Director of Nursing/Stiúrthóir Altranais

• Dublin, Ireland
• Temporary, Full time

Who We Are Our Mission: "To provide a high standard of care & treatment for all patients referred to the hospital & enable them to achieve the optimum of health & independent living"

Description Position: Director of Nursing (DON) Band 3

Contract: 2 Year Specified Purpose Contract

Hours: Full Time (37.5hrs) Onsite

Salary range: HSE Consolidated pay-scale (current applicable scale)

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

Closing Date: 26 October 2026

Organisational Context

Clontarf Hospital is a 160-bed Voluntary Hospital providing rehabilitation Services under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004 for Adults and Older Persons. At Clontarf Hospital, our committed, expert and compassionate staff provide excellent care to patients on their rehabilitation journey. Our goal is to work in partnership with patients, providing care that is tailored to their unique needs, empowering them to achieve their optimum level of independence at home and in their communities. The patient pathways include:

• Older Persons Rehabilitation
• Step-up beds and hospital avoidance pathways with the Integrated Care Team for Older Persons (ICPOP Team)
• Specialist Rehabilitation Services including neuro-rehabilitation and rehabilitation after trauma for adults and older persons
• Orthopaedic Rehabilitation

The Hospital has close links with the Mater Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, The National Orthopaedic Hospital, HSE Services and our Community Partners.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The purpose of the Director of Nursing (DON) post is to provide strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for the Department of Nursing, ensuring the delivery of safe, compassionate, and high-quality patient care in strict compliance with HIQA standards. As a key member of the Hospital's Executive Management Team, the post holder is accountable for the corporate and operational governance of the nursing department. The DON will drive a performance-driven culture aligned with agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), foster multi-disciplinary collaboration, and cultivate an environment centred on continuous quality improvement, person centred care and staff development.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate will carry out the following duties. Please note this list is not exhaustive and additional duties may be required but will be discussed in detail with the line manager.

Management, Leadership and Accountability

• Lead by example demonstrating dignity, courtesy and professionalism at all times.
• Provide strategic and clinical leadership and direction for nursing services which results in the delivery of effective, efficient, quality assured and patient centred nursing care.
• Provide direct leadership, oversight and management of the Patient Flow Managers, ensuring effective coordination of patient admissions, transfers, discharges and bed utilisation in line with patient safety, service requirements and hospital policies.
• Ensure that the direction and co ordination of the nursing service is consistent with overall strategy and meets national criteria.
• Responsibility for the management of all nursing services over a 24 hour period and ensure that systems are in place to support this.
• Promote the principle of person centredness. This includes the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times and that "healthy relationships between professionals" are core to quality service delivery.
• Develop a shared sense of commitment and participation among staff in the management of change, the development of nursing services and in responding to the changing health needs of patients and changing service delivery structures.
• Develop the concept of collaborative care planning in conjunction with other professionals.
• Foster multidisciplinary working relationships and strengthen the interface with our referring and discharge locations.
• Develop and maintain a network of co operative relationships at local, regional and national level and amongst individuals, groups and organisations.
• Keep the Line Manager appraised of any significant development and/or risk within their area of responsibility.
• The DON will report to and work closely with the Chief Executive Officer and deputise in their absence as and when required.
• Act as spokesperson for the Hospital, as required.
• Demonstrate pro active commitment to all communications with internal and external stakeholders.

Human Resource Management

• Develop, maintain and track appropriate safe staffing levels within resource allocated. Prepare monthly reports on WTE.
• Develop business case base on patient and service need to support the expansion of a service/team.
• Participate in workforce planning processes, including recruitment and selection processes as required.
• Develop, monitor and review performance management/achievement processes for nursing and support the performance a potential growth
• Monitor the optimum and effective use of resources through rostering, skill/grade mix planning, workload measurement, staff profiling and deployment in accordance with standards established by the Taskforce on Staffing and Skill Mix for Nursing.
• Manage and participate in industrial relations issues relating to nursing and health care assistants in consultation with the Human Resources Department.
• Manage and implement human resource systems for dealing with staff attendance, grievances, disciplinary matters, conditions of employment as appropriate (including personnel records, sick leave, annual leave and study leave using hospital systems as per policy).
• Identify and facilitate initiatives to improve staff retention (skills development/expansion, flexible working arrangements, staff rotation/redeployment opportunities/staff meetings).
• Promote and further develop the nursing role within the hospital and further development of Advanced Nurse Practitioner roles and expanded/enhanced roles for health care assistant staff.

Clinical Practice

• Develop, maintain and review the nursing organisational structure within the context of overall organisational objectives.
• Ensure that modern standards of clinical nursing care are in operation and that regular monitoring of nursing care is undertaken through audit.
• Develop a philosophy for nursing which reflects Clontarf Hospital's commitment to the provision of a high standard of nursing care.
• Develop local policies in line with best practice and HSE national policy to ensure integrated person centred service delivery.
• Maintain good collaborative working relationships and communications with appropriate statutory, professional and other organisations responsible for and /or participating in health care.
• Develop and implement (in association with appropriate others) operational policies, protocols, and guidelines for the utilisation of beds and a systematic audit of bed usage.
• Collaborate and work closely with the patient, their family, the multidisciplinary team, external agencies and services to facilitate discharge planning, continuity of care and specific care requirements.
• Be responsible for strategy and policy on practice development, education and professional duties imposed by statute or determination.
• Ensure compliance with HIQA standards and the escalation of any matters that could potentially affect registration.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure that the highest standards of clinical nursing care are in operation and that regular monitoring of nursing care is undertaken through audit and patient feedback surveys
• Develop a philosophy for nursing which reflects the hospitals commitment of the provision of a high standard of nursing car in line with best practice.
• Oversee all systems demonstrating and reporting nursing outcomes
• Oversee the use of Ward Quality Notice Boards and oversee all actions and closing of audit cycles
• Collaborate with the QPRS Officer to manage complaints from the general public in accordance with procedures and policies.
• Maintain positive external relations including good collaborative working relationships and communications with appropriate statutory, professional and voluntary organisations responsible for and/or participating in health care.
• Ensure adherence to all codes and guidelines relating to professional nursing practice and behaviour.

Risk Management, Health and Safety

• Promote and maintain a safe environment for staff and others.
• Develop and implement Risk Management and Health and Safety strategies in consultation with appropriate personnel.
• Adequately identify, assess, manage and monitor risks within their area of responsibility.
• Ensure that all incidents occurring within the relevant ward/department/service are appropriately managed and investigated in accordance with HSE procedures.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards, etc.
• Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
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