Deputy Ward Manager

Job overview

The Croft Child & Family Unit in Cambridge is a nationally commissioned Tier 4 hospital for children under the age of 13 who require inpatient treatment for mental health difficulties. Uniquely The Croft is proud to support families remaining together and can have parents stay alongside their children to work towards their goals.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Diligent, compassionate & motivated Deputy ward Manager to complement our multidisciplinary team.

The Deputy ward Manager is a leadership role, you will be involved in empowering a team of junior staff on shift and bringing clinical expertise to the day-to-day provision of care to the young people and their families aswell as supporting the Ward manager with some of the operational tasks.

We will provide quality supervision, space for reflection, and opportunities for professional development.

With Cambridge Children's hospital as part of our future, where a unique vision of integrated mental health and physical healthcare sit alongside research, you will be working as part of a wider system of professionals bringing this project to the children and families of East Anglia.

This is a 24/7 shift work role, and physical intervention training is a requirement. Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to hear more about The Croft or the role.

Main duties of the job

The poster holder will assist the Ward Manager in the provision of clinical and operational leadership and to be a clinical role model to the 24-hour inpatient team. Acting on behalf of and to deputise, as directed by the Ward Manager in their absence and provide quality evidence-based nursing advice, support and care for service users with mental and physical health needs and to their carers within a multidisciplinary setting. Working in conjunction with the Service Manager to set, maintain, and audit clinical standards in adherence to local and national priorities. The post holder will be responsible for overseeing the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care within agreed parameters, and have a working knowledge of local, national policies and legislation which govern current service provision.

The post holder will be responsible for identifying and contributing to the training needs of junior registered and unregistered staff, and ensure that issues of equality, diversity and rights are dealt with in accordance with good practice and legislation. They will ensure that effective communication pathways exist, and that they act within their sphere of responsibility, managing the clinical area alongside the Senior Ward Nurse. The post holder will be required to have clear oversight of rosters and manage safe staffing numbers accordingly.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities

1.    To be responsible for supervising the role of the named nurses in relation to care planning within the clinical area.  2.    To be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the evidence-based care required, including health promotion for a named service user/group ensuring it meets Trust timescales.  3.    To participate in the setting and implementation of quality standards, with particular reference to QNIC essential standards, including the monitoring and reviewing in line with current clinical guidance practice and policy. Utilising the data available such as learning from incidences and complaints.  4.    To ensure the post holder understands and meets their professional role and responsibilities under the Care Programme Approach.  5.    To ensure that the requirements of the Mental Health Act 2007 are observed, adhered to and implemented.  6.    To be responsible for the promotion of carer and service user involvement, including close working with families in Tier 4 inpatient units, within the service and for its provision. To encourage recovery, discovery and independence, taking into account risk assessment and management.  7.    To be responsible for establishing therapeutic relationships with service users, and the implementation of evidence based therapeutic interventions with appropriate boundaries in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Councils professional code of conduct.  8.    To ensure the provision of social/therapeutic activities for service users.  9.    To be responsible for the safe custody and administration of medicines in accordance with all medicine policies and ensure compliance is maintained.  10.    To respect and value the different therapeutic approaches within the multidisciplinary team but ensure that the agreed philosophy approach is adopted and followed.