Registered Nurse | Shift Leader

Somerset West My client, a well-established care centre in Somerset West, is seeking to employ a dedicated Registered Nurse, with current SANC registration to join their team. This role is ideal for a compassionate professional who takes pride in providing exceptional care and dignity to elderly residents.

Purpose of the Role: To provide and supervise professional, compassionate and holistic nursing care to elderly residents while leading and coordinating the care team on shift. To ensure residents’ dignity, safety, independence and well-being, while overseeing the daily care activities of Auxiliary Nurses and Careworkers and carrying out specialised nursing duties within the care environment.

Key Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:

• Lead and coordinate all care activities on shift, ensuring consistently high standards of holistic, clinical and personal care
• Develop positive relationships with residents and understand their background, culture, medical condition, individual needs and preferences
• Administer medication and perform specialised nursing duties, including wound and stoma care, specimen collection, infection control and risk management
• Ensure medication is administered and accurately recorded in accordance with prescribed policies and procedures
• Ensure day and night shift procedures are consistently followed and care activities are appropriately allocated to Careworkers
• Maintain and regularly review individual care plans, ensuring accurate records of all interventions and activities
• Maintain key registers and records relating to abuse, restraints, complaints and compliments, falls risks and directives
• Promote residents’ independence, personal value, dignity and quality of life while maintaining a safe, respectful and supportive environment
• Oversee the development and implementation of daily activities programmes for residents
• Participate in multidisciplinary care planning and the ongoing evaluation of resident care
• Contribute to the promotion and maintenance of health, including the prevention and early detection of illness
• Monitor health and safety conditions, ensure monthly health and safety checks are conducted, report concerns and malfunctioning equipment promptly, and support ongoing risk mitigation
• Maintain effective communication between shifts, ensuring the communications book is updated and instructions are followed up
• Manage and monitor relevant consumable stock levels, service usage and waste control
• Manage and maintain records relating to enquiries, referrals and care activities
• Provide guidance, continuous in-service training and performance feedback to care staff, and contribute to performance management
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of care staff and assist with grievance and disciplinary procedures where required
• Maintain clear, open and effective communication with residents, colleagues, Careworkers and senior management
• Attend and participate in meetings, management activities, statutory and in-service programmes, and quality improvement initiatives
• Adhere to all organisational policies, procedures, Code of Conduct and relevant nursing standards
• Act as a First Aider and/or Health & Safety delegate where required
• Be available for standby duties and call-outs/after-hours emergencies as directed
• Undertake additional duties and responsibilities as delegated by senior management

Criteria:

• Registered Nurse with current SANC registration and annual licence to practise
• Minimum Grade 12
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a care environment, with previous experience caring for older persons; elderly/frail care experience essential
• Experience in dementia care, with formal training in the care of people with dementia advantageous/required
• Proven leadership and team-management skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent communication and listening skills, with strong interpersonal skills and extraordinary patience and empathy when working with older persons
• Excellent organisational abilities, attention to detail, accuracy and the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Self-driven, reliable and able to work effectively under pressure and handle stressful situations
• Friendly, confident, professional and compassionate manner
• Computer literate, with proficiency in Outlook, Excel and Word
• Proficiency in English; Afrikaans required/preferred, with additional local languages advantageous
• Willingness to work flexible day and night shifts on a rotating schedule and participate in standby duties and call-outs
• Valid driver’s licence and reliable transport