Deputy Ward Manager

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Deputy Ward Manager working within the Psychological Medicine and Older Adult Directorate of the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

Chelsham House is our Acute Dementia Specialist Assessment ward and provides person centred treatment and care to older adults with acute needs associated with their Dementia, through a well-established multidisciplinary team. Our patients are older adults who have mental health difficulties and / or Dementia and require specialist in-patient care prior to moving back into the community or on to other specialised settings.

Bethlem Royal Hospital is based in a beautiful setting in over 200 acres of green space in the London Borough of Bromley, South East London. The hospital has easy access to nearby main roads and has free parking. The site is within walking distance of Eden Park and West Wickham overland stations.

Main duties of the job

About the role:

You will work closely with the Ward Manager to provide full clinical and managerial leadership to ensure the effective provision, management and development of service delivery, whilst encouraging a person-centred, therapeutic environment for our patients.

We offer a number of opportunities including regular supervision, comprehensive CPD packages and the opportunity to be involved in the development of Chelsham ward to be the most therapeutic and inclusive environment possible for our patients and their relatives and carers. All staff members take part in a comprehensive induction and there will be opportunities to develop clinical and specialist skills in this area.

Working for the Psychological Medicine and Older Adult Directorate ensures personal and career development by attending collaborative Leadership and Nursing Councils, which all nurses are encouraged to engage with as it is an opportunity to shape nursing practice and have a say in policy development.

The Councils enable staff to network with senior management of both the Directorate and Trust.

Working for our organisation

Working for your organisation

The South London Mental Health and Community Partnership (SLP) is a collaboration between Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, delivering mental health services to a population of more than three million people.

The partnership brings together clinical expertise, experience and innovation, aiming to improve quality, use resources most effectively, and deliver best practice consistently to all patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As a Deputy Ward Manager you will promote and develop clinical leadership and clinical practice and be a positive role model to junior members of the team through the practice of evidence-based care.

You will be expected to support professional development through clinical appraisal and supervision and contribute to the ongoing educational programme for staff, fostering a positive learning environment.

The post holder will deliver, or advise on the delivery of, high quality safe nursing care, ensuring consistently high standards of practice and clinical excellence which comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of professional conduct.

The post holder will oversee medication management supporting Band 4 and Band 5 nurses to shift coordinate and run shifts

The post holder will deal with matters entailing to other disciplines: providing information, acting on instructions given, liaising with other staff within the Trust and other professionals

The post holder will coordinate junior staff and oversee the admission and discharge of service users, ensuring needs of the patient and service including relevant legislative or required documentation are completed.

Please see separate job description for further details.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Adult Nurse and/or Registered Mental Health Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse
• Mentorship Qualification

Desirable criteria

• Masters Degree

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of research based/reflective practice, e.g.understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence based practice
• Significant relevant clinical experience
• Experience as a preceptor /mentor

Desirable criteria

• Experience of taking responsibility for a ward /clinical unit
• Experience of engaging /supporting clinical research projects
• Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas Experience of teaching e.g. lecturer practitioner/preceptorship
• Experience of recruitment and selection of staff

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, without close supervision
• Teaching ability
• Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations
• Forms very effective working relationships with colleagues
• Advocates for all individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics; promotes equality and diversity

Desirable criteria

• Problem solving, ability to identify problems, review options and take appropriate action without a predetermined framework

Other Requirements

Essential criteria

• Empathy for service users including individuals who have experienced mental health
• Flexibility to work shift patterns across 24hrs, 7days a week and across all clinical areas as required
• Ability to fulfil all the requirements of the role (including physical)

Desirable criteria

• Problem solving, ability to identify problems, review options and take appropriate action without a predetermined framework

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Knowledge of clinical governance and audit
• Knowledge of relevant Professional and Clinical legislation

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:

• Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
• Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
• We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity

Please note:

• That all applications for this post will need to be made online
• That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe'

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Deputy Ward Manager JD & Spec (PDF, 663.4KB)
• SLP Band 6 addendum (PDF, 162.2KB)
• SLaM Staff Benefits (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working (PDF, 680.1KB)