Head of Nursing - Quality and Harm Free Care

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Communications and Relationship skills (Factor 1)

• Provide and receive highly complex and sensitive information, presenting performance reports in relation to workstreams to Trust board, divisions, care groups.
• Highly developed and effective communication skills when conducting investigations, talking to staff about incidents where the atmosphere can be emotive and/or antagonistic.
• Chair a range of meetings including:
  • Pressure ulcer panels
  • Harm Free Care Group
  • Harm Free Care Incident Review Group
  • Local collaboratives with System Partners
• Advise the trust and senior managers, interpret and where relevant apply/implement national policies, guidelines and initiatives relating to safe care.
• Provide assurance and involve the Trusts members and Council of Governors in improving patient outcomes.
• Analytical and Judgemental skills - (Factor 3)

• Create an environment that drives excellence in the provision of safe, effective standards of care with patient experience at its heart.
• Working with ward staff using the patient first improvement system and quality improvement methodology to develop local action plans aiming at reducing harm for patients.
• Oversee the NHS surveillance processes in relation to Harm Free Care, monitoring the data down to ward level to identify any areas for improvement.
• Ensure an effective mechanism for sharing the results and learning and as a result ensure that direct action is taken to improve the patients experience.
• Use Advanced Root Cause analysis skills to supports staff to fully understand the root causes of problems.
• Use Trust reporting systems to conduct detailed analysis of themes relating to workstreams, linking with Trusts information and improvement team as required.
• Compile clear reports that describe findings of data analysis in order to inform direction of improvement work.
• Coach staff to understand what their data is telling them in order to develop a culture of improvement.
• Lead the scrutiny of care of patients who develop pressure damage through weekly review meetings to ensure that root causes and actions for improvement are effectively identified.

1. Planning and Organisational skills - (Factor 4)

• Contribute to the production of the Quality Strategy and Quality Account; identify and review quality priorities relating to Harm Free Care to support the delivery of the Trusts quality strategy.
• Contribute to the production of the Trust Nursing Strategy with responsibility for development of Quality Improvement programmes.
• Collaborative working with Divisional Teams to identify quality goals and successfully implement improvement projects.
• Provide written and verbal reports each month for the Harm Free Care, Patient Safety Group, Quality and Patient Safety Group, and Heads of Nursing Meetings.
• Provide Harm Free Care Section of the Integrated Board Report and data relating to work streams and develop and prepare Trusts Annual Quality Report for submission to monitor.
• Provide updates as required for the Trust Executive Team and Trust Board on progress of current projects.
• Contribute to the development and review of Trust policies and guidelines, taking the lead for policies relating to work streams.
• Patient/ Client Care - (Factor 6)

• Cultivate an environment that supports staff to identify opportunities to better meet patients physical and emotional needs.
• Maintain a high profile within the clinical environment to enhance clinical relationships and maintain personal practice knowledge and skills where appropriate by:
  • Working alongside staff in clinical areas, observing and monitoring practice
  • Providing clinical support in response to service needs
• To ensure the whole patient journey is as safe and positive as it can be by working in collaboration with Heads of Nursing/AHPs and matrons within the Trust, maintaining an overview of patient care pathways.
• Ensure that the care delivered to patients by nurses and support workers is safe, evidence based (quality) and meets individualised needs.
• Be responsible for and take part in the appropriate investigation of any safeguarding issues in relation to adults and assist with the training of staff in vulnerable adults.
• Support the development of learning activities within the sphere of influence which can support the improvement of the patient experience.

1. Policy and Service Development Implementation - (Factor 7)

• Work in collaboration with the Nurse Director, and Heads of Nursing to support the Chief Nurse to develop future Trust Nursing strategy.
• Develop, implement and review a range of policies, procedures and guidelines within the organisation and in collaboration with the wider health economy, with responsibility for those that relate to safer care.
• Oversee the work streams that support the delivery of improvements to safer care :
  • Ensure all policies and procedures within post holders responsibility are updated in line with evidence/best practice, remain fit-for-purpose and are successfully interpreted and implemented across the trust
  • Monitor compliance with NICE quality guidance and standards that relate to workstreams
  • Take the Nursing lead for all national audit for Harm Free Care workstreams
• Translate strategy into achievable implementation plans which ensures capacity meets demand.

1. Financial and Physical Development (inc equipment, stock etc) - (Factor 8)

• Budget Holder for the Harm Free Care cost centres.
• Participate in budget setting and facilitate the effective and efficient use of the Harm Free Care budget.
• Contribute to the Trusts cost improvement and efficiency programmes through scoping for opportunities to work differently, ensuring the most effective use of resources.
• Ensure the effective budgetary management of the service, any CIP plans are delivered and resources utilised cost-effectively.
• Work closely with the team to ensure that budgets and resources are managed effectively and robustly.

Human Resources (inc developing and delivering training) - (Factor 9)

• When required act as Investigating Officer for concerns/investigations where corporate nursing input is deemed appropriate.
• Within sphere of responsibility, ensure that the annual IPR and KSF for all direct reports and all other staff are carried out by themselves and appropriate managers.
• Manage sickness and absence in line with Trust Policy by monitoring trends, interviewing staff and when necessary refer to Occupational Health.
• Ensure all staff within sphere of responsibility and with staff management responsibilities are trained and competent in roster and leave management.
• Lead on staff disciplinary and grievance issues in accordance with Trust Policy.
• Promote staff awareness and understanding of contents of the National and Local Public Health Agenda by holding regular meeting to cascade relevant local and Trust issues.
• Facilitate active collaboration between education and practice to promote a clinical environment that supports learning and ensures safe practice.
• Responsible for the staff rotas within responsible cost centre ensuring that there is adequate skill mix and the staffing template is adhered to.
• Responsibility that the annual leave entitlement for nurses is taken appropriately to ensure the smooth running of the service.

Information Resources - (Factor 10)

• Use the Trusts systems to provide accurate and user friendly data to inform understanding of current state with respect to patient experiences of care
• Create reports, documents and presentations for a wider audience within and external to the organisation.
• Be responsible for ensuring that corporate level risks associated with harm free care workstreams are identified on the risk register and updated regularly as indicated and that the risk register is a live and working tool.
• Research and Development - (Factor 11)

• To understand the context of health provision and strategy at National and Trust level, interpreting this to ensure the provision of effective high quality day to day services.
• Support and contribute to clinical improvement projects and to multi-disciplinary audit programmes, supporting the co-ordination of audit programmes and the continuous development of evidence based nursing practice with the Trust.
• Lead and undertake audit for responsible work stream and present findings back to a wider audience both internally and externally.
• Promote professional practice in line with relevant research.
• Promote the implementation of evidence based practice.
• Work with the Head of Practice Development and Education and to identify opportunities for learning including the development of accredited educational programmes relating to work streams.
• Work with the Head of Research and Development Scope for opportunities for research relating to work streams.
• Act as mentor and coach for staff undertaking clinical academic pathways.
• Look for opportunities for participation in external events and conferences to share Trust experiences.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

• NMC registration
• Evidence of analysing data
• Evidence of leading change
• Clinical Skills related to Safer Care
• Knowledge of National Strategies relating to Harm Free Care

Desirable

• Knowledge of PFIS
• Healthcare Quality Improvement Qualification

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Worthing General Hospital

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH

Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)