Assistant Director of Nursing – County Longford

We are actively hiring for an Clinical Nurse Manager to join the team of an excellent employer based in County Longford.

All candidates MUST be NMIB PIN Holders, currently reside and are eligible to work in Ireland and have previous experience working within a residential home.

Our client is an award winning nursing home/care centre that provides residential care to their residents in County Longford. This establishment aims to promote quality of life and independence through both a professional and friendly service.

A full-time staff nurse works 7 * 12 hour shifts per fortnight, including Day and Night duty.

Salaries depending on experience range from €47,000 to €65,000 respectively.

Reporting Relationship:

Reporting to Person in Charge/DON in respect of general work performance, resource management and staffing issues.

Accountable to the PIC for ensuring high standards of clinical practice and the implementation of quality assurances measures in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

Key Working Relationship:

AHP Managers, all assigned staff and General Practitioners.

Purpose of Post:

In the context of a person–centred philosophy the Assistant Director of Nursing will be responsible for the overall management of the service. S/he will provide strategic leadership, operating in accordance with the policies of the company and in collaboration with other professionals and service managers in achieving service goals.

The Assistant Director of Nursing has a pivotal role in creating the vision and culture for the Nursing Home. S/he has responsibility for service planning, co-ordinating, and managing activity and resources and will lead in the implementation of change. He/she will ensure services to older persons are provided within a relationship which is based on respect and equality and that promotes their independence.

Principal Duties and Reasonabilities:

Under the direction of the PIC, the post holder will be responsible for the following, ensuring privacy, dignity and respect of the resident at all times.

Leadership and Accountability

• Lead on the development and implementation of clinical policy/procedures and guidelines to support care practice within the ‘National Residential Standards’ (HIQA) and other Accreditation/Regulatory Bodies.
• Promote the opportunity for residents to direct their own lives in accordance with their cognitive and physical abilities in an environment that is based on respect and equality and that promotes their independence.
• Actively promote the participation of residents in the running of the nursing home.
• Promote the social interaction of residents with the wider community, in accordance with their choices and personal goals.
• Collaborate and work closely with the resident, his/her family, the multidisciplinary team, external agencies and services to support the resident to work towards achieving their personal goals.
• Promote/Lead and maintain good collaborative working relationships and communications with appropriate statutory, professional and voluntary organisations responsible for and/or participating in health and social care.
• Develop and promote good interpersonal relationships with residents, their family/social network supports and the multidisciplinary care team in the promotion of person-centred planning.
• Ensure that care is carried out in an empathetic and ethical manner and that the needs and dignity of the residents are paramount.
• Provide strategic and clinical leadership and direction for nursing and related services which results in the delivery of effective, efficient, quality assured and person centred care.
• Ensure that evidence based standards of clinical nursing care are in operation and that regular monitoring and quality assurance measures are implemented.
• Be responsible for implementing strategy and policy on practice development, education and professional duties imposed by statute or determination.
• Keep the PIC appraised of any significant development and/or risk within his/her area of responsibility and perform such additional duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Information Governance

• Take lead responsibility for ensuring high quality data is collected in respect of personal health information.
• Ensure the security of such data and the maintenance of privacy and confidentiality of the resident through training and on-going assessment of compliance with policies and procedures.
• Ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for the secondary use of personal health information e.g. clinical audit, research, quality assurance initiatives etc.

Managerial

• Set key objectives in line with the service plan on an annual basis.
• Participate in the company’s governance groups etc. as appropriate.
• Accept responsibility for the management of all nursing and health care services over a 24 hour period and ensure that systems are in place to support this responsibility.
• Participate, as required, in the recruitment and selection of nursing and care staff,
• Ensure the optimum and effective use of staff through efficient rostering, skill/grade mix planning, work load measurement, staff profiling and deployment.
• Participate in the formulation of relevant personnel policies and procedures.
• Deal with staff relations issues in consultation with appropriate personnel.
• Ensure resources are controlled within budget and identify potential for efficiency saving through improved practices and innovation.
• Ensure the implementation of the company’s policies and procedures.
• Ensure all complaints are managed, recorded and reported in a timely and appropriate manner in accordance with company policy and national standards.

Clinical Practice

• Promote a philosophy for nursing which reflects the services commitment to the provision of a high standard of nursing care.
• Develop and implement (within the governance structures) operational policies, protocols and guidelines in line with national policy and statutory requirement
• Ensure compliance with the Code of Professional Conduct as laid down by An Bord Altranais (NMBI)
• Ensure safe practice in relation to medication, as governed by An Bord Altranais and company policy and guidelines and legislation.

Health and Safety

• Ensure all staff under his/her direction performs duties in a manner conducive to health and safety and in accordance with nursing home policies and procedures.
• To work with staff in identifying risks through on-going and planned risk assessments.
• Ensure that accidents and incidents involving residents/visitors contractors and staff are recorded, managed and investigated in accordance with policy and that learning/feedback is implemented.
• Ensure all staff is aware of their responsibilities in the event of an emergency accident/incident and that an out of hour’s senior management response is provided.
• Ensure that service is in compliance with health and safety statutory requirements e.g. Safety Statement is maintained and reviewed on a regular basis.
• Ensure all staff complete mandatory training and participate in professional/vocational training as required.
• Ensure all staff have a working knowledge of fire safety practices and procedures and implement same.
• Ensure all staff have a working knowledge of Infection prevention and control practices and procedures and implement same.

Training and ongoing development

• Be aware of current developments in the nursing profession and maintain a commitment to ongoing professional development, including An Bord Altranais requirements for continuing professional development (NMBI)
• Promote and participate in nursing research/evidence based clinical audit and encourage its practical application to residents care within the service area.
• Attend and participate in education and in – service programmes as required by the needs of the resident and in compliance with Blackrock Abbey policies and national standards i.e. mandatory training programme/professional and competency updating (Nurses Act 2011).
• Educate and support all assigned staff including the induction of new staff and on-going performance appraisal and associated competency development and action plans, as required.

Professional Registration:

• Ensure that professional registration with INMB is maintained and a copy of same is provided to the General Manager immediately following annual renewal.
• Ensure all nursing staff are professionally registered with INMB by maintaining evidence of annual registration.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Candidates must meet the following criteria on the closing date:
• Be registered in the relevant Division of the Live Register of Nurses maintained by An Bord Altranis (INMB) or be entitled to be so registered.

AND

• Have at least five years post registration nursing experience of which three must be in the specialist or related area in the last six years.

AND

• Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.
• Have engaged in continuous professional development.
• Have a minimum of two years management experience.
• Have a recognised qualification in Gerontology/Care of the Older Person.

Desirable experience:

Previous experience in a senior managerial role within the specialist area.

Special Skills and Competencies:

Professional Knowledge & Experience

• Knowledge of quality assurance practices and their application to nursing procedures.
• Experience of working in residential service for older persons.
• Knowledge of social care model of service delivery.
• Knowledge of Person Centred Planning.
• Knowledge of both clinical and human resource policies and procedures and relevant legislation.
• Knowledge of National Residential Standards (HIQA).
• Knowledge of Evidence Based Clinical Practice and Quality and Accreditation Systems.

Competencies Required

Person Centred – Demonstrates eagerness to understand resident/service user needs and views him/her as central to the delivery of services.

• Communication and Interpersonal – Demonstrates the ability to communicate (verbal and written) in a clear and concise manner, adapting communication style to suit audience.
• Skilful Interpersonal Communication – Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain relationships with service user/residents and other stakeholders.
• Commitment to Quality – Demonstrates ability to focus on both internal and external stakeholder needs and show determination to offer a quality service.
• Initiative – Demonstrates ability to think ahead of the current situation and show bias for taking action.
• Organisational Awareness – Demonstrates understanding and commitment to the vision of the service and sound understanding of the organisation.
• Continuous Learning – Demonstrates determination to build on own knowledge and continually seek opportunities to develop and learn new skills.
• Flexibility/Adaptability – Demonstrates ability to react effectively to changing circumstances and accept advice from others.
• Problem Solving – Demonstrate ability to build a logical approach to address problems or opportunities.
• Professionalism – Demonstrates ability to think carefully about the likely effects on others of ones words, actions, appearance and mode of behaviour.
• Reliability – Demonstrate a high level of dependability in all aspects of the job.
• Team Work – Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively with others, to achieve aims of the job.
• Supporting Colleagues – Demonstrate ability to effectively build relationships with colleagues using tact/diplomacy and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership and Accountability – Demonstrate accountability for leading, directing, monitoring and evaluating standards of care provided
• Medication Management – Demonstrates knowledge and adherence to An Bord Altranis Guidelines and legislation.
• Scope of Practice – Educated and competent to perform full range of roles and responsibilities required of registered nurse.
• Continuous Professional Development – Demonstrates commitment to maintaining and enhancing knowledge, expertise and competence throughout nursing career.
• Legislation, Ethics and Regulation – Demonstrates acceptance of responsibility that his/her nursing practice meets all required standards and legislative requirements.

The Job Description should be read in conjunction with the Contract of Employment and Staff Handbook. All staff must be familiar with, and observe company rules, policies and procedures incl. Pre-Employment Occupational Health Screening.

Requirements include:

• NMBI PIN Holder is essential
• Residing and Eligible to work in Ireland is essential
• Have the right to work in Ireland (only essential for non-EU candidates)
• Candidates coming from overseas are required to provide their OET/IELTS results, this is essential.
• Willing to relocate to Longford is essential.
• Experience working in nursing homes essential for this role.