JOB DESCRIPTION
& PERSON SPECIFICATION
Assistant Director of Nursing
Fixed Term Post (1 year)
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Assistant Director of Nursing
REPORTING TO:
Director of Nursing and Quality
Key Working
Relationships:
Director of Nursing
Senior Management Team
Senior Nursing & Medical Colleagues
Multidisciplinary colleagues
External regulatory organisations
SALARY SCALE:
ADON Department of Health & Children salary scales
HOLIDAYS:
28 days per annum pro rata
HEALTH:
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be free
from any defect or disease which would render him/her
unsuitable to hold the office and be in a state of health as would
indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to attend regular and
efficient service.
CHARACTER:
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good
character.
HOURS OF WORK:
Hours per work to be agreed. Details of starting and finishing
times, which may vary in accordance with Hospice needs, will be
notified to you by your Head of Department/Deputy. There will be
times when you will be required to work outside of the normal
office hours.
WORKING WEEK:
Will be determined by Director of Nursing and Quality
ETHICAL CODE:
The post holder is requested to respect the special charism,
ethos and tradition of Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services and
to observe and comply with its general policies, procedures and
regulations.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
You will have access to various types of records/information in
the course of your work. Such records and information are
strictly confidential and unless acting on the instruction of an
authorised person, on no account must information concerning
staff, patients or other hospice business be divulged or
discussed except in the performance of normal duty. In addition,
records may never be left in such a manner that unauthorised
persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe
custody when no longer required.
JOB PURPOSE:
The post holder has responsibility for promoting excellence in
clinical care and practice across the organisation. You will be
required to provide professional leadership and advice, whilst
managing all aspects of nursing services.
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Job Description & Person Specification – Assistant Director of Nursing
Principle Duties and Responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Development
 Support Delivery of the Nursing Strategy, to ensure high professional standards of
nursing practice and patient care are achieved, and a culture of continuous quality
improvement is promoted.
 Lead and contribute to specific nursing related objectives to secure achievement of key
performance standards and targets.
 Ensure that a balance is achieved between encouraging innovation in practice and
securing the fundamentals of care.
 Nurse Lead on specific areas (e.g. Workforce) as delegated by the Director of Nursing
Quality and Allied Health Professionals.
 Engage in partnership working with external regulatory agencies and public health
colleagues.
 With Director of Nursing and senior Medical Leads promote a culture of effective multiprofessional team working.
 Work on all issues pertaining to Integrated Governance.
Expert Practice
 Work with the Director of Education to develop and share best practice in relation to
improving patient experience and delivery of safe, effective and responsive care.
 Work within clinical specialities to ensure priorities for nursing practice are implemented
and standards of nursing care are monitored. Work clinically for one session per week
providing strong role modelling and the opportunity to work directly with patients and staff
to assess key issues in practice development.
 Participate in the process of reviewing and updating clinical policies ensuring they are
evidence based.
 Participate in the development of Performance Management goal setting.
 Provide support and corporate development for specialist nursing roles.
 Provide leadership on privacy and dignity throughout the organisation ensuring
appropriate standards are set and maintained.
 Maintain a safe work environment in co-operation with the Hospice Management Team
and with reference to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
 Adhere to policies laid down by the above Act.
Leadership
 Participate in the Department of Nursing duty manager on call rota.
 Represent the Organisation at Regional and National Forums.
 Work closely with Clinical Nurse Managers to support individual staff and team
development.
 Ensure there is robust leadership in terms of environmental and facilities management, in
conjunction with the Infection Control Nurse Specialist and Clinical Nurse Managers to
achieve excellent external reports on hygiene standards and Infection Control rates
across the organisation.
 Strengthen and encourage the commitment to Mission and Ethics at all levels.
 In conjunction with Director of Nursing and Director Lead for Human Resources, sustain a
fluid Recruitment and Retention agenda.
 Keep the Director of Nursing appraised of any significant development within your area of
responsibility
 Develop a shared sense of commitment and participation among nursing staff in the
management of change, development of nursing services and in responding to the
changing health needs of patients.
 Act as a role model across the organisation to support quality and safety evidenced by
successful external inspection reports
3
Job Description & Person Specification – Assistant Director of Nursing
Management
 Actively contribute to the performance management and monitoring of standards across
the organisation, taking remedial action where necessary to ensure that corporate
objectives and targets are achieved along with all performance monitoring requirements.
 Ensure that there are effective mechanisms in place for the early resolution of complaints
and concerns raised by patients/ carers /relatives.
 Ensure full, appropriate and timely responses to formal complaints and that there is a
robust process in place to meet internal/ external deadlines.
 Assist in the monitoring of nursing budgets.
 Delegate as appropriate to relevant ward staff promoting their leadership roles. Work
closely with the multidisciplinary teams, establishing good working relationships to ensure
high standards of patient/family care.
 As a member of the senior Nursing Department, undertake accountability and
responsibility for the supervision of nursing.
 Receive and give appropriate reports to the Director of Nursing and deputise for him/her
as required.
 Participate/lead on projects, working groups or committees as directed and agreed by
Director of Nursing.
Communication and Relationships
 Use highly developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse,
motivate and involve individuals and teams within the organisation.
 Use political judgement in understanding and working with complex policy and diverse
interest groups.
 Ensure that there are clear systems to enable the flow of communication within your
areas of responsibility.
General


To adhere to Departmental and Hospice policies at all times.
To perform such other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned from
time to time by the Director of Nursing & Quality or the Assistant Director of
Nursing or a nominee.
Self-Development

To be aware of current developments and issues in health care by reading
current literature and keeping abreast of new developments, attending ‘in-house’
seminars, lectures and courses when possible and as appropriate in consultation
with your Head of Department.
 To assume responsibility for his/her own professional development and safe work
practice.
 To ensure a safe environment for himself/herself, colleagues and visitors.
Professional


To have a working knowledge of Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services policies.
To present and act in a professional manner at all times and ensure colleagues
do likewise.
Garda Vetting:
Arrangements have been introduced, on a national level, for the provision of Garda
Clearance in respect of candidates for employment in areas of the Health Services,
where it is envisaged that potential employees would have substantial access to children
or vulnerable individuals. Each candidate will be required to complete a Garda Vetting
form.
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Job Description & Person Specification – Assistant Director of Nursing
The post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the
post, which may be assigned to him/her from time to time, and to contribute to the
development of the post while in office. This job description will be subject to
review in the light of changing circumstances. It is not intended to be exhaustive
but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which individuals work
These duties and responsibilities are a reflection of the present service requirements
and may be subject to review and amendment to meet the changing needs of the
service.
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Job Description & Person Specification – Assistant Director of Nursing
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Factors
Essential

Qualifications

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Experience
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Desirable
Registered on the Live
Register in the General
Division of the Register
of Nurses as
maintained by the
NMBI.
Teaching Qualification
Management
Qualification
Masters level Degree
or equivalent
experience
Minimum of five years
Management
experience
Have wide general
nursing experience
and proven leadership
qualities.
Have experience/
qualification in
Palliative
Care/Gerontology or
Rheumatology.
Evidence of consistent
updating of clinical
skills and knowledge
Demonstrable
coaching &
development skills
within clinical practice
Financial management
experience
Competent and
confident IT skills Word, Excel, Power
Point and e-mail
Core Competencies
People Management

Sets up formal
structures/processes
to ensure staff
involvement in key
decisions
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Job Description & Person Specification – Assistant Director of Nursing
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Leadership
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Problem Solving &
Decision Making
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Keeps abreast of and
anticipates staffing
needs within
departments
Clarifies individual
roles, responsibilities
and accountabilities
Embraces
organisational change
initiatives, establishing
structure/roles to
support it
Convincingly
communicates benefits
of change to others
Shows strong initiative;
can work outside of
standard protocol
when necessary
Able to bring new
ideas/initiative to
fruition
Able to act quickly to
address urgent matters
Demonstrates lateral
thinking to generate
non-obvious solutions
to problems
Has basic finance and
budgeting knowledge
and draws on this to
make decisions
Grasps how all
decisions (both big and
small) might affect
other
colleagues/customers,
departments or the
hospital
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Job Description & Person Specification – Assistant Director of Nursing
Planning & Organising
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Organisational
Knowledge
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Communication
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Ensures most effective
allocation and use of
resources
Anticipates problems
and issues and takes
preventative action to
address these
Can multi-task, without
losing focus
Manages competing
and changing priorities
Understands how each
departments
contributes to overall
strategic goals
Uses knowledge of
structures within
Blackrock Hospice
Services to achieve
goals
Understands national
health strategies
relevant to their
service
Demonstrate strong
communications and
influencing skills
Draws on a variety of
communication
methods to fit
situation/circumstance
s
Listens openly, using
questions to check for
understanding/avoid
misinterpretation
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Job Description & Person Specification – Assistant Director of Nursing