Health Service Development Manager (Specialist Nursing) Page 1 of 10
Health Service Development Manager (Specialist Nursing) Salary: Negotiable - dependant on experience Thank you for your interest in Crohn s and Colitis UK. We are a national charity whose purpose is to improve life for everyone affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). These lifelong and debilitating conditions affect over 300,000 people in the UK with nearly half of those being diagnosed each year under the age of 29. Our work covers a broad range of activities designed to achieve a better quality of life, improve support and services and, ultimately, find a cure. We have recently added a new strategic objective to the work of the charity as follows: The number of IBD specialist nurses will have increased with our goal being to achieve the numbers recommended within the UK IBD Standards. Over many years we have played an important part in supporting and championing the work of IBD Specialist nurses who have helped to drive up the quality of treatment and care received by patients with Crohn s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Despite this, the stark reality is that the level of IBD Specialist nursing provision across the UK is woefully inadequate and we now need to take action to improve the situation. We want more IBD specialist nurses and we want those nurses currently in post better supported in their roles. Our goal is for every hospital to be able to meet the level of specialist nursing provision as recommended within the UK IBD Standards. The new Health Service Development Manager (Specialist Nursing) will help us to shape and lead a new five point plan to raise awareness of the value of IBD Nurses, support those already in post and ultimately help us to deliver national and local quality improvement programmes to increase the number of IBD Specialist Nurses. Finding the right individual to lead and drive this programme of work will be critical and as such, we are willing to look at flexible options in how this could be best delivered. Our initial view is that this will begin as a one year fixed term contract but within this feel it could be delivered in a variety of ways (i.e. full time, part time, secondment opportunity etc) We hope that you find this exciting new opportunity of interest and we would be more than happy to have an informal conversation in advance should you wish to find out more about this important new role. We very much look forward to hearing from you. David Barker Chief Executive Page 2 of 10
About Us Our Vision A world in which people s lives are not limited by Crohn s or Colitis. Our Mission To work with all those affected by Crohn s and Colitis to achieve a better quality of life, improve support and services and, ultimately find a cure. Our Values As a charity we work to an ethos of shared values. These are: Compassion Inclusion Collaboration Empowerment Excellence What we do Our core purpose is to improve life for everyone affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the most common forms being Crohn s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Together these conditions affect at least 300,000 people in the United Kingdom and there is currently no known cure. IBD can strike at any age, but begins most commonly in teenagers and young adults. A diagnosis of Crohn s or Ulcerative Colitis can have a devastating impact on life, education and work. So as the UK s largest patient organisation working in this field we are committed to ensuring that patients and their families have the right information and support to help them manage their lifelong condition. We do this by providing a range of highly regarded information and support services, raising awareness of Crohn s and Ulcerative Colitis through our policy, advocacy and media work, and by working in close partnership with healthcare professionals, MP s and decision makers in order to drive up standards of healthcare across the UK. We are also committed to finding a cure for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and since 1984 have been funding a wide range of research projects. Our aim is not only to search for causes, cure and better treatments, but also to explore the social and psychological impact of these illnesses on patients and their families. But we can t do it alone. We work alongside thousands of members, dedicated supporters, fundraisers, volunteers, celebrities, healthcare professionals, politicians, journalists and opinion formers. Everybody has a part to play in the fight against IBD. Further information www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk Page 3 of 10
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DELIVERING A PLAN FOR MORE IBD NURSES Our strategic plan now includes the following new objective: The number of IBD specialist nurses will have increased with our goal being to achieve the numbers recommended within the UK IBD Standards Work has begun on shaping a plan outlining some of the key initiatives/areas we intend to develop. We intend to adopt a five point plan as follows (N.B. not in any order of priority): Increasing our knowledge base and expert resource Identifying & targeting greatest need Supporting specialist nurses already in post Harnessing patient power The number of IBD specialist nurses will have increased with our goal being to achieve the numbers recommended within the UK IBD Standards Applying Political pressure and creating greater awareness Increasing our knowledge base and expert resource This strand of work is likely to include: - Scoping and Securing necessary resource - Defining and establishing the current nursing baseline and developing future growth ambition - Reporting key learning and recommendations from the nurses project in Truro - Capturing of key learning from other organisations (charities, RCN, BSG etc) - Identifying and sharing of best practice and successes (internally & externally) Identifying and targeting greatest need This strand of work is likely to include: - Mapping of current nursing provision across the UK - Identifying those services where there is the greatest need i.e. currently no nurse provision and opening a dialogue with the relevant individuals responsible for developing nursing provision - Identifying local authorities/commissioning groups (England) who have highlighted gastroenterology as an area for focus within their joint strategic needs assessments - Potential development of a hit squad to identify and work directly with those services in greatest need in order to target resource and effort. Page 5 of 10
Supporting specialist nurses already in post This strand of work is likely to include: - Developing further training, education and networking opportunities including further use of the Heyman Bursary - Building on the work of the Northwest Patient Education programme run by IBD Specialist nurses - Helping specialist nurses to show the value they are adding in order to secure more - Sharing of good practice within the network - Building our Clinical Community of nurses with the introduction of Clinical Connect Applying Political pressure and creating greater awareness This strand of work is likely to include: - Creating greater awareness and understanding of the role and importance of IBD Specialist nursing amongst politicians, decision makers, managers, commissioners, funders etc - Building and driving key partnerships and coalitions Harnessing of patient power This strand of work is likely to include: - Mobilising local patients/volunteers as advocates, campaigners and supporters of the project - Harnessing local patient panels to drive local campaigns for greater nurse provision - Implementing an e-advocacy programme to develop digital campaigners - Building on the charity s new flexible model of volunteering in order to secure advocates/campaigners for IBD nursing Page 6 of 10
Job Description Health Service Development Manager (Specialist Nursing) Salary: Negotiable - dependent on experience This is an exciting new role within the charity that will be charged with the responsibility of delivering and driving the plan to meet our new strategic objective of helping to increase the number of IBD Specialist nurses across the UK. This key role will be sponsored by the Chief Executive who will act as project sponsor with day to day line management and reporting to the Director of Policy, Research and Public Affairs. We believe that the successful candidate will help to define the specific tasks and responsibilities of the role within the broad outline of the proposed five point plan. The successful candidate will have a natural flair, determination and proven experience to drive and create lasting impact and change. Specifically, we are looking for a candidate with the following qualities: Knowledge and Experience - A first rate knowledge and understanding of the Healthcare landscape and how to influence and drive change and quality improvement programmes (E) - A strong understanding of the commissioning landscape across the four nations of the UK and knowledge of how to influence decision making (E) - Sound knowledge and understanding of funding mechanism and tariffs for specific clinical activity (E) - A clear understanding of the role and value of specialist nursing provision (E) - Proven experience at building strong business arguments and rationale in order to influence individuals and organisations within the healthcare sector (E) - Sound understanding of how to best utilise patient communities in driving quality improvement initiatives (E) - Strong knowledge of IBD Specialist Nursing (D) - Knowledge and understanding of the UK IBD Standards (D) - Good network of relevant contacts (D) Skills and Abilities - Strong influencing skills with a proven ability to influence and network at all levels of individuals and within organisations (E) - Strong analytical skills with an ability to extract relevant facts and figures and turn them into clear and concise ideas and arguments (E) Page 7 of 10
- Excellent writing skills, including the ability to write clear, concise briefs and convincing business cases for a range of audiences (E) - A proven self starter with an ability to work flexibly, on own initiative and as part of a team (E) - A strong presenter with a natural flair for giving presentations to people and groups of all levels (D) Other - Willingness to travel across the UK (E) - Proficient in MS Word and Excel and other relevant computer software (E) The role will begin as a one year fixed term contract but within this we feel it could be delivered in a variety of ways (i.e. full time, part time, secondment opportunity etc). Page 8 of 10
How to Apply We would strongly encourage interested candidates to have an initial non committal conversation with us before formally applying for this role. This can be done by contacting either: David Barker Helen Terry Chief Executive Director of Policy, Research and Public Affairs 07973 102443 07767 201606 As mentioned in our covering letter, we are keen to think creatively around this new role and explore possibilities for potential secondments and/or full or part time roles working within the charity. In order to give the programme the necessary drive and commitment we see the initial period as a one year fixed term contract with potential to extend as the programme develops. Interested candidates should send a CV and supporting statement to jobs@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk Please ensure that your application fully outlines how you meet the qualities outlined in the person specification. You should give the name, positions, organisations and telephone contact of two referees, one of whom should be your current/most recent employer. References will only be taken once your express permission has been granted. We would also be grateful if you could let us know if you require any special provision as a result of any disability should you be called for interview. Finally, please ensure that you have included mobile, work and home telephone numbers, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the indicative timetable. By post: Gill Lamb (Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees) Crohn s and Colitis UK 45 Grosvenor Road, St. Albans Herts. AL1 3AW By email: jobs@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk Timetable Closing date for applications: Monday 28 th December 2015 First Interviews: Week commencing 11 th January 2016 Further information www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk Page 9 of 10
Crohn s and Colitis UK is the working name for the National Association for Colitis and Crohn s Disease Charity registered in England and Wales No. 1117148 and Scotland No. SCO 038632 A company limited by guarantee in England and Wales: company no. 5973370 Page 10 of 10