UHWN Assistant Director Of Nursing, Cancer Services

• The post holder will support the principle that 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
• Maintain awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.
• Performance management systems are part of the role and you will be required to participate in the hospital performance management programme

Management and Leadership

The Assistant Director of Nursing will:

• 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.
• Participate in the appropriate and effective management of the Cancer Services.
• Participate in the development of the overall service plan and in the monitoring and review of activity against the plans.
• Participate in the overall financial planning of the service including the assessment of priorities in pay and non-pay expenditure.
• 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 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, procedures, and national Cancer KPI’s.
• 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.
• Participate and engage in projects and service developments by representing senior nursing on committees and groups.
• Be responsible for monitoring of nursing rosters/ skill mix.
• Provide cover as part of the Operational ADON roster for site management on a regular basis.

Professional / Clinical Responsibilities

The Assistant Director of Nursing will:

• Provide a high level of professional and clinical leadership.
• Provide safe, comprehensive nursing care to service users within the guidelines laid out by An Bord Altranais.
• 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 cooperation with the other team members and the wider multi-disciplinary teams.
• Facilitate coordination, 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.

Education and Training

The Assistant Director of Nursing will:

• 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 within the Cancer Services.
• Participate in the identification, development and delivery of induction, education, training and development programmes for nursing and non-nursing staff.
• 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.
• Engage in performance review processes including personal development planning e.g., by setting own and staff objectives and providing and receiving feedback.

Clinical Governance, Quality Assurance, Risk, Health & Safety

The Assistant Director of Nursing will:

• 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 accidents and bring them to the attention of the relevant person(s).
• Maintain a feedback mechanism and report to senior management where 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 e.g. Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
• Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Performance Management

The Assistant Director of Nursing will:

• Drive, promote and support a performance measurement and management culture.
• In conjunction with the Director of Nursing develop a Performance Management system for the nursing profession in their area.
• Identification and development of monthly Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Groups strategic and service plan alongside the NCCP annual service plan.
• The management and delivery of KPIs / Nursing Metrics and other quality measurement tools in ward / departments as a routine and core business objective.
• The development of Action Plans to address non-attainment of KPI targets.
• To develop individual Plan of Actions (POAs) with the Director of Nursing and agree performance targets.

KPI’s

• Adherence to national cancer KPI’s and the development of quality improvement initiatives to address areas for improvement.
• The identification and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Hospital’s service plan targets.
• The development of Action Plans to address KPI targets.
• Driving and promoting a Performance Management culture.
• In conjunction with line manager assist in the development of a Performance Management system for your profession.
• The management and delivery of KPIs as a routine and core business objective.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:

• Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders.
• All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately.
• Infection Control Policies must be adhered to.
• In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts 2005 and 2010 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.
• In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Hospital Buildings is not permitted.
• Hospital uniform code must be adhered to.
• Provide information that meets the need of Senior Management.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety

• The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.
• The post holder must be familiar with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.
• The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas:
• Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives
• Document Control Information Management Systems
• Risk Management Strategy and Policies
• Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards
• Decontamination Code of Practice
• Infection Control Policies
• Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure
• Data Protection and confidentiality Policies
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the requirements stated within the Risk Management Strategy and that they comply with the Region’s Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and Procedures.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they comply with hygiene services requirements in your area of responsibility. Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.
• The post holder must foster and support a quality improvement culture through-out your area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services.
• The post holders’ responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety will be clarified to you in the induction process and by your line manager.
• The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of others.
• The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained.
• The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.
• It is the post holder’s responsibility to be aware of and comply with the HSE Health Care Records Management/Integrated Discharge Planning (HCRM / IDP) Code of Practice.

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 them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.