Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner (cAMP) Neonatalogy
Job Specification & Terms and Conditions
Job Title and Grade / Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner Neonatology (cAMP)(Grade Code 2536)
Campaign Reference / NRS03434
Closing Date / Tuesday 26th January 2016 @ 12 noon (GMT)
Proposed Interview Date(s) / Late February 2016
Taking up Appointment / A start date will be indicated at Job Offer stage
Duration of Post / This is a Candidate AMP position and the successful applicant is expected to pursue and obtain registration as an RAMP Neonatalogy within a 12 month period of appointment. Non-registration as an RAMP Neonatology may lead to redeployment within the organisation.
Organisational Area / Health Service Executive (HSE) West
Location of Post / UL Hospitals,Limerick with initial assignment to University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL)
Details of Service / UMHL is a regional referral centre for maternity care operating as part of the University Hospitals Group established in 2012. The group of hospitals includes, University Limerick Hospital (ULH), UMHL, Ennis, Nenagh and
St. John’s hospitals which operate as one single hospital system of corporate and clinical governance.
UMHL provides a twenty-four hour, seven-day Midwifery and Obstetric service for the region, including a 24-hour emergency service for all maternity emergencies.
The Registered Advanced Midwife Practitioner (RAMP) Neonatology when fully implemented within the service will be responsible for a defined caseload of neonates. The RAMP neonatology will utilise expertise and higher levels of judgement. The RAMP’s caseload will involve utilising advanced levels of knowledge and skills, expert practice, skills autonomy, responsibility and accountability
Accountability/Reporting Arrangements / Professionally accountable to the Group Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery – UL Hospitals or delegate.
Clinically accountable to the Consultant Neonatologists.
Key Working Relationships /
- Neonates/Service Users – neonatal interest groups
- Clinically – multi-disciplinary team
- Director/Assistant Director of Nursing/Midwifery
- Senior nurses/midwives within health service
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
- Higher Education Institution
- Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit
- Other relevant statutory and non statutory organisations
Purpose of the Post / The clinical site for the AMP Neonatology has already been prepared and successfully accredited by the Nursing Midwifery Board of Ireland.
The main purpose of the Candidate AMP Neonatology post is for the individual to work towards meeting and achieving successfully the core concepts of the role as detailed within the job specification for this accredited post. This will include the cAMP developing and submitting their personal AMP portfolio and all other necessary documentation to NMBI in order to register as an RAMP Neonatology within the agreed time frame of one year.
Concurrently, the individual will continue to develop their clinical skills, competencies and knowledge required in order to meet the criteria to be registered as an RAMP with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
The overall purpose of the RAMP post is to provide safe, timely, evidenced based nurse-led care to neonates at an advanced nursing level .This involves undertaking and documenting a complete episode of neonatal care (assess, diagnose, plan, treat and discharge neonates) according to the collaboratively agreed protocols and scope of practice in the clinical setting; demonstrating advanced clinical and theoretical knowledge, critical thinking and decision making skills.
To support a safe environment for neonates by increasing the use of evidence based clinical guidelines, address family expectations and promote wellness and evaluate care given.
To provide professional and clinical leadership in order to develop nursing/midwifery practice and health policy at local, regional and national level.
To lead, conduct, disseminate and publish neonatal nursing research to shape and advance nursing practice, education and health care policy at local, national and international levels.
In the case of application for additional posts in an area already accredited by the NMBI, the candidate will contribute to the application as directed by the Group Chief Director of Nursing/Midwifery
Principle Duties and Responsibilities / Autonomy in Clinical Practice
The Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner Neonatology will be required to:
- Identify through collaboration with Consultant Neonatologist and key stakeholders the responsibilities of the agreed neonatal caseload establishing clinical supervision requirements and processes to support cAMP to prepare for registration.
- Be aware of the clinical governance structures within University of Limerick Hospitals and outside the organisation that support advanced nursing practice including indemnity.
- Develop /review collaboratively agreed clinical decision making frameworks/ protocols /referral pathways to support nurse led delivery of care to the defined neonate caseload for the entire episode of care.
- Develop the core clinical skills and competencies to become an autonomous practitioner skilled in the delivery of quality direct care to neonates through consultant supervision and record these in his/her portfolio
- Develop the specialist competencies relevant to the defined scope of practice and caseload. Through consultant supervision and record these in his/her portfolio.
- Develop a professional portfolio which meets the standard expected for registration as an RAMP for submission to the NMBI.
- Develop expert knowledge and skills in all aspects of neonatal assessment, risk stratification and management of the neonate for whom the post has being accredited.
- Develop practical and theoretical knowledge and critical thinking to a level that will be seen as exemplary amongst peers and will be recognised and acknowledged as an authority in the specialist area of neonatal nursing.
- Develop close links with all members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure that a safe quality driven evidence based service is being delivered to all neonates within their caseload.
- Develop excellent skills in undertaking and documenting a complete episode of neonatal care in an accurate, timely and complete manner (assess, diagnose, treat and discharge).
- Develop the ability to accept accountability and responsibility for clinical decision making at advanced practice level by managing a caseload under clinical supervision.
- Develop expert clinical skills in the diagnosis and treatment of neonates within a collaboratively agreed scope of practice framework alongside other healthcare professionals.
- Undertake supervised clinical practice at an advanced level in the specialist area of practice.
- Develop the ability to use professional judgement, clinical reasoning and decision making processes to refer neonates to other health care professionals as described in the site preparation documentation.
- Participate in the future development of integrated care pathways where appropriate, utilising evidence-based practice guidelines.
- Achieve clinical competence through engagement in education, clinical supervision and peer review on an ongoing basis.
The Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner Neonatology will develop the ability to:
- Articulate and rationalise the concept of advanced neonatal nursing practice within the framework of relevant laws, rules and guidelines that govern nursing/midwifery practice including, but not exclusively, The Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework (An Bord Altranais, 2000), The Code of Professional Conduct (An Bord Altranais, 2000) Guidelines for Midwives (An Bord Altranais 2000), The Nurses Act (Government of Ireland 2011)
- Be identified in the clinical setting as an autonomous practitioner and role model demonstrating an expert level of professional competency in the area of neonatal nursing.
- Develop a means of improving practice through exploring practice issues with team members, development of practice protocols and research and audit initiatives.
- Develop skills in order to function in a variety of roles including clinical and consultative, clinical practice development, teacher, coach, manager and researcher.
- Demonstrate advanced practical and theoretical knowledge and critical thinking and decision making skills to manage a neonate caseload including comprehensive neonatal assessments which will involve:
- A focussed history of presenting illness
- Additional health history and risk stratification according to the specialist field
- Advanced physical examination
- Ordering, undertaking and interpreting tests as per agreed scope of practice
- Planning and managing care with an holistic focus, encouraging the family to be involved in care.
- Identify health promotion priorities and opportunities in the area of clinical practice.
- Deliver person centred care and advocate a health promotion and quality of life ethos.
- Evaluate care given through engagement surveys, major incident follow up, audits of compliance with relevant policies, procedures protocols and guidelines.
- Implement health promotion strategies for neonates in accordance with the public health agenda.
- Implement neonatal safety strategies in line with organisation and national safety agenda.
- To assess service demand and capacity and plan accordingly.
The Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner Neonatology will be required to develop the ability to:
- Articulate and communicate a vision of nursing/midwifery practice for the specialist area that can be developed beyond the current scope of practice and demonstrate a commitment to the development of such areas.
- Integrate neonatal assessment, diagnosis, plan of care treatment and discharge with the organisation’s nursing /midwifery philosophy and model.
- Develop good communication skills, verbal , written and listening
- Develop appropriate nursing documentation to meet the needs of the new service with input from the multidisciplinary team.
- Maintain confidentiality of neonate records.
- Manage the integration of the RAMP role into the multidisciplinary team and the effect of the new role on the work of other healthcare professionals.
- Promote an understanding of the role of the Advanced Nurse/Midwife Practitioner and increase the awareness of nurses/midwives and other grades of the scope of practice of the AMP.
- Provide professional leadership, strategic direction, expert advice and support to the clinical teams.
- Identify areas of neonatal nursing care management that require development and demonstrate a commitment to such development.
- Develop the nurse led service in line with changing service and healthcare needs.
- Ensure that any expansion of services is justified through exploration of service need, neonate demand and resource allocation.
- Contribute to professional development in nursing/midwifery and health policy development at local, regional and national level.
- Develop the skills to actively engage in leading and managing change in the delivery of health care services according to neonate/client need and service demand.
- Develop skills to participate in service planning and budgeting
- Develop skills to procure and effectively manage resources required for service provision and development.
- Develop skills to provide leadership in clinical practice and to act as a role model for advanced neonatal nursing practice for all Nursing/Midwifery staff and the multidisciplinary team.
- Demonstrate the ability to act as a mentor and preceptor in order to facilitate the education and professional development of other nursing grades and healthcare professionals
- Participate in facilitating learning and education of nurses (both undergraduate and post-graduate levels) and other health professionals in the clinical area. Provide teaching in the classroom and in the clinical area as well as presenting at conferences, seminars and workshops to enhance the advanced nursing role.
- Deliver and/or participate in in-service training, orientation and nurse training programmes as required.
- Share a vision of clinical practice with key stakeholders, communication with, valuing and enabling their contribution to care.
- Engage in a forum which evaluates quality and standards in clinical practice-develop the ability to lead in the promotion of clinical standards.
- Assess and evaluate parents of neonates’/clients’ experience /satisfaction with the service; analyse and utilise the findings to improve neonate safety and quality of care.
- Contribute to the service plan by producing an annual working report, outlining the level of current service provided, the achievements and challenges of the service and a future plan for the service.
- Contribute to the professional body of neonatal nursing knowledge and practice nationally and internationally by developing writing, publishing and presentation skills.
- Recognise limitations in scope of practice and address theoretical and practice gaps through continuing education, consultation with colleagues and consultant.
- Work to achieve excellence through continuously improving the standard and quality and safety of nursing care.
- Help to lead quality and safety improvement, risk management and standard setting projects in conjunction with clinical governance
- Ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply with Health & Safety Guidelines and Welfare at Work Act
The Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner Neonatology will develop the following skills in order to:
- Identify research priorities specific to clinical practice and the scope of practice/caseload.
- Participate in and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team in undertaking research.
- Develop skills to lead and engage in the review of accidents, incidents and near misses in specialist area. Undertake analysis as appropriate and furnish reports on same.
- Lead, conduct, disseminate and publish neonatal nursing research to shape and advance neonatal nursing practice, education and policy and the wider health agenda
- Identify, critically analyse disseminate neonatal nursing and other evidence into clinical practice.
- Promote an ethos so evidenced based practice through accessing and disseminating current speciality specific and profession specific publications.
- Initiate, participate in and evaluate audit of the client caseload and other relevant areas.
- Utilise the outcome of audit to improve service provision or initiate a change in practice.
- Initiate and foster links with third level education institutions and other organisations in relation to research.
- Contribute to service planning and budgetary processes through use of data and specialist knowledge.
- Develop data collecting systems that will inform and evaluate the service provided by the Advanced Midwife Practitioner Neonatology.
- Assist in the analysis of the data for the Vermont Oxford Neonatal Network (VON).
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and / or experience / Each candidate must, at the latest date for receipt of completed applications for the post:
Be registered in the Midwives Division of the Register of Nurses & Midwives maintained by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland)or be entitled to be so registered
And
Be educated to Masters degree level (or higher). The postgraduate programme must be in nursing/midwifery or an area which reflects the specialist field of practice (education preparation must include a substantial clinical modular component(s) pertaining to the relevant area of specialist practice)
And
Have a minimum of 7 years post-registration experience, which will include 5 years experience in the area of Neonatal nursing care
And
Have the competence to exercise higher levels of judgement, discretion and decision making in the clinical area
And
Demonstrate competencies relevant to context of practice
And
Provide evidence of continuing professional development
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
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age.
Post Specific Requirements /
- Be registered with NMBI as a Nurse Prescriber or agree to enter into a contractual agreement to complete same successfully within 1 year of appointment to cAMP Neonatology.
- Post registration qualification in Special & Intensive Care of the Newborn (or higher)
- Have undertaken a competency based education in advanced nursing practice neonatology. This will have included clinical supervised hours in history taking, advanced physical assessment, case management and pathology recognition.
Other requirements specific to the post /
- Be an active member of professional associations and organisations
- Demonstrate evidence of ongoing professional development through possession of a professional portfolio
- Possess current and valid certification for neonatal resuscitation and STABLE course.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge /
- Demonstrates the possession of specialist knowledge and clinical skills in the specific area of practice: Neonatal intense care, HDU care, SCBU care.
- Have experience and demonstrate skills in teaching in the clinical area
- Demonstrates analytical skills
- Demonstrates self-motivation and the ability to motivate and encourage others
- Demonstrates the ability to work autonomously
- Demonstrates planning and organisational skills
- Demonstrates evidence of continuing professional development
- Demonstrates evidence of information technology/ computer skills
- Demonstrates effective communication skills – oral and written
- Can articulate a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role, i.e. Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc. and demonstrates compliance with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards.
- Demonstrate competence of Microsoft Office: word, excel, power-point, outlook
- Possess valid and current certification for basic life support (BLS) and manual handling
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.
Code of Practice / The Health Service Executivewill 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 in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates” or on
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.
This job description 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.