Ward Manager - Sapphire Ward AylesburyinAylesburyinAylesburyPUBLISHED THU 5 DEC 2024

We are looking for a highly motivated and innovative nurse with a real passion for in-patient nursing to be our next Sapphire Ward Manager.

An exciting opportunity has arisen on our male adult acute mental health adult inpatient ward in Aylesbury.

We are interested in recruiting someone who has a positive attitude and exceptional skills to work with patients with enduring mental illness and within a multi-disciplinary team.

We are a positive, friendly and supportive team committed to providing high quality evidence-based patient care in an acute setting.

If you have experience of leadership and management within the in-patient setting, you could be the right person to lead, manage and inspire our dedicated team.

As a dedicated service, we provide holistic goal-focused inpatient care to patients we look after. Our patients will typically be in the acute phase of a psychotic illness associated with a significant degree of risk to self or others, which cannot be managed in the community and require in-patient intervention.

As the Sapphire Ward Manager, you will be required to have some knowledge of working in an Acute setting. You will need outstanding leadership skills and experience to guide the team. You will be responsible for the effective operational management, organisation and delivery of high-quality nursing care and clinical leadership within the inpatient ward. You will provide, maintain, and develop nursing care to the optimum standard possible within the resources provided.

The ward manager is seen as a clinical leader, who is visible and provides role modelling, facilitation, and education to the nursing team.

We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills who is enthusiastic about delivering high standards of care within a compassionate environment. Someone who can demonstrate a commitment to creative engagement with a diverse population of service users, show initiative and able to work collaboratively and cohesively within the multidisciplinary team as well as with service users and their families alike.

You will work in conjunction with the leadership team, including the Modern Matron, Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychologist and contribute to the development of acute service provision across the Adult Acute Pathway. You will also work closely with the Senior Matron, Head of Nursing, Head of Service, and Clinical Director.

About us

Job Purpose

• To manage the ward as as an integral part of the acute inpatient pathway within Oxford Health
• To support the provision of 24-hour full and accountable managerial responsibility for the ward.
• To provide, maintain and develop nursing care to the optimum standard
• To ensure that the unit meets the level of safety and security that is in accordance with TRUST STANDARDS, QNWA , CQC, HEALTHWATCH etc.
• To ensure that the ward meets the level of quality and governance in accordance with TRUST STANDARDS, QNWA , CQC, HEALTHWATCH etc.

Clinical Skills

• Works to develop effective multidisciplinary relationships through skilled communication with the ward and community teams.
• Demonstrate ability to engage proactively with patients and their families/ carers/ significant others to build positive working alliances.
• Demonstrate commitment to work alongside patients and their families/ carers/ significant others.
• Ability to work with assessed needs embracing the wishes of the patient in the acute inpatient setting.
• Demonstrates clinical expertise in an area appropriate to Adults of Working Age inpatient care arising from a recognized qualification and course of preparation (for example, PSI training, CBT, DBT, behavioural family work: and post graduate education
• Conduct a legal, ethical, and accountable practice and remain open to the scrutiny of peers.
• Demonstrates clear, effective, up to date and accurate record keeping.
• Effectively leads the clinical response to incidents on the ward.

Leadership Skills

• Demonstrates a sound understanding of contemporary mental health care issues and able to articulate a clear vision for inpatient service development.
• Shows a willingness to receive feedback on own performance both informally and through the PDR process demonstrating ability to implement the resulting action plan.
• Acts as a role model in the clinical arena for all staff.

Management Skills

• Shows the capacity to maintain the overall containment and sense of safety on the ward.
• Demonstrates the skills of managing care effectively in conjunction with the Multidisciplinary Team taking account of each members contribution to the care package.
• Demonstrates the skills of effective time management and ability to prioritize competing demands.
• Shows effective skills in managing sickness, absence, leave and the disciplinary process.
• Demonstrates the ability to undertake the recruitment process effectively.
• Demonstrates the attitudes and skills required to undertake supportive effective appraisals for nursing staff.
• Demonstrates the attitudes and skills necessary to provide and/or co-ordinate effective supervision to the nursing team.
• Act to ensure that infection control legislation, policies and procedures are consistently applied and ensure any need for improvement is implemented and/or reported to the matron and facilities management team.
• Demonstrates the efficient use of staff resources regarding effective skill mix to manage patients.

Please note:

• New starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
• Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
• Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
• Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
• We positively encourage applications from all areas of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith and encourage applications from users of mental health services. This is part of our commitment to equality and reflecting the diversity of our population.
• Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.