CHW Assistant Director Of Nursing, Older Persons Service

Assistant Director of Nursing, Older Persons Service, Community Healthcare West

Job Specification & Terms and Conditions

Job Title, Grade and Grade Code

Assistant Director of Nursing, Older Persons Service,

Community Healthcare West

(Grade Code 2911)

Remuneration

The salary scale for the post is:

63,110 64,455 65,823 69,438 70,924 72,294 73,677 75,570 (01/10/2023)

Salary Scales are updated periodically and the most up to date versions can be found here: https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/benefits-services/pay/pay-scales.html

Campaign Reference

CHW012-ADONOPS-2024

Closing Date

Tuesday 19th March 2024 at 12 noon

Proposed Interview Date (s)

It is proposed to hold interviews the week of 15/04/2024

Taking up Appointment

A start date will be indicated at job offer stage.

Location of Post

There is currently one vacancy within Older Persons services Community Healthcare West.

A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign for Assistant Director of Nursing, Community Healthcare West Older Persons Services from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies for the post of Ass Director or Nursing, may be filled.

Informal Enquiries

Helen Walsh,

A/Director of Nursing, Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, Co Mayo

Tele: 094 9051702 Mobile: 087 7586274

Email: helen.walsp@hse.ie

Details of Service

Older People Services are expanding in order to meet the needs of our aging population. We are committed to providing progressive high standards of care to clients with a wide range of simple to complex palliative, acute or long term care needs. In addition to our Older Person clients, many of our facilities also provide care to younger people living with chronic conditions. These services allow extensive opportunities to fully engage in the delivery of holistic quality care, working with many other health care professionals such as GPs, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Dieticians, Health Care Assistants and QRPS Teams to ensure the best outcomes for service users and residents.

Ballina District Hospital is a 48 bed hospital that provides step down facilities for patients discharged from acute services, primarily Saolta University Health Care Group hospitals who require a further period of rehabilitation or convalescence before being discharged home or being identified as requiring a Long Stay Bed in a Community Nursing Unit. Ballina District also receives direct admissions from G.P.’s for respite and palliative care.

Out-Patient Clinics are provided such as Surgical, Medical, Paediatric and Orthopaedic by visiting Consultants from Mayo University Hospital. There is an X-Ray department on site, providing a Mon-Friday service.

The multi-disciplinary team comprises of Medical Officers, Nursing, Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy team members. The addition of a Social Worker, Senior Medical will further enhance the service to the patients at Ballina District Hospital.

Reporting Relationship

The Post Holder will:

Report to and be accountable to the Director of Nursing

Key Working Relationships

· Director of Nursing

· Integrated Discharge Planners, CHW & acute services

· Service users (patients), their family member’s and\or advocates.

· Multi-disciplinary team within the hospital, medical officers, nursing team, physiotherapists & occupational therapist.

· The wider Older Person Service of Community Healthcare West including, but not exclusively the OPS Managers, General Manager & Head of Service.

· Acute Hospital Services, primarily Saolta University Healthcare

· Community partners as appropriate to enable smooth transition of care to home\Long term residential care facilities.

· ICPOP Team.

· ECC Network Teams.

· Public health nursing & Home Support Services

· Mayo\Roscommon CNME

Purpose of the Post

To provide professional / clinical leadership in the designated area(s) of responsibility. To oversee the management of resources including staffing and staff development to ensure the regulations and HIQA standards are implemented and complied with. To facilitate across the healthcare teams.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Asst. Director of Nursing (Older Persons) will:

Management\Leadership

· Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, who have responsibility to drive processes essential to timely discharge such as a plan for every patient, discharge planning, predicted date of discharge; criteria led discharge.

· Provide leadership and be accountable and responsible to further develop governance structures and within those have the authority to assess, plan, action, improve and review care patient flow.

· Ensure that critical human and material resources are allocated in an effective way, monitoring activity levels and intervening to align resources and maximise efficiencies

· Create capacity within the service at Sacred Heart Hospital to engage fully with reforms required to implement Slaintecare

· Support implementation of the Framework for the development of a National Operating Model for Public Community Based Residential Care

· Enhanced management of patient flow through Sacred Heart Hospital, both from acute hospitals and onwards to home\other facilities, in line with The Urgent & Emergency Care (UEC) Framework.

· Engage and influence the performance of the hospital patient flow pathways and support systems to facilitate optimum efficiency and effectiveness and safe, responsive high quality patient services

· Deputise for the DON

· Exercise authority and co-ordinate the functions of the assigned area(s).

· Provide support, advice and direction to staff as required.

· Engage with the wider healthcare team and facilitate team building.

· Facilitate communication at ward and departmental level and within the senior nurse/midwife team.

· Provide staff leadership and motivation which is conducive to good working relations and work performance.

· Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.

· Manage and promote liaisons with internal / external bodies as appropriate e.g., intra-hospital service, the community, voluntary organisations.

· Contribute to the strategic management and planning process.

· Formulate service plans and budgets in co-operation with the wider healthcare team.

· Lead on practice development within the clinical area.

· Manage resources, including staff, efficiently and effectively to ensure the highest standards of service.

· Manage and evaluate the implementation of the service plan and budget.

· Provide reports on activity and services as required.

· Develop and manage departmental and nursing policy with a particular emphasis on change management. Monitor as appropriate and lead on proactive improvement.

· Ensure compliance with legal requirements, policies and procedures affecting service users, staff and other hospital matters.

· Actively participate in the Nursing Management structure by ‘acting up’ when required.

· Engage in IT developments as they apply to service user and service administration.

Professional / Clinical

· Provide a high level of professional and clinical leadership.

· Provide safe, comprehensive nursing care to service users within the guidelines laid out by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland.

· The Manager will practice nursing according to:

o Professional Clinical Guidelines

o National and Area Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines.

o Local policies, protocols and guidelines

o Current legislation

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

· Manage own caseload in accordance with the needs of the post.

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

· Facilitate co-ordination, co-operation and liaison across healthcare teams and programmes.

· Collaborate with service users, family, carers and other staff in treatment / care planning and in the provision of support and advice.

· Communicate results of assessments, treatment / care programmes and recommendations to the team and relevant others in accordance with service policy / as required.

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

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

· Ensure the maintenance of nursing records in accordance with local service and professional standards.

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

· Evaluate and manage the implementation of best practice policy and procedures e.g., admission and discharge procedures, control and usage of stocks and equipment, grievance and disciplinary procedures.

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

· In consultation with other disciplines, implement and assess quality management programmes as appropriate.

· Participate in clinical audit as required and ensure that clinical audits are performed in his/her area(s) of responsibility

· Initiate and participate in research studies as appropriate.

· Devise and implement Health Promotion Programmes for service users as relevant to the post.

· Operate within the Scope of Practice - seek advice and assistance from his / her manager with any cases or issues that prove to be beyond the scope of his / her professional competence in line with principles of best practice and clinical governance.

· Ensure staff work in compliance with the Scope of Practice.

Health & Safety

· Ensure that effective safety procedures are developed and managed to comply with statutory obligations, in conjunction with relevant staff e.g., health and safety procedures, emergency procedures.

· Take appropriate action on any matter identified as being detrimental to staff and/or service user care or wellbeing / may be inhibiting the efficient provision of care.

· Ensure adherence to established policies and procedures e.g., health and safety, infection control, storage and use of controlled drugs etc.

· Ensure completion of incident / near miss forms.

· Maintain a feedback mechanism with the clinical risk manager and report to senior management team where appropriate.

· Ensure adherence to department 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 e.g., CNS infection control, Occupational Therapist.

· 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 etc and 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.

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.

· Provide support advice to those engaging in continuous professional development in his / her area of responsibility.

· Be familiar with the curriculum training programme for student nurses and be aware of the clinical experience required to meet the needs of the programme.

· Participate in the identification, development and delivery of induction, education, training and development programmes for nursing and non-nursing staff.

· Provide support supervision and professional development of appropriate staff.

· Engage in performance review processes including personal development planning e.g., by setting own and staff objectives and providing and receiving feedback.

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

1. Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc (see Note 1*).

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

(i) Are registered, or are eligible for registration, in the General Nurse Division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland [NMBI] (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann).

AND

(ii) Have 7 years post registration nursing experience consisting of at least three years’ experience nursing older people in the last six years and 3 years nursing management experience

AND

(iii) Are educated to Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) maintained by Quality & Qualifications of Ireland (QQI) in nursing or related field.

AND

(iv) A post registration management qualification in health or a related field.

AND

(b) Applicants must possess the requisite clinical, leadership, managerial and

administrative knowledge and ability for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

2. Annual registration

(i) Practitioners must maintain live annual registration on the General Nurse Division of the Register of Nurses & Midwives maintained by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann).

AND

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of

the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

3. 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.

4. Character

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

Note 1*: As per S.I. 415 of 2013, Part 3, 14 (1) which came into effect on 1st July 2017

S.I. 415 of 2013, Part 3, section 14

PART 3

Staff

1. Persons in charge

14.

(1) There shall be a person in charge of a designated centre.

(2) The person in charge may be the registered provider where the registered

provider concerned is a registered medical practitioner—

(a) who is solely employed in carrying on the business of the designated

centre concerned, and

(b) has not less than 3 years’ experience of carrying on the business of a

nursing home under the Health Act 2007 .

(3) Where the registered provider is not the person in charge, the person in charge

shall be a registered nurse with not less than 3 years’ experience of nursing older

persons within the previous 6 years.

(4) The person in charge may be a person in charge of more than one designated

centre if the Chief Inspector is satisfied that he or she is engaged in the effective

governance, operational management and administration of the designated centres

concerned.

(5) Where the registered provider is not the person in charge, he or she shall

ensure that the documents specified in Schedule 2 are provided by the person

concerned.

(6) A person who is employed to be a person in charge on or after the day which

is 3 years after the day on which these Regulations come into operation shall have—

(a) not less than 3 years’ experience in a management capacity in the health

and social care area, and

(b) a post registration management qualification in health or a related field.

(7) Where the Chief Inspector is satisfied that no resident of the designated centre

concerned has been assessed as requiring full time nursing care, paragraphs (3)

and (6) do not apply to the person in charge of that centre.

Post Specific Requirements

· Demonstrate depth and breadth of nursing experience in Older Persons care, as relevant to the role.

· Demonstrate depth & breadth of experience & understanding of patient flow & integrated discharge planning in a Multidisciplinary environment.

Other requirements specific to the post

Access to appropriate transport to fulfil the requirements of the role

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

Assistant Directors of Nursing must demonstrate:

Knowledge / Experience Relevant to the Role

· The clinical knowledge, management and administrative capacity to discharge the functions of the post

· The knowledge, abilities and technical skills required to oversee the provision of a safe, efficient and effective service

· Sound clinical and professional judgement

· A high degree of commitment, professionalism and dedication to the philosophy of quality health care provision

· A commitment to keeping up to date on quality, safety and clinical governance systems, and professional developments in nursing and midwifery.

· Self-awareness, a commitment to continuous professional development and research, a willingness to both teach and learn.

· A willingness to engage with and develop IT skills relevant to the role.

Empowering and enabling leadership style

· Shape and direct a culture of clinical excellence

· Use a consultative approach, be approachable and keep channels of communication open

· Use a democratic style and encourage staff to make decisions about their environment. Delegate effectively.

· Work to create a team ethos and collaboration across services at front-line

· Encourage synergies and sharing of ideas and learning from projects

· Lead enthusiastically on change – influences staff positively and gets ‘buy-in’

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

Setting and monitoring performance standards

· 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.

· Intervene decisively where service levels or quality are below standard and establishes remedial process

· Be assertive in addressing staff performance issues, intervening in a timely and positive way

· Coach and mentor staff to improve their performance

· Encourage staff development and sharing of best practice, linking staff development and training to the priority service needs.

· Adequately identify, manage and report on risk within area of responsibility.

Proactive approach to planning

· Sense and keep an ear to the ground on corporate / regional agenda, leading on translating the agenda into practical service planning

· Look ahead and forward plan for service developments, anticipate trends and identify opportunities

· Show awareness of service needs, able to analyse and assess current systems and demand levels to develop best system / service response, based on needs

· Collaborate with other disciplines and agencies in the development of service plans

· Ensure that the learning from new service models and practices influence service planning

Effective co-ordination of resources

· Show system understanding and the ability to balance multiple resourcing issues

· Consistently achieve efficiencies in resource usage by intelligent deployment, adjustments and monitoring

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

· Can skilfully deploy and adjust human resources to meet changes, demands and contingencies

· Manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks.

· Implement effective monitoring systems for all key resource deployments.

· Effectively evaluate data and other information sources to inform decisions and solve problems.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

· Demonstrate effective communication skills including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner (verbal & written)

· Able to use a high level of communication skills to convince or argue the needs of staff and of the service

· Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills including the ability to engage collaboratively with stakeholders; give constructive feedback.

· Anticipates objections and prepares ground, gets into consultation early

· Shows a balanced approach in disputes and listens to all sides, is open minded

· Retains composure under pressure and stays calm, is assertive but not aggressive

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.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

The HSE is an equal opportunities employer.

Employees of the HSE bring a range of skills, talents, diverse thinking and experience to the organisation. The HSE believes passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to its success – we aim to develop the workforce of the HSE so that it reflects the diversity of HSE service users and to strengthen it through accommodating and valuing different perspectives. Ultimately, this will result in improved service user and employee experience.

The HSE is committed to creating a positive working environment whereby all employees inclusive of age, civil status, disability, ethnicity and race, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller community, religion and sexual orientation are respected, valued and can reach their full potential. The HSE aims to achieve this through development of an organisational culture where injustice, bias and discrimination are not tolerated.

The HSE welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and offers a range of supports and resources to staff, such as those who require a reasonable accommodation at work because of a disability or long term health condition.

For further information on the HSE commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, please visit the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion web page at https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/diversity/

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 CPSA is responsible for establishing the principles that should be followed when making an appointment. These are set out in the CPSA Code of Practice. The Code outlines the standards that should be adhered to at each stage of the selection process and sets out the review and appeal mechanisms open to candidates should they be unhappy with a selection process.

The CPSA Code of Practice can be accessed via https://www.cpsa.ie/.

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

This Job Specification 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.

Assistant Director of Nursing, Older Persons Service, Community Healthcare West

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Tenure

The current vacancy available is permanent and whole time.

The post is pensionable. A panel may be created from which permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part time duration may be filled. The tenure of these posts will be indicated at “expression of interest” stage.

Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Amendment Act 2013.

Remuneration

The Salary scale for the post (as at 01/10/2023) is:

€63,110 - €64,455 - €65,823 - €69,438 - €70,924 - €72,294 - €73,677 - €75,570

New appointees to any grade start at the minimum point of the scale. Incremental credit will be applied for recognised relevant service in Ireland and abroad (Department of Health Circular 2/2011). Incremental credit is normally granted on appointment, in respect of previous experience in the Civil Service, Local Authorities, Health Service and other Public Service Bodies and Statutory Agencies.

Working Week

The standard working week applying to the post is to be confirmed at Job Offer stage.

Annual Leave

The annual leave associated with the post will be confirmed at Contracting stage.

Superannuation

This is a pensionable position with the HSE. The successful candidate will upon appointment become a member of the appropriate pension scheme. Pension scheme membership will be notified within the contract of employment. Members of pre-existing pension schemes who transferred to the HSE on the 01st January 2005 pursuant to Section 60 of the Health Act 2004 are entitled to superannuation benefit terms under the HSE Scheme which are no less favourable to those which they were entitled to at 31st December 2004

Age

The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act, 2018* set 70 years as the compulsory retirement age for public servants.

* Public Servants not affected by this legislation:

Public servants joining the public service or re-joining the public service with a 26 week break in service, between 1 April 2004 and 31 December 2012 (new entrants) have no compulsory retirement age.

Public servants, joining the public service or re-joining the public service after a 26 week break, after 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Pension Scheme and have a compulsory retirement age of 70.

Probation

Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer of the Health Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.

Protection of Children Guidance and Legislation

The welfare and protection of children is the responsibility of all HSE staff. You must be aware of and understand your specific responsibilities under the Children First Act 2015, the Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 in accordance with Section 2, Children First National Guidance and other relevant child safeguarding legislation and policies.

Some staff have additional responsibilities such as Line Managers, Designated Officers and Mandated Persons. You should check if you are a Designated Officer and / or a Mandated Person and be familiar with the related roles and legal responsibilities.

For further information, guidance and resources please visit: HSE Children First webpage.

Infection Control

Have a working knowledge of 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 etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

Health & Safety

It is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that the management of safety, health and welfare is successfully integrated into all activities undertaken within their area of responsibility, so far as is reasonably practicable. Line managers are named and roles and responsibilities detailed in the relevant Site-Specific Safety Statement (SSSS).

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing a SSSS for the department/service[1], as applicable, based on the identification of hazards and the assessment of risks, and reviewing/updating same on a regular basis (at least annually) and in the event of any significant change in the work activity or place of work.

• Ensuring that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is integrated into day-to-day business, providing Systems of Work (SOW) that are planned, organised, performed, maintained, and revised as appropriate, and ensuring that all safety related records are maintained and available for inspection.

• Consulting and communicating with staff and safety representatives on OSH matters.

• Ensuring a training needs assessment (TNA) is undertaken for employees, facilitating their attendance at statutory OSH training, and ensuring records are maintained for each employee.

• Ensuring that all incidents occurring within the relevant department/service are appropriately managed and investigated in accordance with HSE procedures[2].

• Seeking advice from health and safety professionals through the National Health and Safety Function Helpdesk as appropriate.

• Reviewing the health and safety performance of the ward/department/service and staff through, respectively, local audit and performance achievement meetings for example.

Note: Detailed roles and responsibilities of Line Managers are outlined in local SSSS.

[1] A template SSSS and guidelines are available on the National Health and Safety Function, here: https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/safetywellbeing/about%20us/

2 See link on health and safety web-pages to latest Incident Management Policy