Occupational Health Senior Nurse Lead (NHS Lead)

Job overview

The OH Senior Nurse Lead is a member of the senior management team of Working Well and has specific responsibility for clinical leadership and is professionally accountable for clinical activities within the occupational health team.  The postholder works closely with the Service Director, (who has overall operational responsibility for the service), and occupational health doctors (who hold specific regulated responsibility for medical issues).

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will provide leadership and direction to the clinical team within Working Well, and will provide a visible clinical profile and advisory input into the clinical management of the people who use our services.
• The post holder will be professionally accountable and required to act in providing clinical advice and guidance to other clinical professionals based on their specialist skills, knowledge and experience of occupational health.
• The postholder will be responsible for relevant clinical polices and oversee Working Well’s standards and processes in order to ensure they are fit for purpose and are delivered consistently across the Service’s work for which the clinical team are accountable.
• The postholder will be a member of the senior management team and will have clinical and professional input into the planning, provision and future direction of the Service.

The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical leadership and management of staff.

• Create a professional, safe and pleasant working environment
• Lead and supervise clinical staff in order to achieve excellence through agreed standards of clinical and organisational activity and in line with the professional code of conduct.
• Oversee and ensure Working Well services are delivered are in line with agreed quality     standards
• Provide leadership and direction to the clinical team, demonstrating an understanding of personal and professional needs of individuals and teams.
• Ensure there is effective and positive communication with and between clinical staff so that all members sustain their motivation and there is strong evidence of team working.
• Ensure there is an appropriate skill mix and provision of clinical cover for all aspects of service provision at all times
• Line manage the clinical team in line with all Trust policies and procedures and ensure all professional registrations are maintained.
• Provide appropriate support and guidance to staff where responsibilities have been delegated.
• Ensure the clinical team is kept up to date with all relevant occupational health issues as well as relevant issues within the wider NHS context and to facilitate regular meetings
• Manage the recruitment and selection of clinical staff
• Promote learning and development activities for clinical staff and identify opportunities to enhance career potential
• Sign off of expenses and timesheets for clinical staff and act as authorised signatory.

Service Quality and Development

• Use clinical expertise and knowledge to review and produce appropriate and relevant polices and protocols.
• Ensure an effective audit programme is in place in order to demonstrate compliance with the above and in order to retain SEQOHS accreditation.
• Monitor the services delivered against agreed Service Level Agreements and making any amendments necessary to ensure compliance.
• Work closely with all staff who provide clinical services in order to continuously improve the quality and nature of the services against clients needs.
• Act as a Specialist Practitioner and continue to maintain and update own specialist nursing skills in order to support the clinical team.
• Responsible for ensuring clinical activities are carried out in accordance with Service and Trust Policies, national regulations/guidance and evidence-based best practice
• Responsible for ensuring the clinical team are appropriately trained, competent and confident in carrying out their responsibilities to meet the needs of the clients.
• Work within the scope of the NMC Professional Practice and Code of Conduct and the standards set for occupational health by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.
• Maintain confidentiality of both the staff and client at all times.

Contracts

• Work with the Senior Occupational Health Nurses in allocating       nursing resources appropriately in order to deliver quality services in line with agreed Service Level Agreements
• Meet regularly with Nurses assigned to each contract, ensuring they are well supported and remain competent and confident in their role
• Support the Service Director in establishing new client relationships