Ward Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Management of Nursing Care and Practice
• 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.
• Oversee a service user's care pathway, utilising available resources and Patient Journey framework and lead the team in its implementation.
• Ensure systems are in place to support user and carer-centred involvement in the everyday activities on the ward.
• 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.
• Ensure that all service users are made aware of, encouraged, and assisted to use all services available to them, in particular, those in the community.
• Ensure that the requirements of all mental health legislation are met with particular regard to the Mental Health Act 1983 (including amendments and Code of Practice) and Community Care Legislation (eg. CPA, Supervision Registers and Supervised Discharge etc), NSF, Child Protection and NHS Plan and ensuring that all practices are within the guidelines set by the NMC and are in accordance with Trust policy.
• Management of Financial and Material Resources
• Ensure ward finances are managed within allocated budget, including recruitment of staff.
• All absences, bank and agency are managed within budget and Trust guidelines.
• Communicate to all staff how they can contribute to the efficient management of financial and material resources.
• Identify and deal with cost pressures which may have an impact on the financial expenditure of the ward. The post-holder will be expected to notify any such situations to the service leaders/manager if they cannot be dealt with at a local level.
• Management of Clinical Standards
• Set, monitor and evaluate overall standards of care and practice on the ward in liaison with other key staff and agencies.
• 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 individuals independence.
• Ensure that all staff are aware of the standards of professional behaviour expected on the unit by the Trust.
• Ensure that the service provides continuity out of hours, appropriately relating to the senior manager on-call and out of hours medical team.
• 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
• 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.
• The post-holder will ensure that each member of staff is fully aware of their responsibilities and has a personal development plan which is based on a balance between the needs of the individual and the service.
• Manage the overall development of the ward team, encouraging staff to contribute their views and ideas as appropriate.
• Implement all Trust policies and Human Resource Management, and ensure staff are aware of how to access this information.
• Delegate duties and responsibilities to other staff as appropriate to assist in the operation of the unit and to aid the development of individual staff.
• Management of Information and Communication
• Develop and maintain procedures which result in good communication between the multidisciplinary team and other agencies.
• Arrange and in some instances chair relevant meetings involving other agencies, patients and carers when necessary to facilitate good communication.
• The post-holder will lead the team in setting, implementing and monitoring realistic and achievable objectives for the ward team in accordance with the aims and objectives of the service.
• Attend meetings and forums, representing the ward at various levels both within the Trust and with external agencies, ensuring that all staff are kept fully briefed on any new developments etc. The post-holder may be required to participate in specific inter-agency work relevant to the service.
• Ensure that all communication (verbal or written) between the ward and other departments or agencies is of a high standard both in its content and presentation.
• Ensure that all written and electronically stored information is accessible only to authorised personnel and is stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
• Ensure that administrative staff are aware of the importance of the collection of statistical data and ensure that this is collected and stored in an accurate and timely fashion.
• Management of the Environment
• Ensure that the ward environment adheres to PEAT standards at all times. This will involve monitoring the services provided by other departments in accordance with the adopted procedures and will involve liaison with the Trusts Facilities Department and other relevant personnel.
• Ensue that the Health and Safety at Work Act is adhered to by all staff. The post-holder will have particular responsibility for ensuring that all staff receives any training necessary in order to meet the requirements of the Act. (eg. fire training, first aid, food hygiene, etc.). The post-holder will be responsible for taking immediate action to deal with any problem which might affect service user, visitor or staff safety. This will involve liaison with the relevant Health and Safety Co-ordinator.
• Ensure local response in managing incidents by using the Trust Incident Policy and implementation outcomes to change and improve practice.
• Personal Development and Freedom to Act

The post-holder will:

• Be prepared to physically move between sites as needed.
• Ensure that they are fully aware of current developments and practice in their clinical area.
• Acknowledge their own limitations and discuss/identify their training and development needs with their line manager.
• Make effective use of supervision with their line manager on a regular and agreed basis.
• Be aware of the need to reflect on their practice both as clinician and manager.
• Manage their own time efficiently.
• Be aware of and adhere to all Trust Policies and act as a role model to other staff.
• Meet the NMCs requirements for Standards of Professional Practice, Code of Conduct and Post Registration and Practice (PREP).
• Recognise emotional and mental effort required to fulfil the post.

• Other Responsibilities

The post-holder will also be responsible for:

• Deputising for the Clinical Services Leaders as required.
• Undertaking site wide co-ordination roles as required, eg. ETL.
• Establishing and building on excellent working relationships between other services within and external to the Directorate/CAG.
• 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.
• Ensuring that their line manager is kept informed of all developments and changes within the ward environment.
• The safe storage and administration of medications.
• The creation and maintenance of an environment which is conducive to learning and which meets the educational standards required by Educational Institutions whose students are placed on the ward. The post-holder will be expected to facilitate actively the wards involvement in the training and education of staff from a variety of disciplines.
• Participating in projects within the Unit and Trust as required by the senior management of the Directorate.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Mental Health).
• Mentorship Course.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Degree or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Leadership / Management training

Experience

Essential

• Experience of managing an inpatient ward at Band 6 or above.
• Experience of implementing and monitoring standards of care.
• Experience of providing clinical and managerial supervision.

Desirable

• Experience of working with other client groups and of using a variety of models and approaches to care.
• Experience of implementing significant changes in working practices.
• Experience of project management.

Knowledge

Essential

• Specialist clinical knowledge relevant to the service, including evidence based practice.
• Working knowledge of all relevant legislation associated with forensic mental health care.
• Knowledge around maintaining quality improvement in the clinical environment.
• Knowledge around multi-agency involvement in the forensic rehab pathway.

Desirable

• Knowledge of managing quality improvement projects.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to negotiate and reach compromises in verbal discussions in a manner which inspires.
• Ability to build and maintain high standards of professional links and communication channels.
• Ability to analyse complex issues/problems, gather relevant information and exercise sound judgement in reaching the most appropriate conclusions.

Desirable

• Proven ability to maintain a balance between strategic and operational management.
• Appreciation of the complexities involved in the Ward Manager's role and how to balance clinical and non-clinical responsibilities.

Personal attributes

Essential

• Recognition of own limitations, strengths and weaknesses and an ability to seek advice when necessary.
• Ability to gain easily the trust, confidence and respect of service users, their relatives and staff of a variety of levels and disciplines.
• Basic computer skills.

Desirable

• Evidence of undertaking audit work

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bethlem Royal Hospital

Monks Orchard Road

Beckenham

BR3 3BX

Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)