Deputy Nurse Manager

Professional responsibilities

• Acts as a member of the management team ensuring the smooth running of the Home.

• Meets with the Nurse Manager weekly to agree a business improvement plan to ensure exceptional delivery of care.

•  Works within the NMC Professional Code of Conduct complying with all legal and statutory requirements outlined.

•  Proactively challenges current nursing practices presenting necessary confirmation and evidence based on research to the Nurse Manager who will then investigate the matter.

• Adheres to regulations outlined in the 'Controlled Drugs Act' and the policy entitled 'Custody, Storage and Administration of Drugs and Medicines' and ensure staff compliance.

• Endeavours to establish good working relationships with all doctors, pharmacists, external medical staff, patient’s relatives and friends, religious practitioners and the RQIA Inspection Team.

• Continually updates oneself on current procedures through the use of literature available in the home and attend internal and external courses when requested by the Nurse Manager.

• Observes confidentiality at all times.

• Is compliant with the Company’s Health and Safety Procedures and ensures standards are maintained by all staff.

• In conjunction with Nurse Manager adheres to the fire and accident prevention policy of the Home and participates in the investigation and prevention of all incidents/accidents in the Home.  Ensures standards are maintained by all staff.

• Ensures that all emergencies, untoward incidents and complaints are acted upon and processed in accordance with the Home’s Policy and Procedures.

• Undertakes duties and responsibilities of Staff Nurse as and when required.

• Acts in the absence of the Nurse Manager.

• Participates in the on-call rota on a rotational basis with the Nurse Manager.

Patient care responsibilities

• Conducts assessments on potential residents being admitted to the Home in line with Company budget and in conjunction with the Nurse Manager.

• Liaises with Staff Nurses in the admission of patients, the named worker, G.P. and relatives in continuing care of the patients and relevant individuals on patient discharge whilst on duty.

• Ensures that all patients receive the care identified in their care plans and that it is carried out to the highest standard.  Audits and reviews care files on a bi-monthly basis, recording of same in conjunction with Nurse Manager.

• Monitors patient diets in association with the Staff Nurse.

• Ensures nutritional content, presentation and suitability of meals provided.

•  Supervises the serving of meals and ensures that patients’ nutritional needs are met.

• Proactively encourages the use of day areas and the development of active rehabilitation and therapy programmes to include training, occupation and recreation of residents.

• Works under the direction of Nurse Manager ensuring that patient care is carried out to the highest standard and that all new ideas are shared with the Nurse Manager and qualified colleagues.

• Ensures the social and spiritual welfare of each patient by monitoring social needs as outlined in the patients care plan, requesting external help from professional services and involving relatives and friends in the interaction of the patient with the environment.

• Liaises with Community Nursing Services to ensure a satisfactory integrated care program for each patient.

• Takes responsibility for the protection of vulnerable adults and reports to management where they consider a person has caused harm or posed risk of harm to any patient.

• Ensures the safe keeping of patient’s belongings and valuables in accordance with the Home policy.

Audit responsibilities

• Assesses if procedures relevant to new admissions have been completed and are accurate – risk assessments, care plans, observations, and drug administration.  Audited monthly in conjunction with Nurse Manager.

• Auditing and recording of all medication records alongside the Nurse Manager (includes disposal and storage of drugs).  To be undertaken bi-monthly and quarterly after August 2011.

• Oversees that patient weights are carried out and recorded on a monthly basis.

• Oversees that emergency equipment has been checked.

•  Spot checks on treatment room and first aid boxes to ensure fully stocked.

Supply responsibilities

• Ensures that adequate supplies of nursing material are available for use in line with Company budget and minimising costs where feasible.

• Ensures the economic use of all supplies and equipment. Maintaining all these resources in a satisfactory condition and reporting any faults/breakages. 

• Ensures any unused equipment is stored away from the resident treatment areas.

• Participates in research and trials of new equipment.

Infection control responsibilities

• Ensures adequate infection control measures are in operation within the Home and demonstrates compliance with same.

• Liaises with the Head Housekeeper to ensure cleanliness, tidiness & maintenance in all parts of the home is maintained and to ensure proper disposal of waste.

• Ensures all nursing equipment & areas are kept clean.

Staff personnel responsibilities

• Day to day management of staff ensuring compliance with Home policies and procedures and delivery of exceptional care.

• Ensures that nursing procedures and treatments are understood by staff and are carried out according to established policies and procedures.

• Participates in the interviewing and orientation of new staff.

• Ensures adequate staffing levels at all times.

• Manages holidays and weekly rotas in the absence of the Assistant Nurse Manager.

• Conducts return to work interviews as required.

• Conducts quarterly supervisions with Staff Nurses/Care Assistants to monitor quality of care provided and training requirements.

• Proactively manages the development of staff.

• Conducts performance reviews as required.

• Identifies individual staff training needs in respect of all aspects of residents care, in particular clinical procedures.

• Develops and delivers appropriate internal training courses for all staff.

• Counsel and support all staff with leadership, guidance and support.

• Participates in investigation and disciplinary meetings as required.

• Alongside management, conduct staff meetings on a quarterly basis as per RQIA guidelines.

• Participates in the developing of good interpersonal relationships between all staff members.

•  Notifies the Nurse manager of any sign of ill health or stress in staff members in the Home.

•  Updates the Nurse manager with information regarding residents and/or staff. 

• Updates and makes available relevant information and records for inspectoral visits in conjunction with Nurse Manager.

• Is familiar with fire prevention and evacuation procedures.

• Is compliant with the Company’s Equal Opportunities Policy.

• Is compliant with all Company’s personnel/HR policies.

Administrative responsibilities

• Observes and reports on patients’ health status and maintains a high standard of record keeping and documentation by complying with the NMC Standards for Record Keeping.

• Updates Home policies and procedures as required in conjunction with Nurse Manager.

• Ensure update of Patient register whilst on duty.

• Ensures untoward event and deceased forms are sent to the RQIA and a photocopy retained.

•  Ensures complaints are recorded and updated in the relevant book.

• Ensures accidents are recorded and updated in the relevant book.

• Maintain records of all fire drills.

• Organises Christmas and Birthday presents for residents.

• Does not accept gifts from patients or witness a patient’s will.

This job description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and may include any other duties and responsibilities as may be determined in consultation with the jobholder.  It is not intended to be rigid and inflexible, but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works.