Deputy Ward Manager

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Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnic minorities, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.

Job overview

We are excited to announce that we are recruiting a permanent Band 6 Deputy Ward Manager to join the Windsor House team

We are looking for the right candidate to support the ward leadership team, with making positive changes and embedding new ways of working on the ward. You will also be expected to provide clinical oversight of all pathways and help embed both pathways and models into our everyday practice.

Acute mental health care is a fast paced, dynamic environment. This leads to the teams on our wards working closely together and developing strong, supportive bonds. The experience you gain whilst working on our wards is invaluable.

Our qualified Nurses within Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust are supported to provide the highest possible care, with access to training and development, with many being offered the opportunity to support their learning with post registration training opportunities so we welcome all applicants to join the management team.

It`s an exciting time at Mersey Care as we continue to develop the highest quality services, supported by cutting edge innovation and research.

Main duties of the job

Provide effective leadership via both managerial and clinical supervision & act a a senior nurse role model on the ward to patients and colleagues.

Represent the service at meetings as required, deputising for ward manager when required.

Ensure the effective deployment of staff and other resources to deliver the required service and the agreed standards Participate in the recruitment and selection process in accordance with Trust policy.

Ensure the principles of Clinical Governance are incorporated in service delivery by maintaining a high quality service based on agreed clinical standards.

Ensure that service users are cared for within the confines of their respective Mental Health Act status and adhere to the requirements of the MHA 1983 and the corresponding Code of Practice.

Develop local protocols involving team members to ensure a high standard of service delivery is achieved and maintained.

Working for our organisation

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests can be considered for all roles

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To support the Ward Manager in providing clinical advice, expertise and leadership to all ward staff.
2. To take a key role in ensuring Service Users' care plans are developed to meet the assessed needs of the individual under the guidelines of CPA. To monitor the care plans developed for Service Users, where necessary to supervise and train others to carry out and deliver planned care.
3. To ensure a seamless approach by liaising with other professionals as required.
4. To liaise appropriately with family members, carers and significant others with regards to the assessment of Service Users. To refer to the Modern Matron as necessary. To support the Ward Manager in addressing and resolving concerns by Service Users and Carers sensitively and promptly.
5. To assist the Ward Manager monitor and work with the ward team to ensure that Service User risk is assessed and managed appropriately, and that risk management plans are of a high standard.
6. To direct and supervise ward staff, in order to ensure delivery of a high standard of care to Service Users.
7. To assist the Ward Manager in identified clinical audit projects and setting standards for care based on sound research findings. Ensure that the ward team maintains standards. Assist the Modern Matron in the implementation of change arising from new findings.
8. To co-ordinate the systematic monitoring and evaluation of Service Users and ward environment.
9. To use verbal and non-verbal communication skills gained through training and experience to impart sensitive information e.g. diagnosis or symptoms to Service Users and their families. To offer support to other staff to do this.
10. To support the Ward Manager in ensuring that the ward resources are managed appropriately to maximise care and efficient work patterns. This will include tasks such as producing rotas, management of sickness and absence, annual leave and extra resources, keeping the Modern Matron informed at all times.
11. To use skills gained through experience to communicate with members of your team in the implementation of change and in the interest of good, cohesive team working.
12. To check understanding of information where there are often barriers to effective communications due to distress of psychiatric symptoms in Service Users, or where there is resistance in staff. This may include situations where English is not the first language.
13. To use skills gained through experience to give and receive information (adhering to Caldicott guidelines) to other individuals with regards to a Service User's care in reviews and multidisciplinary meetings. These individuals may be external to the Trust.
14. To have an in-depth knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983. To support staff involved in the application of the Mental Health Act 1983, ensuring that they are aware of and fulfilling their duties. Ensure that Service Users are aware of their rights under the Mental Health Act 1983 and that they are exercised appropriately.
15. To liaise with other professionals offering a service within the ward to ensure a high quality of service delivery.
16. To provide and monitor a range of therapeutic activities for Service Users by appropriate guidance and supervision of the ward team.
17. To ensure that all relevant information with regards to a Service User's care and treatment is documented accurately and legibly into the health record. Supervise and monitor the entries made by junior team members, through performance management and audit.
18. To lead the provision of teaching sessions in order to pass on knowledge and skills.
19. To assist the Ward Manager in the implementation of change or new systems within the area.
20. To use skills gained through experience to assess and monitor the physical/mental health of Service Users, seeking an opinion from other professionals, where appropriate.
21. To use skills gained through training and experience to de-escalate situations where Service Users become physically or verbally aggressive.
22. To use skills gained through experience to deal with team members who become angry, hostile or distressed.
23. To ensure that team members get appropriate support following violent incidents and liaise with the Ward Manager to ensure any identified actions arising from such incidents are implemented
24. To ensure that all incidents or near misses are documented as per Trust policy and that any follow-up action is taken.
25. To lead Service User reviews ensuring that the team has all the relevant information on which to base their clinical decisions.
26. To co-ordinate the team in order to ensure that medical or psychiatric emergencies are acted on promptly and appropriately.
27. To provide nursing reports both in written and verbal formats, as requested e.g. for a Service User Mental Health Act appeal.
28. To support and assist the ward team develop care plans that enable Service Users to reach and maintain their optimum level of health and independence.
29. To ensure the safe administration of medication to Service Users, ensuring that the Nursing and Midwifery Council regulations are followed.
30. To take part in the implementation of the Trust's PDP process for all staff in the ward team.
31. To act as a mentor to junior staff and students.
32. To support the Ward Manager to provide reports and statistical returns to a variety of Trust departments and approved external audit agencies as requested.
33. To assist the Ward Manager tackle any unsatisfactory performance promptly and constructively.
34. To participate in the investigation process regarding the disciplinary procedure and Service User/Care complaints.

Person specification

Values

Essential criteria

• Continuous improvement
• Accountability
• Respectfulness
• Enthusiasm
• Support

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Mental Health Nurse.

Desirable criteria

• First line management e.g. Leo
• Evidence of post registration study / continuing professional development e.g. ENB 998 / Mentorship in Practice or D32, 33 NVQ
• Approved training in phlebotomy.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Relevant experience at band 5 or above.
• Evidence of experience of working with older people with mental health problems in a variety of health care settings.

Desirable criteria

• Proven experience of leadership and management

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally.
• Possess excellent listening and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of relevant Mental Health legislation.
• Knowledge of Mental Health Nursing interventions
• Knowledge of clinical risk and Health & Safety Management
• Demonstrate knowledge of ECC guidelines.
• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrate knowledge in the concepts of mentorship, preceptorship and supervision and ability to provide education and supervision to qualified and unqualified staff.
• Demonstrate a good knowledge of the Code of Conduct and the nurses' responsibility to identify gaps in their knowledge base.

Desirable criteria

• Ability to assist in the process of standard setting and audit.
• Computer literate.
• Clinical Leadership skills.

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria

• Professional attitude
• Flexibility
• Ability to contribute to developing nursing excellence within the ward area.

Other

Essential criteria

• On going post-registration development.

Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply for all correspondence. All information regarding your application will come from apps.trac.jobs not NHS Jobs.

Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who consider themselves to be disabled who meet the minimum (essential) criteria for the role in the person specification. If you would like your application to be considered under the Trust's guaranteed interview scheme you can indicate this in the personal information section of your online application form.

Should you require a reasonable adjustment to our recruitment process please email recruitment@merseycare.nhs.uk to ensure that measures can be put in place to support you.

We reserve the right to close any vacancy earlier than advertised in exceptional circumstances once we have received a high volume of applications.

The Trust expects all post holders who require an enhanced DBS for their role subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £13 per year and maintain registration. Trans applicants who require a DBS check and do not want to reveal details of their previous identity can contact the DBS Sensitive Applications Team (01516761452 or email sensitive@dbs.gsi.gov.uk) with their application number once they have completed their DBS application form. The team can prevent any previous identity showing on the DBS Certificate, unless the applicant has a conviction under their previous details in which case this will need to be disclosed.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Please be advised that the use of Artificial Intelligence on applications is monitored and if you choose to use this, you must declare this on your application form.

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 (PDF, 173.5KB)
• OH risk ID form (PDF, 536.6KB)
• A Great Place to Work (PDF, 2.1MB)