Head of Therapies and Wellbeing Services

Job responsibilities

People Management To effectively line manage the Therapies and Wellbeing Services, providing support, supervision and advice when required. Provide support and guidance to the Family Support Team Leader.

To support and develop the therapies services to meet patient need.

Hold responsibility for the development and maintenance of a problem solving/action approach to the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of individualised holistic care for all patients, involving the patient and their families in the planning.

Responsibility for the safe effective communication and documentation at all levels, ensuring the management of sensitive information regarding patients and carers.

To monitor the effective rostering and deployment of line staff, to ensure appropriate skill mix and efficient use of resources to cover the demands of the services.

To advise and support, line staff in the management of staff performance and absence as required.

In liaison with the Head of People and Development, proactively manage escalated performance and absence issues with staff under your line management.

To be responsible for conducting annual appraisal reviews with line staff, identifying individuals development and learning objectives.

To be responsible for the appropriate recruitment of staff and volunteers to the Therapies and Wellbeing Services ensuring the processes are undertaken in line with hospice policy and monitor the effectiveness of the inductions provided to all new starters.

To be responsible for ensuring that all staff and volunteers have undertaken all mandatory training appropriate to their role to maintain hospice standards and professional registration.

To ensure the Therapy and Wellbeing teams are knowledgeable in palliative and end of life care issues and continually update themselves with current trends in policy and practice.

Work in collaboration with internal MDT teams, partnership and external agencies, building good relationships and networking.

Create a supportive and nurturing environment to develop staff, recognising potential and identifying future aspiring leaders within the teams.

To promote high staff morale by inspiring a shared vision and common goal.

Operational Management Manage a 5 day per week provision, aiming to provide consistent support within the available resources, ensuring the delivery of high-quality specialist therapeutic, social and psychological support to patients of all ages and their families.

Ensure efficient management of services, leading the staff by example to ensure the quality of care and the clinical environment are maintained at a high standard.

To effectively deal with complaints, ensuring that investigations are conducted in line with the Hospice complaints policy.

To continually monitor and review services, identifying any opportunities to improve service delivery and provide best patient/carer care in relation to resources available, to identify any deficiencies and produce reports detailing future development required.

To effectively and efficiently implement identified changes, influencing and engaging with the Therapies and Wellbeing teams.

Have an overview of patient care, by regularly attending appropriate patient related meetings, challenging and questioning staff to ensure a high quality of care is maintained.

To communicate effectively with patients, their families and significant others to assess the quality of care and effectiveness of service provision.

Monitor and enforce appropriate behaviour in the workplace in accordance with hospice policies and procedures. To be responsible for the development and delivery of paid services for patients, e.g. bathing, respite services, complementary therapies.

To be aware of the Palliative Care agenda, with a particular focus on palliative rehabilitation and shape services to support and work collaboratively with patients, their relatives and carers to give a sense of wellbeing and to enable them to live as independently and fully as possible within the limitations of their illness.

To lead and support the teams to work collaboratively with other service areas to ensure patients receive a seamless service, which fully meets their needs and those of their families.

Monitor the accuracy and effective completion of patient records in accordance with regulatory and professional guidelines.

To communicate regularly with the Director of Clinical Services informing of significant staffing situations, untoward incidents and examples of good practice.

To contribute towards the development and delivery of operational objectives as part of the wider local PEoLC agenda, working with colleagues withing our community PEoLC partners to develop seamless integrated services.

To contribute towards the setting and implementation of the hospice strategic objectives and provide relevant professional input to the strategic development of hospice services.

To attend identified meetings and feedback to the Director of Clinical Services and where appropriate to the Therapy and Wellbeing teams and other members of the hospice leadership team.

To be responsible for the Therapy and Wellbeing areas, maintaining safe and effective equipment, good furnishings and ensuring high standards of cleanliness and infection control to meet the expected high standards of the hospice.

To ensure promotion of good health, safety and security of staff, patients, their families and significant others understanding the hospice health and safety procedures, including COSHH regulations.

Clinical Lead To develop extended communication skills within the teams in relation to pre and post bereavement with patients, their families and colleagues within the hospice multi-disciplinary team.

To be aware of national, regional and local initiatives and contribute to the wider regional and local work in palliative and end of life care

To represent the hospice at external forums and networking events as required.

To be involved with the development and implementation of evidence-based services/interventions to meet the changing needs of patients, families and significant others.

To develop an expertise in all aspects of palliative care within the Therapies & Wellbeing Services team.

To support development and implementation of teaching packages in house and externally.

To work closely with other members of the clinical operational management team bringing equity and parity across services.

To work flexibly to meet the needs of the hospice with the ability to support other areas when in need.

Deputise for the Director of Clinical Services when required.

Governance, Quality, Audit and Research Working alongside the Head of Governance, contribute to achieving the required compliance in relation to statutory regulation.

To identify and report verbal complaints and compliments in line with hospice policy.

Have overall responsibility for audit within the Therapies & Wellbeing services ensuring they reflect ...