Job summary
- Are you a senior experienced practitioner with an interest in dementia and mental health?
- Are you passionate and resilient in senior leadership?
- Are you looking to develop your skills?
If you answered yes, we've got the perfect role for you!
MCH are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic Clinical unit manager to support the leadership team in the management of this specialist Dementia Care unit.
Darland House is a large nursing home situated in Gillingham, with a capacity of 40. We manage highly complex individuals with dementia presentations. We are a nursing led unit with regular input from a local GP practice. Our residents display complex behaviours and our aim is to ensure their quality of life is maintained in a safe and supportive environment.
We are a large team - made up of approximately 80 clinical staff including senior nurses, staff nurses and support workers. We also hold our own catering and housekeeping team which will be overseen by this post holder alongside the support of the general manager.
We are looking for a senior practitioner with extensive experience in the field of dementia care and/or mental health. Being a registered general adult nurse with previous experience in mental health is an advantage but we would welcome applications from those with evidence of experience and a willingness to consider post-graduate training in this specialism.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will have responsibility for the day to day management of the staff and residents within the nursing home. Ensuring the delivery of high quality, safe, person centred care which is implemented and reviewed as appropriate for the individual. The role requires a strong clinical background, with expert clinical decision making skills and a variety of clinical competencies.
It also includes budget management, rota management, day to day HR management of staff including recruitment and performance management and ensuring quality standards are met in terms of patient care and taking the lead for quality initiatives and research.
You will work closely with the General manager for the team and Head of Service and will have good access to training and development opportunities.
We are looking for a dynamic, resilient, passionate and experienced senior leader to manage a large clinical team with residents with complex needs.
This is a clinical role - the successful post holder will be required to support the team daily with clinical tasks, attending handovers - including completing clinical supervision for staff so the individual needs to be flexible in their working approach. Clinical shifts are from 7am-7.30pm day shifts and 7pm-7.30am night shifts. The hours can be discussed in more detail at interview.
About us
So what else?
- This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
- We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
- We'll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
- You'll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
The small print
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communication and relationship skills
- Ability to build relationships, communicate and work effectively with internal staff and external partners e.g. GPs, Consultant Psychiatrist , Continuing Healthcare and other allied health professionals
- Ability to effectively communicate with staff, residents and their families to give sound professional advice and provide motivation and support
- Actively working with the General Manager to ensure cohesive service delivery and early identification of problems or challenges
- Able to provide and receive highly complex and sensitive or contentious information requiring empathy and the use of persuasion and reassurance.
- Able to identify barriers to understanding and to find methods for overcoming challenges leading to communication difficulties
- Knowledge, training and experience
- First level Registered General Nurse with at least four years experience and specialist knowledge in the care of people with dementia.
- Able to show vast experience of working as a senior leader, managing teams and service delivery.
- Able to work using own initiative and accepting personal accountability.
- Specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and experience. Including a strong clinical background.
- Proven ability to motivate and develop a team with experience in managing change. This includes experience in quality assurance.
- Mentorship or other recognised teaching and assessing qualification.
- Able to manage rotas ensuring safe skill mix and authorisation of agency use.
- Analytical and judgement skills
- Able to analyse, compare and interpret complex facts or situations and provide a range of options and solutions
- To act as the audit lead for the home, devising and completing clinical audits, sharing findings with appropriate others and implementing action plans
- Support others in developing and completing audits ensuring the implementation of action plans and the sharing of lessons learnt/new practices.
- Able to manage and support others to manage admissions and discharges, assessing and advising as appropriate.
- Ability to ensure that a person centred approach to resident care is assessed, implemented and reviewed regularly.
- Deputise for the General Manager and in their absence make clinical and managerial decisions.
- Required to be on call as per rota for the Inpatient Units.
- Planning and organisational skills
- Able to plan and organise a broad range of complex activities or programmes, ensuring the implementation of any required adjustments.
- Able to plan, disseminate and measure service objectives.
- Able to monitor compliance and plan training for all staff within the home, working in partnership with colleagues in support services.
- To oversee the best use of staffing establishment.
- Ability to work with the General Manager to consider service changes, produce appropriate action plans and lead on changes, keeping within agreed time scales.
- Set and monitor clinical standards of care for residents, ensuring these are achieved through individual care plans.
- Physical skills
- Able to perform a number of physical skills obtained through practice which require dexterity and accuracy.
- Keyboard skills with an understanding of various software packages, including the intranet and internet and the formulation of spread sheets.
- Responsibility for patient / client care
- Develop and monitor specialist programmes of care for residents. Ensuring these are achieved through individual care plans, using the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation process.
- Able to provide highly specialist care and advice for people with Dementia and their families/carers.
- Accountable for service delivery.
- Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
- Responsible for the implementation of local policies and practices within the home, within agreed time frames.
- Actively propose changes to practices and procedures.
- Contribute to policy and practice changes arising from service development e.g. audit. Disseminating this information appropriately and supporting others to embed changes.
- Contribute to policies that impact upon other areas within the organisation.
- Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
- Responsible for the use and care of equipment and resources within Darland house.
- Able to plan staffing, using internal resources as a priority and identifying/booking external staffing cover when required.
- Authorised signatory.
- Assist the General Manager in maintaining budgets within spending limits and ensuing the best use of resources.
- Check and authorise timesheets .
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communication and relationship skills
- Ability to build relationships, communicate and work effectively with internal staff and external partners e.g. GPs, Consultant Psychiatrist , Continuing Healthcare and other allied health professionals
- Ability to effectively communicate with staff, residents and their families to give sound professional advice and provide motivation and support
- Actively working with the General Manager to ensure cohesive service delivery and early identification of problems or challenges
- Able to provide and receive highly complex and sensitive or contentious information requiring empathy and the use of persuasion and reassurance.
- Able to identify barriers to understanding and to find methods for overcoming challenges leading to communication difficulties
- Knowledge, training and experience
- First level Registered General Nurse with at least four years experience and specialist knowledge in the care of people with dementia.
- Able to show vast experience of working as a senior leader, managing teams and service delivery.
- Able to work using own initiative and accepting personal accountability.
- Specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and experience. Including a strong clinical background.
- Proven ability to motivate and develop a team with experience in managing change. This includes experience in quality assurance.
- Mentorship or other recognised teaching and assessing qualification.
- Able to manage rotas ensuring safe skill mix and authorisation of agency use.
- Analytical and judgement skills
- Able to analyse, compare and interpret complex facts or situations and provide a range of options and solutions
- To act as the audit lead for the home, devising and completing clinical audits, sharing findings with appropriate others and implementing action plans
- Support others in developing and completing audits ensuring the implementation of action plans and the sharing of lessons learnt/new practices.
- Able to manage and support others to manage admissions and discharges, assessing and advising as appropriate.
- Ability to ensure that a person centred approach to resident care is assessed, implemented and reviewed regularly.
- Deputise for the General Manager and in their absence make clinical and managerial decisions.
- Required to be on call as per rota for the Inpatient Units.
- Planning and organisational skills
- Able to plan and organise a broad range of complex activities or programmes, ensuring the implementation of any required adjustments.
- Able to plan, disseminate and measure service objectives.
- Able to monitor compliance and plan training for all staff within the home, working in partnership with colleagues in support services.
- To oversee the best use of staffing establishment.
- Ability to work with the General Manager to consider service changes, produce appropriate action plans and lead on changes, keeping within agreed time scales.
- Set and monitor clinical standards of care for residents, ensuring these are achieved through individual care plans.
- Physical skills
- Able to perform a number of physical skills obtained through practice which require dexterity and accuracy.
- Keyboard skills with an understanding of various software packages, including the intranet and internet and the formulation of spread sheets.
- Responsibility for patient / client care
- Develop and monitor specialist programmes of care for residents. Ensuring these are achieved through individual care plans, using the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation process.
- Able to provide highly specialist care and advice for people with Dementia and their families/carers.
- Accountable for service delivery.
- Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
- Responsible for the implementation of local policies and practices within the home, within agreed time frames.
- Actively propose changes to practices and procedures.
- Contribute to policy and practice changes arising from service development e.g. audit. Disseminating this information appropriately and supporting others to embed changes.
- Contribute to policies that impact upon other areas within the organisation.
- Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
- Responsible for the use and care of equipment and resources within Darland house.
- Able to plan staffing, using internal resources as a priority and identifying/booking external staffing cover when required.
- Authorised signatory.
- Assist the General Manager in maintaining budgets within spending limits and ensuing the best use of resources.
- Check and authorise timesheets .
Person Specification
Attitude and Disposition
Essential
- Patient-Centred Approach - Demonstrates a genuine commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care, placing patient dignity, safety, and wellbeing at the heart of all decisions.
- Positive Leadership Style - Leads by example with integrity, fairness, and respect, fostering a supportive and inclusive ward culture.
- Collaborative Mindset - Actively promotes teamwork, values diverse perspectives, and builds strong relationships with colleagues across disciplines
- Commitment to Continuous Improvement - Open to feedback, reflective in practice, and proactive in seeking opportunities to improve patient care and team performance.
- Empathy and Emotional Intelligence - Demonstrates sensitivity to the needs of patients, families, and staff, with the ability to handle difficult conversations with compassion.
Desirable
- Inspirational Role Model - Recognised by peers and team members as a motivator who inspires confidence and pride in the workplace.
- Advocacy for Staff Wellbeing - Actively supports initiatives that promote staff morale, mental health, and work-life balance.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered nurse
- Clinical Competencies
- Staff management Training
Desirable
- registered nurse with mental health qualification or experience of dementia
- Senior Leadership Qualification
- Change management
- Culture Management
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of dementia presentations and the management of dementia
- knowledge of senior oversight in mental capacity and safeguarding
- Knowledge of complex health conditions related to Dementia
- Advanced knowledge in hollistic care and management
- Mentorship or recognised teaching and assessing qualification
Desirable
- Knowledge around quality improvement and change implementation in a clinical setting
- Knowledge around operational duties in senior leadership role
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a dementia care nursing home or older persons mental health setting in a clinical management role
Desirable
- Experience managing a clinical team in a dementia setting
Experience
Essential
- experience of leading a team with HR performance management
- experience of managing sickness absence
- experience in managing conflict
Desirable
- experience of managing a budget
- experience of staff rostas
Person Specification
Attitude and Disposition
Essential
- Patient-Centred Approach - Demonstrates a genuine commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care, placing patient dignity, safety, and wellbeing at the heart of all decisions.
- Positive Leadership Style - Leads by example with integrity, fairness, and respect, fostering a supportive and inclusive ward culture.
- Collaborative Mindset - Actively promotes teamwork, values diverse perspectives, and builds strong relationships with colleagues across disciplines
- Commitment to Continuous Improvement - Open to feedback, reflective in practice, and proactive in seeking opportunities to improve patient care and team performance.
- Empathy and Emotional Intelligence - Demonstrates sensitivity to the needs of patients, families, and staff, with the ability to handle difficult conversations with compassion.
Desirable
- Inspirational Role Model - Recognised by peers and team members as a motivator who inspires confidence and pride in the workplace.
- Advocacy for Staff Wellbeing - Actively supports initiatives that promote staff morale, mental health, and work-life balance.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered nurse
- Clinical Competencies
- Staff management Training
Desirable
- registered nurse with mental health qualification or experience of dementia
- Senior Leadership Qualification
- Change management
- Culture Management
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of dementia presentations and the management of dementia
- knowledge of senior oversight in mental capacity and safeguarding
- Knowledge of complex health conditions related to Dementia
- Advanced knowledge in hollistic care and management
- Mentorship or recognised teaching and assessing qualification
Desirable
- Knowledge around quality improvement and change implementation in a clinical setting
- Knowledge around operational duties in senior leadership role
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a dementia care nursing home or older persons mental health setting in a clinical management role
Desirable
- Experience managing a clinical team in a dementia setting
Experience
Essential
- experience of leading a team with HR performance management
- experience of managing sickness absence
- experience in managing conflict
Desirable
- experience of managing a budget
- experience of staff rostas
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
