Job responsibilities
To provide strong leadership and
operational management to the Hospice in-patient unit (IPU), working clinically
to a high level of skill and expertise in Palliative and End of Life Care.
Working closely with the Clinical Leadership Team (CLT); and as a member of and
with the Clinical Management Team (CMT) to ensure safe coordinated care across
the organisation. To provide direct line management to a team of deputies and
support the management of the IPU and service development in line with SMH
strategic objectives. To ensure specialist clinical nursing care, expertise,
knowledge, and skill to ensure optimal care, quality, governance and safety of
patients and their families.
Key Responsibilities
Maintain high standards of Professional Practice in line with NMC Code.
To bring specialist nursing practice, knowledge, skills and experience
in palliative and end of life care to IPU.
To be responsible for day-to-day clinical leadership and operational
management of the ward.
Manage the ward skill mix and establishment on a day-to-day basis,
ensuring safe, effective and fair rostering.
Maintain a high profile across the IPU, undertaking clinical shifts as
part of usual role responsibilities.
To maintain own clinical knowledge and skills through clinical decision
making and use of clinical judgement in relation to patient safety and clinical
governance.
To deliver high quality, safe and effective care to patients &
their relatives, ensuring staffing levels and competencies are appropriate and
meet the needs of the patients/carers and to an appropriate level of skill mix,
escalating concerns to the Clinical Director as required.
Responsible for good governance across the IPU.
To work with the Clinical Director to implement the SMH Strategy, SMH
Policy and Procedures, Staff Competencies and support nurse education and
training.
Line management of the IPU team with direct line management of the
Deputy Ward Leads.
Work closely with the Clinical Admin Team Lead to ensure robust support
from the Clinical Coordinators to the IPU with particular focus on utilising
the Clinical Coordinator - IPU role.
To lead and manage, in partnership with the Human Resource Department,
issues of performance, capability or ill health, to undertake delegated part of
investigation into disciplinary concerns and/or grievance procedures as
appropriate for St. Michaels Hospice.
Attend SMH IPU related clinical meetings i.e., Multidisciplinary
Meeting (MDT), Morbidity and Mortality (M&M), Interprofessional Meeting
(IPM), Admission Meeting, Ward Handover, this is not an exhaustive list,
attendance at meetings will be delegated by the Clinical Director.
Active member of Clinical Management Team (CMT), Clinical Governance
Group (CGC), Medicine Management Group (MMG), Safeguarding Committee, and Information
Governance Group. This is not an exhaustive list, attendance at meetings will
be delegated by the Clinical Director.
To work closely with the Clinical Leadership Team (CLT) to support the
highest standards of care being delivered across St. Michaels Hospice
services.
To work with the Quality & Governance Lead to ensure robust
governance and compliance of local and national safety and quality metrics.
Such as audits, quality indicators, Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards or
national Standards.
To take a lead on and ensure Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)
measures are adhered to and risk is minimised through good staff awareness,
clinical and non-clinical. Working with the nominated lead for IPC.
Good knowledge and understanding of the PSIRF.
Working with the Quality & Governance Lead, lead incident
management on the IPU guided by PSIRF, with regular effective After Action Reviews,
supporting the IPU deputies with investigations and their ongoing development
in this area.
To take a lead on medicines management within the IPU responsible for
stock control, administration and safe keeping of all medications held on the
IPU, working in accordance with standards determined by the Care Quality
Commission, NMC standards and legal regulation.
To investigate and report on medicine administration errors or
omissions, reporting controlled drug concerns and incidents to the Controlled
Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO).
Lead the first response to IPU feedback, concerns and complaints,
working with the Clinical Director as appropriate.
Be familiar with policies and guidelines particularly those relating to
health and safety at work, governance, medicines management and risk management
and to support the review and writing of these as delegated.
To assist in the writing and update of policies, procedures, and
guidelines.
Establish local networks, linking with other practitioners in
independent and NHS providers of palliative and end of life care.
Demonstrate effective communication between clinical and non-clinical
teams.
Communication
To be personally competent with advanced communication and able to
advise others. To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and can work
within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity.
To communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable
form to patients at the end of life, careers, and other staff.
To demonstrate and use effective communication skills.
To support staff who may be in distress or requiring support.
To ensure that you regard the individual customs, values and spiritual
beliefs of patients and staff.
To empower and motivate those around you to constantly strive to
improve care and experience for patients and staff.
Engage with Fundraising, Marketing and Communications to support their
work in promoting clinical services to achieve income generation and encourage
all staff to do likewise.
Leadership
Behave as a leadership role model and continually aspire to the highest
clinical care and practice standards.
Develop a high performing team which is motivated and has
clear focus and direction.
To be clinically present and credible in specialist palliative care and
demonstrate confidence in nursing practice and all it can deliver.
To delegate tasks effectively.
To provide challenge and questioning as appropriate.
To address any issues of professional behaviour or attitudes, quality
or safety in the moment and report to appropriate line manager.
To monitor annual leave, sick leave and general wellbeing of the IPU
nurses and health care assistants and other members of the team as needed,
liaising with the HR Team and relevant team managers/leads as appropriate.
To ensure that information and records held on paper or electronically
are maintained to in line with SMH policies, standards, and professional
regulations and relevant data protection legislation.
To demonstrate patient advocacy through all aspects of care.
To take an active part in patient case reviews.
Provide senior cross-cover within the CMT and support other service
areas during periods of need or absence.
Education
and training
To have a specialist knowledge across a range of work practices
including Achieving Priorities of Care (APOC) and ReSPECT.
To demonstrate current evidence-based practice and to share this this
knowledge to ensure delivery of high-quality care.
To promote a positive research-based approach.
To support the Nurse Consultant / Education Lead with the delivery of
the internal and external education and training programmes, including
supporting student placements.
To ensure there is a culture of reflection and learning through all
clinical teams. Support staff development, clinical supervision, audit, and
research in clinical practice to ensure high quality services are provided and
maintained.
To take responsibility for ensuring that appropriate clinical /
managerial supervision is in place and attended for yourself and team members.
Resource
Management
Awareness of the funding of independent/charity sector.
IPU budget responsibility. Make effective use of the IPU budget that
demonstrates responsiveness, flexibility, efficiency, and creativity.
Ensure the skill mix and establishment of the unit is efficient.
1st line management and responsibility for the IPU budget.
To use the clinical resources in a timely and effective manner
To provide timely and accurate activity date and/or quality information,
as required by the Clinical Director or wider senior leadership team (SLT)
To ensure safe and effective use of equipment.
Ensure safe staffing levels are maintained at all times.
Lead the recruitment of staff on the IPU.
Lead staff retention initiatives, fostering a positive workplace
culture and implementing effective succession planning to ensure continuity.
Ensure the Acuity and Dependency Tool is completed on a daily basis and
the results collated to be presented at the Clinical Governance Committee.
Promote, influence, and develop innovative opportunities to use
volunteers to support care and administrative roles throughout your areas of
responsibility.
Work to maintain the values,
vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.
Additional Duties In discussion with the line manager undertake work,
as and when required, in support of St. Michaels Hospice as an organisation.
Public Relations Represent St. Michaels Hospice in the community and
public domain as appropriate.
Undertake all statutory and
mandatory training, as required.
Be conversant with and adhere to St. Michaels Hospice Policies and
Procedures.
This is an outline job description and may be subject to change,
according to the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder.
Take responsibility for own personal safety and of others whilst at
work. You will take appropriate action or report any concerns to address any
health and safety issues that you or members of your team may be aware of.
