Deputy Head of Care - Nursing

NHS; Hexham; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job description

Would you like to be part of a team that makes an impact every day?

Due to recent retirement within our senior team, we are currently looking to recruit a Deputy Head of Care for the Nursing Service.

The Deputy Head of Care for Nursing will be responsible for providing clinical leadership, operational management, and professional support to the team.

If you are dedicated to providing high quality, compassionate palliative and end of life care, and have the passion and expertise to help shape the future service delivery, we would love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

This role combines providing both a clinical presence and operational leadership to a team of registered and unregistered staff, ensuring the delivery of evidenced-based, compassionate, and person-centred care.

The post holder will take a proactive approach to service development in line with the organization's strategic vision.

About us

Tynedale Hospice at Home has proudly supported the communities of Ponteland and West Northumberland for over 30 years.

Our services include home-based end of life nursing care, patient transport, complementary therapies, and bereavement support. All of our services are provided free of charge.

Job responsibilities

Main Purpose of the role:

The Deputy Head of Care for Nursing will be responsible for assisting the Head of Care Services in the day-to-day management and delivery of high-quality Nursing services, contributing to care service development, ensuring continuous improvement of patient care, safety, and satisfaction.

This role combines providing both a clinical presence and operational leadership and steer to a team of registered and unregistered workforce to foster a culture of excellence, ensuring the delivery of evidenced-based, compassionate, and person-centred care; with a focus on staff training and development to ensure that staff are equipped with the necessary skills to deliver exceptional care.

Working closely with the Head of Care, the post holder will take a proactive approach to service development as per strategic plans and maintain compliance with statutory regulations and will be responsible for achieving outcomes in relation to the Care Quality Commission's Essential Standards of Safety and Quality.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality of Care Provision

1. Lead responsibility for the continual development of robust and safe clinical governance processes.
2. Work with the Registered Manager to ensure the requirements of the Care Quality Commission and other statutory bodies are met.
3. Work with the Registered Manager to ensure that all necessary reports and notifications are submitted as required.
4. Identify areas of clinical risk and, with the Head of Care, develop a strategy to either reduce or eliminate identified risk.
5. Monitor comments, suggestions, incidents, accidents, significant events, complaints, and compliments received, identifying trends and report findings to Head of Care.
6. Investigate incidents/complaints and from these develop action plans, implement any changes necessary, and evaluate.
7. Lead on the development of mechanisms for auditing care and, in conjunction with other staff, participate in the planning, implementing, and evaluation of multi-disciplinary audit.
8. Work with the Head of Care to identify strategic direction relating to the provision of palliative and supportive care.
9. Take responsibility for the development and reviewing of policies and guidelines within the Care service.
10. Develop and carry out audits of clinical care to develop feedback from Patients, families, carers, and professionals.

Training & Development

1. Oversee induction of new staff, clinical supervision, and appraisal.
2. Facilitate ongoing training and education activities to meet the needs of the service.
3. Contribute to collating staff-related learning needs identified at appraisal and ensure that training activities meet the needs of the service and are within the Departmental budget.
4. Demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development in accordance with your own Personal Development Requirements.
5. Undertake an annual training matrix audit.

Professional / Clinical Role

1. Demonstrate clinical excellence and a consistently high standard of nursing practice in the field of palliative care nursing.
2. Work in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and take responsibility for own revalidation process.
3. Advise and support staff in maintaining an approach that incorporates physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of care, in accordance with THH organisational philosophy/criteria.
4. Support other members of the THH clinical team in implementing and evaluating care plans.
5. Liaise with community staff, support services, and hospital, hospice, and palliative care teams.
6. Demonstrate an evidence-based approach to practice.
7. Participate in the setting of standards, and the audit of patient/family care.
8. Maintain accurate records of patient/family care.
9. Regularly attend and contribute to team/hospice meetings.
10. Follow all agreed procedures and statutory regulations related to the custody and administration of drugs.
11. Contribute to the change in access to high-quality care for all adults approaching the end of life in this locality.
12. Lead, manage, and implement the day-to-day operations of the team through a planned and focused strategic approach. This will include regular meetings with the team, undertaking appraisals, and one-to-one meetings with staff.
13. Support staff within their clinical role by sharing information, discussing clinical issues, and problem-solving.
14. Strive to find efficiencies across all activity and support funding applications as appropriate.
15. Ensure department workforce are skilled, knowledgeable, and motivated and that they continue their personal development within available resources.
16. Provide information as required by the Head of Care Services/Chief Executive for budgetary control, staffing establishment, and the development of the nursing service.
17. Assist the Head of Care Services and Chief Executive in maintaining relative databases.
18. Participate in the ongoing system of Personal Development Review in line with Agenda for Change knowledge and skills framework.
19. Assist the Head of Care Services and the Chief Executive in the development, implementation, and evaluation of organisational policy.
20. Represent the organisation externally as required.

Monitoring & Reporting

1. Maintain accurate and concise contemporary records at all times.
2. Assist in the development and maintenance of appropriate recording systems to support the service.
3. Assist in reporting incidents, accidents, or near misses, following the correct procedures for documentation and investigation.
4. Implement and monitor key performance metrics to ensure continuous improvement of all activities within service.
5. Produce statistical data for reporting purposes when required for the Board of Trustees/Chief Executive and Head of Care.
6. Participate in providing detailed reports for external agencies if required.
7. Assist with the development/review of policies, reports, and grant applications for THH.
8. Support Head of Care Services and Chief Executive in promoting and developing the Service to best meet the needs of the local community.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Ensure CQC standards, procedures, and relevant policies are implemented and maintained, addressing any shortfalls identified during inspections.
2. Responsible for ensuring that quality standards of service delivery are maintained and monitored.
3. All staff have a responsibility to ensure that the working environment is safe, secure, and healthy. Any unsafe conditions or potential hazards should be reported to the Head of Care Services/Chief Executive or designated Health and Safety Officer.
4. Ensure staff are aware of all relevant Policies and that all training requirements for safeguarding are met.

Working Relationships and Team Working

1. Work as a positive team member at all times and in accordance with TH@Hs policies and values.
2. Staff are expected to work flexibly to accommodate service needs and provide cover for their colleagues in order that support to patients and staff is maintained in their absence.
3. From time to time the post holder will be required to undertake specific projects as determined by the Head of Care Services and/or Chief Executive.

Conduct

1. Behave in a professional manner at all times, reflecting and maintaining the values and ethos of the organisation.
2. Adhere to all THH policies and procedures.
3. Have an understanding of the Hospices Vision, departmental objectives, and strive to work towards their achievement.
4. Promote the Hospices reputation and values and work as a team to further develop the service.

This job description reflects the immediate requirements and objectives of the post. It is not an exhaustive list but gives a general indication of the level of work undertaken, which may vary in detail in the light of changing demands and priorities. Substantive changes will be carried out in consultation with the post holder. The post holder would be required to maintain an up-to-date DBS Certificate. In all areas, the post-holder will have the support of the Trustees of Tynedale Hospice at Home, the Chief Executive, and Head of Care Services. The post-holder should at all times be aware of the confidential nature of the work of the organisation. This job description will be reviewed as part of the post holder's annual appraisal.

Person Specification

Experience

1. Significant experience of delivering Palliative and End of Life Care.
2. Experience of teaching or mentorship in clinical practice.
3. Experience in implementing change on an organisational level.
4. Understanding of national standards e.g. CQC, Charity Commission, NMC.

Qualifications

1. First Level Registered Nurse with a minimum of five years post-registration experience.
2. Degree in Nursing or related subject.
3. Evidence of continuous personal and academic development.

Knowledge and skills

1. Proven leadership and management skills.
2. Ability to interface effectively with a range of people in complex situations.
3. Excellent IT skills including working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
4. Ability to gather, analyse, and interpret complex information.

Other

1. Valid driver's licence, access to a vehicle with business insurance.
2. Commitment to THH mission and values.
3. Satisfactory DBS clearance.

Personal Attributes

1. Excellent interpersonal skills.
2. Effective time management skills & ability to prioritise workload.

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.