Job summary
The post holder is accountable to the Clinical Director and works in partnership with the General Manager to ensure the Directorate delivers on all of its objectives across a range of clinical services. The Head of Nursing provides strategic, professional and operational nursing leadership across the Directorate and the wider organisation through effective role modelling. The post holder is accountable for the delivery of high quality, cost effective nursing patient care within budget constraints. They provide strong leadership to enable the services to respond effectively to the challenges it will face whilst providing efficient clinical services and sustained improvements. The Head of Nursing also plays an important role within the KHP Clinical Academic Groups, forming part of the leadership executive team they are expected to identify and implement a strategy for nursing practice, research and education as well as contribute to other CAG developments. The Head of Nursing is jointly responsible with the General Manager for the legal and governance agenda across the Directorate which will be a significant and challenging agenda to take forward. The core of the job description is generic and will apply to all Directorate Heads of Nursing. However, there will be additional specific responsibilities to reflect the needs of individual or corporate services.
Main duties of the job
Head of Nursing Mental Health Lead Acute & General Medicine,
- In partnership with the Clinical Director and General Manager, provide leadership to all Directorate staff, ensuring clear communication of Trust and Directorate values, vision, priorities and expectations to ensure the engagement of teams to deliver services of the highest quality.
- In partnership with the Clinical Director provide professional and clinical leadership to Directorate staff.
- To manage the acute mental health pathway, working with partners to optimise the use of mental health beds and services to ensure patients receive timely access to the care they require.
- To play a key role in service transformation across the service with particular focus on mental health and urgent and emergency care to deliver and lead effective partnership working across the Clinical Group working with all members of the multidisciplinary team and voluntary / third sector organisations and commissioner
About us
Guy's and St Thomas is among the UK's busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.
Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of 'good'. Our adult community services achieved a rating of 'outstanding'.
The commitment of our 22,000 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS. We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Day to day operational responsibility for Mental Health patients over the age of 16 years old within the emergency pathway, to liaise with Mental Health partners and escalate appropriately to support timely access of services as required for patients including working with the site team in escalating delays to the region
- Provide extensive working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, in relation to requests for admissions, transfers and discharges from the Emergency Department and inpatient services
- To lead and contribute to the collation and reporting of daily accurate information for Mental Health patients and any further requests for Mental Health reporting.
- To be accountable for the direct delivery of high-quality nursing and midwifery care and support the Clinical Director in delivering on all other aspects of clinical care.
- To function as an effective role model, demonstrating the application of breadth and depth of nursing knowledge and skills and delivering best practice nursing.
- To have lead responsibility for the development, implementation and review of nursing and clinical policies, procedures and guidelines to support best evidence based practice.
- To be responsible for ensuring all key quality principles are embedded in clinical practice including:
o Infection prevention
o Environmental cleanliness
o Patient Improvement framework priorities
o Action on patient feedback/complaints
o Same sex accommodation
o Patient privacy and dignity
o Empathetic and compassionate customer care
o Reducing patient harm
- To lead the delivery of nursing practice that is safe and effective and up-to-date.
- Monitor standards of nursing practice by working regularly in the clinical areas alongside staff providing patient care, ensuring care is provided to a high standard, responding effectively to any failing and monitoring corrective actions.
- Work regularly in clinical areas, providing direct patient care, to maintain clinical competence and credibility as the most senior nurse in the Directorate.
- To monitor and evaluate service delivery in accordance with contract performance assisting as required in the production of information for the performance scorecard.
- Responsible for ensuring that the workforce is appropriately utilised and long term service needs are planned for in terms of staffing levels and skill mix, so that the Directorate has a workforce fit for purpose.
- Responsible for ensuring the right size and skilled workforce is available and ensure an acuity model is in place and used to determine the workforce required.
- To retain overall responsibility for the recruitment, selection and induction of nursing, midwifery and other health care professional staff.
- Responsible for leading senior nursing staff and providing support to Allied Health Professional (AHP) staff, with the aim of coaching, mentoring and developing the nursing and AHP workforce.
- Responsible for ensuring that all nurses are fit to practice and that regular professional updates are in place.
- To remain professionally up-to-date.
- Provide nursing leadership within the directorate and wider organisation through articulation and role modelling of expected standards of professional behaviour.
- Be responsible for delivering on trust wide nursing initiatives as agreed with the Chief Nurse, ensuring the continued development of nursing practice within the framework of the Nursing & Midwifery Strategy and national policy.
- Operate a visible leadership model, ensuring accessibility for staff, patients and the public so that open and honest communication channels are created
- To ensure that all staff feel confident in raising their concerns and there is an appropriate mechanism in place for their voices to be heard.
- Participate effectively as a member of the Trusts Nursing & Midwifery Committee.
- Lead and participate in the review and updating of Trust wide nursing standards.
- To advise and support all Directorate staff, ensuring that clinical and administrative policies and procedures are adhered to
- In partnership with the Clinical Director and General Manager identify both new opportunities for the individual services within the Directorate arising from changes in the external environment or internal innovation and potential threats and ways to respond to them.
- To work with the Trust Mental Health Lead to deliver the mental health strategy within UEC
- Ensure the digital innovation strategy and plans are congruent with the Trusts planning framework including compliance with overall service, capital and digital healthcare strategy.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of the Trusts strategy and policies and ensure that the Directorate supports the delivery of national NHS requirements.
- Work in partnership with the Clinical Director and General Manager in the change management programmes within the Directorate and across the Trust, ensuring completion of the most complex and challenging projects to time, budget and quality targets, ensuring successful implementation of programmes and initiatives which may impact Trust-wide.
- To advise the Chief Nurse and others on issues of national professional and service developments and the nursing implications of these, as well as on implications for the Trust
- In partnership with the General Manager identify and manage service improvement projects within the Directorate and Directorate contribution to Trust-wide service improvement projects within agreed timeframes and financial targets.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Day to day operational responsibility for Mental Health patients over the age of 16 years old within the emergency pathway, to liaise with Mental Health partners and escalate appropriately to support timely access of services as required for patients including working with the site team in escalating delays to the region
- Provide extensive working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, in relation to requests for admissions, transfers and discharges from the Emergency Department and inpatient services
- To lead and contribute to the collation and reporting of daily accurate information for Mental Health patients and any further requests for Mental Health reporting.
- To be accountable for the direct delivery of high-quality nursing and midwifery care and support the Clinical Director in delivering on all other aspects of clinical care.
- To function as an effective role model, demonstrating the application of breadth and depth of nursing knowledge and skills and delivering best practice nursing.
- To have lead responsibility for the development, implementation and review of nursing and clinical policies, procedures and guidelines to support best evidence based practice.
- To be responsible for ensuring all key quality principles are embedded in clinical practice including:
o Infection prevention
o Environmental cleanliness
o Patient Improvement framework priorities
o Action on patient feedback/complaints
o Same sex accommodation
o Patient privacy and dignity
o Empathetic and compassionate customer care
o Reducing patient harm
- To lead the delivery of nursing practice that is safe and effective and up-to-date.
- Monitor standards of nursing practice by working regularly in the clinical areas alongside staff providing patient care, ensuring care is provided to a high standard, responding effectively to any failing and monitoring corrective actions.
- Work regularly in clinical areas, providing direct patient care, to maintain clinical competence and credibility as the most senior nurse in the Directorate.
- To monitor and evaluate service delivery in accordance with contract performance assisting as required in the production of information for the performance scorecard.
- Responsible for ensuring that the workforce is appropriately utilised and long term service needs are planned for in terms of staffing levels and skill mix, so that the Directorate has a workforce fit for purpose.
- Responsible for ensuring the right size and skilled workforce is available and ensure an acuity model is in place and used to determine the workforce required.
- To retain overall responsibility for the recruitment, selection and induction of nursing, midwifery and other health care professional staff.
- Responsible for leading senior nursing staff and providing support to Allied Health Professional (AHP) staff, with the aim of coaching, mentoring and developing the nursing and AHP workforce.
- Responsible for ensuring that all nurses are fit to practice and that regular professional updates are in place.
- To remain professionally up-to-date.
- Provide nursing leadership within the directorate and wider organisation through articulation and role modelling of expected standards of professional behaviour.
- Be responsible for delivering on trust wide nursing initiatives as agreed with the Chief Nurse, ensuring the continued development of nursing practice within the framework of the Nursing & Midwifery Strategy and national policy.
- Operate a visible leadership model, ensuring accessibility for staff, patients and the public so that open and honest communication channels are created
- To ensure that all staff feel confident in raising their concerns and there is an appropriate mechanism in place for their voices to be heard.
- Participate effectively as a member of the Trusts Nursing & Midwifery Committee.
- Lead and participate in the review and updating of Trust wide nursing standards.
- To advise and support all Directorate staff, ensuring that clinical and administrative policies and procedures are adhered to
- In partnership with the Clinical Director and General Manager identify both new opportunities for the individual services within the Directorate arising from changes in the external environment or internal innovation and potential threats and ways to respond to them.
- To work with the Trust Mental Health Lead to deliver the mental health strategy within UEC
- Ensure the digital innovation strategy and plans are congruent with the Trusts planning framework including compliance with overall service, capital and digital healthcare strategy.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of the Trusts strategy and policies and ensure that the Directorate supports the delivery of national NHS requirements.
- Work in partnership with the Clinical Director and General Manager in the change management programmes within the Directorate and across the Trust, ensuring completion of the most complex and challenging projects to time, budget and quality targets, ensuring successful implementation of programmes and initiatives which may impact Trust-wide.
- To advise the Chief Nurse and others on issues of national professional and service developments and the nursing implications of these, as well as on implications for the Trust
- In partnership with the General Manager identify and manage service improvement projects within the Directorate and Directorate contribution to Trust-wide service improvement projects within agreed timeframes and financial targets.
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- First level Registered Mental Health Nurse or dual registered RMN / RN
- Relevant Masters/MBA qualification or equivalent experience.
- Able to evidence extensive experience and knowledge of Mental Health legislation in relation to emergency presentations
- Demonstrate a successful track record of delivering effective nursing services as a senior nurse/manager or a deputy director in a large, multifaceted healthcare environment including staff management, financial management and change management.
- Evidence of delivering successful nursing strategic and operational performance management and clearly demonstrating improvement in the quality of nursing care delivered at a strategic level.
Skills
Essential
- Able to articulate a clear vision for nursing which will enable the Directorate to meet all of its objectives.
- A strong track record of managing complexity and risk whilst maintaining high standards of nursing care.
- A comprehensive understanding of the changing NHS environment and the challenges it faces and the role and contribution nurses can make.
- Ability to be intellectually flexible and to look beyond existing structures, ways of working, boundaries and organisations to produce more effective and innovative service delivery and partnerships.
- A commitment to improving patient services through an ability to sustain a clear performance focus on achieving demanding goals.
Skills (cont)
Essential
- Strong leadership, interpersonal skills and authority; able to successfully foster and manage inter-relationships between own unit and other Directorates.
- Demonstrated competencies to analyse and synthesize complex and diverse performance information.
- A proven track record of creating a common purpose and instilling organisational values and behaviours that promotes a corporate vision.
- Strong organisational ability and well developed resource and staff management skills; able to forecast, plan, develop and manage unity capability in line with business plan and organisational vision.
- Proven ability to foster an organisational culture that is positive about change and committed to delivery of the strategic vision.
- Proven ability to manage change effectively within an operational environment, building engagement and involvement and rewarding innovation.
- A proven credible and influential communicator with excellent networking and negotiating skills.
- An ability to overcome resistance and influence outcomes by utilising highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity in undertaking the role.
- A credible, visible nursing leader who has the ability to bridge the gap between the Board and the Ward.
- High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach and attitude.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of quality and risk management, to include experience in analysing and resolving complex complaints and incidents
- Experience of managing a large, complex professional workforce and associated budgets.
- Significant experience of working with people in mental health crisis and working in a hospital care environment. Proven experience of working in a mental health setting as a ward manager or above
- Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders and a successful track record of influence and engagement.
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- First level Registered Mental Health Nurse or dual registered RMN / RN
- Relevant Masters/MBA qualification or equivalent experience.
- Able to evidence extensive experience and knowledge of Mental Health legislation in relation to emergency presentations
- Demonstrate a successful track record of delivering effective nursing services as a senior nurse/manager or a deputy director in a large, multifaceted healthcare environment including staff management, financial management and change management.
- Evidence of delivering successful nursing strategic and operational performance management and clearly demonstrating improvement in the quality of nursing care delivered at a strategic level.
Skills
Essential
- Able to articulate a clear vision for nursing which will enable the Directorate to meet all of its objectives.
- A strong track record of managing complexity and risk whilst maintaining high standards of nursing care.
- A comprehensive understanding of the changing NHS environment and the challenges it faces and the role and contribution nurses can make.
- Ability to be intellectually flexible and to look beyond existing structures, ways of working, boundaries and organisations to produce more effective and innovative service delivery and partnerships.
- A commitment to improving patient services through an ability to sustain a clear performance focus on achieving demanding goals.
Skills (cont)
Essential
- Strong leadership, interpersonal skills and authority; able to successfully foster and manage inter-relationships between own unit and other Directorates.
- Demonstrated competencies to analyse and synthesize complex and diverse performance information.
- A proven track record of creating a common purpose and instilling organisational values and behaviours that promotes a corporate vision.
- Strong organisational ability and well developed resource and staff management skills; able to forecast, plan, develop and manage unity capability in line with business plan and organisational vision.
- Proven ability to foster an organisational culture that is positive about change and committed to delivery of the strategic vision.
- Proven ability to manage change effectively within an operational environment, building engagement and involvement and rewarding innovation.
- A proven credible and influential communicator with excellent networking and negotiating skills.
- An ability to overcome resistance and influence outcomes by utilising highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity in undertaking the role.
- A credible, visible nursing leader who has the ability to bridge the gap between the Board and the Ward.
- High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach and attitude.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of quality and risk management, to include experience in analysing and resolving complex complaints and incidents
- Experience of managing a large, complex professional workforce and associated budgets.
- Significant experience of working with people in mental health crisis and working in a hospital care environment. Proven experience of working in a mental health setting as a ward manager or above
- Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders and a successful track record of influence and engagement.
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).
