Head of Clinical Care and Education

**Overall aims**: To ensure that patient care and the experience of families and carers is equitable, professional and of an excellent standard. To provide strong leadership to clinical managers and vision in the development and management of clinical services, ensuring that agreed objectives are delivered. To support the implementation and expression of our values Caring, Aspiring, Professional, Sustainable at all levels throughout the hospice. To involve clinical leads in strategic and operational decisions at the hospice To work with the clinical leads to stay aware of changing policies, practices and innovation within palliative care and to implement relevant changes in the Hospice.

To comply with the requirements of the Regulatory body, to ensure the hospice adheres to, and surpasses, statutory requirements and essential standards of quality and safety, and also of other appropriate bodies and legislation. To be the hospice Safeguarding Lead, providing strategic and operational direction for policy development and management of safeguarding concerns. To be the Hospices Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) and Caldicott Guardian. To provide support and strategic direction to the Education Team,.

To play an active role in the senior management team, providing overall leadership and management for the hospice as a whole, and to deputise for colleagues including the CEO as required. To be an ambassador for St Marys Hospice as a charity, engaging in public speaking and fundraising initiatives as required and encouraging the nursing team to do the same. KEY AREAS Strategic management To participate in the development and implementation of the Hospices strategic plans, annual business plans and service level agreements with the NHS and other commissioners. Ork proactively with NHS commissioners to ensure they have the data they need to assure them of the quality of the services provided through contract.

To work with others to maintain a knowledge and understanding of key developments in service delivery and improvements in palliative care in order to help the Hospice to maintain a patient-centred service. With senior clinical staff, promote high standards of care and appropriate innovative practice to respond to the needs of patients and families. Manage required change effectively To take the lead in the development and implementation of agreed policies and procedures across all clinical areas. To lead identified areas of project work across the Hospice.

Operational management - working alongside the Clinical Leads Group To ensure that the hospice complies with Care Quality Commission standards, developing and ensuring the implementation of any action plans necessary to address recommendations following inspections. Regularly review staffing establishments to ensure the Hospice has a safe, cost effective and flexible workforce across 24 hours 365 days a year. To give support to staff, ensuring agreed quality standards are understood and delivered by all staff, together with effective team working. To undertake regular management briefings with clinical teams.

To produce reports and statistics on aspects of patient care, e.g. patient activity, clinical procedures etc. for the Chief Executive and the Board as required. To promote a just learning culture in which staff feel confident to speak up and report incidents when things go wrong, and lessons are learnt and shared when errors occur.

To ensure a root cause analysis is undertaken following incidents and near misses and that identified actions are followed through; provide reports for Governance Committee. To act as Case Investigator for investigations relating to doctors practice. To support the Chief Executive and other members of the Senior Management Team and personally contribute to decision-making processes to enable effective day-to-day management of Hospice services and out of hours management support. To undertake Performance Development Reviews with Clinical Leads, ensuring all staff have the opportunity to reach their potential, that their contributions are valued and that they perform in line with their agreed objectives.

To be responsible for the Clinical budget. To investigate any complaints from patients, their families, visitors and staff, ensuring also that active learning takes place as required. To identify any staff action/behaviour that may require attention in accordance with Hospice procedures and take appropriate action, keeping the Chief Executive appraised of all situations. To be responsible for the integration of clinical teams to ensure effective use of staff across clinical areas whilst fostering a supportive working environment and monitoring staff morale.

Support and facilitate changing clinical practice Clinical To support definition of clinical standards, in line with national and required hospice standards. To promote a multi-disciplinary approach to care by facilitating good inter-disciplinary communication