Job responsibilities
Job Title:Head of Inpatient Care
Team/Directorate:Inpatient
Unit (In-house)/Care Directorate
Salary
range/pay band:Shooting Star Childrens Hospices Band 8a£56,584.51 - £62,848.98 per annum
Reports
to:Deputy Director of Care
Direct reports:Lead Nurse,Admission and Discharge Nurse,Trainee Advance Nurse Practitioner
Hours:37.5 hours per week
Location:Based at Christophers,
Guildford
Introduction to Shooting Star
Childrens Hospices
Shooting Star Childrens Hospices
Shooting
Star Childrens Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who
have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or who have
been bereaved. Rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, we support
families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis
to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical,
emotional and medical care.
Our
specialist care and support is free of charge to families and available 24
hours a day, 365 days a year. It includes specialist nursing in the community,
symptom management and pain relief, overnight respite stays, end-of-life care,
specialist bereavement care and a comprehensive range of therapies, groups and
clinics for the whole family.
At the heart
of what we do are our dedicated staff; their exceptional commitment and
professionalism means every family has the opportunity to make every moment
count.
It costs £13
million a year to run Shooting Star Childrens Hospices. Just 25% of our
funding comes from the government, so we rely on our supporters generosity to
keep the service running. We employ 175 members of staff, including 98 nursing
and medical staff, and support around 700 families.
Part 1: Job Profile
a)
Main purpose of job
To provide strategic and operational
leadership for the inpatient care service, ensuring the delivery of safe,
high-quality, and compassionate care to children, young people, and their
families. The postholder will lead the inpatient team, oversee clinical
governance, and contribute to service development aligned with organisational
priorities and regulatory standards.
b)
Work relationships
Internal
Director of Care Strategic oversight and line
management.
Ward Managers / Nurses / Healthcare Assistants
Operational leadership and clinical supervision.
Medical Team Including medical director, paediatric
consultants and lead GP/visiting GPs.
Therapists Play, music, art, physiotherapy, and
occupational therapy.
Family Support Services Bereavement counsellors,
psychologists, and social workers.
Quality & Governance Leads Compliance and
improvement.
Education & Training Leads Staff development and
clinical competencies.
Volunteer Manager Integration of volunteers into
care delivery.
Facilities & Estates Team Safe and therapeutic
environment.
Statutory Funding Manager funding for bed nights.
Safeguarding and Social Work Team
Safeguarding and social concerns.
People & Culture Team
workforce development, recruitment & retention.
External
CQC and Regulatory Bodies Inspection and compliance.
NHS Commissioners / ICBs Service agreements and
funding.
Local Hospitals & Community Services Coordinated
care and transitions.
Safeguarding Boards / Local Authorities Child
protection and multi-agency working.
Families and Carers Co-production of care and
feedback.
Community Partners Schools, charities, and outreach
groups.
c)
Main
duties and key responsibilities
Leadership and Management
Lead and manage the inpatient care team,
including nurses, healthcare assistants, and allied professionals.
Provide visible, supportive leadership that
promotes a culture of excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.
Line manage senior clinical staff and contribute
to workforce planning, recruitment, and retention.
Clinical Governance and Quality
Ensure compliance with CQC standards and other
regulatory frameworks.
Lead on incident management, audits, and quality
improvement initiatives.
Oversee care planning, risk assessments, and
safeguarding processes.
Act as the IPC lead, ensuring robust infection
prevention and control practices are in place, monitored, and regularly
reviewed in line with national guidance and organisational policy.
Service Development
Contribute to strategic planning and development
of inpatient services.
Collaborate with internal and external
stakeholders to enhance care pathways and integrated working.
Support innovation and evidence-based practice
in paediatric palliative care.
Education and Professional Development
Support staff development through supervision,
appraisal, and training.
Work closely with the Practice Education and
Quality team to embed competencies and learning frameworks.
Operational Oversight
Ensure effective rota management, resource
allocation, and service delivery.
Monitor performance indicators and report on
service outcomes.
d)
Other duties
The post holder must be
able and willing to get to Christophers in Guildford and Shooting Star House
in Hampton.
The post holder will be required to apply for an enhanced Disclosure and
Barring Service check
a)
Mandatory Criteria
1.
Other duties
The post holder will
be working in a developing environment, and they will therefore be expected to
undertake other appropriate duties as deemed appropriate by your line manager,
the Director of Care and are within the scope and purpose of this role.
2. Professional Codes of Conduct
The post holder will be required to respect professional codes of conduct
and practice relevant to their role, as appropriate
3. Health and Safety
Be responsible for
health and safety in the area under their control and ensure that they are
familiar with Shooting Star Childrens Hospices policy on health and safety at
work.
4.
Mandatory Training
The post holder
will attend all mandatory training relevant to their role
5.
Our values and behaviours
Shooting Star
Childrens Hospices is a leading childrens hospice charity for babies,
children and young people with lifelimiting conditions, and their families. We
require that all of our staff share our common values and display behaviors
that will enable us to achieve our goals.
Our Values
Behaviour Framework
Professionalism we will safeguard our families,
each other and our organisation by working to ethical and professional
standards at all times.
Respect We will treat each other with the
utmost respect.
Integrity We will be open, honest and
transparent in all that we do.
Diversity We will respect individuality and
ensure inclusion and fairness to all.
Excellence We will strive for excellence in
all that we do.
Behaviour Framework
Shooting Star Childrens Hospices is committed to ensuring the welfare
and safety of children and young people. All staff members are expected to
adhere to our safeguarding policies and procedures. This includes undergoing
appropriate training, following reporting protocols for any concerns related to
child welfare, and promoting a safe and supportive environment for children and
young people. We are committed to equal opportunities and consider all
applicants in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Before commencing employment, successful candidates will be required to
provide satisfactory references and undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service
(DBS) check.
