Head of Night Nursing

Job Title: Head of Night Nursing (Assistant Director of Nursing equivalent)

Reporting to: Director of Clinical Affairs

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours of work: Full Time (35 Hours/week) – 9am to 5pm Mon - Fri. Weekend on-call (from home) is required on a rota basis.

Location: The Society operates a hybrid working model with a combination of remote and in-person (Dublin office) attendance days are Wednesday & Thursday weekly.

Direct Reports: Team Leads/Managers and Night Nursing Admin Team

WHO WE ARE

The Irish Cancer Society is a community of patients, survivors, volunteers, supporters, health and social care professionals and researchers. Together, we are working to save lives and improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

A cancer diagnosis impacts all areas of a person’s life. At the Irish Cancer Society, we aim to reduce this burden of cancer and improve the quality of life for everyone affected by cancer, from diagnosis to end of life.

Core to the delivery of our services is our Night Nursing Service. This service provides End of Life care for patients in their homes, to allow people to die surrounded by their loved ones, should they wish.

You Will:

Lead our night nursing service, ensuring high quality patient centred care, and managing the effective operation of the service.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Service operations and management:

• Ensure the safe, high-quality and patient-centric delivery of night nursing care, including implementation of quality standards (e.g. HIQA, Safer Better Healthcare Standards).
• Operate the service within scope of practice and NMBI code of Professional Conduct in line with principles of best practice and clinical governance.
• Oversee the management of bookings (requests for nurses) from Community Specialist Palliative Care (CSPC) Teams and health care providers, ensuring the service operates effectively and efficiently.
• Continually assess the service processes, and amend as you see fit, building in efficiencies and quality improvement.
• Ensure that night nurses are provided with regular support and supervision.
• Safeguard nurses, families and the ICS by updating clinical and operational procedures and policies.
• Resolve any service complaints in accordance with policy and highest standards of transparency, patient-centricity and fairness.
• Prepare the annual night nursing service budget and oversee the ongoing management of this budget.
• Support risk management initiatives and maintain a risk register.
• Ensure day to day management of and compliance with HSE service level agreements.
• Engage with External organisations and adhere to MoUs already in place.

Leading and managing a high-performing team:

• Manage, motivate and inspire a high performing team.
• Attract, recruit and retain a bank of night nurses who can deliver high standards of safe patient care.
• Ensure the professional development of all members of the team.
• Foster a great team culture within the Night Nursing team.

Relationships and partnerships:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with CSPC Teams and other healthcare providers.
• Ensure that CSPC Teams and other healthcare providers requesting night nurses are aware of operational guidelines for the service.
• Work effectively with colleagues across the Society’s Services Department and wider organisation.
• Support awareness of the service and the Society, contribute to the promotion of the Society’s brand.

Performance, service development and clinical governance

• Provide strategic input for short, medium and long-term requirements of the night nursing service.
• Participate and lead research projects and other strategy projects within night nursing.
• Provide a key role in the clinical governance of the Irish Cancer Society.
• Effectively analyse data related to service performance and delivery, and report on same.
• Ensure that feedback is obtained about the service and be responsive to opportunities for improvement.
• Keep up to date on developments in palliative care in Ireland.
• Conduct reviews of the Night Nursing Service on a regular basis.
• Ensure the agreed policies and procedures of Irish Cancer Society are known and understood by staff.
• Participate in reviewing and updating existing policies and procedures.
• Ensure the efficient and effective use of nursing resources.
• Planning service and nursing innovations and developments.
• Ensuring an effective learning and development environment for all members of staff.
• Assist in the capture, analysis, presentation and communication of clinical audit and safety and quality assurance information.
• Assist in identifying, communicating, implementing, evaluating actions and auditing outcomes relating to recommendations and improvement projects.

Person Specification:

• Compassionate and person-centric: you care deeply about patients and their families.
• Collaborative people leader: you thrive in collaborative environments.
• A problem solver: you see situations from different angles.
• Technologically Savvy: you’re comfortable using technology tools across your work.
• Insight oriented: you use data and feedback to generate insights.
• Demonstrate both clinical and professional leadership: enabling a multidisciplinary team culture of continuous staff learning.

Qualifications and experience:

• Has been in Healthcare Leadership for 5 years or more.
• Registered General Nurse with The Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
• 7 years post-registration experience in the Acute hospital setting.
• 2 years Management Experience at CNM II level.
• Completed a formal recognised post-registration education relevant to the role.
• Post Registration Qualification in Healthcare related profession.
• Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development.
• A post-graduate qualification in healthcare management or its equivalent is preferred.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Knowledge of Irish healthcare regulations and best practice.

General:

• The Irish Cancer Society operates a no smoking policy.
• Be willing to occasionally work outside of normal working hours.
• All employees are required to be aware of their responsibilities towards health and safety.
• This job description is not exhaustive; it may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the Society.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 25th February 2025.

Please note all CVs are logged through a 3rd party system for processing.

WE DO NOT REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF AGENCIES.

The Irish Cancer Society is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees.

Some of our Benefits:

• 23 days Annual Leave a year or Pro Rata equivalent, plus public holidays.
• Service Days - Additional days awarded to reflect long service with the Society.
• Flexitime.
• Sick Pay Scheme (following Probationary period).
• Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (after 6 months).
• Group membership for VHI and HSF (health plans).
• Bus/Rail Ticket Scheme and Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Death In Service Benefit (from commencement of employment).
• Paid Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, Force Majeure and compassionate Leave).
• Learning and Development Programmes.
• Educational Assistance (Study and Examination Leave).
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Optional Flu vaccine provided.