The Nursing Home Liaison and Support Assistant Director of Nursing will be key to ensuring proactive engagement with the Private sector Nursing Homes in our catchment area, especially during winter planning periods, and with HSE Community Health Organisation Nursing Home support/Intervention team.

The ‘COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Examination of Measures to 2021; Report to the Minister for Health’ (2020) outlined key recommendations; that Nursing homes should be part of a continuous spectrum of care of the older person in the wider healthcare system, with provision of multidisciplinary support, better integration with this sector and community and primary care and Acute Hospitals.

The development of this key post is the latest development in the RSCI Hospital Group strategy to ensure; Enhanced Patient and population centred integration across Health services, and specifically our commitment to a comprehensive and integrated Care model for older people consistent with The Integrated Programme for Older People, Sláintecare, and the Covid19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel report to the Minister for Health (2020).

The post holder will have a close working relationship with the Hospital Director of Nursing, the Senior Management Team, the senior nurse management team, the CHO Nursing Home support/intervention team, Directors of Nursing in Nursing Homes in our catchment area, Directors of Nursing and MDT team across Older persons services in Our Hospitals, General Practitioners and primary and community care teams, Palliative Care team. This will be key to ensuring our service offers a safe timely and seamless transition of care between Private Nursing Home and acute and community care consistent with the principle of Right Person, Right Place Right Time.

The post holder will be involved in the management of a 32 bed acute medical ward encompassing care of the older person acute care.

The Cottage Community hub is a 14 bed step down/transitional care unit. It also includes Care of Older Person outpatient assessment clinics run by RANP and Consultant Geriatrician. In addition there is a satellite Outpatient assessment centre in Louth County Hospital

Frailty at the front door team in the Emergency department is presently being fully developed while awaiting appointment of a consultant

Establish effective communications and working relationships with; Directors of Nursing in our local Nursing Homes, Community Health organisation support and intervention teams, Older Persons Services within our Hospitals and Hospital management.

Ensure the Senior management team within our Hospital and RCSI Hospital Group are appraised of assessments in a timely manner and that issues of concern involving potential risks to the safety of Nursing Home residents are escalated in an appropriate and timely manner. The focus of the role is both to assist with proactive planning towards closer integration involving Hospital services and also to ensure an appropriate and timely response to the defined Healthcare needs of Nursing Home Residents.

Utilising the RCSI Hospitals Nursing Home Check Framework to Proactively assess and monitor the capacity of individual Nursing Homes to manage current or potential threats to the safety of residents, in a manner that may; assist with both early warning and action planning with partners, and inform a capacity building plan to support the Nursing Home Director of Nursing and her team. This may include but is not limited to; Training and Education, access to Expert clinical support (Infection Control, Older persons consultant, RANP etc) that may not be available within the Community Health Organisation support /intervention team or primary care or within the Nursing Homes own resources.

Identify issues of access to acute care services for residents in Private sector Nursing Homes and work with key stakeholders in Community Health Organisation and RCSI Hospitals to enable access to Health services on the principle of Right person, Right place, and Right time.

Similarly, identify situations were a Nursing Home resident(s) may present to an acute care services e.g. An  Emergency Department due to issues that may reasonably be deemed avoidable, and work with key stakeholders to proactively put in place more appropriate services, or measures, recognising the principle of Right Person Right Place Right time. This may involve individual care planning solutions with key stakeholders or if required a system redesign solution with key stakeholders

Identify any situation, after consultation with the Community Health Organisation support/intervention team where Nursing homes may require; possible supply of equipment or stock or personnel, and provide an assessment of the resource need (Medical Nursing HSCP Clerical or General Support/vital signs monitors, medical gases, personal protective equipment, iv fluids and administration sets etc) to hospital management.

Identify current opportunities for Hospital management to ensure appropriate and timely access to specialist medical opinion from geriatricians, consultants in palliative medicine, psychiatry of old age and others for Nursing Home residents.  Consistent with policy and strategy this should be achieved on the principle that Care is delivered as close to home as possible e.g. domiciliary care (Hospital Outreach), or remote expert guidance to Nursing Home Staff or residents via remote/virtual clinic via a suitable ITC platform (e.g. Attend Anywhere, Salasco), or an alternative community facility (such as day hospitals for older people – Louth County Hospital, Cottage Hospital).

Work with key partners and Hospital and Group management to develop a ‘Future Access and Integration Plan’ with partners to ensure residents in Private Sector Nursing Homes have timely access to;

Frailty assessment and rehabilitation services such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy; and other services such as clinical nutrition/dietetics, tissue viability advice, infection prevention and control (IPC), IV antibiotic administration, diabetes management.

Work with Emergency Care, Older Persons Multidisciplinary teams and community support and intervention teams to support and facilitate to the optimum the person’s ability to remain in their own home via Hospital admission avoidance in line with Right Person, Right Place, and Right time.

Facilitate and enable, as appropriate, the Safe and timely discharge planning for Nursing Home residents with inpatient Multidisciplinary teams and Nursing Home and Community Support and intervention teams. To this end the post holder should also interact daily with divisional Nurse manager colleagues, patient flow colleagues and appropriate multidisciplinary care teams.

Ensure a robust procedure is established to ensure a pre- transfer of patients to Nursing Homes fulfils all the required criteria, including; Testing requirements in line with national guidelines. A programme of audit to monitor and verify compliance against this standard should be developed and implemented.

Initially act as primary Hospitals ‘point of contact’ for Nursing Home Directors and GP’s of Nursing Home residents to enable appropriate communication, access to diagnostic services in line with agreed hospital policy. Thereafter work with Hospital management to ensure systems and processes are in place for same, once issues of access, capacity, and governance etc are addressed.

Advice the Director of Nursing of any opportunities to support leadership or clinical competence capacity building in Nursing homes in the locality e.g. supporting the training of Nurses in Tissue viability, infection control etc.

The Assistant Director of Nursing role Nursing Home Liaison and Support is a key Nursing leadership role and as such the post holder is central to the delivery of the Hospital and RCSI Hospital Group Strategy. The nature and requirements of this role may adapt to reflect this as new strategy emerges.

Management

• Establish and develop arrangements that will able effective communication with key stakeholders.

• Undertake a rapid needs and capacity assessment with Private Nursing Homes and key health service stakeholders and thereafter ensure a programme of service development is formulated and monitored with key stakeholders in line with the objectives of the service.

• Co-ordinate provision of specialist advice to and from key stakeholders in a proactive manner.

• Provide specialist advice in the context of the delivery acute services, given consideration to all the challenges of environment and service provision.

• In collaboration with partners, being cognisant of service need, policy, emerging issues, develop, review and update policies, procedures and standards for the service or strand of same e.g. training standards, fundamental levels of key competence required in each Nursing Home facility, or communications or escalation policy etc.

• Develop and implement appropriate audit programmes with key partners as required by the service.

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• Participates in hospital governance groups/committees and other committees as appropriate to the service aims and objectives.

• Participate in the formulation and implementation of I.T systems and strategies to support this role and the Objectives of the Hospital and Group Strategy.

• In conjunction with key partners in care, review and evaluate the service strategy and identify short, medium and long term goals in the annual report.

• Improve and maintain morale amongst staff by effective leadership, consultation and communication.

Professional /Clinical Responsibilities

• Work autonomously and seek collaborative relationships with others across and within professional boundaries e.g. Community Health Organisation, RCSI Hospitals, Public Health.

• Establish and maintain professional networks within the hospital and community health service and holds regular engagements with hospital staff and community and Nursing Home colleagues as appropriate.

• Facilitate education and training programmes as appropriate for all hospital staff and participate in teaching undergraduate and post – graduate nurses as required.

• Continue the introduction and education of staff within the ICF in NaRT Tool, Stop and Watch Tool for deteriorating patient, and the introduction and development of Facilitated discharge teams.

• Work with Practice Development in the organisation and supervision of clinical training programmes for undergraduate student nurses and colleagues on post registration /post graduate programmes.

• Ensures that the service provided is confidential and non judgemental.

• Ensures that the requirements of NMBI for the practice of professional nursing are met and upheld at all times.

• Apply evidence based research to practice development and participates in research as appropriate.

• Attend and participate in national and international conferences relevant to the service.

• Be aware of contemporary Research including that on the experience of COVID19 in; Older Persons services, Residential care facilities including Private Nursing Homes, acute Hospitals and contemporary policy evaluation or analysis.

• Participate in training programmes in information systems in order to facilitate development of innovations in information technology and computerisation that will enhance the service and the user experience.

• Assists in the maintenance of a safe environment for patients and staff with particular emphasis on establishing and maintaining an effective relationship with key colleagues including but not limited to; medical Staff, directorate nurse managers, clinical nurse managers, department heads, patient flow, Community Health colleagues and Directors of Nursing Homes, Persons in Charge and Registered Providers

Education and Training

• Contribute to service development through appropriate continuous education, research initiatives, keeping up to date with nursing literature, recent nursing research and new developments in nursing management, education and practice and attend staff study days as considered appropriate.

• Provide support/advice to those engaging in continuous professional development in his/her area of responsibility

• Participate in the identification, development and delivery of induction, education, training and development programmes for nursing and non-nursing staff

• Participate in in-service training, orientation programmes and appraisals of all nursing staff. Also, participate in nurse training programmes and any other programmes pertaining to future development in the hospital

• Provide support supervision and professional development of appropriate staff

• Engage in performance review processes including personal development planning e.g., by setting own and staff objectives and providing and receiving feedback

Quality/ Health & Safety/Risk Management

• Maintain a risk register for the service and ensure hospital management is appraised on new and emerging risks to the safety of Nursing Home residents.

• Liaise with the Quality Patient Safety Manager as appropriate.

• Ensure that effective safety procedures are developed and managed to comply with statutory obligations.

• Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action

• Comply with the policies, procedures and safe professional practice of the Irish Healthcare System by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

• Comply with the ‘National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland’ (HIQA 2016), and related obligations, processes and procedures.

• Assist in the development, implementation and review of Health and Safety statements, as appropriate.

• Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of the relevant person(s).

• Maintain a feedback mechanism and report to senior management where appropriate

• Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.

• Ensure adherence to policies in relation to the care and safety of any equipment supplied for the fulfilment of duty. Ensure advice of relevant stakeholders is sought prior to procurement.

• Monitor, audit and ensure a high level of adherence to hygiene and infection control standards and decontamination throughout the hospital and strict adherence to hand hygiene policies. To lead on and act as a role model in relation to adherence to standards.

Finance

• Utilise financial and other information to plan and deliver agreed levels of service within the Nursing budget.

• To monitor results and take action where appropriate, and to highlight variances within the nursing budget to the Director of Nursing.

• Assist the Senior Management Team and Director of Nursing in implementing any corrective programme necessary for adherence to financial budgets e.g cost containment programmes

• Ensure cost effective use of all Nursing resources and any contract of agency staff utilisation /spend within the area of responsibility.

• Comply with all statutory and policy requirements with regard to Financial management e.g. National Financial Regulations, local financial/service planning and monitoring systems.

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. 

Candidates must on the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office:

Candidates must on the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office:

(i) Are registered, or are eligible for registration, in the General Nurse

Division, and other divisions as relevant to the specific service, of the Register of Nurses and Midwives, as appropriate, maintained by the

Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland [NMBI] (Bord Altranais agus

Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann).

And

(ii) Have 7 years post registration nursing experience and 3 years Nursing

Management experience at a minimum of Clinical Nurse Manager 2

(CNM 2) or equivalent in an acute care setting.

And

(iii) Have successfully completed a post registration programme of study, as

certified by the education provider, which verifies that the applicant has

achieved a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major academic

Level 8 or higher award maintained by Quality & Qualifications of

Ireland (QQI) or can provide written evidence from the Higher Education

Institute that they have achieved the number of ECTS credits equivalent

To a Level 8 or higher standard in a health care or management related area.

And

(b) Candidates must possess the requisite clinical, leadership, managerial and

Administrative knowledge and ability for the proper discharge of the duties of the office

Annual Registration

Practitioners must maintain live annual registration on the General Nursing Division of the Nurses & Midwifery Register maintained by the Nursing & Midwifery Registration Board (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann)

Please note that appointment to and continuation in posts that require statutory registration is dependent upon the post holder maintaining annual registration in the relevant division of the register maintained by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland)

Professional / Clinical Credibility

• Demonstrate a high degree of commitment, professionalism & dedication to the philosophy of quality health care provision.
• Demonstrate relevant knowledge in the area of Acute Hospital or Older Persons settings.
• Demonstrate evidence of policy development & the ability to translate policy into action.
• Demonstrate knowledge & experience of quality audit/assurance systems.

Planning & Organising

• Demonstrate ability to plan, organise & deliver services in an efficient, effective & resourceful manner, within a model of patient centred care & value for money.
• Demonstrate ability to manage deadlines & effectively handle multiple tasks.

Building & Maintaining Relationships: Leadership, Staff Management & Team Skills

• Demonstrate leadership skills & ability to influence others.
• Demonstrate flexibility & openness to change & ability to lead & support others in a changing environment.
• Demonstrate ability to manage, motivate & develop staff to maximize performance at work.
• Demonstrate the ability to foster a learning culture amongst staff & colleagues to drive continuous improvement in services to patients.
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively with multi-disciplinary teams.

Evaluating Information & Judging Situations

• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate information & solve problems.

Commitment to Quality Care

• Demonstrate understanding of, and commitment to, the underpinning requirements & key processes in providing quality patient centred care.
• Demonstrate an ability to monitor & evaluate service performance & levels of care.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Demonstrate effective communications & interpersonal skills including; the ability to present information in a clear & concise manner: the ability to engage collaboratively with all stakeholders; the ability to give constructive feedback.
• Demonstrate competency in general use of information technology-computers, office functions, internet for research purposes, email, preparation of presentation materials etc.