Quality Improvement Lead

Job responsibilities

The post holder will:

• Link to registered manager and Q&C Business Partner as required to contribute to the Direct Monitoring Activity work (CQC)
• Promote and monitor safe and effective practice through oversight audit compliance and monitoring
• Lead and promote quality improvement activity to improve care
• Ensure practice development and competency standards
• Enhance the service user experience
• Provide effective leadership and management
• Contribute to the delivery of the organisations objectives and Strategy
• The Practice and Quality Improvement Lead will work pro-actively across all areas within Saint Francis Hospice (SFH) ensuring that both practice development and quality improvement are central to all parts of hospice services, particularly care services.

CQC focused work:

• To be the lead reporting to the Registered Manager (CQC Care Quality Commission) for the Hospice services
• Adhere to all CQC requirements for reporting and oversee the organisations compliance to statutory reporting
• Identification of any risks to the organisation as to non-compliance with best practice and ability to evidence against CQC framework
• Completion of any reports or framework request to support the Registered Manager
• Attend clinical Governance and board as required
• Lead and support workforce preparation for a CQC inspection, including developing mock inspections.
• Support the development and implementation of the Quality and Care team strategy and plans: and lead on the development and implementation of a strategy for quality improvement.
• To work collaboratively and support the Accountable Officer role within the Organisation

Practice Development and Quality Improvement

• Role model the Hospice values to provide effective, multi-professional working and leadership.
• Work alongside the Practice Education Facilitator and advise on areas for the work plan, in response to national guidance and policy as well as locally driven need.
• Prioritise such areas of work as directed by senior colleagues and the organisational strategy, depending on organisational need. The future-orientated work of the Quality Account will also influence this.
• Identify emerging development needs as indicated by monitoring and reporting processes, including events (incidents).
• Support individual teams and staff/volunteer development as appropriate.
• Work closely with the Practice Education Facilitator and steer and support the structure of work, including projects.
• Contribute to organisational development as appropriate, in collaboration with People & Culture team and the Head of professional Practice & Education.
• Lead on the creation and compilation of the annual Quality Account for education, in conjunction with the Marketing and Communications Team and the Transformation Development Manager.
• Lead staff and volunteers to ensure that the Quality Account requirements are working towards using SMART objectives.
• Support and guide individual staff and teams through specific pieces of quality improvement projects from across the organisation.
• Steer the dissemination of findings and learning, and identify and drive implementation of these to practice through the application of advanced knowledge.
• Recognise barriers to such implementation and work with staff and volunteers to overcome these through the identification of solutions and support, including education as needed.
• Utilise high level planning and organisational skills, adjusting to change as needed.
• Attend external forums as appropriate to the role to sustain relationships with stakeholders.
• Review, contribute to and create organisational policies as required for the role.
• To oversee the support and recording of revalidation of registered professionals, in conjunction with People & Culture Team.

Leadership and Management

• Role model the Hospice values to provide effective, multi-professional working and leadership.
• To contribute towards budget setting process and where appropriate manage a delegated budget ensuring this is maintained as allocated.
• To undertake delegated duties from the Head of Professional Practice of Education in relation to practice development and quality improvement issues.

• Produce reports as required for internal use and for external use CQC, Hospice UK Benchmarking, Audit.
• Ensure and oversee Audit compliance and attend quarterly appropriate Management Group meetings and Audit Group.
• Contribute to local, regional, and national forums for specialist palliative care, quality improvement and practice development as an SFH representative.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with other [local] Hospices, Acute Trusts, Primary Care, Community Services and Local Authority Services to ensure collaborative working as much as possible.
• Oversee the work plan of the Practice Education Facilitator and collaborate to steer the structure of work, including projects.
• Oversee the work of the Service Improvement Groups, chair the Clinical Effectiveness Group and report activity to the Clinical Governance Committee annually.

Education and Training

• Work with the Head of Professional Practice & Education to ensure workforce development initiatives are reflected, for example staff and volunteer development via external education opportunities.
• Promote a compassionate, learning, and inclusive organisation and address a wide range of training needs, to support this.
• Lead on education about quality improvement, especially how it differs from audit and how it is applied to practice to ensure a good organisational understanding of audit and quality improvement through teaching and learning activities.
• Present to groups and meetings as necessary, particularly to reflect on any findings and to drive change.
• Support staff through all steps of the change process that comes with quality improvement, recognising any barriers and motivate others through an understanding of the rationale, method, and outcomes of the change, whilst addressing concerns and the need for support.
• Utilise advanced communication skills to work alongside colleagues to effectively lead change.
• Ensure provision of learning opportunities for staff and volunteers and those on placement and that knowledge is shared.
• Facilitate a Resilience based Reflective Practice group and participate in all associated processes, as supported by the Head of Professional Practice & Education and as part of the HUK QI project.
• Participate in working alongside teams, as appropriate, to meet the development needs of staff, through induction, orientation, appraisal, and learning/support following events (incidents).
• Participate in education programmes, internal and external, as required.
• Oversee the monitoring/support of the staff competency framework.

Professional Responsibilities

• Lead and manage workload through teamwork, inspiration, and direction.
• Analyse practice and steer colleagues in recommendations for ways to make improvements if required, as guided by evidence.
• Keep abreast of required development/knowledge related to practice development, audit and quality improvement in palliative and end of life care and ensure and support application of theory to practice.
• Recognise professional accountability and individual responsibility for personal and professional development in accordance with a Professional Code of Conduct.
• Identify own development needs and initiate a plan to meet those needs with line manager.
• Initiate and receive one to one supervision for own personal and professional development.
• Facilitate all work from an organisational, hospice-wide strategic perspective.
• Adhere to the policies and conditions of service of Saint Francis Hospice.

Research and Audit

• Participate in research and audit.
• Identify opportunities for audit of practice and highlight any emergent research questions.
• Participate in the work of the Research Interest Group and Ethics Interest Groups and disseminate findings through these forums as appropriate.
• Sustain, update, and support the achievement of the Annual Audit Plan, and manage this through the Clinical Audit Group and the Quality Assurance Management Group.
• Participate in national forums to disseminate findings and represent SFH.
• Publish outcomes from work in collaboration with colleagues, supporting this process as needed.

Governance & Quality Assurance

• Assist with responding, reporting, investigating, and learning with regards to concerns, complaints and events (incidents).
• Oversee the co-ordination of mentoring and follow- up of recommendations from internal audits, and support as needed with education, training or coaching as needed.
• Ensure that national and local policies and procedures are adhered to by all staff and in accordance with the Regulations and Standards of the Care Quality Commission and Professional Regulatory Bodies.
• Manage the use of the CQC monitoring and reporting tool software and support all processes towards being recognised as delivering outstanding care.

Skills, Abilities, Knowledge

Essential

• Significant senior level experience of developing practice, leading change and quality improvement.
• Evidence of knowledge and practical application of practice development and quality improvement .
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the CQC registered service requirements for hospice service delivery.
• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal presentation, including addressing challenging conversations.
• Excellent organisational/time management skills including work under pressure with changing priorities, deadlines and high volume workloads
• Proven ability to make decisions, to work on own initiative and accept responsibility.
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team.
• Working knowledge of IT - inclusive of excel, access, word and power point.
• Knowledge of key Palliative Care service provision levers, locally and nationally.
• Knowledge of hospice work coupled with enthusiasm and commitment to the work of the Hospice.
• Able to think operationally and strategically.
• Adaptable, flexible and able to handle uncertainty.
• Able to engage with, motivate and lead others.
• Ability to provide management and clinical supervision.

Desirable

• Evidence of leadership and management development.
• Knowledge of existing NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary Sector architecture.

Other requirements

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working palliative care services.
• Ability to maintain and understand the importance of confidentiality.
• Willingness to take on new responsibilities and respond positively to change.
• Willingness to work flexibly to accommodate service requirements.

Inclusion

Essential

• Be able to show a high level of empathy, understanding and appreciation of others with ability to respect different values and beliefs. To be mindful of the wellbeing of self and others. To be able to work effectively across teams, with a positive can do approach.

Demonstrating the Hospice Values – Support, Fairness & Honesty

Essential

• Ability to share ideas and respect others, encouraging everyone to succeed. To be able to treat everyone fairly and be courteous and aware of how your words and actions affect others. To be open and accountable and be able to work with others for the benefit of the local community.

Leadership Skills

Essential

• Ability to lead with honesty, integrity and care. Be able to develop, empower and delegate effectively to achieve change and generate a positive, inclusive, workplace. Be accountable for actions and bring creativity and innovative to inspire and motivate others. Be active in the creation and delivery of the Hospice strategy for the benefit of patients, staff and our local community.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent experience in relevant area of work.
• Trained professional with current registration and evidence of PIN if appropriate.
• Qualification or equivalent experience in planning learning and delivering teaching.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of report/policy review and writing.
• Experience and knowledge of policy and service development implementation.
• Experience of writing and utilising a work/implementation plan.
• Undertaking audit and implementing change following outcomes.
• Teaching groups and developing staff, including competency based initiatives and mentorship.
• Working collaboratively across a wide range of personnel.
• Experience of working within the NHS or Local Government and in particular implementing service policies and procedures.
• Experience of working with/developing palliative care services.

Desirable

• Supporting and developing reflective practice and giving management and practice guidance .
• Writing for publication or dissemination of work/outcomes.
• Experience of service redesign and implementation.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).