job description director of clinical services - St Ann's Hospice

JOB DESCRIPTIONDIRECTOR OF CLINICAL SERVICESJob Title:Responsible to:Accountable to:Location:Director of Clinical ServicesChief ExecutiveCouncilSt Ann’s Road North, Heald Green, Cheadle, SK8 3SZSalary: £45,000 - £55,000Hours:Responsible for:37.5 hrs per week (inc out of hours as required)Clinical Services / Practice Development Centre1.0 JOB PURPOSEThe Director of Clinical Services contributes to St Ann’s corporate managementagenda by providing strong strategic, professional and clinical leadership for allaspects of nursing and allied health professionals, in demonstrating care,compassion and respect for patients, carers and staff and is a member of theExecutive Team.To contribute as a member of the Executive Team to the overall operation andstrategic development of St Ann’s Hospice.To work with the Medical Director through the Clinical Governance system to ensurethe delivery of the highest possible standards of care to patients and theirfamilies/carers.To support and further develop a culture of practice development that is supportedby education/training, research, audit and the broader quality agenda.Working with the Executive Team the post holder will facilitate effectivecommunication and team working between staff of all disciplines and across the twoSt Ann’s Hospice sites, the Neil Cliffe Centre and Community Services, and withrelevant external partners.To promote the purpose and core values of the Hospice and act to promote publictrust in the organisation.To focus on the provision of professional support and leadership to ensure theeffective, safe and efficient operation of clinical services.In collaboration with the Medical Director, to lead the development of a culturalclimate that has open and honest discussions about clinical quality, whilst leading onthe patient/service user experience through a combination of the use of evidencebasedoutcomes and patient/carer feedback.To have active engagement with front line clinical staff.Accountable for ensuring that the organisation meets its statutory duties ofappropriate regulation of nurses and allied health professionals.Page 1 of 7

2.0 KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS2.1 Internal: Trustees, Chief Executive, Directors. Registered managers, Practice Development Centre leads, clinical team leaders. Hospice senior managers (non clinical) and colleagues. Front line clinical staff.2.2 External:Relevant peers at regional and national hospices and other charities.Relevant peers in regional foundation trusts, primary care trusts and emergingclinical commissioning groups.Relevant professional and clinical networks and membership bodies.Senior academic and research leads at regional universities.3.0 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES3.1 EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILTYWork with the Board, Chief Executive and Directors to develop strategy, businessplans and policies for the Hospice which supports the provision of the higheststandards of care for patients and carers.Promote and support partnership working internally and externally to benefitpatients, carers, staff and volunteers and the wider community.To report on all areas of responsibility to the Chief Executive and through agreedgovernance structures.To act as a positive role model which promotes team working, respect, innovationand excellence.To support and promote the work of the Practice Development Centre to ensure thatpractice development is central to Clinical services.With the Medical Director plan and develop clinical services and roles, withincreasing emphasis on national strategies and to fit in with the business plan andstrategic direction of the Hospice.Collaborate with other service providers and statutory and voluntary bodies todevelop and coordinate a service approach to meet palliative care needs of localcommunities.Develop relationships with a wide range of external bodies, e.g. PCT clusters,community bodies, Help the Hospices, NHS trusts, social services – and representthe Hospice at relevant meetings by agreement with and/or in conjunction with theChief Executive and Medical Director.Page 2 of 7

3.2 CLINICAL GOVERNANCEWith the Medical Director jointly lead the Clinical Governance programme ensuring,with the Chief Executive that the system is effective within the Hospice.Collaborate with the Medical Director on issues including clinical audit, promotingevidence-based practice, clinical risk management, research, education and training.In conjunction with the Chief Executive, Medical Director and operational managersensure that internal and external standards are met and maintained, includingstandards laid down by the Care Quality Commission and in Service LevelAgreements.Ensure that user views are adequately represented within all services. Ensure a fullprogramme of partnership with patients, including patient satisfaction monitoring,further development of patient information and patient and carer involvement.Advise the Chief Executive about complaints and work with the Chief Executive andrelevant managers to deal with complaints and develop systems to preventrecurrence of issues raised through the complaints system.Be jointly responsible, as a member of the Executive Management Team, for theeffective implementation of all Health and Safety legislation.Ensuring that St Ann’s clinical workforce meets its current and future requirementsand the appropriate professional and support strategies are developed.Ensuring the development and implementation of appropriate continuousprofessional and practice development initiatives in line with St Ann’s strategic aims.3.3 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENTBe responsible for the appointment, management, support, appraisal anddevelopment of directly managed staffWorking with operational managers ensure the effective delivery of services withininpatient units, day therapy and community services including the promotion ofeffective teamwork and coordination. With the operational managers ensure thatstaffing levels and skill mix are appropriate.Provide leadership for professional staff and within Hospice policies ensure provisionof systems for staff support, appraisal, development and clinical supervision,encouraging the highest possible standards of professional conduct and ensuringthat current practice is evidence based.Encourage and develop effective communication, teamwork and relationships inthe multi disciplinary setting to ensure the highest possible professional standardsare delivered within all Hospice services.Manage staff within St Ann’s Practice Development Centre and with the MedicalDirector advise and support them on all aspects of education, training, research andPage 3 of 7

quality. Develop relationships with relevant external educational institutions andbodies.Develop links, as appropriate, with professional bodies and organisations involved inthe education, registration, regulation and conduct of staff within the Directorate.3.4 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENTEnsure the efficient and cost effective management of all clinical services throughthe relevant operational managers. This will include support and monitoringmanagers' performance relating to all aspects of the services for which they areresponsible.With the clinical managers ensure that high standards of care operate at all timesand that all staff have the appropriate skills to achieve this.through the Clinical Governance system support and monitor the key elements ofeffective practice, audit and quality issues, research, risk management and healthand safety.With the Practice Development Centre ensure the provision of education andtraining programmes to meet the needs of individuals, the organisation and externalpartners as agreed. Monitor the resources of the Practice Development Centre,including staff, equipment and budget including income generation.Monitor and performance manage the budgets within the Directorate and thePractice Development Centre, ensuring that effective control mechanisms are inplace and regular value for money reviews are carried out.3.5 FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIESTo work closely with the Director of Finance/Chief Executive in the area of assessingbusiness risk and continuity planning.Develop and negotiate with emerging clinical commissioning groups to maximizefunding for Clinical Services and Education and Training.Take part in the annual budget setting process by preparing and planning relevantbudgets with the Director of Finance and the Chief Executive.4.0 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTThe Director of Clinical Services will be expected to maintain high professionalstandards and to keep abreast of relevant professional issues and continue his/her ownpersonal and professional development. The Hospice will provide relevant educationand development opportunities whenever possible.Page 4 of 7

5.0 COMMITMENT TO HEALTH & SAFETY, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES ANDCONFIDENTIALITYHEALTH & SAFETY/SECURITYIt is the duty of every employee to work in such a way that accidents to themselves andto others are avoided, and to co-operate in maintaining their place of work in a tidy andsafe condition, thereby minimizing risk. Employees will, therefore, refer any matters ofconcern through their line manager. Similarly, it is each person’s responsibility toensure a secure environment and bring any breaches of security to the attention of theirmanager.EQUAL OPPORTUNITIESSt Ann’s Hospice has given its full commitment to the adoption and promotion of the keyprinciple of equal opportunities contained within current legislation and the St Ann’sHospice Equal Opportunities Policy.All staff have personal responsibility for the application of this policy on a day-to-daybasis and should not undertake any acts of discriminatory practice during the course oftheir employment. Similarly all staff have a responsibility to highlight any potentiallydiscriminatory practice to their line manager, human resources department or tradeunion/professional association.CONFIDENTIALITYIn the course of your duties you will have access to confidential material about patients,members of staff or other hospice business. On no account must information relating toidentifiable patients be divulged to anyone other than authorized persons, for example,medical, nursing or other professional staff, as appropriate, who are concerned directlywith the care, diagnosis and or/treatment of the patient. If you are in any doubtwhatsoever as to the authority of a person or body asking for information of this nature,you must seek advise from your manager. Similarly, no information of a personal orconfidential nature concerning individual members of staff should be divulged to anyonewithout the proper authority having first been given.This job description reflects current aspects of the post and applicants must beaware that the Hospice is constantly changing and developing its services in theinterests of providing high quality patient care. This may mean changes in theresponsibilities of senior managers and the successful applicant will be one whodemonstrates a flexible attitude and willingness to embrace change in theinterests of the service.Page 5 of 7

6.0 PERSON SPECIFICATIONPost:Director of Clinical ServicesQualificationsEssential Desirable Evidence• ApplicationformClinical qualifications todegree level or equivalentEvidence of continuingprofessional developmentLeadership/managementqualifications• AdvancedCommunication Skillstraining• Teaching qualification• Higher Degree orworking towards(clinical/management)ExperienceExtensive managementand leadership experienceat a senior clinical level inthe NHSExperience of strategicplanning and businessplanningWorking withvolunteersWorking withcommissionersApplicationformInterviewExperience of working in apalliative care setting or asetting which meets theneeds of those withpalliative care needsHigh level decision makingImplementing corporatedevelopmentsManaging changeMulti disciplinary teamworkingWorking knowledge of keyregional and nationalinitiatives impacting onpalliative care deliveryKnowledge &SkillsAble to inspire and leadown team and othersacross the organisationExcellent projectmanagement skillsApplicationformInterviewAble to assess andmanage complex budgetsExcellent interpersonal andcommunication skills, withthe ability to engage with arange of audiences andinspire supportPage 6 of 7

Essential Desirable EvidenceAbility to negotiate at asenior management levelAbility to prioritise workloadand delegate effectivelyAbility to interpret data atstrategic and operationallevelWorkforce planning andtrainingRecruitment and personnelissuesEffective team worker andteam developerIT skillsHighly motivated and ableto work on own initiativeAn ability to be visible andcredible in clinical areasand to listen to staff andpatientsUnderstanding of andcommitment to equalopportunities inemployment and servicedeliveryOtherrequirementsCommitted and motivatedby the purpose of theHospiceAbility to travelindependentlyApplicationformInterviewCar driver/owner – cleandriving licenceFlexible approach to work,able to work out of hoursas requiredPage 7 of 7