Ward Manager - Eating Disorders Unit

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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to providing high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for the care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission rates our services as 'good'.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Ward Manager role in the Eating Disorders inpatient unit. We are looking for candidates with passion and dedication who would like to develop their skills in leadership, people management and quality improvement.

We have a committed team that provides a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. We offer a comprehensive induction to the role, training opportunities, teaching sessions, regular supervision and space for reflective practice.

This is an all-gender service for adult patients (age 18 and above) with an eating disorder. The ward is an 18 bedded unit where individuals are offered treatment for a period of 6 to 16 weeks. We are a national service and provide treatment for both local and national patients.

We have pioneered a number of innovative treatment pathways for people with eating disorders and autism spectrum disorders, and eating disorders and diabetes and would encourage the successful candidate to champion these and other treatment pathways.

The service is unique in that it is dual accredited with the QED network and the National Autism Service, in recognition of the innovations implemented for patients with anorexia and autistic traits.

Main duties of the job

1. To have overall management responsibility for the delivery of care within the eating disorders unit.
2. To lead a team of nursing staff in the delivery of high-quality evidence-based practice, ensuring that regular supervision and appraisal take place.
3. To manage administrative and operational resources in a cost-effective manner, evaluating the standard of service delivered.
4. To co-ordinate multidisciplinary working, maintaining excellent communication and working relationships with all team members, and other services within the Trust.
5. To ensure effective interface and continuity of care between disciplines and services.
6. The post holder will carry out nursing procedures to a standard that ensures safe and effective care, and complies with The Nursing and Midwifery Council's Code of Professional Conduct.
7. There is an expectation that the post holder will place the needs of service users and carers at the centre of care delivery.

Working for our organisation

South London and Maudsley Adult Eating Disorders Inpatient service is one of two specialist eating disorders inpatient units within the South London Partnership (SLP). The SLP is a collaboration between South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, and South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust. The Partnership brings together clinical expertise, experience and innovation, aiming to improve quality, use resources most effectively, and deliver best practice consistently to the service users and families across South London.

Location:

The Eating Disorders Unit will be relocating from Royal Bethlem Hospital to the brand new Douglas Bennett House at the main Maudsley Hospital site at Denmark Hill, inner London, in September 2023. This state-of-the-art facility has been co-designed by patients, carers, clinicians and specialist architects working together to create a modern and much-improved environment for patients and staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Management of Nursing Care and Practice:

1. Ensure that all nursing practice is developed using up to date evidence-based practice, ensuring that all nursing staff have the appropriate skill base and supporting mechanisms to access training to work with the service user group.
2. Ensure systems are in place to support service user and carer-centred involvement in the everyday activities on the ward.
3. Ensure that nursing staff receive regular supervision and appraisal and are offered essential and developmental training in accordance with their personal development plans, and the needs of the service.

Management of Financial and Material Resources:

1. Ensure ward finances are managed within allocated budget, including recruitment of staff. All absences, bank and agency are managed within budget and Trust guidelines.

Management of Clinical Standards:

1. Ensure that all practices and interactions on the unit are based on the preservation and respect of service users dignity, individual and cultural identity, wishes (whenever possible) and are in accordance with the maintenance of the individuals independence.
2. Work closely with the multidisciplinary team and involve them in all relevant day to day decisions, strategy and business planning, and maintain close liaison with the Service Manager and Clinical Director when difficulties arise.

Management of Human Resources:

1. Maintain the efficient use of staffing resources on the ward, ensuring that staffing levels are safe, appropriate and contain the necessary skill mix on each shift, but recognising and supporting Improving Working Lives within the confines of a safe service.

Management of Information and Communication:

1. Develop and maintain procedures which result in good communication between the multidisciplinary team and other agencies.

Management of the Environment:

Personal Development and Freedom to Act:

1. The post-holder will be prepared to physically move between sites as needed.
2. Acknowledge their own limitations and discuss/identify their training and development needs with their line manager.
3. Be aware of the need to reflect on their practice both as clinician and manager.
4. Manage their own time efficiently.

Other Responsibilities:

1. Ensuring that systems are in place which invite service users and their carers to comment on the quality of services they receive. Implementation of the complaints procedure including investigation, response, and resolution.
2. Establishing and building on excellent working relationships between other services within and external to the Directorate.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse (Mental Health/Learning Disability)
• Mentorship Course
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• PSTS/Seni Lewis training
• Degree or equivalent experience

Desirable criteria

• RGN
• Management course

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of implementing and monitoring standards of care
• Experience of providing clinical and managerial supervision
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment and knowledge of methods to develop culturally sensitive practice
• Knowledge of specialist clinical knowledge relevant to the service, including evidence based practice
• Working knowledge of all relevant legislation associated with acute mental health care, including MHA, CPA procedures, Human Rights Act, NSF, Child Protection and NHS Plan

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with other client groups and of using a variety of models and approaches to care
• Experience of managing non-clinical staff and other professionals
• Experience of implementing significant changes in working practices
• Experience of project management

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential criteria

• Skills in developing and changing clinical practice.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to negotiate and reach compromises in verbal discussions in a manner which inspires confidence and respect from others
• Ability to analyse complex issues/problems, gather relevant information and exercise sound judgement in reaching the most appropriate conclusions.
• Ability to manage own time effectively and to produce pieces of work on time and to a high standard

Desirable criteria

• Proven ability to maintain a balance between strategic and operational management
• Ability to support, manage and advise the team through difficult and challenging situations
• Ability to build and lead effectively, a large multi-skilled team
• Ability to manage conflict effectively

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights.

Please note:

• All applications for this post will need to be made online
• Read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria.
• The closing date listed is a guide only and the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible.
• Once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs.
• Should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not been successful.
• Priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees.
• Should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process.
• We are a smoke-free Trust.

SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description and Person Specification (PDF, 552.5KB)
• SLaM Staff Benefits (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working (PDF, 680.1KB)