The jobholder will work closely with all Clinical Service Units, the Infection Prevention team and the Facilities department in ensuring infection control and prevention policies are adhered to. The jobholder will be easily identifiable to patients, provide strong leadership through a visible presence and provide support, advice and assistance required by patients, their families and carers. The jobholder will also support the utilisation of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), being a focal point for advice to patients and carers and local resolution of complaints. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY - Monitor and maintain patient flow across the Trust sites. - On behalf of the Clinical Service Units actively manage and be accountable for the efficient and effective use of the Trusts bed base out of hours. - Act on the behalf of the Clinical Service Units when making decisions about the admission of unscheduled/elective patients. - Work with Clinical Directors, General Managers, Heads of Nursing and Matrons to ensure appropriate patient placement is delivered within Trust frameworks and to support the delivery of the Trusts short to medium term objectives. - Ensure that operational policies support effective processes and are communicated, implemented and audited. - Working with Trust colleagues, take a lead role in maintaining patient flow using the standard operating procedure for managing capacity and demand. - To monitor the trigger factors associated with the Trusts Acute Care Escalation Plan. - Working with internal and external colleagues/agencies, to maintain an effective discharge process that maximises the use of community provision. - Review of service delivery to ensure that delays in patient placement are identified and acted upon, ensuring ongoing improvement in patient access. - Maintain an overview of actual and potential bed capacity and ongoing demand across the Trust, analyse and mitigate pressures. - To maintain an overview of timely patient flow across the site with particular focus on admissions through the Emergency Department. - To determine the best use of available capacity - To consider the elective admission process reconciling the demand for optimal activity with the need to provide sufficient capacity for urgent admissions. - The immediate co-ordination and first line management of the Trusts emergency response to Fire, Major incidents, Security alerts and Serious Untoward incidents. - To be the on site management resource for staff out of hours utilising LTHT policies and procedures. - To liaise with Security manager and Public Relations and, on behalf of the Trust, external agencies such as the police and media. - To re deploy staff in order to cover for unexpected sickness or absence. - To provide support and advice to all Trust employees. - Liaise with managers regarding the clinical and operational management of their areas. - To ensure that critical/untoward incidents and safeguarding issues are reported as per locally agreed Trust Policies. Value for Money - Out of hours be responsible for the allocation of staff to all areas, ensuring adequate staffing cover is provided on a daily basis. Review nursing/support staff establishments to ensure skill mix reflects current workload requirements and represents best use of resources. - Assess the impact of extra hours worked by staff on their performance and the needs of the service. Quality of Care/Clinical Governance - Work with members of the Clinical Service Units to deliver high quality, timely health care. Contribute to the implementation of National Service Frameworks (where applicable) and National Policy. - Work closely with Clinical Service Units to secure and ensure the highest standard of clinical care is provided within available resources. - Ensure all processes encompass measures to ensure smooth transition of patients through the care pathway, for example, timely admission and discharge processes. - Ensure that clinical governance processes encompass measures to ensure the quality of the fundamental and essential aspects of care. - Ensure nurses work within the Trust Nursing Policy and Practice Guideline framework. - Communicate effectively through daily contact with all disciplines in the relevant site and associated sites. Attend the Daily Operational Performance meetings and chair the patient flow meetings. - Ensure clinical and non-clinical incidents are reported in accordance with Trust policy and agree actions in response to these. - Maintain a safe working environment, being aware of the requirements to comply with Health and Safety regulations. Ensure equipment is maintained according to manufacturers specifications and necessary repairs are undertaken. Ensure staff are trained and supervised where appropriate in the correct use of equipment. - Address the concerns of patients and service users and respond to their suggestions for local quality improvements. Lead the investigation and management of complaints out of hours through local resolution and in accordance with the Trust complaints procedure, liaising with the Patient Relations department where necessary. - Support the implementation of a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), being a focal point for advice to patients and carers and local resolution of complaints. - Work with Heads of Nursing and Matrons to ensure the implementation & delivery of the Nursing Strategy. - Act in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Code of Conduct. Education and Training - Undertake relevant staff appraisals and ensure staff have personal development plans in accordance with Trust policy and support other senior staff in this process. - Promote evidence-based practice within the patient admission/discharge process. Support staff in undertaking research/project work. Leadership - Act as a positive clinical role model through the provision of support and advice to staff. Lead by example through visible leadership to motivate and empower others. - Ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to provide leadership, support and motivation to help immediate subordinates and others to understand and achieve the required results. - Ensure effective working relationships and communication is maintained between all grades of staff and professional groups within the designated area, working within a multidisciplinary team. - Act as a positive role model through the provision of support and advice to staff. Lead by example through visible leadership to motivate and empower others. - Contribute to the management of sickness absence and staff capability in accordance with Trust policy. 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: - To provide strong and effective leadership out of hours - To encourage staff to demonstrate personal responsibility and accountability within their role - To use the knowledge and skills of the workforce to inspire and empower others - To focus on care delivery which is safe, high quality, compassionate and individualised for every patient - To support Clinical service units to provide Safe and effective discharge which is individualised to patient and family needs - Commitment to collaborate team working across disciplines, specialities, teams, groups and the Trust. - Commitment to ensure the Trust plays a full part in contributing to Leeds city-wide reconfiguration programmes, including tackling health inequalities - Commitment to ensure high quality evidence-based care is delivered. INFECTION CONTROL The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment. HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS All nursing staff Heads of Nursing General Managers On Call Managers Consultants and medical staff