Domestic Supervisor

Remuneration

The salary scale for the post is:

€41,617 - €42,690 - €43,835 - €44,933 - €46,108 - €47,317 - €48,564

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.

Key Working Relationships

In this regard, Domestic Supervisor will work closely with Clinical Nurse Managers in each Mental Health facility. They will also work with Senior Management, Health and Safety and as part of the QPSC team and any other relevant stakeholder involved in Residential and Day Services in Mental Health facilities.

Purpose of the Post

To ensure the highest standard of hygiene and support services are maintained in Carlow Mental Health areas in line with infection control.

To contribute to the health care of patients by organising and monitoring procedures which will prevent the spread of infection and promote comfort and safety to patients, staff and visitors.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Domestic / Household Supervisor will:

• Supervise Household Staff in Mental Health Services ensuring standards and work procedures performed are in accordance with:

Mental Health Services policies and procedures

National Standard for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infection HIQA 2009

Mental Health Commission Guidelines

National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, HIQA 2012

The HSE National Cleaning Manual – Acute Hospitals 2006

National Guidelines for the Control of Legionellosis in Ireland 2009

Infection Prevention and Control Building Guidelines for Acute Hospitals in Ireland, SARI, 2008

Waste Management Act 2005

Health and Safety Authority of Ireland

• Liaise with department heads in relation to coordination of cleaning, waste management and linen services.

• Ensure a high standard of hygiene is maintained throughout Carlow Mental Health Services by direct supervision of work, feedback from department managers, patients and the public, and by review of hygiene audits carried out by local or external auditors.

• Maintain and improve standards and work practices or procedures in accordance with established policies of the service including Fire, Health and Safety, Infection Control, Waste Management and Hygiene Policies.

• Perform hygiene audits in all wards and departments to ensure standards are met such as the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections 2009.

• Plan and organise work schedules and deploy staff to ensure the provision of hygiene services for all areas of Carlow Mental Health Services, ensuring the highest standards and value for money.

• Maintain and or certify accurate personnel records including payroll timesheets and annual leave in the area of responsibility.

• Carry administrative duties as required by the post.

• Manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks.

• Monitor absenteeism and manage attendance on a weekly basis and provide management reports including corrective action.

• Ensure the efficient and effective use of resources within the area by continuously monitoring and evaluating the use of resources and taking corrective action.

• Remain contactable at all times whilst on duty.

• Promote and demonstrate partnership and consultation as a core way of working and utilise effective people management skills particularly in change management processes.

• Manage resources within budget and identify potential for efficiency saving through improved practices and innovation and make appropriate recommendations for management consideration and approval.

• Review new employees at three month intervals for the first year of employment to ensure performance is of the required standard.

• Identify training needs in the hospital for support staff.

Risk Management

The Domestic / Household Supervisor will:

• Be responsible for systematic monitoring of areas under his or her control and reporting incidents or near misses in accordance with the Mental Health Services Incident Reporting Policy.

• Be familiar with the Hospital Safety Statements and Risk Assessments.

Human Resources

The Domestic / Household Supervisor will:

• Ensure that staff are allocated appropriately within available resources.

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

• Plan work schedules and allocate staff resources in the most cost effective manner.

• Ensure that there is a satisfactory standard of time keeping among staff in his or her area of responsibility.

• Monitor absenteeism among staff and utilise the HSE Managing Attendance policy to follow up on all instances of unallocated leave.

• Ensure there is effective two way communication with staff where relevant information is disseminated and feedback is acknowledged.

• Plan and facilitate meetings with all staff under his or her area of responsibility.

• Ensure that staff under supervision maintain the highest standards in relation to work practices, personal hygiene, uniform and general appearance.

• Be aware of relevant Human Resource policies including Grievance and Discipline and invoke the same as required.

Health and Safety

The Domestic / Household Supervisor will:

• Ensure the health and safety of support staff and that cleaning procedures are carried out in accordance with Health and Safety policies and Mental Health Services policies.

• Be responsible for the induction of all new staff and supervision of new staff to ensure safe work practices are monitored and adhered to.

• Ensure that equipment in the area of responsibility is maintained to the highest standard and that a maintenance review programme is in place.

• Ensure that support staff are aware of the Waste Management Policy and support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority Standards as they apply to the role, for example Mental Health Commission Guidelines, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards 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.

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 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:

Professional Qualifications and Experience

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

(i) Possess a Junior Certificate or equivalent qualification

and

(ii) Have a minimum of three years working in the cleaning, catering and or hospitality industry with experience working with large numbers in a busy office

and

(b) Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role.

Age

Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he or she is not classified as a new entrant within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act 2004. A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under sixty five years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.

Health

A candidate 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.

Character

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

Post Specific Requirements

• Experience in managing and prioritising high volume workloads to meet deadlines while ensuring compliance and accuracy.

• Supervisory experience.

• Demonstrate operational management experience.

Other Requirements Specific to the Post

Access to appropriate transport to fulfil the requirements of the role.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

(i) EEA, Swiss, or British citizens

or

(ii) Non European Economic Area citizens with permission to reside and work in the State.

Read Appendix 2 of the Additional Campaign Information for further information on accepted Stamps for Non European Economic Area citizens resident in the State, including those with refugee status.

To qualify candidates must be eligible by the closing date of the campaign.

Skills, Competencies and or Knowledge

Professional Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrate evidence of knowledge of Health Information and Quality Authority or Mental Health Commission requirements in this role and the ability to adhere to the same.

• Demonstrate understanding and or experience of hospital services.

• Demonstrate evidence of computer skills including the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, email and PowerPoint systems.

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the Health Service Executive Information Technology systems including NiSRP and IFMS or equivalent.

Teamwork

• Demonstrate leadership and team management skills including the ability to work with multidisciplinary team members.

• Demonstrate evidence of the ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Demonstrate effective communication skills including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner, facilitate and manage groups through the learning process, and give constructive feedback to encourage learning.

• Demonstrate good presentation skills in delivering complex information in understandable terms.

Planning and Organising

• Demonstrate a flexible approach to working hours and rostering for example unsocial hours, shift work, night duty and on call attitude to work.

• Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills including awareness of resource management and the importance of value for money.

• Demonstrate the ability to manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks.

Commitment to Providing a Quality Service

• Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the service user.

• Demonstrate a focus on quality.

• Demonstrate evidence of the ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking, Shortlisting and Interview

A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out based on 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 progressing 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.

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, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Amendment Act 2013.