JOB DESCRIPTION
Nursing Clinical Information Lead, Assistant Director of Nursing
Permanent Contract 37.5 hours/week
Reference No: 05.049 (2023)
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Nursing Clinical Information Lead ADON provides visionary leadership and establishes direction for a comprehensive nursing digital health program of work in TUH (Tallaght University Hospital), with a primary focus on nursing practice and a partnership approach with key stakeholders in support of interdisciplinary person-centred care. The NCIL serves as the principle for developing strategic digital health nursing plans, creation of policies and procedures and serves as a champion for complex nursing digital Health projects with the primary goal of advancing nursing evidence-based practice. The NCIL will liaise and work closely with the Chief Information Officer and Chief Clinical Information Officer.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Each candidate must on the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office:
- Be a Member of the General Division of the active register of the Nursing and Midwifery board of Ireland.
- Have third level qualification at not less than level 8 on the NFQ framework
- Have a minimum of 5 years post registration experience of which 2 must be in the acute hospital setting.
- Experience in a Digital Health Role
- Have excellent ICT skills.
- Have in-depth understanding of the clinical audit and quality process.
- Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and can work collaboratively with a team.
- Demonstrate evidence of continuing learning and professional development.
- Have experience/knowledge of the implementation of clinical information systems, or other common health care clinical applications.
- Have knowledge of Information Governance as per the HIQA IG standards and in particular GDPR.
Desirable:
- Master’s degree in Health Informatics / information or a commitment to undertake same within the first 12 months of appointment.
2. Age Restrictions In Relation To Applications
Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where they are not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed applications for the office occurs.
3. Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
4. Be of good character.
5. Garda Vetting
Garda Vetting is sought for all employees and prospective employees of Tallaght University Hospital. Given the specialised nature of the services provided, your appointment will be subject to satisfactory Garda Vetting and re-vetting in circumstances where the Hospital deems it appropriate. The Hospital will then process the necessary documentation to endeavour to obtain satisfactory Garda clearance for you. You are obliged to disclose previous and any criminal convictions acquired during the course of your employment. Should the Hospital obtain information from the Garda Vetting Unit to indicate that your Garda clearance report is not satisfactory and / or if you have supplied the hospital with false or misleading information in relation to your Garda clearance status, the Hospital reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contract in accordance with Tallaght University Hospital Garda Vetting policy.
6. Mandated and Designated Persons under Children First Act 2015
Schedule 2 of the Children First Act 2015 specifies the classes of persons defined as Mandated Persons for the purposes of the Act. This includes a range of disciplines that are employed by the hospital including all medical practitioners, registered nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers and others. This includes staff working in adult services. All mandated persons have two main legal obligations under the Children First Act 2015. Mandated persons, under the legislation are required to report any knowledge, belief or reasonable suspicion that a child has been harmed, is being harmed, or is at risk of being harmed. The Act defines harm as assault, ill-treatment, neglect or sexual abuse, and covers single and multiple instances. Mandated persons are also required to assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report. Designated Officer are required to receive reports of suspected child abuse or neglect from any person who is of the opinion that (a) a child has been or is being assaulted, ill-treated, neglected or sexually abused, or (b) a child’s health, development or welfare has been or is being avoidably impaired or neglected. Full detailed list of mandated and designated staff together with details of their roles and responsibilities can be found on https://www.tusla.ie/children-first. It is the responsibility of all staff employed by TUH to be aware of their roles and responsibilities under the legislation and to complete mandatory Children First Training.
PARTICULARS OF OFFICE
1. The appointment is a full time permanent and pensionable position.
2. Remuneration:
Remuneration is in accordance with the salary scale approved by the Department of Health & Children. Current remuneration with effect from 1st October 2022 is:
€64,188 by 9 increments to €79,212
Salary scales will be updated in line with nationally agreed pay agreements and will be updated accordingly and retrospective payments applied as applicable.
3. Pension arrangements and retirement age
There are three superannuation schemes currently in operation for staff in Tallaght University Hospital:
(a) Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (Non-New Entrant)
(b) Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (New Entrant)
(c) Single Public Service Pension Scheme
Please read carefully the summary of the criteria for the three superannuation schemes below. This will assist you in identifying which scheme membership is applicable to your employment circumstances.
(a) If you have been continually employed in the public service prior to the 1st April 2004 and you have not had a break in service of more than 26 weeks, you will be included in the Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (Non-New Entrant) with a Minimum Retirement Age of 60 and a Maximum Retirement Age of 65.
(b) If you have been continually employed in the public service post the 1st April 2004 and you have not had a break in service of more than 26 weeks, you will be included in the Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (New Entrant) with a Minimum Retirement Age of 65. There is no Maximum Retirement Age.
(c) If you have commenced employment in the public service as a new entrant or you are a former public servant, returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks, you will be included in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme effective from the 1st January 2013 with a minimum retirement age of 66 (rising to 67 and 68 in line with state pension changes). The maximum retirement age under this scheme will be age 70.
4. Duties:
The Nursing Clinical Information Lead (ADON) will perform such duties as are outlined in this job description.
5. Hours of work:
Normal working hours are 37.5 worked over 7 days. Your contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8 am to 8 pm over 7 days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement.
6. Probation:
The successful candidate will be appointed initially for a probationary period of 6 months. During the probationary period progress or otherwise will be monitored and at the end of the probationary period the service will (a) be certified as satisfactory and confirmed in writing or if not satisfactory, the probationary period may be extended by 3 months.
7. Annual Leave:
Annual leave entitlement is 28 working days depending on length of service, plus 10 Bank Holidays per annum as they occur. The annual leave year runs from 1st of April to 31st March each year.
8. Sick Leave:
Payment of salary during illness will be in accordance with arrangements as approved from time to time by the Department of Health and Children.
9. Termination of Office:
The employment may be terminated at any time by three months’ notice on either side except where circumstances are dictated by the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973/91. The Management’s right under this paragraph shall not be exercised save in circumstances where the Management is of the opinion that the holder of the office has failed to perform satisfactorily the duties of the post or has misconducted himself/herself in relation to the post or is otherwise unfit to hold the appointment.
GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY
- Maintain throughout the Hospital awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all Hospital activities.
- Encourage recognition of the patient as an individual, ensuring patients’ needs and comfort are given priority.
- Work within the Scope of Practice.
- Comply with all existing Hospital policies.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the Hospital/Departmental emergency plans.
- Ensure the provision of a high standard of care to the patient and families is consistent with the mission, vision, values and strategic plan of the Hospital.
- Demonstrate behaviour consistent with the Values of the Hospital.
- Actively participate in continuing learning and development and research activities consistent with the position.
- Ensure the development, revision and implementation of policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines pertinent to the role.
- Work alongside and in collaboration with nursing colleagues and members of the multidisciplinary team in facilitating nursing data analytics, clinical practice, audit, research, innovations, and the implementation of digital health developments.
- In addition to working collaboratively with the CIO for TUH, the Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO), ICT team in TUH, the nature of this role will require excellent working relationships with multiple internal and external stakeholders including but not limited to DMHG Nursing & Midwifery Information lead and the HSE ONMSD National Chief Nursing Information Officer.
- Reporting relationship will be to the Director of Nursing.
SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITY
Leadership Responsibilities
- Demonstrate the ability to self-manage and organise own work efficiently.
- Advise and collaborate with key stakeholders internally and externally such as Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information officers to support the nursing service to implement nursing strategy on digital transformation.
- Contribute to project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Nursing & nursing related digital health projects, utilising project management and change management methodologies to ensure that programme/project goals remain aligned to clinical and operational objectives.
- Support the nursing service on the ongoing implementation and evaluation of digital nursing systems e.g. Electronic INEWS implementation, Electronic Prescribing Medicines Administration (EPMA) projects and other future digital projects.
- Ensure alignment with national and international datasets.
- Represent the Nursing service on the implementation and continued use of TUH Synergy, Electronic Patient Health Care Record (EPR), electronic and other clinical information systems to support quality and performance improvement initiatives.
- Assist in creating an organisational culture that promotes patient safety and high standards of ethical conduct when using digital health solutions.
- Lead the process of exploring emerging roles, technologies and models of nursing digital health practice.
- Manage the expectations of clinical information system end-users.
- Assist with Nursing digital literacy and nursing digital training
- Identify and assist in securing funding for eHealth projects and initiatives
- Ensure benefits realisation among nursing workforce from eHealth projects and more efficient use of nurse resources enabled by digital eHealth solutions.
Governance and Quality Assurance
- Assist the NPDD team in ensuring quality care through systematic measurement of audit data and the generation of reports and actions for continuous improvement.
- Ensure standardisation of nursing terminology, coding, and compliance to ensure that digital health systems meet the needs of regulatory compliance.
- Optimisation of usage of existing digital systems and future EPR to ensure Standardised information capture.
- In consultation with the Nurse Practice Development Department and nursing service, develop and deliver innovation and quality improvement programs relating to practice development as part of an overall nursing strategy as related to digital health.
Education
- Ensure appropriate in-service digital health and related learning and development programmes and on-going learning needs are met for all nursing staff.
- Monitor nursing research and new developments with regard to digital health. Initiate, facilitate and take part in relevant nursing research and promote awareness of ongoing research into current trends in health care, nursing practice, training techniques, regulatory standards.
- Collaborate with CLD to ensure that the learning requirements of the staff on digital health is reflected on the education and training provided.
- Further develop and expand on digital health champion networks.
Information, Communication & Technology
- Ensure that the Nursing service makes the most effective and efficient use of digital health developments for both patient care and administrative support in a manner, which integrates well with systems throughout the organisation.
- Support the implementation of the Electronic Patient Health Care Record in TUH.
- Collaborate with nursing and ICT teams to translate clinician requirements into coordinated specifications for new clinical solutions.
- Identify needs for the use of electronic tools to further improvements in patient care, quality, clinical resource management, operational efficiency, performance improvement and patient engagement.
- Ensure Information Governance and data quality issues are considered, identified, and provide clinical input into finding solutions that ensure reliable accurate data.
- Promote advancement of clinical and business intelligence systems capable of reporting variables to evaluate patient outcomes, to support research, and operational improvement across the continuum of care.
- Maintain good collaborative working relationships and communications with appropriate statutory, professional organisations responsible for and/or participating in health care / digital health.
- Ensure risks are identified, mitigated against and managed in the context of delivering safe effective digital systems.
- Work collaboratively with the NPDD coordinator to ensure that the team makes the most effective and efficient use of developments in information technology for both patient care and administrative support in a manner that integrates well with systems throughout the organisation.
- Manages nursing information content on Hospital’s Intranet site.
Health & Safety
- Ensure the compliance of all your staff with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005.
- Comply and enact Health and Safety responsibilities as outlined in Hospital policies, protocols and procedures relevant to your area.
- Prepare risk assessments and departmental safety statements as required.
Hygiene/Infection Control
- Ensure you are aware of your responsibility for Hygiene awareness. Hygiene is defined as “The practice that serves to keep people and environments clean and prevent infection.”
- Act as a role model and actively promote infection control and prevention and ensure that staff in your area familiarise themselves with the hospital infection control policies and guidelines as outlined in the Infection Control Manual.
- Ensure that staff in your area are aware that they work in an area where there is potential for transmission of infection.
- Ensure that all your staff are advised that they have a responsibility to prevent the transmission of infection particularly in relation to hand hygiene.
Quality, safety and risk management
- Support the delivery of the Quality, Safety and Risk Management Programme, including the appropriate identification, reporting and management of risks and incidents throughout the hospital.
Confidentiality
- You will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in particular, the right of patients to confidentiality. To this end, you will not discuss workings of the Hospital or its patients or disclose any information of a confidential nature except as required to do so in the course of your work. No records, documents or property of the Hospital may be removed from the premises of the Hospital without prior authorisation. You must return to the Hospital upon request and, in any event, upon the termination of your employment, all documents or other property of the Hospital which are in your possession or under your control.
Data Management
- Ensure compliance with the obligations required by the Data Protection Act 2018.
Development of Hospital Groups
- The Hospital Structure is currently under review and therefore, reporting relationships may change. The development of Hospital Groups may require the post-holder to adopt a different reporting relationship and additional accountabilities. Full consultation will take place in advance of any such change.
NOTE: The extent and speed of change in the delivery of health care is such that adaptability is essential at this level of appointment. The appointee will be required to maintain, enhance and develop their knowledge, skills and aptitudes necessary to respond to this changing environment. They will also be required to participate in and support the Hospital’s Digital transformation strategy which may impact work processes and role profiles in the future. The Job Description must therefore be regarded as an outline of the major areas of accountability at the present time, which will be reviewed and assessed on an on-going basis as advancements and developments evolve.
GENERAL
Applications can be submitted ‘on-line’ at www.tuh.ie/careers by completing the application form and attaching your CV.
Candidates should be aware that, when applying for a post through the 'On-Line' Application System (Candidate Manager) they will receive an automated replying acknowledging receipt of their application. Should you for any reason, not receive this automated acknowledgement, you should notify the Human Resources Department, before the closing date, otherwise your application will not be considered
Closing Date: Before close of business on: 7th June 2023
Informal enquiries to Ms. Sandra McCarthy, Director of Nursing & Integrated Care (Interim) Telephone (01) 414 2154. Email Sandra.mccarthy@tuh.ie
The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the Director of Nursing & Integrated Care and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
All candidates should note that, in order to maintain a timely process, the closing date and time for receipt of applications will be strictly adhered to