Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• To take a lead clinical role within the Mental Health Urgent Care Department.
• Work in partnership with the Consultant for the urgent care Department to ensure strong, visible leadership presence
• To ensure that there are effective arrangements in place to ensure appropriate co-ordination and allocation of resources to respond to referrals and attendances.
• To effectively and efficiently manage resources within the team with support from the Matron / Clinical Manager.
• To ensure the team work to national legislation, local policies and procedures and eligibility criteria.
• To ensure the service works to agreed objectives.
• Ensure that there are effective risk management approaches in place and resources are effectively utilised.
• To build and maintain strong links and working relationships with all local agencies working with adults with mental health problems, including ward teams, crisis teams, emergency response services, Emergency Department teams, local authorities voluntary sectors and wider system partners.
• To effectively communicate service related information to EPUT staff, and other agencies as required.
• To monitor referrals, waiting times, workload and capacity within the department and report any performance issues.
• To provide and ensure the availability of specialist advice, support and consultation to staff within the team and acute hospital colleagues.
• Participate in the Trust’s patient safety incident response plan, ensuring that we learn from patient safety incidents to reduce risk and promote, embed and sustain high quality, safe care
• Carry out investigations into complaints and liaise with complainants.
• To manage human resource related issues such as sickness absence and conduct and capabilities for area of responsibility in accordance with relevant agencies policies and procedures.
• To ensure implementation and compliance with EPUT policies and procedures.

Performance Management

• To ensure that all agreed patient quality, safety and operational performance outcomes are delivered within the area of responsibility.

Human Resources

• To manage staff and team performance in line with EPUT policies and procedures.
• To effectively manage sickness absence in line with Trust policies and procedures.
• To be responsible for recruitment and selection processes in their areas of responsibility together with the Matron / Clinical Service Manager.
• To ensure the optimum deployment of staff in their areas to meet operational requirements and safe staffing principles.
• To demonstrate and promote effective communication, disseminating information and encouraging staff participation in developments within the service.
• To ensure that individual and team training and development needs are identified and that plans to meet these training needs are agreed, recorded and implemented.

Finance

• Budget holder – to manage a confirmed budget

Clinical Governance

• To ensure that systems are in place to support the delivery of services to agreed standards
• To work with the senior clinical staff (clinical leaders) and others in their area to develop and implement local clinical governance action plans as agreed by the Care unit senior leadership team.
• To identify priorities for clinical audit in their area of responsibility.
• To ensure the implementation of clinical protocols and guidelines.
• To actively engage with service users, monitor their views on services and promote their involvement in service planning.
• To ensure adherence to Trust policies and procedures relating to health and safety at work

Clinical/Practice

• To participate in the assessment, review and management of complex referrals that carries a high degree of risk.
• Co-lead with the department senior medic all department patient review procedures to ensure timely clinical decisions and departmental flow are maintained
• To attend as required specialist meeting with other agencies for the review of complex cases including Protection of Vulnerable Adults Meetings, Child Protection Meeting, etc.
• Ensure effective and confidential communication between all care agencies on significant data governing patient care and treatment.
• To devise, in collaboration with multi-disciplinary team members, appropriate referral on and/or signposting to appropriate services.
• To ensure referral to other specialists and services as appropriate.
• To give consultation, training and advice to professionals and agencies relating to client care and the management of complex cases

Any other duties as delegated by the  Care unit leadership team commensurate with the responsibilities of this post.