Modern Matron

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled clinician with demonstrated leadership & management skills to join our team at the Glenbourne unit. You will be part of an outstanding service that has the needs of our patients at the heart of what we do.

The role will encompass providing modern matron input, expertise, support & oversight to the two 19 bedded single sex acute wards, Place of safety team, occupational therapy department, discharge team, referral coordinators, ECT & admin. You will also work closely with the medical teams, community teams, statutory providers, emergency services and the acute sector.

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic & passionate about mental health services. That has enhanced & proven leadership skills, to provide & support the delivery of high-quality nursing care from admission to discharge. Working within the framework of the Modern Matron principles, your key role will be to ensure clinical quality standards are achieved consistently by providing inspirational & visible clinical leadership to ward managers & the wider teams.

Main duties of the job

You must have excellent communication skills, good working knowledge & understanding of acute adult mental health & the needs of individuals. A passion for mental health & interested in supporting Livewell Southwest to continue to improve & transform services. We are seeking a dedicated clinician to join our team who displays our values of being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible & collaborative. It is expected that you will have significant experience in a senior role working within the field of mental health. You will have a sound clinical background which has been supplemented by continuing professional development.

The role is an all-rounded, hands-on senior clinical role; you will need to confidently evidence & utilise many key skills such as effective communication, prioritisation, risk management, high clinical standards, utilise evidence-based practice, provide inspirational leadership. You will provide support across the acute mental health pathway & services aligned to the unit as required.

Where required you will work across a 24/period, clinical time will be flexible according to the needs of the unit. There will be a requirement to be part of the mental health on call rota.

The job requires innovation, flexibility, & commitment to ensure that patients & families have the best possible experience & outcome of using our services.

All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the supporting documents section to retrieve the JD detailing the core responsibilities of this role and person specifications.

Job Purpose

• The Modern Matron provides professional leadership to the adult acute in-patient units and community services which sit within a locality.
• The post holder will also have influence and contact with all services aligned to the acute care pathway.
• The post holder provides direct line management and support to the unit/ward/team managers as appropriate with the support of the directorate manager.
• The post holder leads on the implementation and adherence to the Matrons Charter.
• The post holder provides a visible, accessible and authoritative presence in the inpatient & community settings.
• The post holder will have a mix of clinical and operational requirements.
• There will be a requirement to be part of the mental health on call rota.
• The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that any learning from SIRIs and complaints are embedded.
• The post holder will be working across organisations and communicating with a range of professionals, patients and their families.
• The post holder will be required to keep up to date with nursing and health care developments affecting the care of people with complex needs, eating disorders, severe enduring mental illness and emotional distress.

Scope and Range

• Responsible for the day-to-day management of staff groups across several sites, liaising with appropriate managers and facilitating Unit and relevant Team Managers and their deputies in dealing with issues such as staffing and operational issues.
• Ensure appropriate delegation of and participation in out-of-hours rota / on-call rota where appropriate.
• Provide expert clinical leadership and support to ward/unit managers and nurses acting as a role model in provision of clear direction for nursing and practice development.
• To support and ensure the implementation of clinical supervision for staff within areas of responsibility.
• Where standards for facilities services are not met, take corrective action as appropriate.
• Provide line management to delegated personnel within the service structure.
• Provide nursing and managerial knowledge and experience to any member of the multi-disciplinary team in relation to patient care, ensuring a visible presence is maintained in all clinical areas, endeavouring to spend at least 60% of work time in a clinical environment.
• The role includes a balance of clinical and managerial responsibilities which may vary according to need and to be agreed by the locality manager.
• Provide clinical supervision and support to nursing and other professional colleagues.
• Lead on specific aspects of nursing and service development in agreement with the Head of services or Directorate Manager.
• Set, agree and monitor standards for clinical practice and patient care and ensure teams have the right skills to deliver a high-quality service.
• Develop opportunities to enhance service user involvement and carers.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• The Modern Matron provides professional and clinical leadership to the adult acute in-patient units and community services which sit within its locality or directorate.
• The post holder will also have influence and contact with all services aligned to the acute care pathway.
• The post holder provides direct line management and support to the unit/ward/team managers as appropriate with the support of the directorate manager.

Responsibility for People Management

• Ensure quality service delivery by developing and reviewing of workforce plans and skill mix reviews in collaboration with team leads and Directorate Manager.
• Lead on strategies to support Ward Managers and Team Leaders in the recruitment and development of suitably skilled staff by using flexible working, employment practices and supporting improving working lives to balance needs of patients and staff.
• To actively participate in supporting new ways of working.
• Responsible for annual appraisals ensuring that personal development planning is effective in attaining and maintaining service development and competency development.
• Monitoring mandatory and essential training for all staff within their area of responsibility. This includes ensuring provision of CPD, in particular for registered practitioners.
• Support Ward Managers and other Team Leaders with the monitoring and management of sickness and absences and the implementation of policy.
• Ensure safer staffing for a 24 hour service, including out of hours cover for the site and escalating any shortfalls in a timely manner.
• To support ward managers and team leaders with providing high quality student placements.
• Oversee the use of agency and staff bank on a monthly basis to ensure the appropriate skill mix is available to provide the required level of service and ensure there are robust plans in place to minimise the agency and bureau spend.
• To ensure that there is an effective and safe induction programme to the unit.

Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

• Regularly review use of temporary staff and agency usage and work with Ward Managers and team leaders to reduce and minimise use and risk.
• Authorised signatory for staff payroll extra duty and staff expenses payments over and above their normal activities. Monitor and be second level approver for e-roster rotas as per Policy.
• Support ward managers on submission of capital bids relating to equipment purchase to meet service needs.
• Responsible for the support to departments managers to monitor equipment, furniture, IT equipment and that assets are registered and comply with financial audits.
• Facilitate networks across providers to support the development of effective care pathways and improved communication channels.
• Provide feedback to Ward Managers and Therapy leads and ensure service developments are proactively managed. These may include health best interest meetings.
• Attend and contribute to service/professional meetings relating to practice with a focus on safety and quality of care received by the service user.
• Ensure the Head of service and directorate manager is informed in a timely manner of any major issues on the units.
• Actively participate in Directorate / Locality meetings ensuring information is shared and risks escalated.
• Lead on the development, implementation and evaluation of a range of audits within the service area, e.g. health and safety, infection control, specific clinical audits, NICE and NPSA.
• Monitor reported accidents and incidents, identify trends and take action as appropriate.
• Monitor risk register ensuring that appropriate actions are undertaken.
• To undertake the function of second approver on eroster for a number of departments
• To create the on call roster for the adult inpatient services
• To facilitate a monthly on call managers supervision forum and escalate any concerns or identified learning needs within the inpatient settings.

Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments.

• Work in collaboration with Professional Practice to review existing policies and guidelines relevant to clinical practice and to contribute to the development of new policies.
• Ensure that any complaints and significant events are investigated in full (using RCA), preparing detailed reports with action plans in liaison with Directorate Manager or Heads of service.
• To follow guidelines and policy for services changes, including involvement with HR and unions where appropriate.
• To update policies and procedures in line with new guidance of which the matron is the authors eg Nurse Led Discharge policy and Operational policy.
• To work closely with emergency services regarding the use of the Place of Safety suite eg police. To problem solving any identified issues or concerns.

Responsibility for people who use our services

• Work with key partners to enhance and streamline patients pathways i.e. referral, admission and discharge processes within specialist field.
• Provide a high quality and safe service for patients and their identified carers.
• Champion the Dignity and Respect and Diversity agendas by promoting good practice.
• Where appropriate, participate in strategy meetings following alert of vulnerable adults / child safeguarding issues.
• Ensure that service users are cared for within the confines of their respective Mental Health Act status and adhere to the requirements of the MHA 1983 and the corresponding Code of Practice. This includes the legislation relating to the Mental Capacity Act
• Ensure processes are in place to actively involve service users and carers within their own care packages and service re-design initiatives.
• To work in collaboration with service users and carers to meet the Triangle of Care initiative.
• To have an extensive knowledge of the Care Quality Commission KLOe and assessment process, ensure that any feedback by the CQC is actioned.
• To have extensive knowledge of the patient flow through the units, this will include estimated and planned discharge dates, length of stay and expediting any delays in the system adhering to the escalation plan.
• Support Ward Managers and Team Leaders to quality assure Continuing Healthcare Assessments for your areas of responsibility.
• To ensure the waiting list is managed. Ensure areas achieve performance as specified in business plan/service level agreements.
• Work collaboratively with the Directorate Manager or Head of service with development and achievement of strategy and business plans ensuring all staff are involved in process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse
• Current NMC registration
• Masters Level study or equivalent transferable experience
• Evidence of recent continuing personal learning / professional development
• Masters level study in related subject (or to working towards)
• Management or leadership qualification
• Quality improvement trained or equivalent.

Experience

• Experience in change management
• Experience of data collection, analysis and synthesis
• Experience of leading and developing local services within an MDT
• 3-years experience as Ward / Unit Manager or other equivalent position in terms of responsibility
• Managing budgets and ability to monitor and assess financial information.
• Implement strategy and guidance.
• Experience of conducting audits
• Experience of using Microsoft Excel, Access, PowerPoint and electronic mail
• Experience of Microsoft teams
• 5 years post registration experience
• Experience of implementing change within a team
• Experience of investigatory processes eg. SIRI, complaint
• Experience of quality improvement, change management and project work.
• Experience of working with care pathways
• Experience of organising Microsoft meetings, setting agendas and following up actions.
• Life experience in wide range of settings

Specific Skills

• Specific skills
• Well-developed leadership skills
• Ability to work on own initiative and also as an effective team member.
• Ability to manage substantial programmes of change.
• Ability to prioritise own workload.
• Able to manage difficult situations effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Good numerical skills
• Excellent facilitation and arbitration skills
• Investigation skills and experience
• Ability to reflect constructively on practice.
• Genuine passion for developing service user focused services in acute inpatient mental health.
• Managing Budgets and the ability to monitor and assess financial information.
• Supervision of Junior Staff
• Prioritising
• Excellent facilitation and arbitration skills
• Conducting and Implementing appraisals
• Research and Audit Skills
• Hold a driver license.
• Ability to travel across Plymouth.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of current NHS policies / processes and structures especially relating to acute adult inpatient mental health care
• NHS 10 year plan
• Mental health agendas both NHS and voluntary sector led.
• Evidence of sound knowledge of infection control policy nationally and locally
• Good knowledge of functional mental health issues and psychology with the acute care pathway
• Good understanding of medicines management and therapeutic interventions
• Place of Safety ethics and values
• Aware of key issues in Acute adult mental health Care and how they impact on inpatient services.
• Detailed knowledge of CPA and standards of record keeping
• Mental Health Act 1983
• Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
• Ethical issues in relation to Mental Health
• Ability to evaluate and re-design services.
• Understanding of Home Treatment Team objectives
• Line management experience across the MDT
• Working knowledge of ECT
• To be a key figure in the development of Adult Mental Health Services
• Working relationship with Devon and Cornwall Police

Additional Requirements & Behavioural Attributes

• Ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Responsible and self-motivated
• Manage conflict.
• Able to manage own stress and recognise / support stress in others.
• Relate well to senior and junior staff.
• Able to apply tact and sensitivity to establish trust and support.
• Empathetic approach to managing and resolving enquiries.
• Able to manage difficult and distressing situations effectively.
• Flexible and adaptable, ability to learn new skills and develop role.
• Dependable, approachable, reliable, and flexible working ability
• Able to participate in the on-call rota as manager for inpatient settings.
• Physical intervention and breakaway trained
• Display values of being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative

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.

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working