JOB DESCRIPTION

1. JOB DETAILS
Job Title: / Clinical Lead
Immediate Senior Officer/Line Manager: / House / Home Manager
Departments: / Erskine Homes
Division: / Care
Job Reference: / CD0004
2. JOB PURPOSE
The Clinical Lead is responsible for the care and support of residents and the promotion of standards of care that meet regulatory requirements and comply with evidenced standards of best practice. The post holder will provide clinical, professional and managerial leadership to support to care staff in order to maintain a high quality of relationship centred care that meets the needs of residents. The Clinical Lead plays a key role in overseeing the content of resident’s care plans and the follow up of incidents, giving feedback to staff. The Clinical Lead will undertake a clinical role with a half day each week assigned to support the Home / House Managers improvement initiatives. (S)he will assist in the training and induction of new staff and will take responsibility for audit of practice and implementation of quality improvement initiatives. The Clinical Lead will deputise in the absence of the House / Home Manager as required.
3. DIMENSIONS
Clinical Lead responsibilities will cover all aspects of clinical care within their area including deployment and clinical supervision of staff and the supervision of students, when required. The Clinical Lead will be required to meet the operational needs of the service, although may be required to work in any of the work streams to meet the needs of the organisation. Ensures compliance with regulatory and best practice standards.
Number of Staff – The Clinical Lead will supervise the clinical practice of staff and will deputise for the House / Home Manager in his / her absence. The team consists of : Home Manger / House Manager, Clinical Lead , Registered Nurses, Senior Care Assistants, Care Assistants, Recreation Assistants,
Budget – The Clinical Lead has no direct budgetary responsibility but, will be expected to be aware of the costs of supplies and ensure cost effective ordering and staffing.
4. ORGANISATION CHART


5. ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT
Care is Erskine’s core business. The division provides relationship-centred care and support for residents.
*Erskine Care Home
Erskine Home is divided into 4 Houses:
·  Haig House - a 30-bedded Dementia Care Unit with Respite Care provision
·  Ramsay House - a 30-bedded Dementia Care Unit with Respite Care provision.
·  Red Cross House – 30 bed unit providing Nursing, Respite and Dementia Care
·  McKellar House - 30 bed unit providing Nursing, Respite and Dementia Care
·  Yarrow House- 30 bed unit providing Nursing, Respite and Dementia Care
·  Pearson House 30 bed unit providing Nursing, Respite and Dementia Care
Erskine Edinburgh Care Home consists of 2 wings : 40 beds and 32 beds:
·  Rothesay Wing – 32 beds:
o  Linburn House - 12-bedded Dementia Unit
o  Trenchard and Mair House - 20-bedded unit delivering Nursing Care
·  Shepherd Wing – 40 beds:
o  Craiglockhart and Owen House - 20-bedded unit delivering Nursing Care
o  Rivers House - 10 bedded Dementia Care Unit
o  Sassoon House - - 10-bedded unit delivering Nursing care
Personnel Recovery Centre (PRC) is a 16-bedded unit which supports armed forces personnel for rehabilitation. Erskine provides support services, food and domestic services, on a daily basis for the PRC but has no care input to the centre.
Erskine Glasgow Care Home consists of 3 Houses; 46 beds:
·  Mitchell House - 15-bedded unit providing Nursing Care
·  Linburn House – 16 bedded unit providing nursing and dementia care
·  Flanders House – 15 bedded unit providing Dementia Care
Erskine Park Care Home consists of 4 Houses; 40 bedded purpose built unit delivering Dementia Care.
* Delete as appropriate
The main activities are as follows:
§  To promote a standard of care and support in accordance with regulatory requirements and best practice standards
§  Provide Clinical Lead ship to the care team
§  Lead and support quality improvement initiatives in the unit.
§  Additional support for residents is provided by Erskine’s Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) and recreation staff.
The main activities are as follows:
§  Providing physiotherapy and speech and language therapy to meet the assessed needs of residents
§  Providing recreational facilities that meet the identified preferences of residents
§  AHPs : Providing a professional resource for staff
6. KEY RESULT AREAS
1.  Provision of Clinical Lead ship to the care team resulting in evidenced high standards of practice that meet regulatory and best practice requirements.
2.  Professional accountability for ensuring compliance with national and local Erskine care policies Achieving improvement in standards of practice using audit findings to inform quality improvement initiatives.
3.  Accountability for accurate record keeping in line with NMC guidelines
4.  Responsibility for ensuring that record keeping within the post holders area of responsibility complies with agreed standards
5.  Supervision of staff that (s)he is responsible for including annual development reviews.
6.  Health and Safety –
a.  Operate safe working practices with due regard to Health and Safety Regulations.
b.  Ensure that all accidents and incidents are correctly reported and follow-up action implemented
7.  Provide advice and supported learning as a mentor to the student nurses in line with University and NMC guidelines and requirements.
8.  Work with teams to develop and deliver quality relationship centred care practices.
9.  Improved resident and staff experience, supporting the Home / House Manager to ensure sustained improvement.
7. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK and DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
The work of a Clinical Lead is determined by the objectives set by the Care Directorate in line with Erskine’s Strategy. Formal review will take place annually, and through supervision sessions; however, more regular updates will take place to ensure that progress is made against the business plan.
The Clinical Lead is responsible for providing Clinical Lead ship to the care team, setting standards of practice and ensuring that the required standards are met.
The Clinical Lead will be expected to demonstrate effective deployment of staff in line with their experience and role.
(S)he will exercise professional judgement in relation to the assignment of work and decisions affecting the care and support of residents
The post holder will support the Home / House Manager in the implementation of new models of working. The postholder will assist in making decisions about the readiness of staff for the implementation of new initiatives.
The post holder provides professional advice and support to care staff within his / her area of work and within the wider operational group on all matters relating to the delivery and management of relationship-centred care.
Is monitored on an ongoing basis and is appraised at least annually
8. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

·  Verbal and written communication and reports as and when required
·  Regular contact with peers and manager’s to report the progress of initiatives and activities seeking clarification on matters as required
·  Contact with residents, relatives, stakeholders, friends and staff, external agencies, as required
·  Leading the delivery of change management in the unit
·  Accurate and timely communication with residents, relatives, friends and staff to ensure everyone is informed about key events / changes

External

Health Boards, Care Inspectorate, Social Work Department, GP’s, Dentists, Opticians, NMC, SSSC, PRC, Further Education facilities, Mental Welfare Commission.
9. MOST CHALLENGING PARTS OF THE JOB
In the ever changing role of Clinical Lead the post holder will support the Home / House Manager in developing and introducing new ways of working. This must be undertaken in a sensitive manner, whilst continuing to ensure that challenging timetable requirements are met. To continue to maintain and develop the role the Clinical Lead must ensure that there is consistency throughout the organisation through personal development and working as an effective team member.
The post holder will develop and apply effective communication methods to ensure that residents, friends and staff are kept fully informed about developments.
10. SYSTEMS
The post holder will use a variety of systems as detailed below:
·  General office tools that include email, word-processing, spreadsheet and presentations in standard office software
·  CareSys
·  LearnPro for learning and development and logging staff training
·  Cascade to maintain departmental personal information e.g. annual leave, sickness absence, performance management, in the absence of the House / Home Manager.
·  Use of the internet and intranet for research and education.
Familiarisation with the functionality of any new systems/processes delivered as part of the role may be necessary in the future.
11. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL EFFORT
Physical Effort
Physical effort including the moving and handling of residents and equipment. This includes the use of stand aids, hoists, wheelchairs, etc. There may also be a requirement for the post holder to travel to other sites to attend meetings, conduct audit visits and/or training.

Mental Effort

Concentration required for communication with governing/professional bodies, leading meetings, influencing staff, senior managers and practitioners, public speaking, analysing problems and proposing solutions particularly in relation to legislative/regulatory changes. Working under pressure and balancing multiple demands.
Emotional Effort
The post holder will regularly deal with challenging problems that require sustained resilience and energy. As a Clinical Lead the post holder will be responsible for people management, including reviewing staff performance, negotiating improvement, setting standards, undertaking disciplinary action where required and conveying potentially unwelcome news, e.g. informing a relative of a death of a resident or a Care Inspectorate inspection.
12. ENVIRONMENTAL/WORKING CONDITIONS & MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT

Environmental & Working Conditions

The post holder will be based within a care environment overseeing and providing the delivery of clinical and personal care. There will be a requirement to visit other areas and sites to attend meetings or deliver presentations that may involve the use of transport. There will also be a requirement to be flexible in the working patterns required to fulfil the tasks and duties within the scope of this post.

Machinery & Equipment

The post holder will use a PC and telephone on a regular basis as well as other usual office based tools including fax machines, photocopiers and printers. The post holder will utilise a variety of moving and handling equipment, when appropriate.
13. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
First-Level Registered Nurse qualification with at least 3 years prior experience in a similar business management role preferably, but not essentially, within a Care of the Older Adult environment.
Progress towards an SVQIIII management qualification would be beneficial.
Experienced Registered Nurse with expertise in the management of staff, implementation of change initiatives and the management of change.
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and influence key staff and managers and maintain effective working relationships with them.
Knowledge of the principles, strategies and requirements underpinning Care of the Older Adult Services (or other similar complex organisations) is desirable.
IT literacy.
Demonstrate maturity and reliability of approach
Commitment to the delivery of high quality relationship-centred care
Ability to demonstrate professional leadership and approach in stressful situations
Able to demonstrate experience in improvement and development of the service’
14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
A separate job description will need to be signed off by each jobholder to whom the job description applies.
Job Holder’s Signature: / Date:
Head of Department Signature: / Date:
HR Department will check job description format and content and then send the job description for evaluation
HR Representative’s Signature: / Date:

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JE/JD/CLINICALLDR/JAN16