Clinical Placement Co-ordinator

Clinical Placement Co-ordinator (CNM II) - Nurse Practice Development Department

Adult Nursing Services

Permanent Full-Time Post

Reference Number:
QUALIFICATIONS

1. Each candidate must on the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office -: Be registered in the General Division of the active Register held by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or be entitled to be so registered. Have 5 years post registration experience and a minimum of 2 years must be in a student learning environment. Have a third level qualification at not less than level 7 on the NFQ framework. Have completed Preceptorship in Practice Course or Teaching & Assessing Course. Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role. Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Demonstrate evidence of continuing learning and professional development 2. Age Restrictions In Relation To Applications
Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed applications for the office occurs.

3. 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 as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4. Be of good character.

5. Garda Vetting
Garda Vetting is sought for all employees and prospective employees of Tallaght University Hospital. Given the specialised nature of the services provided, your appointment will be subject to satisfactory Garda Vetting and re-vetting in circumstances where the Hospital deems it appropriate. The Hospital will then process the necessary documentation to endeavour to obtain satisfactory Garda clearance for you. You are obliged to disclose previous and any criminal convictions acquired during the course of your employment. Should the Hospital obtain information from the Garda Vetting Unit to indicate that your Garda clearance report is not satisfactory and / or if you have supplied the hospital with false or misleading information in relation to your Garda clearance status, the Hospital reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contract in accordance with Tallaght University Hospital Garda Vetting policy.
6. Mandated and Designated Persons under Children First Act 2015 Schedule 2 of the Children First Act 2015 specifies the classes of persons defined as Mandated Persons for the purposes of the Act. This includes a range of disciplines that are employed by the hospital including all medical practitioners, registered nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers and others. This includes staff working in adult services. All mandated persons have two main legal obligations under the Children First Act 2015. Mandated persons, under the legislation are required to report any knowledge, belief or reasonable suspicion that a child has been harmed, is being harmed, or is at risk of being harmed. The Act defines harm as assault, ill-treatment, neglect or sexual abuse, and covers single and multiple instances. Mandated persons are also required to assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report. Designated Officer are required to receive reports of suspected child abuse or neglect from any person who is of the opinion that (a) a child has been or is being assaulted, ill-treated, neglected or sexually abused, or (b) a child's health, development or welfare has been or is being avoidably impaired or neglected. Full detailed list of mandated and designated staff together with details of their roles and responsibilities can be found on ; It is the responsibility of all staff employed by TUH to be aware of their roles and responsibilities under the legislation and to complete mandatory Children First Training.

PARTICULARS OF OFFICE

1. The position is fulltime, permanent and pensionable.

2. Remuneration:
Remuneration is in accordance with the salary scale approved by the Department of Health & Children. Current remuneration with effect from 1st October 2023 is:

€57,198 by 9 increments to €67,621

Salary scales will be updated in line with nationally agreed pay agreements and will be updated accordingly and retrospective payments applied as applicable.

3. Pension arrangements and retirement age
There are three superannuation schemes currently in operation for staff in Tallaght University Hospital:

(a) Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (Non-New Entrant)
(b) Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (New Entrant)
(c) Single Public Service Pension Scheme

Please read carefully the summary of the criteria for the three superannuation schemes below. This will assist you in identifying which scheme membership is applicable to your employment circumstances.

(a) If you have been continually employed in the public service prior to the 1st April 2004 and you have not had a break in service of more than 26 weeks, you will be included in the Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (Non-New Entrant) with a Minimum Retirement Age of 60 and a Maximum Retirement Age of 65.

(b) If you have been continually employed in the public service post the 1st April 2004 and you have not had a break in service of more than 26 weeks, you will be included in the Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (New Entrant) with a Minimum Retirement Age of 65. There is no Maximum Retirement Age.

(c) If you have commenced employment in the public service as a new entrant or you are a former public servant, returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks, you will be included in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme effective from the 1st January 2013 with a minimum retirement age of 66 (rising to 67 and 68 in line with state pension changes). The maximum retirement age under this scheme will be age 70.

4. Duties:
The Clinical Placement Co-Ordinator (CNMII) will perform such duties as are outlined in this job description.

5. Hours of work:
Normal working hours are 37.5 worked over 7 days. Your contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8 am to 8 pm over 7 days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement.

6. Probation:
The successful candidate will be appointed initially for a probationary period of 6 months. During the probationary period progress or otherwise will be monitored and at the end of the probationary period the service will (a) be certified as satisfactory and confirmed in writing or if not satisfactory, the probationary period may be extended by 3 months.

7. Annual Leave:
Annual leave entitlement is 25 – 28 days pro rata depending on length of service, plus 10 Bank Holidays per annum as they occur. The annual leave year runs from 1st of April to 31st March each year.

8. Sick Leave:
Payment of salary during illness will be in accordance with arrangements as approved from time to time by the Department of Health and Children.

9. Termination of Office:
The employment may be terminated at any time by two months' notice on either side except where circumstances are dictated by the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973/91. The Management's right under this paragraph shall not be exercised save in circumstances where the Management is of the opinion that the holder of the office has failed to perform satisfactorily the duties of the post or has misconducted himself/herself in relation to the post or is otherwise unfit to hold the appointment.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY Demonstrate behaviour consistent with the Mission, Vision and values of the Hospital and ensure provision of a high standard of service. Identify and implement operational processes to the standards of best practice in order to optimise use of resources and to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. Be responsible to the Assistant Director of Nursing, Nursing Practice Development. Be professionally accountable to the Director of Nursing. SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITY

Main Duties and Responsibilities To have knowledge of the Nursing Degree programme and awareness of the clinical experiences required to meet the needs of the Nursing Degree Programme. Facilitate the undergraduate students to apply nursing theory to nursing practice in the clinical areas and develop appropriate skills and for the nursing registration. Assist in overseeing the nursing practice of students during their practice placements - this may include clinical placements not in the parent hospital or institute. Observe students' performance in the clinical setting and discuss strengths and areas for improvement with the student and the Clinical Nurse Manager in addition to providing advice to Clinical Nurse Managers and Registered Nurses on the learning needs of individual students. Assist the Clinical Nurse Manager and Registered Nurses in ensuring that students are assigned to patient care in an appropriate and effective learning way. Maintain appropriate records and at all times be aware of the assigned students' progress. Provide guidance to students and registered nurses on any issues relating to student's clinical placements, which arise in the clinical areas in TUH and its satellite clinical service areas. Ensure that each student is assessed by the Clinical Nurse Manager or designated Registered Nurse in accordance with agreed procedures and standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Discuss the students' performance with the Ward/Departmental Clinical Nurse Manager/designated Registered Nurse and the student prior to completion of assessment records at the end of each practice placement. Assist in creating a clinical learning environment that enhances the student's clinical competence. Observe and report to the area CNM and the Assistant Director of Nursing in Nurse Practice Development any practices, procedures or behaviour in the clinical areas that could create a poor learning environment. Assist in formulating corrective measures in collaboration with appropriate nursing personnel. Assist with orientation programmes for student nurses. Introduce students to key personnel and explain hospital layout, policies, procedures and regulations. Assist students to adapt to the clinical environment. Liaise with the Link Tutor assigned to the clinical areas. Act as liaison between the students, the clinical placement areas and Trinity College. Provide individual clinical training assistance to students if required to do so and observe students' performance in actual nursing situations. Support Clinical Nurse Manager and Staff Nurses in their teaching role and in ensuring that the students' learning objectives and required competencies are achieved. Ensure that students at all times meet the requirements of the stated dress and behaviour code in the clinical areas. Advice and guide students in relation to these areas. Participate in nurse practice development activities as designated by the Nurse Practice Development Department leads in order to promote best practice within the nursing service and the organisation. Participate in the delivery of corporate training and education programmes as assigned by the Assistant Director of Nursing Nurse Practice Development. Avail of learning opportunities in the clinical area to maintain clinical skills. Maintain clinical credibility by ongoing clinical presence and working alongside students in a supportive capacity. In order to maintain clinical skills, the Clinical Placement Co-ordinator will be allocated to clinical practice for specific periods of time. The Clinical Placement Co-ordinator will be assigned to specific clinical areas; however, both the extent and location of these areas may be changed from time to time. Note: The primary role of the Clinical Placement Co-ordinator is not that of a Clinical Teacher. The primary focus for all teaching in the clinical areas must be the clinical practitioners i.e. Ward and Department Clinical Nurse Managers and Registered Nurses.

Professional Development Keep abreast of current trends and developments in professional nursing matters and relevant specialist clinical knowledge. Participate in continuous professional development. Engage in personal development planning with the Assistant Director of Nursing Nurse Practice Development on an annual basis or more often if required. Information Technology Ensure that the team makes the most effective and efficient use of developments in information technology for both patient care and administrative support in a manner, which integrates well with systems throughout the organisation. Ensure that all staff are trained in the use of computer systems, which are used in the management of patient episodes in the Hospital, e.g.: Pims, Order comms, Symphony, sap, core. Health & Safety Ensure the compliance of all your staff with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005. Comply and enact Health and Safety responsibilities as outlined in Hospital policies, protocols and procedures relevant to your area. Prepare risk assessments and departmental safety statements as required. Hygiene/Infection Control Ensure that all your staff are advised of their responsibility for Hygiene awareness. Hygiene is defined as "The practice that serves to keep people and environments clean and prevent infection." Act as a role model and actively promote infection control and prevention and ensure that staff in your area familiarise themselves with the hospital infection control policies and guidelines as outlined in the Infection Control Manual. Ensure that staff in your area are aware that they work in an area where there is potential for transmission of infection. Ensure that all your staff are advised that they have a responsibility to prevent the transmission of infection particularly in relation to hand hygiene. Quality, safety and risk management Support the delivery of the Quality, Safety and Risk Management Programme, including the appropriate identification and management of risks and incidents throughout the hospital. Confidentiality You will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in particular, the right of patients to confidentiality. To this end, you will not discuss workings of the Hospital or its patients or disclose any information of a confidential nature except as required to do so in the course of your work. No records, documents or property of the Hospital may be removed from the premises of the Hospital without prior authorisation. You must return to the Hospital upon request and, in any event, upon the termination of your employment, all documents or other property of the Hospital which are in your possession or under your control. Data Management Ensure compliance with the obligations required by the Data Protection Act 2018. Development of Hospital Groups The Hospital Structure is currently under review and therefore, reporting relationships may change. The development of Hospital Groups may require the post-holder to adopt a different reporting relationship and additional accountabilities. Full consultation will take place in advance of any such change.

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