Overview
To lead, assist and support the development of programmes of work in quality, patient safety, complaints and risk management, including clinical effectiveness and quality and service improvements. Post Specific Requirements:-Candidate must have:An excellent level of verbal and written communication skills is essential.Ability to analyse data, identify trends and make decisions.Possess excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to be empathetic; tactful and objective in relating to a wide variety of people at all levels.Excellent organisational and time management skills required in order to prioritise issues to meet objectives within agreed timeframes and achieve quality results.Proficiency with computer systems including Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel software.Track records with delivering and leading Quality Improvement projectsExperience in incident and complaint management A panel will be formed as a result of this campaign from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and/or Louth County Hospital, Dundalk may be filled.
Organisational Context
The Dublin North East Acute Hospital Group includes the following hospitals; Beaumont HospitalCavan General HospitalConnolly HospitalLouth County HospitalMonaghan General HospitalOur Lady of Lourdes HospitalRotunda HospitalMater HospitalNavan HospitalCappagh Orthopaedic Hospital The Academic Partner for the Group is the RCSI
Key Responsibilities
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is a major teaching hospital providing a range of acute medical, surgical and maternity services, day care, outpatient, diagnostic and support services. Emergency services are provided on a 365-day, 24 hour basis. Multi-disciplinary teams representative of medical, nursing, midwifery allied health professionals, management and general support staff play a pivotal role in the development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of these services. The hospital has a current bed complement of 485 beds. Louth County Hospital, Dundalk and the Cottage Hospital are part of the Hospital Group. The Hospital is affiliated to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) for medical education, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) for nursing and midwifery education. The Quality and Safety Department staff provides support to all hospital staff to enable them to incorporate safe management practice and quality in all activities in the hospital. Activities include reviewing, analysing and investigating incidents and identifying trends, co-ordination of cases reported to the Coroner, co-ordination of claims made against the hospital and promoting the health and safety of staff and patients. Another role is to ensure collaborative working with Clinicians and Senior Managers to develop and implement effective, organisational wide risk management structures, systems and processes and keep abreast of developments in national and international practice in the area of risk management. The department also strongly promotes patient advocacy through the management of complaints and compliments. The department also facilitates patient access to information through data protection and freedom of information procedures.The department works closely with the Dublin North East Acute Hospital Group Quality and Safety Directorate. Risk ManagementTo implement and oversee the Hospitals incident management system.To co-ordinate and participate in clinical and non-clinical incident reviews in line with current best practice and policy.To undertake incident reviews utilising system review methodologies.To work with all staff in ensuring incidents at hospital level are managed in a timely and professional manner.Provides risk management advice and support to the General Manager and all staff.To produce reports on incident management using the Q Pulse and the National Incident Management SystemsTo assist in the collation and provision of reports in relation to analysis of incidents trends and statistics both at Hospital and Group level. To make recommendations as requiredTo identify areas for improvement in the conduct of reviews at hospital level.Manages and co-ordinate the Hospital Incident Management Forum Quality Improvement/Learning & AuditDrive the culture of safety, service excellence and quality improvement in the Louth Hospitals by engendering commitment, encouraging cultural change, disseminating information and providing support for behavioural safety process changes.To implement and monitor the HIQA National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare across hospital sites.Coordinate and support agreed quality improvement projects within teams across the organisation with the application of QI methodologiesManage day to day communications with QI teams to ensure appropriate progress is achieved, tracked and implementedTo attend and participate and lead on committee and governance meetings, work groups, and/or process improvement teams as requiredTo act as custodian and maintain the Louth Hospitals and specialty Risk RegistersTo assist in mechanisms to obtain patient feedback and in disseminating the learning from such feedback including the National Patient Experience surveysAssists with the Clinical Audit Coordinator to coordinate and participate in audit as required including suggesting audits emerging from review recommendationsTo deliver and participate in training programmes for Hospital staff on the Quality and Risk Management agenda. Support the implementation of quality initiatives as directed by the hospital and Dublin North East Acute Hospitals group.Provide a resource to management, departments and individuals in the development of policies, procedures and guidelinesParticipate in the review of complaints in line with current best practice and policy.Ensure Hospital staff are familiar with overall Quality Improvement methodologies through regular education / training sessions.Co-ordinate Quality Improvement Programmes for departments and individuals to ensure the overall objectives and standards of the Quality and Safety Executive are achieved and maintained.To oversee the implementation of recommendations from both national and local Systems Analysis Reviews and report on progress to the Hospital Senior Management TeamsReview clinical incidents and near miss events using a systems analysis approach in collaboration with relevant clinical staff and prepare reports based on the findingsEnsure that all statutory obligations to report incidents and/ or occurrences to the State Claims Agency and other external bodies are carried out in a timely manner Data AnalysisCollate and analyse data for the hospital’s management performance reports and the quality and safety directorateTo use data and evidence to monitor service quality and assess against key performance indicatorsFacilitate, develop and support the implementation of bench marking, together with other appropriate review monitoring methodologies to enable staff assess the effectiveness of service deliveryDevelop and maintain a network of co-operative relationships at Hospital, DNE Acute Group and National level to keep up to date on initiatives and developments in the area of Quality and SafetyTo attend and participate in committee meetings, work groups, and/or process improvement teams as requiredTo use data and evidence to monitor and promote service quality Managerial ResponsibilitiesTo deputise for the Quality, Safety & Risk Manager in her absenceCreate and maintain a positive working environment among staff members, which contributes to maintaining and enhancing effective working relationshipsIdentify and agree training and development needs of team and design plan to meet needsKeep informed of the initiatives and developments in regard to all aspects of quality service and commitment taking place within the Health Service.Act as a resource to hospital staff on issues related to Quality and SafetyLiaise with the Hospital Executive Management Team, Directorate Management teams, Hospital Departments and other members of the Quality and Patient Safety Directorate to support the self-assessment and accreditation processTo line manage, mentor and supervise all members of the Quality and Patient Safety team as requiredIdentify and agree training and development needs of team and design plan to meet needs.Facilitate Staff InductionUndertake other duties as assigned by the Quality, Safety and Risk Manager Health & SafetyWork in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of othersImplement agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standardsBe responsible for risk minimisation and management of own area of work and report any potential hazards of any respect of the service to the line managerDocument appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of the relevant person(s)
Essential Criteria
This campaign is confined to staff who are currently employed by the HSE, TUSLA, other statutory health agencies*, or a body which provides services on behalf of the HSE under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004 as per Workplace Relations Commission agreement -161867 Each candidate must: Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition: (a) Have a healthcare professional qualification or equivalent and (b) Have worked in the acute adult hospital sector in Ireland for minimum of three years and (c) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability, for the proper discharge of the office. HealthA 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. CharacterEach candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character. AgeThe Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act, 2018* set 70 years as the compulsory retirement age for public servants. * Public Servants not affected by this legislation:Public servants recruited between 1 April 2004 and 31 December 2012 (new entrants) have no compulsory retirement age. Public servants recruited since 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Pension Scheme and have a compulsory retirement age of 70
Skills & Competencies
Professional Knowledge & Experience• Demonstrates knowledge and experience relevant to the role as per the duties & responsibilities, eligibility criteria and post specific requirements of the role• Maximises the use of ICT, demonstrating excellent computer skills• Demonstrate evidence of professional knowledge of ICT project management• Demonstrate capacity for management responsibility and demonstration of initiative, including decision making. Improve efficiency within working environment ability to evolve and adapt to a Rapid Changing Environment.• Demonstrate commitment to developing own professional knowledge and expertise.Planning & Organising• The ability to look ahead and forward plan for service developments. • Anticipates trends and identifies opportunities. • Ensures that the learning from new service models and practices influences service planning. Leadership & Teamwork• Provide leadership to all staff within his/her area of responsibility.• Develop a shared sense of commitment in the provision of services• The ability to ensure that critical human and material resources are allocated in an effective way, monitors activity levels and intervenes to align resources and maximise efficiencies. Critical Analysis & Decision Making • Has the ability to analyse and evaluate, in a rational, objective, consistent and systematic manner, a range of information and identify the core issues and arguments at hand.• Has the ability to consider a range of options available, involving other parties at the appropriate time and level and makes balanced and timely decisions.Shows a strong degree of self-sufficiency, being capable of personally pushing proposals and recommending decisions on a proactive basis. Communication & Interpersonal skills• The ability to get a message across fluently and persuasively in a variety of different media – oral, written and electronic. • The ability to make a compelling case to positively influence the thinking of others. • Is strategic in how he/she goes about influencing others: shows strong listening and sensing skills. This Job Description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the position and is subject to regular review and amendment. The role holder will be required to be flexible in this position and is expected to facilitate working additional hours on occasion, when requested.The Dublin North East Acute Hospital Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer.