1. JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title Executive Director of
Nursing
HR use only
Job Reference Number
Report to: Chief Executive
Accountable to: Chief Executive
Job Summary
To take a full role in the corporate management and strategic direction of the organisation
as a Board member.
To lead and provide strategic direction to the nursing and non-medical clinical workforce.
Designated as the Director of Infection Prevention and Control as laid out in The Health and
Social Care Act 2008 – code of practice for the prevention and control of health care
associated infections.
To be the Nominated Officer to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on behalf of the
organisation.
To be the Nominated Officer for Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Children on behalf of
the organisation.
To be the accountable lead on quality including patient safety, clinical effectiveness and
patient experience in conjunction with the Medical Director, including the management of
complaints and concerns.
Whilst this role does entail direct management for clinical staff, professional guidance also
comes from the Medical Director. The operational element of this role requires the setting
and managing of frameworks for ensuring a high standard of professional patient care and
employee responsibility that will drive the operational success of the Trust and ensure high
quality healthcare within resources.
Organisational Chart.
2. Dimensions
1. Leadership
1.1 To provide clear and visible professional leadership to the Nursing, Midwifery and
non- medical clinical workforce.
1.2 To provide the Executive Team and the Trust Board with advice and information on
the practice of nursing, midwifery and non-medical clinical staff.
1.3 To provide advice to the clinical directorates in relation to nursing, midwifery and
non-medical clinical staff to assist in
1.3.1 Reviewing and monitoring the management of the staff resource including
oversight of staffing levels in all areas, taking into account the requirements of
“safe staffing” and advising the Board as required.
1.3.2 Achievement and maintenance of high quality professional standards
1.3.3 Review and implementation of new ways of working and service redesign
1.4 To ensure that professional contribution of nurses, midwives and non-medical
clinical staff is maximised in order to achieve the organisations aim and strategic
goals, in accordance with patient needs and nationally and locally determined
standards.
1.5 To lead on Safeguarding Children and Adults ensuring that appropriate systems are
in place and maintained, in conjunction with partner agencies.
1.6 To lead on quality, clinical governance, patient safety, clinical effectiveness and
patient experience working in collaboration with the Medical Director.
1.7 In conjunction with other Executive colleagues, Regional Education Leads and local
universities provide strategic direction to the education and training of both pre
and post registration nursing, midwives and non-medical clinical staff, to ensure
the workplace is fit for purpose now and for the future.
1.8 To provide leadership development and succession planning for nurses, midwives
and non-medical clinical staff in conjunction with Human Resources.
1.9 Provide direct professional leadership and be the professional line manager for the
Heads of Clinical Services, the Head of Midwifery, Lead Cancer Nurse and other
senior nursing staff where appropriate.
1.10 Work with the Medical Director to ensure that clinical services are effective,
efficient and responsive to patient need and enable the organisation to achieve its
aims and objectives.
1.11 To ensure that the statutory supervision of midwives occurs in the organisation,
and that appropriate standards of supervision are met.
1.12 Take an active role in the promotion and development of nursing, midwifery and
non-medical clinical research, working with local universities, medical and other
colleagues.
1.13 Provide advice and support to Nurses working in General Practice, and provide
access to appropriate development and training for this group of nurses to meet
service needs (via SLA).
1.14 Lead, in conjunction with the Deputy Director of Workforce, on the
implementation and ongoing oversight of Electronic Rostering. Be accountable for
use of the system(s) in nursing areas in support of the safer staffing agenda.
3. 1.15 Provide Board level leadership for the patient and public involvement agenda,
supporting the communications team in this function.
1.16 To lead the organisation to prepare readiness for Nurse Revalidation as described
by the Nursing & Midwifery Council. To have robust systems in place to assure the
organisation that all Nurses & Midwives are appropriately registered to practice.
2. Director of Infection Prevention and Control
2.1 In conjunction with the Consultant in Infection Prevention and Control (CIPC)
report on the state of HCAI within the local economy and compliance with the
Health and Social Care Act 2008; oversee implementation of the annual HCAI
reduction plan; assess the impact of all existing and new policies on HCAI and make
recommendations for change as appropriate.
2.2 In conjunction with the CIPC and Infection Prevention and Control Team develop
and implement the Infection Prevention and Control annual plan.
2.3 Be strategically and operationally responsible for the Infection Control Nursing
Team within the organisation, working in collaboration with the Consultant in
Infection Prevention and Control.
2.4 Project manages the development and implementation of the corporate annual
plan for HCAI reduction.
2.5 Report directly to the CEO and Board on Infection Prevention and Control matters.
2.6 Oversee local control of infection policies and their implementation, in conjunction
with CIPC and Infection Prevention and Control Nursing Team.
2.7 Oversee the implementation of the Infection Prevention and Control annual plan.
2.8 Have the authority to challenge inappropriate clinical hygiene practice and
inappropriate antibiotic prescribing decisions.
2.9 Is an integral member of the Clinical Governance and patient safety teams and
structures, and use this to assess the impact of existing and new policies on HCA
and make recommendations for change.
2.10 Receive advice/recommendations from the Infection Prevention and Control team
on HCAI within the organisation and ensure this expertise informs reports to the
Board.
2.11 In conjunction with the Infection Prevention and Control Team, produce an annual
report on state of HCAI within the organisation and release it publicly.
3. Clinical effectiveness and patient experience
3.1 Lead and oversee the Quality and Clinical Governance agenda – patient safety,
clinical effectiveness and patient experience.
3.2 In conjunction with the Medical Director (with accountability confirmed through
objective setting), support the development of metrics to provide assurance to the
Board on quality indicators; Nursing and Medical dashboards (Ward to Board
reporting), trend analysis (eg serious incidents requiring investigation linked with
complaints), root cause analysis, patient surveys and complaints.
4. 3.3 In conjunction with the Medical Director, develop a culture that positively
responds and learns from patient complaints, identifying root cause analysis and
through Quality and Clinical Governance Committees monitors compliance against
action plans.
3.4 In conjunction with the Medical Director, ensure that through the Quality and
Clinical Governance Committee monitor compliance against action plans as a
consequence of CQC reports.
3.5 In conjunction with the Medical Director, lead on the implementation of NICE
guidelines for the organisation.
3.6 Lead the Quality Team ensuring appropriate support is provided to the Clinical
Directorates to deliver the Quality and Clinical Governance agenda – patient safety,
clinical effectiveness and patient experience.
3.7 Lead the production of the annual Quality Account, ensuring that priorities are
reflective of the whole organisation and that quality is embedded in all sectors of
the organisation.
3.8 Act as the organisational lead for the Care Quality Commission, taking on the lead
name with the CQC and ensuring systems and processes are in place to maintain
compliance with the Essential Standards.
5. Our Vision: Quality care for everyone, every time
Improving quality
To achieve the highest quality standards of care for all our patients through
the safe delivery of treatments, personal experience and outcomes of the
service delivered to the individual and their families
Delivering our integrated clinical strategy
To deliver the Trusts clinical strategy, integrating service delivery within the
organisation and with our partners and services locally, where clinically
appropriate. Maintaining cost effectiveness.
Increasing resilience
To build the resilience of our services and organisation, through partnerships
within the NHS; social care and with the private sector
Improving productivity
To improve productivity and efficiency within the Trust, creating financial
sustainability.
Developing the workforce
To develop our staff, culture and workforce competencies. To implement our
vision and clinical strategy.
As a member of the Trust Board and a member of the Trust Executive
Team, work with senior colleagues to continuously improve the quality and
delivery of service to patients in pursuit of the Trust vision to provide
quality care for everyone, every time.
6. General compliance:
1. To comply with all Trust Policies and Procedure, with particular regard to
Risk Management
Health and Safety
Confidentiality
Data Quality
Freedom of Information
Equal and Diversity and Dignity at Work
Information and Security Management and Information Governance
Counter Fraud and Bribery
2. The Trust has designated the prevention and control of healthcare associated infection (HCAI)
as a core patient safety issue. As part of the duty of care to patients, all staff are expected to:
Understand duty to adhere to policies and protocols applicable to infection prevention and
control.
Comply with key clinical care policies and protocols for prevention and control of infection
at all time; this includes compliance with Trust policies for hand hygiene, standards
(universal) infection precautions and safe handling and disposal of sharps.
All staff should be aware of the Trust’s Infection Control policies and other key clinical
policies relevant to their work and how to access them.
All staff will be expected to attend prevention and infection control training, teaching and
updates (induction and mandatory teacher) as appropriate for their area of work, and be
able to provide evidence of this at appraisal.
3. To perform your duties to the highest standard with particular regard to effective and efficient
use of resources, maintaining quality and contributing to improvements.
4. Ensure you work towards the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) requirements of this
post. KSF is a competency framework that describes the knowledge and skills necessary for
the post in order to deliver a quality service.
5. Your behaviour will demonstrate the values and vision of the Trust by showing you care for
others, that you act professionally as part of a team and that you will continually seek to
innovate and improve. Our vision, values and behaviours have been designed to ensure
that everyone is clear about expected behaviours and desired ways of working in addition to
the professional and clinical requirements of their roles.
6. Perform any other duties that may be required from time to time.
7. Patients come first in everything we do. Every post holder can make a difference to a patient’s
experience. You will come across patients as you walk around the hospital; we rely on all our
staff to be helpful, kind and courteous to patients, visitors and each other.
8. Ensure you adhere to and work within local and national safeguarding children legislation and
policies including the Children Act 1989 & 2004 , Working Together to Safeguard Children
2013, 4LSCB guidance and the IOW Child Protection policy.
9. Ensure you adhere to and work within the local Multiagency safeguarding vulnerable adults
policies and procedures
This job description may be altered to meet changing needs of the service, and will be reviewed
in consultation with the post holder.
7. Executive Director of Nursing – Person Specification
Essential Desirable
Education /
Professional
Qualifications
Relevant first degree –
ideally Nursing
Registered Nurse with a live
PIN
Evidence of continuous
professional development
MBA or equivalent
clinical qualification
Skills and
Abilities
Effective & Innovative leader
Able to take responsibility for
corporate decisions.
Can design and deliver
change programmes.
Able to plan strategically
Able to translate visions and
strategy to achieve effective
implementation
Able to motivate, inspire and
empower clinical teams
Able to effectively challenge
Facilitation and team
building skills
Excellent communication
skills – written and oral
Advanced decision making
skills
Ability to negotiate and
influence others including
external stakeholders
Political skills and judgement
Use of Microsoft Office
Experience and
Knowledge
Board experience in a
complex NHS organisation
Experience of delivering
change management
programmes in a complex
environment
Knowledge of current NHS
and DH policy
Working across
organisational and
professional boundaries both
within the NHS and social
care.
Demonstrable achievements
in improving patient care
Demonstrable track record of
managing large and complex
Board experience in NHS
Knowledge and/or Board
experience across a
variety of organisations.
Experience of leading in a
Foundation Trust
organisation.
8. budgets in challenging
financial context.
Demonstrable track record of
delivering financial and
challenging service targets.
Track record of performance
management of teams,
holding to account when
necessary.
Track record of delivering
partnership working and
stakeholder engagement.
Demonstrable track record of
successful:
- Delivery of service change
- Benefits realisation
- Leading and motivating staff
Personal Attributes Excellent interpersonal skills
at all levels
Calm under pressure
High level of emotional
intelligence
Able to work in a team
Can handle and resolve
conflict