Head of Family & Patient Support Services
Department: Family & Patient Support Services
Reports to: Chief Executive
Working hours: Full time | 37.5 hours per week | 5 days per week | 09:00-17:00 or 08:30 – 16:30
Salary: £45,000 per annum
Closing Date: 12/11/24 | 12 noon (with interviews expected to be held w/c 18/11/24)
The Head of Family & Patient Support Services will provide strategic leadership and operational management of KEMP Hospice’s Family & Patient Support Services. This includes family support and bereavement counselling, pastoral and spiritual care, social work, financial and welfare advice, and befriending services. The role will oversee the development and delivery of high-quality, holistic care to patients and clients, ensuring that services meet regulatory standards and align with the overall hospice strategy.
Key responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Service Development:
* Lead and strategically develop Family & Patient Support Services, aligning them with the hospice’s goals and broader palliative care and bereavement support trends.
* Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team to set and deliver objectives that meet the hospice’s overall strategy.
* Ensure services are patient-centred, safe, and responsive, meeting the needs of patients, clients, carers, and families.
* Act as a member of the leadership team, contributing to cross-organisational planning, policy development, and decision-making.
* Promote integrated working with clinical and other hospice services, including Day Hospice and Hospice at Home.
Operational Management:
* Ensure efficient day-to-day management of Family & Patient Support Services, including adherence to regulatory and safety standards (e.g., BACP, CQC).
* Lead on service audits to ensure compliance with quality and safety standards. Monitor performance through KPIs and regular service reviews to assess outcomes and service effectiveness.
* Collaborate with the Hospice Services Committee, Quality & Safety Sub-Committee, and the Safeguarding Sub-Committee, providing reports and ensuring action plans are implemented to drive continuous improvement.
* Develop, implement, and monitor robust referral systems, policies, and procedures, ensuring that services are delivered to a high standard and data is accurately recorded.
* Work closely with the Head of Clinical Services & Quality on statutory reporting to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and NHS Quality Account.
* Oversee the bereavement service allocation process, ensuring appropriate case management and staff support.
* Manage budgets effectively, ensuring services operate within financial constraints and resources are used efficiently.
* Provide leadership, line management including people management processes, and professional support to a multidisciplinary team, including social workers, counsellors, pastoral volunteers, financial and welfare adviser, and befriending coordinator.
* Oversee staff and volunteer development, ensuring regular training, clinical supervision, and compliance with CPD and mandatory training.
* Ensure all members of the team maintain professional standards and are role models for excellent care.
* Lead on recruitment, development, and retention of staff and volunteers within the Family & Patient Support Services team.
Clinical Governance & Safeguarding:
* Ensure all services comply with regulatory requirements and national guidelines, including those set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
* Serve as the Safeguarding Lead alongside the Head of Clinical Services and Quality, ensuring effective safeguarding policies are in place and followed.
* Ensure robust clinical supervision is provided for the counselling team and that safeguarding procedures are adhered to across all services.
* Conduct regular data accuracy checks, ensuring reporting is precise and supports performance monitoring and quality assurance.
* Maintain responsibility for service user feedback, using it to inform service improvements.
* Report risks, issues and incidents promptly, ensuring mitigation plans are developed and implemented in line with hospice procedures and governance standards.
* Build and maintain strong relationships with external agencies, including schools, social services, health professionals, and other charities.
* Represent the hospice and promote its services at local and national levels, ensuring effective collaboration with partners.
* Act as a subject matter expert in palliative care and bereavement support, advising and supporting colleagues in the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
Data & Quality Management:
* Ensure accurate data collection, reporting, and evaluation for all Family & Patient Support Services, in line with internal and external requirements.
* Maintain and update service policies and procedures regularly, ensuring alignment with best practices and regulatory standards.
* Report risks, issues, and incidents promptly, ensuring mitigation plans are developed and implemented.
Please send your CV along with a supporting statement (no more than 800 words) that addresses the following:
* Tell Us About You: What drives you, and what makes you excited about the opportunity to join KEMP Hospice as the Head of Family & Patient Support Services? How does your leadership style inspire others, and how have you created a positive and collaborative environment in past roles?
* Your Experience: Share the qualifications, skills, and key experiences that make you the ideal fit for this role. Focus on your ability to lead supportive care services, manage multidisciplinary teams, and handle budgets effectively.
* Making an Impact: Describe a time when you led a strategic initiative in a health, social or supportive care setting. What was the challenge, how did you approach it, and what difference did it make to those you served?
We’re looking for someone who is ready to make a real difference—use this opportunity to show us why that’s you!
Please send your CV and supporting statement to: peopleteam@kemphospice.org.uk by Tuesday 12th November 2024 at 12 noon. Please note: Applications that do not include a supporting statement will be automatically rejected
Closing date for all applications is: Tuesday 12th November 2024
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