Neerim Health (NH) is a not-for-profit regional provider of health services located in the Shire of Baw Baw, located approximately 100km east of Melbourne.  The NH has 25 Aged Care and 8 Hospital beds and provides a broad range of services including operating theatre, day procedure unit, acute medical and surgical, aged care and community services. The primary catchment area is the Shire of Baw Baw, although patients present from other Local Government Areas in Gippsland and outer Melbourne.

The Nurse Manager (NM) – Perioperative is responsible to the Director of Clinical Services (DCS).  As the leader of Perioperative services, the NUM sets expectations, develops, plans, and manages the provision of high quality comprehensive and individualised patient care, on a day-to-day basis.  The NM is responsible for the clinical management and leadership of the one theatre, recovery, 10 bed active day surgery, CSSD and the pre-admission clinic.  In addition, the position is responsible for human resource management of the perioperative staff, involved with continuous quality improvement and occupational health and safety within the theatre.  The NM will work closely with other department managers and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to identify and diversify business opportunities at Neerim Health.

• Perform duties within the context of NH philosophy, values and policies and procedures
• Acknowledge and respect the diversity in the nature of our residents, patients and clients and the many aspects of their lives – physical, psychological, spiritual and social
• Work as per your contract of employment, relevant Award / Agreement and agreed roster
• Read and understand all policies and procedures including all revised policies and procedural documents
• Understand and work within the Risk / Quality Management Framework including policies, procedures, tools, templates and reports as applicable throughout the organisation
• Work within the parameters of general legislative compliance – including but not limited to OHS laws and guidelines, Fair Work Australia Act, Aged Care Act, Privacy Act, Health Records Act
• Follow the objectives of the strategic and operational plans as directed by the CEO

Nursing:

• Manages the operating room, day procedure unit, pre-admission clinic and CSSD in an effective and efficient manner.
• Ensure high quality patient care is delivered by staff in accordance with NH policies, procedures.
• Monitors and evaluates appropriate and timely admission and discharge planning for theatre patients.
• Allocates nursing care according to the level of skills, knowledge, experience, and dependency of the patient.
• Maintains clinical knowledge and skills through participation in all peri-operative nursing procedures.
• Liaise and conduct and timely communication with visiting Medical Officers, allied health clinicians, referring hospitals and services.
• Ensure staff utilise information technology to maintain patient clinical files.
• Commitment to flexibility and innovation in practice including an evidence-based approach to care.
• Supervise employees and act appropriately to immediately manage any behaviour not meeting policy, procedures, or professional standards.
• Maintain accurate and current patient records ensuring documentation meetings professional and legal standards.
• Establish and maintain effective communication, interpersonal, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrate excellence in customer service and safety and comfort to patients, visitors and staff.
• Practice safely within the profession and own scope of practice boundaries.
• Lead, direct and supervise employees in the provision of high quality, evidence-based and culturally sensitive person-centred care.
• Delegate and supervise employees on the shift to ensure delivery of care based on workload prioritisation and within the employees’ scope of practice.
• Assume responsibility for direct nursing care when required, in accordance with the model of care of the unit, policies and standards and National Safety & Quality Healthcare Standards.
• Facilitate and perform nursing interventions within professional standards.
• Incorporate principles of ethical decision making and using evidence-based practice, formulate, implement, and evaluate patient care.
• Ensure nurses recognise, respond, and evaluate changes or deterioration in the patient’s condition, undertake appropriate clinical assessments and clinical procedures and document variation in the care plan.
• Recognise and report adverse events and incidents to the Director of Clinical Services (DCS) or executive on-call outside of business hours.

Leadership and Management:

• Role model nursing excellence.
• Work collaboratively to support the Director of Clinical Services (DCS) to provide effective, visible leadership and supervision across the team.
• Ensure the appropriate and optimal use of resources including responsibility for staffing, medical consumables, and pharmacy.
• Clearly communicate clinical and behavioural expectations to staff
• Mentor or preceptor staff as directed by the DCS or delegate.
• Ensure staff rosters are posted four (4) weeks in advance.
• Liaise with VMOs’, the Surgical Access Manager and DCS to ensure fair and efficient operation room schedules.
• Contributes to the orientation and welcoming of new staff to the unit and the team.
• Participate in the management, recruitment, orientation, and retention of employees.
• Demonstrate the ability to debate, negotiate, resolve conflict, and handle sensitive and complex issues.
• Participate in own annual performance development process and discussions with Director of Clinical Services (DCS) or the Deputy Director of Nursing (DDON).
• Participate and commit to succession planning by supporting the skills development of others within the unit.
• Maintain and promotes a harmonious relationship between nursing and medical staff within the department and Neerim Health.
• Ensure familiarity with the expected standards of performance in the role and actively contribute to own personal development.
• Ensure staff rotation within the unit to maintain suitably skilled and experienced workforce.
• Actively participate in professional development and complete mandatory competencies.

Confidentiality:

• Ensure that any personal, private, or sensitive information obtained regarding a staff member or patient remains confidential.

Quality and Safety:

• Contribute to quality service delivered to patients through Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
• Manage and be accountable for clinical and / or operational portfolios as directed by the DCS.
• Contribute and participate in Accreditation activities/visits and participate in the implementation of the NSQHS Accreditation Standards in a timely manner.
• Maintain knowledge of the relationship between quality improvement, risk management and incident forms, and ensure all incidents, near misses, hazards, etc. are reported.
• Actively participate and contribute within the Quality and Safety Committee
• Contributes to the implementation and evaluation of quality systems.
• Ensure complaints and feedback are escalated in adherence to relevant policies and procedures and feedback is followed up in a timely manner and reported to the quality and safety committee.
• Ensure patient and consumer safety and quality of care is the highest priority.
• Participate and complete audits to assist in collection of data for quality improvement measures and report to the quality and safety committee.
• Carry out compliance and improvement against the key elements of quality and safety.
• Demonstrate commitment to developing, promoting, and progressing continuous quality improvement initiatives as directed by manager.
• Be responsible for the quality of care at point of care.
• Ensure that staff understand and adhere to emergency procedures.
• Participate and co-operate in consultative processes to improve health and safety.
• Ensure that relevant data is collected, analysed and used to improve clinical care outcomes.
• Observe safe working practices and as far as you are able, protect your own and others’ health and safety.
• Identify clinical risk issues and areas for improved clinical outcomes.
• Recognise and manage risk, report promptly and ensure that actions are taken to prevent and minimise harm to consumers and the healthcare workforce.
• Ensure adherence to organisational standards and complete all mandatory and targeted education.
• Adhere to relevant documentation systems and ensure high standard of completed documentation.
• Ensure a team approach and understanding of the Accreditation Standards for NSQHS
• Align with strategic and operational plans as directed by the DCS, CEO and Board.
• Use personal protective equipment in accordance with department policy, procedures and infection control manuals.
• Monitor and ensure the optimal use of all resources and consumables is within budget and organisational limitations.
• Check equipment required for each shift and report faulty equipment.
• Utilise information technology effectively.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, regulatory requirements, professional standards, frameworks, code of ethics and conduct and guidelines and report concerns / breaches to the DCS and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• Demonstrate own and team professional practice in accordance with NMBA professional standards for the Registered Nurse.
• Implement the standards of health and safety and comply with OH&S legislative employee requirements.
• Report workplace injuries in accordance with policies and procedures, work effectively with staff on return-to-work programs.
• Identify and report clinical risks via the NH Risk Management Framework.
• Acts to maintain infection control standards and undertakes Infection Control activities as directed.
• Ensure all incidents are accurately documented and investigated at the time of an incident and the DCS and CEO are informed.
• Responsible for the reporting of any malfunctioning equipment and/or facility to the appropriate line manager.
• Dispose of waste promptly and according to NH Waste Management Policy.
• Adhere to Infection Control policies and procedures as identified in the NH Infection Control Manuals.
• Adhere to emergency procedures as detailed in the Emergency Procedure Manual.
• Ensure compliance with Safe Patient Handling program.
• Demonstrates an understanding of industrial requirements in managing workforce issues and other legislation and code of practice applying to the workplace.
• Ensure staff compliance with Infection Prevention and Control requirements including Pandemic Planning and management.

Specialist Knowledge:

• Ensure provision of contemporary care services that meet the individual needs of patients.
• Ensure clinical care meets the individual social, spiritual, cultural, and physical needs of patients.
• Completes assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation to maximise individual care for each patient.
• Promote and respect the rights of all patients.
• Manage all areas of conflict and apply conflict resolution skills when dealing with employees, patients, their representatives, and the public.
• Participate and contribute to improvement of policies, procedures and protocols and identify potential issues in nursing practice and areas of improvement in clinical standards.

Teamwork:

• Function as a team member consistent with the policies and procedures of the Health Service.
• Achieve teamwork through effective collaboration and communication processes, recognise roles of, and collaborate with team members in the wider health care team.
• Complete delegated work tasks effectively and appropriately.
• Recognise and seek assistance from appropriate staff members when tasks fall outside of ability.
• Contributes to the teams through committee membership or supporting colleagues fulfilling committee membership.
• Act as a resource for Graduate Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, casual nursing staff.

Professional/Personal Development:

• Use resources when presented with unfamiliar situations.
• Identify own learning and development needs, actively pursue and participate in relevant educational programs and personal development activities.
• Maintain current professional knowledge and skills relevant to the position.
• Act responsibly in relation to rostering practices.
• Act to ensure Annual Leave and ADO liability comply with NH policy.
• Promote and support the mandatory competency framework for Nursing Services, ensuring compliance issues are addressed within an agreed timeframe.
• Provide ongoing feedback and conducting staff Performance Development Reviews annually.
• To complete mandatory training annually that has been identified as being a requirement of the position and commit to ongoing education and personal development.

• To work within the organisation’s Vision
• Well-developed communication, interpersonal, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to providing a customer focussed service.
• Ability to use initiative.
• Capacity and willingness to be flexible and adaptable.

• Comply with record keeping policies and standards.
• Uphold the organisation’s commitment to providing patient centred care in a culturally aware and respectful manner.
• To practice Health Literacy principles in everyday practice.
• Actively seek feedback from Stakeholders (Health Professionals, Consumers, Carers & the Community).
• Participation in the NH staff immunisation program.

Annual staff approiasal will be conducted with the DCS.

Key Competencies:

• Demonstrated skills and experience in perioperative services and knowledge of funding models, accreditation standards and process.
• A successful and proven records in a senior leadership role within perioperative services.
• Advanced problem solving in analytical and advisory skills.
• Strong personal ethics and a conscientious approach with highly developed verbal and written communication skills
• Understanding of and commitment to continuous quality improvement
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to manage many different demands and work priorities.
• Demonstrated ability in managing human resource, financial and administrative issues.
• Proven ability to use information and reporting systems appropriate to the position including systems and applications for surveillance and audit including reporting.
• within a multidisciplinary team in a health

• Ability to communicate constructively and effectively with key stakeholders including excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction and a willingness to be flexible and adaptable.
• Commitment to continuous quality improvement
• Demonstrated computer proficiency and working knowledge of clinical, quality and workforce information management systems.

• Ability to follow policies and procedures and to prioritise tasks in line with the demands of the service.
• Demonstrated commitment to safe work practice.

Mandatory:

• Current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
• Previous related management experience in perioperative services
• Minimum three (3) years’ experience in an operating theatre
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Critical thinking and ability to use initiative.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of hospital accreditation system and Australian College and Perioperative Nurses (ACORN) Standards
• Post graduate qualification in perioperative services or equivalent of health-related field.

Desirable:

• Certificate IV in Sterilisation Services
• Ability to contribute as a team player and promote organisational values.
• Proven track record of building and maintaining effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to lead change and commitment to continuous quality improvement.
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to manage different demands and work priorities.

• Salary and conditions are in accordance with your individual employment agreement and the NH EBA
• Remuneration Packaging is available in accordance with current legislation.
• NH operates under an Equal Opportunity Policy and Occupational Health & Safety Policy in accordance with current legislation.
• Effective risk / quality management is a core competency expected of everybody involved at NH
• The Registered Nurse is expected to conduct her/himself with professional integrity towards residents, patients and clients
• Under the Accident Compensation Act, it is the applicant’s duty to advise NH of any pre-existing condition, which could be aggravated by the type of employment they are applying for. Failure to do so seriously jeopardises any entitlement the employee might have for a work-related aggravation of that non-disclosed pre-existing condition.
• Under the relevant State and Commonwealth legislation all applicants are required to undergo a National Police Check and a Statutory Declaration is required for any staff working in aged care

Position Description Perioperative Nurse Manager