CHW074 Director of Public Health Nursing, Community Healthcare West
* Galway, Ireland
* Full time, Permanent
Who We Are
Community Healthcare West, Galway, Mayo & Roscommon delivers primary & community care, mental health, older persons, disability and health & wellbeing services across Galway City & County, Mayo & Roscommon. HSE West and North West Services focus on keeping you well so that you can continue to live at home or close to home through our health promotion, disease screening, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation programs.
Description
Director of Public Health Nursing
Job Specification & Terms and Conditions
Job Title and Grade
Director of Public Health Nursing, Community Healthcare West
Campaign Reference
CHW074-DPHNCHW-2024
Closing Date
Thursday 14th November 2024 at 12 noon
Proposed Interview Date (s)
As soon as possible following the closing date
Taking up Appointment
A start date will be indicated at job offer stage.
Location of Post
Public Health Department, Primary Care Services, Galway, Community Healthcare West
There are currently two permanent whole-time vacancies available in:
· Public Health Department, Primary Care Centre, 25 Newcastle Road, Galway. Open to engagement in respect of flexibility around location subject to offer stage.
The successful candidate may be required to work in any service area within the vicinity as the need arises.
A panel may be created as a result of this campaign for Director of Public Health Nursing Primary Care Services, Community Healthcare West from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration for the post of Director of Public Health Nursing, Community Healthcare West may be filled.
Informal Enquiries
Emma Naughton, General Manager Primary Care Galway
The Public Health Nursing Service is a generalist nursing service underpinned by the principles and values of primary care and public health, including those of equity, accountability and evidence-based nursing care, working to public policy agenda and reform.
· The Director of Public Health Nursing provides strategic direction and clinical leadership to the nursing teams with a focus on community health and on the delivery of effective, quality assured and patient-centered nursing care.
· The Director of Public Health Nursing is required to perform at a high leadership and management level, work within the Community Care Structures and wider Integrated Services Directorate; as part of multi-disciplinary teams across the HSE structures, in order to provide a coordinated and standardized approach to community nursing.
· The Director of Public Health Nursing is responsible for the delivery of a high-quality nursing service.
· The Director of Public Health Nursing ensures the safe delivery of the Public Health Nursing service with a focus on governance and accountability, in cooperation with multidisciplinary teams within the area’s of responsibility.
· The Director of Public Health Nursing has responsibility to implement changes in the PHN service, in line with national recommendations and best practice.
· The Director of Public Health Nursing reports to the GM and will work closely with the ADPHNs, in order to ensure that a cohesive structure and process for effective clinical governance and service delivery is in place.
· Liaise with appropriate third-level institutions CNMEs and the Practice Development Units.
Reporting Relationship
The post holder will report to the General Manager Primary Care.
Purpose of the Post
The Director of Public Health Nursing is responsible for the delivery of an efficient, effective, caring and patient-focused nursing service throughout the Integrated Service Area.
The Director of Public Health Nursing will have a pivotal role in team leadership/service planning coordinating and management of activity and resources within the service area. The position requires a strategic approach to the development of services and structures, embracing continuous quality improvement and the management of change to comply with the HIQA Standards. (Health Information and Quality Authority).
The Director of Public Health Nursing will ensure patient safety and quality assurance throughout the service in line with best practice.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership & Accountability
The Director of Public Health Nursing will:
· Provide strategic and clinical leadership and direction for community health nursing and related services which results in the delivery of effective, efficient, quality assured and patient-centered nursing care.
· Develop a shared sense of commitment and participation amongst staff in the management of change, the development of nursing services and in responding to the changing health needs of patients.
· Develop, maintain and review the community nursing organisational structure within the context of overall organisational objectives.
· Be responsible for strategy, policy and practice development, education and professional duties imposed by statute or determination.
· Liaise with other service managers on any significant development within his/her area of responsibility.
· Assign responsibility, where appropriate, to the Assistant Directors of Public Health Nursing.
Planning
The Director of Public Health Nursing will:
· Set key objectives for the community nursing service on an annual basis.
· Be responsible for the management of community nursing services and ensure that systems are in place to support this responsibility.
· Participate as a core member of the community care senior management team.
· Formulate, develop and manage relevant information and other systems for the community nursing service.
· Prepare, cost, manage and ensure implementation of service plans for the community nursing service.
· Prepare an annual report on nursing and related activities.
· Participate in care group planning in cooperation with the multi-disciplinary team.
· Participate, when required, on regional and national strategic, advisory and implementation committees for various services and care groups.
Operations
The Director of Public Health Nursing will:
· Ensure the discharge of all professional and statutory responsibilities in the area of child care and to work in collaboration with the Child & Family Agency.
· Assist in the development of policies and services, standards etc. in relation to child health, clinical nursing, and public health nursing.
· Ensure best practice in the management of direct patient care and to ensure the development of the concept of care planning with other professionals.
· Ensure the delivery of safe & efficient School Immunisation Programme.
· Ensure the delivery of a safe & effective national school audiometry & vision screening programme.
· Participate, as required, in the recruitment, selection and appointment of community nursing and related staff.
· Ensure the optimum and effective use of staff through efficient rostering, skill/grade mix planning, workload measurement, staff profiling and deployment.
· Initiate the implementation of an ongoing development in individual performance review process and foster a high level of morale among staff by effective motivation and consultation.
· Participate in the formulation of relevant personnel policies and procedures.
· Deal with industrial relations issues relating to community nursing and allied staff, in consultation with the HR Department.
· Develop and implement Risk Management and Health and Safety strategies in consultation with appropriate personnel.
Finance
The Director of Public Health Nursing will:
· Prepare annual financial estimates of community nursing (pay and non-pay) and related manpower, including allied staff education and training needs.
· Participate in the overall financial planning of the service including the assessment of priorities in pay and non-pay expenditure.
· Ensure expenditure is controlled within budget and identify potential for savings through improved practice and innovation.
· Assign, as appropriate, budgetary control and implement monthly expenditure audit systems.
Training, Education and Assessment
The Director of Public Health Nursing will:
· Ensure that appropriate in-service education programmes and ongoing learning needs are met for all assigned staff.
· Liaise with appropriate third-level institutions.
· In collaboration with Assistant Directors of Public Health Nursing, ensure that the training needs of student nurses, student public health nurses and other relevant personnel are met.
· Assist in the development of performance management systems.
· Maintain awareness of relevant nursing research and new developments. To initiate and facilitate relevant nursing research and promote awareness of ongoing research into issues affecting nursing and patient care.
· Ensure close liaison between relevant community nursing personnel, general practitioners, practice nurses, other Directors of Nursing and consultants in order to develop the most effective procedures for the referral of patients to the community services, for the treatment and care of patients and for the discharge or transfer of care to other services.
· Ensure effective liaison with other health professionals, voluntary groups and groups representing the general public to develop the most effective community nursing services.
· Participate in the identification, setting and attainment of health promotion targets in line with the health strategy.
Quality Assurance
The Director of Public Health Nursing will:
· Ensure that modern standards of clinical nursing care are in operation and that regular monitoring of nursing care is undertaken through audit.
· Develop a philosophy for community nursing which reflects the HSE’s commitment to the provision of a high standard of nursing care thereby ensuring the health and social gain of the community.
· Implement HSE policy on complaints and patient services.
· Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards and ensure that staff complies with same.
· Maintain good public relations including good collaborative working relationships and communications with appropriate statutory, professional and voluntary organisations responsible for and/or participating in health care.
· Ensure adherence to all codes and guidelines relating to professional nursing practice and behaviour.
· Implement the ‘Better Safer Healthcare Standards’ both within the Community Nursing Service and as part of the Multidisciplinary Management team.
General
The Director of Public Health Nursing will:
· Undertake other relevant duties as may be determined from time to time by the Senior Operations Manager or other designated officer.
· 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. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
· Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
· Recognise that this job description is subject to ongoing review in the light of service needs.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/or experience
Candidates must have at the latest date of application:
(a) Candidates must, on the latest date for receiving completed applications for the post:
(i) Be registered, or be eligible for registration, in the Public Health Nursing Division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland [NMBI].
And
(ii) Have 10 years nursing experience immediately prior to the closing date for applications of which 5 must have been in Public Health Nursing and 5 of the 10 years must have been at the level of Assistant Director of Public Health Nursing, PHN Network Manager, Clinical Nurse Manager 2 (CNM 2) or above in the Irish Health Sector or an analogous level in another jurisdiction.
An aggregate of such experience as set out above will be acceptable.
The relevant roles must have been clinical and required maintenance of registration as a Public Health Nurse with NMBI.
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
(i) Practitioners must maintain live annual registration in the Public Health Nursing Division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland [NMBI].
And
(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with the NMBI to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).
Health
A candidate for and any 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.
Other requirements specific to the post
Access to appropriate transport to fulfil the requirements of the role, as the post will involve frequent travel.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge
Professional Knowledge and Experience
For example:
· Clinical and professional knowledge and judgement to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
· Knowledge, abilities and technical skills required to oversee the provision of safe, efficient and effective service.
· A willingness to inform self and to adhere to legislative requirements. Shows an appreciation of policies and procedures specific to practice area/service user.
· Self-awareness, a commitment to continuous professional development and a willingness to both teach and learn.
· Demonstrate a willingness to engage with and develop IT skills relevant to the role.
Strategic and System Thinking
For example:
· The ability to adapt a corporate overview; sees the bigger picture of service delivery and appreciates the interconnectedness of issues.
· An ability to look ahead and anticipate substantive issues. Adopts a proactive forward-planning approach to service delivery in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
· Effective risk management, problem solving and decision making ability, all in a timely manner.
Establishing Policy, Systems and Structures
For example:
· The ability to design and implement structured policies and systems for the management of service delivery in consultation with key stakeholders.
· An ability to ensure clear role accountability for service levels, quality and decision making discretion.
· The ability to plan financial budgets using high levels of business management expertise.
Vision, Values and Process
For example:
· An ability to articulate a strong vision of the contribution and purpose of the team and create positive and optimistic views about the future contributions of nursing and other multidisciplinary services.
· The ability to create a climate in which people want to do their best, share ownership, visibility and successes. Pushes these values and behaviours down the management system.
· The ability to take the lead on standard setting and implementation; leads and manages change.
Developmental Approach to Staff
For example:
· A strong focus on developing the contribution of staff at all levels. Identifies training needs and implements/facilitates training, learning and development.
· The ability to promote a learning culture within the service area(s). Encourages debriefing and discussion on service improvements at all levels.
· The ability to develop structures and systems to systematically capture and disseminate learning and best practice at all levels of the service.
· Strong promotion of continuous professional development, champions and resources this effectively. Actively encourages staff contribution to professional conferences and other dissemination channels.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
For example:
· Effective communication skills (verbal and in writing) including the ability to present compelling arguments by understanding and anticipating the agendas of others.
· Effective interpersonal skills, has the ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
· The ability to use information and facts to build an effective case; will involve and consult with key stakeholders tactfully and listen to their views.
· Strong influencing and persuasion skills. Balances diplomacy with assertiveness.
Campaign Specific Selection Process
Ranking/Shortlisting / Interview
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.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
The HSE is an equal opportunities employer.
Employees of the HSE bring a range of skills, talents, diverse thinking and experience to the organisation. The HSE believes passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to its success – we aim to develop the workforce of the HSE so that it reflects the diversity of HSE service users and to strengthen it through accommodating and valuing different perspectives. Ultimately this will result in improved service user and employee experience.
The HSE is committed to creating a positive working environment whereby all employees inclusive of age, civil status, disability, ethnicity and race, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller community, religion and sexual orientation are respected, valued and can reach their full potential. The HSE aims to achieve this through development of an organisational culture where injustice, bias and discrimination are not tolerated.
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”.
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 specification may be reviewed.
This job specification 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.
Director of Public Health Nursing, Community Healthcare West
Terms and Conditions of Employment
The current vacancy is permanent and whole-time.
These posts are pensionable. A panel may be created as a result of this campaign for Director of Public Health Nursing, Primary Care Services, Community Healthcare West from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration for the post of Director of Public Health Nursing, Community Healthcare West may 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 Appointments) Act 2004 and Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Amendment Act 2013.
Remuneration
The Salary Scale (as at 01/10/2024) for the post is:
Working Week
The standard working week applying to the post is to be confirmed at Job Offer stage.
The annual leave associated with the post will be confirmed at Job Offer stage.
Superannuation
This is a pensionable position with the HSE. The successful candidate will upon appointment become a member of the appropriate pension scheme. Pension scheme membership will be notified within the contract of employment. Members of pre-existing pension schemes who transferred to the HSE on the 01st January 2005 pursuant to Section 60 of the Health Act 2004 are entitled to superannuation benefit terms under the HSE Scheme which are no less favourable to those which they were entitled to at 31st December 2004.
Every 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.
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.
Mandated Person Children First Act 2015
As a mandated person under the Children First Act 2015 you will have a legal obligation:
· To report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to TUSLA.
· To assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report.
You will remain a mandated person 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. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
Health & Safety
It is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that the management of safety, health and welfare is successfully integrated into all activities undertaken within their area of responsibility, so far as is reasonably practicable. Line managers are named and roles and responsibilities detailed in the relevant Site Specific Safety Statement (SSSS).
Key responsibilities include:
· Developing a SSSS for the department/service, as applicable, based on the identification of hazards and the assessment of risks, and reviewing/updating same on a regular basis (at least annually) and in the event of any significant change in the work activity or place of work.
· Ensuring that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is integrated into day-to-day business, providing Systems Of Work (SOW) that are planned, organised, performed, maintained and revised as appropriate, and ensuring that all safety related records are maintained and available for inspection.
· Consulting and communicating with staff and safety representatives on OSH matters.
· Ensuring a training needs assessment (TNA) is undertaken for employees, facilitating their attendance at statutory OSH training, and ensuring records are maintained for each employee.
· Ensuring that all incidents occurring within the relevant department/service are appropriately managed and investigated in accordance with HSE procedures.
· Seeking advice from health and safety professionals through the National Health and Safety Function Helpdesk as appropriate.
· Reviewing the health and safety performance of the ward/department/service and staff through, respectively, local audit and performance achievement meetings for example.
Note: Detailed roles and responsibilities of Line Managers are outlined in local SSSS.
Ethics in Public Office 1995 and 2001
Positions remunerated at or above the minimum point of the Grade VIII salary scale (€ 66,812 as at 01.01.2018) are designated positions under Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. Any person appointed to a designated position must comply with the requirements of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 as outlined below;
A) In accordance with Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, a person holding such a post is required to prepare and furnish an annual statement of any interests which could materially influence the performance of the official functions of the post. This annual statement of interest should be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer not later than 31st January in the following year.
B) In addition to the annual statement, a person holding such a post is required, whenever they are performing a function as an employee of the HSE and have actual knowledge, or a connected person, has a material interest in a matter to which the function relates, provide at the time a statement of the facts of that interest. A person holding such a post should provide such statement to the Chief Executive Officer. The function in question cannot be performed unless there are compelling reasons to do so and, if this is the case, those compelling reasons must be stated in writing and must be provided to the Chief Executive Officer.
C) A person holding such a post is required under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 to act in accordance with any guidelines or advice published or given by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Guidelines for public servants on compliance with the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 are available on the Standards Commission’s website http://www.sipo.gov.ie/
[1] A template SSSS and guidelines are available on the National Health and Safety Function/H&S web-pages.
[2] See link on health and safety web-pages to latest Incident Management Policy.
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