Clinical Quality Practitioner

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the permanent appointment of a Clinical Quality Practitioner to join the Quality and Education team within Adult Critical Care. This is an exciting time in Adult Critical Care as we continue to grow and develop our education programmes in the region and launch a virtual learning platform to support this. We are also looking to develop the role of the registered and non registered in Critical Care.

Adult Critical Care is committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice so that our organisation is an inclusive, welcoming, and inspiring place to work, regardless of age, disability, trans identity or history, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a dynamic individual who will lead on all aspects of quality improvement and education within Critical Care. The post holder will have in-depth specialist knowledge of critical care and experience of quality improvement methods with a proven track record for implementing change.

You will have extensive experience in teaching within the speciality of critical care and will be expected to lead a creative multi-disciplinary education program incorporating the STEPS programme, simulation and lessons learned from serious incidents.

The successful candidate will have a proactive approach and commitment to improving patient experience and to enhance staff, patient and public involvement in service changes.

The post holder will spend 20% of their time working rostered clinical shifts within the clinical environment to maintain expert clinical skills and promote quality improvement and to drive standards of care and improve the patient experience.

About us

Adult Critical Care provides HDU and ICU care for patients from Leeds and across the West Yorkshire region. This includes Critical Care Outreach and Rehabilitation.

Adult Critical Care consists of five units encompassing general, neurosurgical and cardiac services. Based across two sites, Leeds General Infirmary and St Jamess University Hospital, each unit provides HDU and ICU care for patients from Leeds and across the West Yorkshire region. In addition to this, Adult Critical Care also has a Critical Care Outreach Team to support escalation of deteriorating patents from the wards to Critical Care and a Critical Care Rehabilitation Team to support the transition of care for our patients once they are discharged to the ward and enable Rehab.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

1. JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Clinical Quality Practitioner

Reports to: Clinical Quality Lead Nurse

Accountable to: Head of Nursing

Grade: Band 7

Unit/Department: ACC CSU

Location : LGI/SJUH

AFC No: 2471c

2. JOB PURPOSE

The post holder will lead on all aspects of quality including; monitoring, audit, review and improvements within a designated Critical Care Unit.

The Clinical Quality Practitioner will promote an environment which is conducive to learning, to enable personal and professional development of all team members. The post holder will act as a mentor and teacher and support delivery of the CSU educational strategy.

The post holder will be required to be competent and maintain competence in all aspects of Critical Care nursing and disseminate specialist knowledge & skills through experience, education and training.

The Clinical Quality Practitioner will support the designated Critical Care Unit to improve the patient experience and to enhance staff, patient and public involvement in service changes.

The post holder will spend 20% of their time working rostered clinical shifts within the clinical environment to maintain expert clinical skills and promote quality improvement to drive standards of care and improve the patient experience.

3. JOB DIMENSIONS

Be actively involved in the monitoring, auditing and setting of standards to ensure quality of care within the critical care unit/s.

From available sources, quality indicators and ward metrics identify areas requiring support and improvements, producing and implementing action plans where required.

Support and undertake project work to deliver on both local and wider quality agendas

Maintain competence in specialist area

Provide education and training as required

Ensure effective communication throughout the individual unit

Seek out opportunities to identify and promote continuous quality improvement

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Qualifications

Registered Nurse (Level 1)

Recognised teaching/assessing qualification

Relevant critical care qualification

First degree or equivalent experience (desirable)

Management/Leadership qualification (desirable)

Knowledge

In-depth specialist knowledge of critical care

Experience of quality improvement methods

Proven clinical and leadership experience

Insight into current issues in nursing/professional issues

Skills

Proven clinical and leadership experience

Excellent communication skills

Ability to teach, supervise and assess

Work in partnership with clinical teams to deliver Nursing & Midwifery agendas

Ability to motivate and enthuse staff

Proven organisational skills

IT skills

Experience

Significant experience at a senior within the field of Critical Care

Able to demonstrate contribution to quality improvement

Significant experience of staff development

Line management experience

Experience of clinical audit and standard setting

Able to demonstrate an active role in teaching

Working with a wide range of professional colleagues

Behaviour

Has a pro-active approach

Demonstrates ability to handle change effectively

Has a flexible and adaptable approach to work

Ability to work using own initiative

Demonstrates flexibility within working patterns

Has self-awareness

Demonstrates courage

Demonstrates compassion

6. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred

Collaborative

Fair

Accountable

Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

Additionally, the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

Commitment to delivering high quality evidence-based care

Commitment to working in a multi-disciplinary team

Commitment to promoting a positive and creative working environment

Commitment to own development and the development of junior staff

Promotes a professional image and a positive approach to problem solving

Promotes a culture of equality, mutual respect, diversity and trust

Commitment to maintaining standards through education, training and development

Commitment to support, uphold and demonstrate the core values and behaviours of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

7. WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT)

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.

By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.

WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition.

8. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

Teaching and assessing skills

Communication skills, ability to communicate to large groups complex messages

Time management skills, the ability to prioritise workload

Commitment to team working promoting a culture of trust and respect

Ability to act professionally at all times

Understanding of the process of change

To resolve and manage conflict particularly when delivering emotive messages

Uses initiative to resolve issues within their own control

Audit and risk management skills

Ability to manage data from a variety of sources and formulate into user friendly information

Ability to positively lead change, modernisation and new ways of working

Communicates with Patient and Public Involvement Groups in line with Trust policy

9. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

An understanding of the organisational structure and working practices of the organisation

Understanding of the local and national nursing agenda

Awareness of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies

9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Quality

Lead on all aspects of quality within the unit/s, ensuring standards are communicated and maintained and regular audits are undertaken.

Proactively forge and nurture good working relationships

Monitor available data/intelligence on quality to identify any trends and performance profiles

Undertake and supervise investigation processes including: Route Cause Analysis (RCA), identifying lessons learnt and devising and monitoring action plans.

Produce reports to provide direction and learning for the unit Matron.

Identify training needs of groups and individuals to support service and quality improvement

Facilitate task and finish groups using known quality improvement tools and techniques, driving and challenging to innovate

Attend unit meetings as required to report on quality related issues, actions and outcomes.

Assist the Unit Matron/Clinical Quality Lead Nurse to improve, devise and implement consistent processes and systems for quality surveillance and assurance

Clinical

Work with the Unit Matron/Clinical Quality Lead Nurse to ensure the development of nursing practice, reflecting the CSU and corporate Nursing objectives

Provide a clinical lead and role model to the nursing team by delivering high quality specialist care as an expert practitioner

Communicate complex and highly sensitive patient information to the patient their relatives and or carers

Ensure the delivery of high quality care through the setting & monitoring of standards, and benchmarking using nursing metrics the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Ward Health Check and national critical care standards

Ensure accurate and contemporaneous records (both paper and electronic) are maintained and updated using Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trusts documentation

Work with the Unit Matron/Clinical Quality Lead Nurse to ensure that clinical governance processes encompass measures to ensure the quality of the fundamental and essential aspects of care

Support the implementation of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Nursing Care standards.

Work with Infection Control to monitor the environment to maintain and raise standards

Acts in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery code of conduct

Work with other members of the MDT to coordinate and participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of professional policies that affect your area

Acts in such a way that safeguards the health and well-being of children and vulnerable adults at all times. Is familiar with and adheres to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Safeguarding Policies.

Leadership

Delegate and empower staff without abdicating overall, continuing responsibility

Participate in policy or service changes, relating to critical care

Actively promote the incident reporting process.

Raise concerns with regards to risk, danger, malpractice or wrong doing by following the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trusts Whistle Blowing Policy and supporting procedures

Support the Unit Matron/ Clinical Quality Lead Nurse in monitoring incident reporting trends, identifying areas of concern and formulating actions to inform incident reporting and promote harm free care

Person Specification

Additional Requirements

Essential

Demonstrates ability and experience in leadership and team building Demonstrates ability and experience in Clinical Governance Demonstrates ability and experience in Change management Demonstrates ability and experience in Audit and Research

Experience

Essential

Significant experience at band 6 level or equivalent Evidence of Leadership, including leading a team and being accountable for service delivery Knowledge of audit tools, databases, research methodologies and service improvement techniques (or willingness to undertake training/study to acquire this knowledge within 6 months of appointment Evidence of further study and staff development Demonstrate significant contribution to innovative practice or change management. Able to demonstrate an active role in teaching

Qualifications

Essential

Registered nurse (Level 1) Teaching/assessing qualification Critical Care qualification

Desirable

Degree PGCE

Skills & behaviours

Essential

Positive and enthusiastic attitude Approachable and Supportive and Compassionate Flexible Excellent written and verbal communication skills Computer literacy - ability to use Microsoft packages including Excel and Power point Ability to organise and prioritise own workload Ability to engage, influence and motivate others

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