Assistant Director Of Nursing Patient Flow

Purpose of the Post

The overall purpose of the job is to facilitate the efficient movement of patients through the hospital system and to assist with establishing pathways within St Columcille’s Hospital, and between other hospital’s in the region, the community and nursing home sector.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Key roles and responsibilities:

Responsible for promoting and leading excellence in clinical practice and ensuring the provision of high quality nursing care for patients in line with the vision and values of St Columcille’s Hospital.

The Patient Flow ADON will identify and coordinate suitable patients that can be transferred to other hospitals, nursing homes and facilitate their efficient transfer.

The role includes working with the ADONS and Bed Management and Clinical Nurse Manager(s) to complement care delivery by to provide improved communication between these roles and between the wards to improve patient flow, experience and organisational best practice.

Manage the patient flow team, which consists of a Bed manager, Discharge Co-ordinator and an Admission Avoidance Officer.

Provide expert senior nursing assistance with proactive management of key tasks associated with acute demand, bed management whilst supporting improved patient care experience.

Review and coordinate the care pathways for patients transitioning between SCH and other external hospitals, the community and the nursing home sector.

Facilitate the processes for a safe and timely journey, in conjunction with CNM’s/Discharge Coordinators/Bed Management between SCH and other facilities and the patient’s home.

Assist ANP’s CNS’s and CNMs with the smooth flow of admissions and discharges by working with all teams to ensure opportunities are maximised in processes around patient flow in the hospital.

In collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, assist in the coordination of cases that are delayed waiting for procedures e.g. radiology and gastro procedures.

Conduct a daily review with the CNMs regarding patients who are in wards and or outside their service and work with the CNMs and Bed Management to repatriate where possible.

Work with the CNMs and Discharge coordinator to identify appropriate patient groups suitable for goal discharge dates and nurse facilitated discharge.

Ensure suitable patients are effectively identified and onward transferred to the CIT team and lead the governance team in conjunction with the community.

Promote effective and efficient use of the community resources for admission avaoidance

Management and Leadership

· Practice an enabling management style with the frontline management team and other contributing professionals.

· Ensure that critical human and material resources are allocated in an effective way, monitor activity levels and intervene to align resources and maximize efficiencies.

· Participate with the coordination of staff deployment across service units/wards to meet fluctuation in demand.

· Evaluate the systems of Nursing care delivery and recommend changes in nursing procedures, practices and policies in order to reflect an evidence based practice approach to service delivery.

· Participate in interdisciplinary and inter-service policy planning groups in order to affect optimal clinical and non clinical service delivery to service units/wards.

· Develop the concept of collaborative care planning in conjunction with other professionals.

· Contribute to the development and implementation of a discharge policy and ensure good liaison with the Community Care Services.

· Participate in the appropriate and effective management of the nursing and support services to optimize effectiveness, quality and efficiency.

· Assist with the direction and supervision of the nursing service to provide a high level of patient care and clinic/functional area/sector management.

· Provide innovative and effective leadership, support and advice to nursing and allied staff at all levels.

· Provide guidance to nursing and other staff in the implementation of nursing practice and policies.

· Maintain good employee relations and promote good communication with all relevant staff.

· Give support and counsel to nursing and allied staff as necessary and take action in accordance with agreed service policy, if necessary.

· Plan and guide activities to provide optimum patient care in accordance with service policies and procedure.

· Ensure adherence to all standards and guidelines relating to professional nursing practice and behaviour.

· Undertake other relevant duties as may be determined from time to time by the Director of Nursing or other designated officer.

· Monitoring of nursing rosters and skillmix.

Personnel Management

· Facilitate and lead in the development and implementation of family friendly initiatives to support nursing personnel participate in the workforce.

· Foster good employee relations and promote good communication among nursing allied and interdisciplinary colleagues.

· Develop a shared sense of commitment and participation among staff in the management of change, the development of the nursing services and in responding to the changing health needs of patients.

· Ensure that modern standards of clinical nursing care are in operation and that regular monitoring of nursing care is undertaken through audit.

· Participate in the formulation of relevant personnel policies and procedures.

· Practices an enabling management style with the front-line management team and other contributing professionals. Areas of application include:

o Operating a consultative decision-making process on service issues

o Pushing down responsibility and accountability to front-line management levels

o Proactively involving staff in managing change

o Joint development of care standards, operating protocols etc

o Encouragement of service proposals from the front line.

o Building a strong team ethos for the nursing service

· Has a strong focus on developing the contribution of staff at all levels. Is a good judge of capability and promotes talent. Creates a positive climate for the development of performance and contributions at all levels of the services. Areas of application include:

o Recruitment and promotion of staff into key positions

o Performance appraisal and review, including management development planning

o Developmental tasking and stretching of staff

o Promoting a continuous improvement culture

o Actively championing and promoting learning throughout the system

o Putting in place systems to capture and disseminate learning.

Professional /Clinical Responsibilities

· The person holding this post at St. Columcille’s Hospital is required to support the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree.

· Demonstrate behavior consistent with the Mission and Values of the Hospital.

· Provide a high level of professional and clinical leadership.

· Provide safe, comprehensive nursing care to service users within the guidelines laid out by NMBI.

· Be familiar with the core values for Nurses and Midwives in Ireland and use these values to underpin decision making.

· Practice nursing according to Professional Clinical Guidelines, National and Area Health Service Executive guidelines, local policies, protocols and guidelines, current legislation.

· Manage, monitor and evaluate professional and clinical standards ensuring an evidence based care planning approach.

· Manage own case load in accordance with the needs of the post.

· Participate in teams as appropriate, communicating and working in co-operation with the other team members and the wider multi disciplinary teams.

· Facilitate co-ordination, cooperation and liaison across health care teams and programmes.

· Formulate, manage and implement best practice policies and procedures.

· Ensure that service users and others are treated with dignity and respect.

· Adhere and contribute to the development and maintenance of nursing standards, protocols and guidelines consistent with the highest standards of patient care.

· Maintain professional standards in relation to confidentiality, ethics and legislation.

· Assist in the development of service policies and procedures and the implementation of same and to update them as required.

· Participate in development of quality initiatives including clinical audit, standard setting, investigation of complaints and untoward incidents.

· Performance management systems are part of the role and you will be required to participate in the Group’s performance management programme.

· Monitoring of sickness absence and implementation of local and national control measures and proactively manage persistent poor staff attendance.

· Ensures that the patient is actively participating in the decision making of their care with all appropriate team members, and advocates for education and follow through from team members if the patient requires clarification regarding disease process, treatment options, or plan of care.

· Participates with wards/ departments to ensure the safe and efficient management of patient flow within and outside of the hospital.

· Collaborating with patients and their families, as well as the Consultants and Associated health care team members to deliver care consistent with best Evidenced Based Practice.

· Responsible for organizing and facilitating patient’s course of care within Nursing Scope of Practice (as defined by The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland).

· Analyzes clinical information and makes recommendations regarding appropriateness of care, keeping in mind the patients holistic needs and limitations.

· Assures that appropriate transition plan and education is in place prior to discharge, and liaises with Ward Manager to ensure delivery of such has been implemented.

Education and Training

· Contribute to service development through appropriate continuous education, research initiatives, keeping up to date with nursing literature, recent nursing research and new developments in nursing management, education and practice and attend staff study days as considered appropriate.

· Participate in in-service training, orientation programmes and appraisals of all nursing staff. Also, participate in nurse training programmes and any other programmes pertaining to future development in the hospital.

· Provide support supervision and professional development of appropriate staff.

· Advise and cooperate with the Director of Nursing and Academic bodies as necessary.

· Identify the clinical learning needs of staff relevant to service requirements and individual personal development, thereby ensuring in-service training programmes meet service needs and fulfill the scope of practice for professional development.Advise Director of Nursing of these.

· Articulates a compelling vision for the role and contribution of nursing to the service. Presents a positive view of future possibilities. Creates an enthusiastic and committed work climate. Areas of application include:

· Taking the lead in transforming the nursing service. Leading by articulation of core values and beliefs

· Contributing positive views on the future direction and contribution of nursing at both local and national levels

· Taking the lead on standards setting and implementation

· Leading and managing change in services.

Clinical Governance, Quality Assurance, Risk, Health & Safety

· Ensure that effective safety procedures are developed and managed to comply with statutory obligations.

· Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action.

· Comply with the policies, procedures and safe professional practice of the Irish Healthcare System by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

· Assist in the development, implementation and review of Health and Safety statements, risk registers as appropriate.

· Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and incidents and bring them to the attention of the relevant person(s).

· Maintain a feedback mechanism and report to Director of Nursing and senior management when appropriate.

· Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.

· Ensure adherence to policies in relation to the care and safety of any equipment supplied for the fulfilment of duty. Ensure advice of relevant stakeholders is sought prior to procurement.

· Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards, Medication Management Standards etcand comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

· Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

· Contribute to quality improvement activities through facilitating the collection of accurate data entered on to the IT systems as well as supporting the hospital in improving and monitoring nursing and other metrics such as infection control in order to measure the effectiveness of nursing care.

· Utilise Quality Improvement approach to problem solving and actively participate in the timely follow up of complaints and incidents as appropriate. Ensure a safe working environment and safe working practices.

· Designs and implements structured policies and systems for the management of service delivery which ensure clear role accountability for service levels, quality and decision making discretion.

· Ensuring that responsibility and accountability for service delivery is delegated down to the lowest level possible

· Initiating and designing policies and systems for management

· Initiating and negotiating new services and new models of service

· Ensuring that each management level carries clear accountability and responsibility

· Ensuring that resources are planned and managed efficiently, including reorganising services to achieve efficiencies.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

Candidates must have at the latest date of application:

1. Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc

(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

(i) Are registered, or be eligible for registration in the General Nurse Division, and other divisions as relevant to the specific service, of the Register of Nurses and Midwives, as appropriate, maintained by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann).

and

(ii) Have a minimum of 7 years post registration experience and 3 years nursing experience at a minimum of Clinical Nurse Manager 2 (CNM2) level in an acute setting

and

(iii) Possess a post graduate qualification at not less than level 8 (QQI) in health care or management related area.

and

(iv) Candidates must possess the requisite clinical, leadership, managerial and administrative knowledge and ability for the proper discharge of the office.

and

(v) Have undergone or commit to undergoing the ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) course within 6 months of commencing the course.

2. Annual Registration

Practitioners must maintain live annual registration on the General Nursing Division of the Nurses & Midwifery Register maintained by the Nursing & Midwifery Registration Board (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann)

3. Age

Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where s/he is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.

4. Health

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

5. Character

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Post Specific Requirements

Demonstrate depth and breadth of experience in nursing management in the acute setting as relevant to the role.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

The post holder must :

Professional/Clinical knowledge

· Demonstrate a high degree of commitment, professionalism and dedication to the philosophy of nursing and quality health care provision.

· Demonstrate relevant knowledge, expertise and experience from an Acute Hospital perspective in order to discharge the duties of this Senior Nursing Post.

· Demonstrate evidence of policy development and the ability to translate policy into working practices/action.

· Demonstrate knowledge and experience of quality audit/assurance systems.

Planning and Organising Resources

· Demonstrate ability to plan, organise and deliver services in an efficient, effective and resourceful manner, within a model of patient centred care and value for money.

· Demonstrate ability to manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks.

Building and Maintaining Relationships: Leadership, Managing People & Team Skills

Demonstrate leadership skills and ability to influence others.

· Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change and ability to lead and support others in a changing environment.

· Demonstrate ability to manage, motivate and develop staff to maximize performance at work.

· Demonstrate the ability to foster a learning culture amongst staff and colleagues to drive continuous improvement in services to patients.

· Demonstrate ability to work effectively with multi-disciplinary teams.

Evaluating Information and Judging Situations

· Demonstrate the ability to evaluate information and solve problems.

Commitment to Quality Care

· Demonstrate understanding of, and commitment to, the underpinning requirements and key processes in providing quality patient centred care.

· Demonstrate an ability to monitor and evaluate service performance and levels of care.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

· Demonstrate effective communications and interpersonal skills including: the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner: the ability to engage collaboratively with all stakeholders; the ability to give constructive feedback.

· Demonstrate competency in general use of information technology-computers, office functions, internet for research purposes, email, preparation of presentation materials etc.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking/Shortlisting / Interview

A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Code of Practice

The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, Information for Candidates”.

Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, Information for Candidates” or on www.cpsa.ie.

The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.

PLEASE COMPLETE AND UPLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM ATTACHED TO THE JOB ADVERT. CVs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS POSITION