Clinical Nurse Manager 1
Job Specification and Terms and Conditions
Job Title
Clinical Nurse Manager 1 (CNM1) Mental Health
(Grade Code : 2527)
Campaign Reference
NRS1210
Closing Date
Wednesday 25th June 2014 @ 12 noon
Proposed Interview Date(s)
Taking up Appointment
Week commencing 14th July 2014
To be indicated at job offer stage.
Organisational Area
Health Service Executive (HSE) West and Dublin North East
Location of Post
There are current whole time permanent vacancies in:
 The Alzheimer Unit, St Johns Hospital, Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health Service.
 Psychiatry of Later Life Day Hospital, St. Mary’s Campus, Mullingar.
A panel will be formed for Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health Service and a panel will be
formed for Longford/Westmeath Mental Health Service from which future
permanent or specified purpose vacancies of whole or part time duration will be
filled.
Details of Service
The person will work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering a co-ordinated
approach to client care.
Reporting Relationship
The post holder will report to the:
 CNM2 / CNM3 for the Mental Health Services
 Accountable to the Assistant Director of Nursing and the Area Director of
Nursing
Purpose of the Post
The Clinical Nurse Manager 1 will be responsible for the management, care and
treatment of service users, to ensure that the optimum standard of nursing care
is provided in compliance with Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann
(Nursing Midwifery Board Ireland) Regulations and Guidelines, Mental Health
Commission Regulations and Health Service Executive national and local
policies.
The primary role of the CNM 1 will be one of clinical and professional leadership,
supporting the nursing team, promoting the development of nursing staff by
means of in-service training, orientation of new staff arranging for clinical
experience and supervision of nurses as required. The CNM 1 will play a pivotal
role as part of the Multidisciplinary team.
Principal Duties and
Responsibilities
This broad outline of responsibilities is based on the recommendations of the
Commission on Nursing (Chapter 7)
The role of Clinical Nurse Manager 1 will not be limited by reference to this
outline and should reflect established practices in relation to the ward
sister/nursing officer. It would be expected in the normal course of events at
hospital level that the role will evolve as professional and service demands
change.
Management structures, budgetary processes and training/education, initiatives
are the subject of ongoing development to facilitate the exercise of the devolved
functions set out below.
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The post holder will be responsible for the following duties:
Administrative:
 Maintaining adequate safety precautions for both patients and staff,
ensuring that all staff members are aware of fire regulations.
 Assume responsibility for the efficient day-to-day management of the
ward, subject to the overall supervision and direction of the CNM2 and
Area Director of Nursing.
 Ensuring that the adequate nursing cover of the unit is maintained by
careful planning of staff hours in accordance with the resources
allocated.
 Exercising control over ancillary and professional staff where their duties
affect the welfare of the patients – and liaising with their department
heads (e.g. Domestic, Catering, Portering, Radiography, Pathology etc.)
 Manage all resources efficiently and effectively within an agreed budget.
 Facilitate co-ordination, co-operation and liaison across multi-disciplinary
teams and programmes.
 Ensuring that unit stocks of supplies and equipment are ordered on an
economical basis and kept at a reasonable level.
 Keeping the CNM2 and nursing management informed of admissions to
and planned discharges from the unit.
 Ensure that the working environment is a safe and hazard free zone and
maintain site specific safety statements and hazard control sheets in
association with staff under the overall direction of the CNM2.
 Ensure that effective safety procedures are developed and managed to
comply with statutory obligations, in conjunction with relevant staff.
 Maintaining adequate safety precautions for both patients and staff.
Ensuring that all staff members are aware of fire regulations, safe lifting
and handling techniques, haemovigilance and personally attending the
lectures and drills held in the hospital.
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Reporting to the Director of Nursing or his/her Deputy, any accident or
near accident or untoward occurrence within the unit, whether to patients
or members of staff or visitors. Ensuring also that the staff are aware of
the procedures for completing incident report forms and statements.
 Awareness of the details of the Major Accident Plan and competence to
participate should the plan be brought into operation.
 Participating actively in the Nursing Management structure by “Acting
Up” when required.
 Attending meetings with the Director of Nursing and contributing to
meetings by discussion and bringing forward new ideas. Reporting back
to unit staff relevant information from such meetings.
 Planning and facilitating service meetings.
 Ensuring that patient property is cared for by approved procedure and
that staff members are aware of this policy.
 Maintaining good relationships with all colleagues to maintain a twentyfour hour service.
 Maintaining control of Devolved Budgets with pay and non-pay items.
 Formulate, implement and evaluate service plans and budgets in cooperation with multi-disciplinary team. Assessing and monitoring trends
through collection and analyses activity data and keeping CNM2 and
Senior Nursing Management informed of changing work patterns, which
may require increased resource allocation.
 Exercise a defined role in the personnel function.
 Responsible for the provision of statistics as requested.
 Have a working knowledge of and promote awareness of guidelines for
HSE employer for managing attendance.
Clinical/Professional:
 Provide a high level of professional and clinical leadership.
 Be responsible for the total nursing care of the patients – ensuring that
the treatment prescribed by the medical staff is carried out and the
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nursing care is maintained at a high standard.
Manage patient care to ensure the highest professional standards using
an evidence based, Recovery care planning approach.
Contribute to the development and implementation of nursing
protocols/guidelines which are research based, to ensure the delivery of
highest standard of patient-focused nursing care within available
resources.
Evaluate and manage the implementation of best practice policy and
procedures.
Implement systems for documenting and evaluating specific standards
of nursing care, improve standards of care where possible and report
serious problems which interfere with standards of nursing care to the
CNM2 and Senior Nursing Management.
Participate in nursing research and implement proven research in daily
practice.
Facilitate decision making and the implementation of decisions with
regard to patient care.
Establishing and maintaining good relationships with patients and their
families, arranging where requested facilitates for relatives of patients to
talk to medical and other staff as appropriate.
Manage and promote community liaison.
Manage communication at ward and departmental level and with
external agencies.
Devise and implement Health Promotion programmes for patients.
Supervise professional duties of all grades of nursing and non-nursing
staff to ensure a high standard of nursing care.
Ensure the safe custody of controlled drugs and scheduled poisons
within the requirements of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1998 and the
hospital policy.
Ensure that drugs and medicines are administered in accordance with
hospital procedure, checking and witnessing according to agreed
procedure.
Inform relatives of seriously ill patients.
Ensure that infection Control Guidelines are adhered to in consultation
with Infection Control Nurse.
Allow clergy access to patients for spiritual guidance as members of
hospital team, seeking their help for the patients and staff when
required.
Ensure that admissions and discharges are conducted in accordance
with hospital policy.
Education and Staff Development
 Participate in the identification, development and delivery of education,
training and development programmes for nursing and non-nursing staff.
 Facilitate team building and staff motivation.
 Contribute to the formulation, development and implementation of
policies and procedures at area and hospital level.
 Actively encourage staff involvement in Health Promoting Hospitals
initiatives.
 Lead and implement change, with particular reference to
recommendations of the Commission of Nursing.
 Provide support and supportive supervision to front line staff where
appropriate.
 Supervise and assess student nurses and foster a clinical learning
environment.
 Participate in the assessment of student nurse proficiency to clinical
nursing skills.
 Provide a first line counselling facility to nursing staff under his/her direct
supervision and advise the CNM2/Senior Nursing Management of any
matters which may require action by him/her.
 Participate in all Nursing Under/Post Graduate Education Programmes.
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Organise, supervise and evaluate in conjunction with the Director of
Nursing and Clinical Development Co-ordinator, the clinical training
programme for student nurses.
Be responsible for the development of nursing staff, by means of inservice training, orientation of new staff and arranging for the clinical
experience and supervision of student nurses where this is appropriate.
The CNM1 will be required to participate in and facilitate a Personal
Development Planning Programme for staff of the Department.
Introduce newly appointed staff to their duties and responsibilities in the
Unit and Hospital and providing mentoring and support for newly
qualified staff.
Provide staff leadership and motivation which is conducive to good
relations and work performance.
Health & Safety
 Ensure that effective safety procedures are developed and managed to
comply with statutory obligations, in conjunction with relevant staff e.g.
health and safety procedures, emergency procedures
 Observe, report and take appropriate action on any matter which may be
detrimental to staff and/or service user care or well being / may be
inhibiting the efficient provision of care
 Assist in observing and ensuring implementation and adherence to
established policies and procedures e.g. health and safety, infection
control, storage and use of controlled drugs etc.
 Ensure completion of incident / near miss forms / clinical risk reporting
 Adhere to department policies in relation to the care and safety of any
equipment supplied for the fulfilment of duty
 Liaise with other relevant staff e.g. CNS infection control Occupational
Therapist re appropriateness for procurement
Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority
(HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for
Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare
Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or
experience
The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all
duties involved and consequently, 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.
Each candidate must on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms
to this office:
Be registered in the Psychiatric Division of the Register of Nurses kept by An
Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann or be entitled to be so
registered*
And
Have at least 3 years post registration psychiatric nursing experience
And
Have adequate knowledge of psychiatric nursing administrative procedures
And
Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge
the functions of the role
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as
a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act,
2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65
years of age.
Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and
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capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of
health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular
and efficient service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
*Note: Post holders must maintain annual registration with Bord Altranais agus
Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing Midwifery Board Ireland)
Demonstrate depth and breadth of your experience in psychiatry, as relevant to
the role.
Experience and/ or knowledge of the delivery of Mental Health Service to
persons experiencing dementia related illness and metal health conditions.
Post Specific Requirements
Skills, competencies and/or
knowledge
Candidates must demonstrate:
 knowledge of the statutory regulations in relation to the nursing service.
 A working knowledge of recommendations made within ‘A vision for
Change’ specifically Chapter 13-Mental Health Services for older people
 a knowledge and ability in engaging within the Multidisciplinary process
 evidence of utilising nursing practices which are underpinned by
Recovery Philosophies of care
 the ability to lead on clinical practice and service quality
 promotion of evidence-based decision making
 practitioner competence and professionalism
 knowledge of current issues in nursing practice
 effective communication/interpersonal skills including ability to present
information in a clear and concise manner; the ability to facilitate and
manage groups through the learning process; the ability to give
constructive feedback to encourage learning
 evidence of effective planning and organising skills including awareness
of resource management and importance of value for money
 the ability to manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks
 problem solving and decision making skills
 leadership and team management skills including the ability to work with
multi-disciplinary team members
 an ability to work on own initiative
 the ability to provide a quality service including incorporating change
 the ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues
with dignity and respect.
 demonstrate a pattern of Continual Professional Development
Campaign Specific Selection
Process
A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of
information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or
shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility
criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job
specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience
in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not
being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be
placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending
on the service needs of the organisation.
The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code
of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments
(CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit,
equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also
specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to
applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines
procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection
process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice.
Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document
posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, Information for
Candidates”.
Ranking/Shortlisting
Interview
Code of Practice
/
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Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on
www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled
“Code of Practice, Information for Candidates” or on www.cpsa.ie.
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job
description may be reviewed. This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post
holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee
concerned.
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Terms and Conditions of Employment
Clinical Nurse Manager 1
Tenure
The initial vacancies are whole-time, permanent and pensionable.
A panel will be created from which permanent and specified purpose vacancies
of full or part time duration will be filled. The tenure of these posts will be
indicated at “expression of interest” stage.
Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the
Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and
Appointment) Act 2004.
Remuneration
The Salary scale (as per 01/01/2010) for the post is:
€43,288 – 44,100 – 45,245 – 46,408 – 47,554 – 48,708 – 49,993 51,191 (Pro
Rata)
Working Week
The standard working week applying to the post is: 39 hours
HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs
(Extended Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for
Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of
this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts from
Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / on call arrangements as
advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work are liable to change
between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for
extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework
Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).
Annual Leave
The annual leave associated with the post is as per the HSE guidelines and
will clarified at job offer point.
Superannuation
All pensionable staff become members of the pension scheme.
Probation
Every appointment of a person who is not already an employee of the Health
Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period
of 12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.
Protection of Persons
Reporting Child Abuse Act
1998
As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons
Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a
designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a
designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for
the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the
categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information
on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.
Infection Control
Have a working knowledge of Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)
Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare,
National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated
Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
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