HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE
Job Specification SOP R4
Job Title and Grade
Clinical Nurse Manager 2 – Critical Care
(ICU/HDU/CCU/Cardiology)
Location of Post
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Competition Reference
OLOL 25
Closing Date
19th November 2010
Date of meeting with
receiving Service
Manager(s)
TBD
Organisational Area
HSE Dublin North East
Reporting Relationship
CNM3/ Assistant Director of Nursing/ Director of Nursing and
Midwifery Services
Purpose of the Post
The post holder will manage a Critical Care unit
(ICU/CCU/HDU) in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. The Critical
care departments at our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda
offer advanced treatment modalities to level two and three
patients admitted via the Emergency Dept, Operating Theatre
and internal and external patient transfers. The critical care unit
currently caters for major surgical, medical, orthopaedic,
haematological, endocrine, obstetric, cardiac and neurological
conditions. The critical care and Cardiology Nursing team
includes Clinical Nurse Specialists in Chest Pain, Heart Failure
and Cardiac Rehabilitation.
The CNM2 in Critical Care and Cardiology has day to day
operational responsibilities which include the following;
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The promotion of best practice that is evidence based
with the ultimate outcome of improving patient care and
outcomes in the critical care unit of responsibility.
Provide senior and expert professional advice and
support to critical care staff, service users and their
families.
Ensure appropriate skill-mix and efficient deployment of
staffing and other resources across the unit of
responsibility.
Assist the CNM3 in ensuring that appropriate
professional development of staff is in place via PDP
and training needs assessment.
The implementation of the Quality Safety and Risk
Framework within critical care specialities
Contribute to the continuous development of service
based clinical governance teams.
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Contribute towards the delivery of key Transformation
North East service Objectives with regard to the
development of expanded critical care provision on this
site.
Maintaining
a
collaborative
approach
to
multidisciplinary and inter departmental working.
Recruitment, retention and general monitoring of staff
performance within the critical care nursing service.
Establishing and promoting effective channels of
communication internally within critical care and other
departments in order to provide a seamless service.
Consistent with a ‘Critical Care without walls’ approach.
The operational management of the nursing team in the
unit of responsibility including Human Resources and
Finance functions to support effective and efficient use
of resources.
Providing on-going practical and psychological support
for nursing staff and other members of the
multidisciplinary team.
The post holder supports the implementation of the
Director of Nursing & Midwifery Services’ vision for
nursing.
This role will develop in line with service needs as defined by
the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services and ongoing
service developments within the Hospital group.
Essential
Qualifications/Experience/
Knowledge
Candidates must on the latest date for receipt of completed
application forms:
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Essential
Skills/Competencies
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Special skills, knowledge,
competencies or
requirements of the post
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Be registered on the General Division of An Bord
Altranais or be eligible to register.
Must have a minimum of five years post registration
experience in a Critical Care setting (ICU/CCU).
Possess a recognized post registration course/higher
diploma in Critical Care Nursing.
Or equivalent.
Empowering and Enabling Leadership Skills
Setting and Monitoring Performance Standards
Proactive Approach to Planning
Effective Co-Ordination of Resources
Professional Knowledge
Have proven clinical and professional managerial
ability, leadership, communication and organizational
skills in a Critical Care Environment.
Have the ability to efficiently and effectively manage
human resources in a Critical Care environment.
Experience of Collaborative working with other key
multidisciplinary team members. Establishing common
Goals, objectives and transparent processes.
The post holder must have an applied knowledge of
key Critical Care strategies, methodologies.
Be clinically highly proficient in the delivery of critical
care modalities.
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Principal Duties and
Responsibilities
The Post Holder will:
 Deputise for the CNM3 Critical Care and CNM2
Colleagues in other critical care units as required.
 Foster an environment where clinical excellent can
thrive. Recognising the contribution each team member
can make towards a common objective.
 Assist the CNM3 in the management and evaluation of
Critical care service plans other key departmental
objectives.
 Develop and manage departmental/unit policy, with a
particular emphasis on change management.
 Manage professional and clinical standards using an
evidence based, care planning approach.
 Provide supportive supervision and professional
development for staff.
 Manage multi-disciplinary staff and service
development through appropriate continuous
education, including research initiatives.
 Manage resources efficiently and effectively to ensure
continuous quality improvement in service.
 Facilitate team development and motivation.
 Manage defined devolved personnel functions, with a
particular emphasis on maximizing recruitment and
retention of nursing and support staff.
 Formulate, manage and implement best practice
hospital policies and procedures.
 Manage and promote inter/intra-hospital service liaison.
 Contribute to the strategic management and planning
process.
 Contribute to the Hospital and Departmental Clinical
Governance agenda with a focus on continuous quality
improvement for service users and their families.
 Maintain Critical Care Clinical Nursing Skills by
undertaking direct clinical contact hours as agreed with
the Critical Care CNM3.
Key Duties:
 Deputise for CNM3.
 Assist in the co-ordination of patient activities within
and external to Critical Care and Cardiology as
appropriate.
 Assist the CNM3 in all aspects of human resource
management within the department.
 Ensure the effective and efficient use of nursing
resources, advising on skill mix and staff allocation
according to patients needs across the unit or
responsibility.
 To promote an environment that is conducive to
development of best practice, enhance staff retention
and good industrial relations.
 Actively strive to develop multi-disciplinary
communication, collaboration and teamwork across the
unit.
 Assist the CNM3 in devising service plans for the area,
including preparation of budgets.
 Assist the CNM3 in monitoring the implementation of
service and business plans.
 With the CNM3 and other members of the
multidisciplinary team identify and monitor appropriate
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Critical Care Key Performance Indicators in the unit of
responsibility.
Review rosters on a daily basis taking into account
workload and skill mix. Deploy staff accordingly.
Apply the principle of delegation in all instances to the
maximum level compatible with safety.
Lead and support intra and inter-team working. Ensure
data pertinent to the unit are captured and maintained
and reviewed.
Ensure audit systems are in place to facilitate the
constant evaluation of service and client care.
Ensure that all staff in the unit of responsibility are
familiar with the Major Emergency Plan and other key
policy documents and guidelines.
Assist with the review all complaints, clinical incidents
or near misses and report findings to the CNM3,
Assistant Director of Nursing, risk management, Office
of the Director of Nursing as appropriate.
Participate in the Critical Care Clinical Governance
Forum. Lead on service developments and other quality
improvement initiatives, in the unit of responsibility that
will improve the care experience and outcomes for our
service users and their families.
Promote and support the delivery of quality
improvement plans and other components of internal
and external quality assurance programmes e.g. HIQA
Programmes e.g. Hygiene, Infection Prevention &
Control, Discharge Planning.
Clinical/Professional:
 Encourage and facilitate staff innovation in nursing
practice.
 Ensure that policies, procedures and standards are
developed and revised.
 Assist in the development and evaluation of quality
initiatives and clinical audits in partnership with the
Critical Care Department Consultants to ensure that the
best quality of services and practices are provided
within available resources.
 The post holder will negotiate protected clinical contact
hours as agreed with the CNM3.
Human Resources:
 Assist the CNM3 forecast trends regarding skill mix
and turnover rate.
 Assist in implementing annual staff development and
performance review.
 Managing staff sickness and absenteeism in
accordance with HSE guidelines.
Education:
 Ensure that staff receive induction and orientation, and
are provided with the opportunities to attend in-service
training and other appropriate educational programmes
and seminars.
 Collaborate with the practice development team to
ensure that nursing students and post-registration
students are facilitated to meet learning objectives.
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Facilitate learning through reflection and critical incident
analysis.
Ensure a therapeutic learning environment for pre and
post registration students and staff groups reporting to
the post holder.
Participate in hospital staff in-service training
programmes.
Self Development:
 Maintain clinical and managerial competence in current
and future developments in the Critical Care unit of
responsibility.
 Attend and participate in conferences, seminars and
other research/educational activities regionally,
nationally and internationally.
 Under take protected Clinical contact time as
negotiated with the CNM3.
 Maintain Professional Development Process with the
support of the CNM3.
Research:
 Ensure the implementation or research/evidence based
practice.
 Initiate and participate in research projects.
 Act as a change agent in implementing research
findings and best practice in order to enhance nursing
practice and continuing quality improvement.
Clinical Governance:
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The post holder will participate in the Critical Care
Clinical Governance forum, working in partnership with
the Head of Department and Clinical Governance lead.
Ensure that effective clinical governance procedures
are maintained and evolve according to defined needs
and demands in the unit of responsibility.
Contribute to the development of key process and
outcome standards and objectives.
Continuous development of Key performance indicators
and monitoring of same.
Assist the CNM3 manage Clinical Governance to
comply with statutory obligations, in conjunction with
relevant staff e.g. health and safety procedures, quality,
risk management
Take appropriate action on any matter identified as
being detrimental to staff and/or service user care or
well being / may be inhibiting the efficient provision of
care
Ensure adherence to established policies and
procedures e.g. health and safety, infection control,
storage and use of controlled drugs etc.
Ensure compliance with the quality and risk safety
framework programme.
Take line manager departmental lead role in Health and
safety including undertaking risk assessments as
required by statute and local policy and procedure.
Participate in accreditation programmes e.g. HIQuA, An
Bord Altranais.
Maintain a feedback mechanism with the Risk advisors
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and report to the CNM3,Assistant Director of Nursing,
/Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services as
appropriate
Ensure adherence to department policies in relation to
the care and safety of any equipment supplied for the
fulfilment of duty. Ensure advice of relevant
stakeholders is sought as part of the procurement
process e.g. CNS infection control, Occupational
Therapist.
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HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE
Terms and Conditions of Employment
CNM2 – Critical Care
Tenure
The appointment is whole-time, permanent and pensionable.
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 for the post is: €47,089- €55,852 (Rate 1.01.10)
Working Week
The standard working week applying to the post is: 37.5 Hours
Annual Leave
The annual leave associated with the post is: 25 - 28 days
(as per L.C.R. No 16261) Pro-Rata
Superannuation
All pensionable staff become members of the pension scheme.
Probation
Every permanent appointment of a person who is not already a
permanent officer 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.
Health
A person holding the office must be fully competent and 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.
Training
The HSE is committed to education and life long learning which
enables staff to improve their performance and professional
competence. In this regard the HSE encourages and supports staff to
seek opportunities for their own development. In addition the HSE
provides education and training opportunities for staff on a regional
basis. The HSE’s Education/Training Guidelines sets out the range of
support available for staff undertaking further education.
Confidentiality
In the course of your employment you may have access to, or hear
information concerning, the medical or personal affairs of patients
and/or staff, or other health service business. Such records and
information are strictly confidential and, unless acting on the
instructions of an authorised officer, on no account must information
concerning staff, patients or other health service business be divulged
or discussed except in the performance of normal duty. In addition,
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records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons
can obtain access to them and must be left in safe custody when no
longer required.
Please note the
following General
Conditions:
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Employee must attend fire lectures and drills periodically and
must observe fire orders.
All accidents within the department must be reported
immediately in line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at
Work Act, 1989, and all staff must comply with all safety
regulations.
In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 & 2004,
smoking within buildings of the Health Service Executive is not
permitted.
The Health Service Executive is not responsible for the loss or
theft of personal belongings.
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. The post holder will remain a designated officer for the duration of the
appointment to the current post or for the duration of his/her appointment to such other post as
is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. The post holder will receive
full information on his/her responsibilities under the Act on appointment.
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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