Assistant Director of Nursing

Role Summary

• The post of Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) for is accountable and professionally responsible to the Director of Nursing but will work in close collaboration with Senior Nursing Executive, committees, medical staff, senior managers and department heads to ensure the smooth running of the service. The ADON is an integral part of the Senior Nursing Executive team and will work to ensure a quality service.
• The post holder requires knowledge of the work to be done and has the potential to lead staff in a changing Health Service.
• The following job description sets out the role in managing nursing staff and in controlling and managing services within budgetary allocation.
• To fulfil the requirements of the position targets and key objectives (based on the job description) will be set by the Director of Nursing for the Assistant Director of Nursing appointed.
• Quarterly review of performance versus targets will be done during the probationary period and annually thereafter.
• Although this is an established role the above duties and responsibilities are reflective of the expectation in defining this role now. This is not an exhaustive list, and it is expected that the post holder will embrace the evolving nature of the role, consistent with the direction being followed by the hospital and Blackrock Health in the current dynamic and changing operating environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Each candidate must on the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office -:

• Be registered in the general division of the live Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) or be entitled to be so registered.
• Have at least 7 years recent post-registration nursing experience, with 3 years nursing management experience at a minimum of CNM2 grade.
• Possess a post graduate qualification at not less than level 8 on the NFQ framework in the area of healthcare or management related area.
• Candidates must possess the requisite clinical, leadership, managerial and administrative knowledge and ability for the proper discharge of the office.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate evidence of higher learning and professional development.
• Proven clinical and managerial ability with vision and leadership skills to lead and manage the nursing and services agendas in line with Blackrock Health’s Strategic goals and objectives within the areas of responsibility.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Key roles and responsibilities:

• Provide strategic, operational and clinical leadership and direction for nursing and related services within your area of responsibility, resulting in the delivery of effective, efficient, quality assured and patient centred nursing care. This may involve negotiating with senior management and external agencies to obtain resources, introducing new ways of working and selling the benefits of change and resolving employee relations issues
• Develop a shared sense of commitment and participation among staff in the management of change, the development of the nursing services and in responding to the changing health needs of patients. Be proactive about planning for the development of new services and practices, anticipating resources needed and forward planning on complex service issues (e.g. new work practices, etc)
• Develop appropriate management and operational links working closely with Hospital Management and other appropriate forums as determined by the Director of Nursing and the CEO, making a full contribution to the executive management of the services by taking an inter- professional perspective and adopting a corporate overview to the wider organisation and service strategies.
• Ensure expenditure is controlled within budget and identify potential areas for achieving further efficiencies and /or cost savings through improved practices and innovation, ensuring that critical human and material resources are allocated in an effective way, monitoring activity levels and aligning resources and maximise efficiencies. This will include ensuring adequate an supply of staff and the planning and monitoring the use of material resources.
• Ensure effective budgetary control processes are in place and implement monthly expenditure audit systems, setting budgets and tracking expenditure, continually reviewing how productively resources are being used to meet service needs.
• Accept responsibility for the management of all nursing services over a 24-hour period for your assigned areas and ensure that systems are in place to support this responsibility.
• Keep the DON/ CEO appraised of any significant development within his/her area of responsibility and perform such additional duties as may be assigned from time to time.
• Promote and maintain the values expressed in the Mission Statement of Blackrock Health and ensure that patient focused services and activities are nurtured and developed throughout the Hospital.
• Act as an ambassador for, and lead staff in achieving the Hospital’s mission, vision, values and strategic plan, as envisaged by the Board of Blackrock Health.
• Participate as a member of the Senior Nursing Executive and contribute to the preparation and execution of plans for the service.
• Observe and comply with Hospital Policies and Procedures and Health and Safety regulations.
• Participate in meetings, team meetings and committees as required.
• Be aware of all policies in relation to health and safety at ward level especially

a) Fire Prevention

b) Moving and Handling

c) Major Emergency

d) Waste Management

e) Risk Management

• Keep abreast of new developments in nursing, and actively engage in continual professional development.
• Complete all mandatory in-service education sessions.
• Patient satisfaction must be of prime concern, every patient is to be treated as an individual and provided with high quality service in terms of courtesy, kindness, interest and efficiency.

Details of Function and Performance Standards

Leadership and Management

• Creates an enthusiastic and committed work climate through the articulation of the role and contribution of nursing to the service, contributing positive views on the future direction and contribution of nursing at both local and national levels
• Determine how best to achieve the aims, directions and objectives set for the Nursing Service and your areas of responsibility within the department to ensure they are delivered within the set timeframe, policies and guidelines.
• Adopt a proactive forward planning approach to service delivery, anticipating health trends and developments, identifying the need for new services, staffing and succession planning
• Lead and drive the change agenda and initiatives within your portfolio and contribute to wider change agenda for the Hospital working collaboratively with key stakeholders to achieve strategic and operational change.
• Lead, manage and develop the services as part of your remit in partnership with consultants/clinical leads within agreed financial allocation and staff complement.
• Actively pursue cost containment, resource efficiency measures, bed reconfiguration and catchment area management initiatives and Value for Money (VFM) activities, aimed at contributing positively to the Hospitals budgetary/financial and headcount challenges in the current operating environment.
• Ensure good communication and inter-personal relationships with all staff and the multidisciplinary teams, promoting an environment that enhances staff retention and promotes good employee relations.
• Participate in meetings, committees and represent the Nursing Service and the Hospital as required.
• Introduce changes in education, clinical and organizational processes and structures that support the hospital and nurses’ compliance with the new Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011.
• Take an active role in the design and implementation of structured policies and systems for the management of service delivery which ensure clear role responsibility and accountability for service levels, quality and decision-making discretion. 
• In consultation with the CEO or other authorised officer and the Human Resources Directorate to ensure effective people management such as resourcing and retention and the allocation of staff within agreed complement.
• Ensure effective and efficient use of resources within agreed headcount complement and agreed budgets.
• Carry out ongoing reviews of the workforce plan within areas of responsibility to ensure correct grades and skill mix of staff are available to deliver services and resources are effectively and efficiently utilised.
• Work in partnership with the relevant clinical personnel, other departments and agencies in the development of service level agreements and service development or cost-effective business cases as appropriate.
• Be responsible for people management activities and the introduction and maintenance of management tools and initiatives such as; Team Based Performance Management, Legal Framework, Personal Development Planning, Continuous Professional Development and Learning Needs Analysis etc.
• Have a strong focus on developing the contribution of staff at all levels. Is a good judge of capability and promotes talent, creating a positive climate for the development of performance and contributions at all levels of the services. This will include performance appraisal and review, including management development planning, developmental tasking and stretching of staff, promoting a continuous improvement culture, championing and promoting learning throughout the system and putting in place systems to capture and disseminate learning.
• Promote and monitor the uptake of continuous professional development planning for staff and meet targets for full compliance.
• Manage staff performance, grievance, disciplinary and other issues within the context of the organisations HR policies and procedures.

Quality of Services

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care within areas of responsibility in line with organizational governance structures and processes.
• Develop and foster a proactive Health and Safety culture, having regard to legislative requirement and best practice.
• Lead and be proactive in the delivery of best practice standards in collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Ensure professional protocols, policies and guidelines reflecting the code of professional conduct of NMBI and of the organisation are communicated, implemented, monitored and evaluated regularly.
• Be responsible, in partnership with lead clinicians, for identifying services for development within the portfolio and for preparing business cases for these areas including the rationale for development.
• Support, monitor and evaluate methods of quality assurance and clinical effectiveness in nursing practice and overall patient services.
• Identify and develop research awareness in nursing practice and service delivery and assist in the dissemination and implementation of research findings among the Multidisciplinary teams.
• Identify areas for continuous quality improvement and work with interdisciplinary team members to improve processes /systems/practices in line with organization’s risk management strategy.
• Participate and lead in the Hospital’s Accreditation processes (for example JCI/ HIQA) and other quality management systems within Blackrock Health.

Education

• Ensure that all staff have a clear understanding of their roles responsibilities and the competencies expected to deliver a safe service.
• Be responsible for facilitating the undergraduate and post registration education programmes.
• Participate and lead in the delivery of continuous professional development education programmes.
• Identify and facilitate educational development needs of nurses, healthcare assistants and members of the multidisciplinary teams as appropriate.
• Participate in in-service education as required and represent Blackrock Health at national and international meetings and conferences.
• Read current literature and recent nursing research, attend seminars/ conferences and be aware of any new developments in areas of responsibility.
• The post holder may be requested to participate/ lead projects on a hospital/organisational wide basis by the CEO or other authorised officer.

Why work at the Blackrock Clinic?

At the Blackrock Clinic, we are passionate about our people and believe in their development and growth. As a member of the team you can benefit from: 

• Competitive salary

• Onsite parking

• Pension

• Annual bonus*

• Discounted café

• Sports and Social club

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Discounted onsite pharmacy

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