are appropriate to their work place and learning needs. multi-disciplinary approach in caring for children with special needs. Due to the continual rise in activity of haematology/ oncology patients, we in 7A are now the official designated ‘overspill’ ward for Schiehallion Unit.

Ward Layout

The ward has 24 beds/cots to accommodate various age groups of children. We have 8 cubicles which can be used as mother and child accommodation, or to isolate children with infectious conditions and those prone to infections. These cubicles are self- contained with shower and toilet.

WARD 7B nurses on the ward have also extended their scope of practice to include intravenous drug administration. A few of the trained Philosophy nursing staff have also had the opportunity to learn venepuncture and cannulation skills, thus providing a more holistic approach to We are a dedicated team of highly skilled doctors and nurses nursing care. here to take care of your children. We provide a safe and friendly environment delivering the most up to date treatment. We Diabetic Service promote family involvement in individual patient care, incorporating hopes, fears and ethical beliefs. We have open The diabetes service cares for children visiting, good facilities and a flexible approach to make the child’s from 0 – 15 years with insulin dependent stay in hospital as pleasant as possible. diabetes mellitus within both the hospital and community setting. The diabetes Business team is a multi-disciplinary team and consists of consultants, diabetes nurse Ward 7B is an acute medical receiving ward specialising in specialists, dieticians, social worker and endocrinology, dermatology, and infectious diseases. We receive psychologist. It is primarily a home- acutely ill children on a 24-hour basis from the Accident & based service with all education, training Emergency Dept and the Short Stay Ward. The ward therefore and support given in the home has a vast turnover of patients. We admit all ages from neonates environment, and only the ill children to teenagers, using the best available up-to-date nursing skills from a distance being admitted. The and monitoring equipment. patients all have a named nurse and dietician, and have access to a 24-hour service. The nurses cover Layout the service during the week and an on-call service at the weekends. The team is involved in educating other professional The ward has 23 beds, divided up as 13 single rooms and 2 bays groups within the hospital and teachers, school nurses and of 4 and 6 bed spaces. These are all linked by a main corridor students in the community. from which the other rooms of the ward come off. These include the kitchen, bathroom, toilets, preparation room and treatment Dermatology Service room. Outside the ward there are public toilets and a shower room for resident parents who do not have a single room. The service consists of 3 consultants, 2 dermatology nurses, a food allergy sister and a dietician. The team provide a service for Nursing Team all ward patients and involves the teaching and education of children/parents and staff. At present patients are seen as Team nursing is carried out in the ward, whereby on admission a necessary from Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm but there is also an patient is allocated a named nurse from one of the two teams, emergency phone-in service available. The team is also involved thus ensuring continuity of patient care. The majority of trained in teaching professionals and patients in the community.

Developing Our Staff Working closely with the local universities a number of academically accredited clinical programmes have been Within the Directorate’s Acute Children’s Services, there is a developed and these include: - positive approach towards staff development and ongoing education. Situated within the main children’s hospital, staff have • Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Cardiology access to an Open Learning Centre where they can access a • Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nephrology variety of IT programmes and on line training. The Library • Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Practice facilities are utilised by hospital staff as well as AHP, medical and nursing students within the city. The Acute Children’s Services have worked in partnership with the universities in the development of; - The nursing clinical educators have robust • BSc in Specialist Nursing (Children’s Nursing) competency programmes • Neonatal Foundation and Intermediate Programmes and teaching packs • Paediatric Pain Management Modules available to enable new • Principles of Anaesthetic Nursing and Post-operative staff to develop knowledge Recovery Practice and skills as they progress • Modules currently being developed in Paediatric within clinical areas, thus Intensive Care aiding their transition to • 1st to 1st Conversion Programme in Children’s working within a new area. Nursing (run through RPDU) All Newly Qualified Nurses are actively supported to Our Health Care Support Worker staff have access to NiCHE and commence and complete the NHS Flying Start Programme. SVQ Level 3 programmes, which are aimed at developing their clinical skills and further developing their practice within ward The IV drug therapy programme incorporates theoretical teams. Our Home Ventilation Service offers a robust training underpinning with competency assessment and is undertaken package to their Health Care Support Workers, which they over a three month period with all nursing staff being actively commence on their employment. supported to complete the programme. There is an annual opportunity to apply for funding to support on going work related studies at undergraduate and post graduate The Nursing and Midwifery Research and Practice Development level. Unit (RPDU) works closely with staff on small and large scale audit and research projects and are a central resource for all staff who wish to review and explore clinical practice to improve quality of care to children, young people and their families.

What to Expect in your first six months…

During your first six months of employment you can expect to have an individually planned induction programme that will reflect you existing knowledge, skills and experience. Your current knowledge and experience will be benchmarked against the KSF outline for the post that you are appointed to and this will help you and your manager to identify a development plan for your first six months.

If you are a newly qualified nurse you will have active support from area specific clinical educators and the hospitals Practice Education Facilitator (PEF) to commence and progress through the NHS Flying Start Programme and local clinically focussed preceptorship programme. Commencement of our IV programme is determined by individual requirements and experience.

Throughout your first six months and beyond you will have access to our library and Open Learning centre and the programmes that they have.

…We look forward to working with you