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Chief Medical Officer Children’s Hospital Group

Job Specification and Terms & Conditions

Job Title and

Grade

Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

Campaign

Reference

CHG - CMO

Closing Date Friday 16th February 2018

Duration of

Post

Permanent post

Location of

Post

Within the geographical area of the Children’s Hospital Group, which includes the three children’s hospital locations in Dublin and the group office. The post holder will spend extensive time in the service locations. Exact location will be indicated at job offer stage. The CHG is based at Block A Herberton, St. James’s Walk, Rialto, Dublin 8.

Context/ Background

The Children’s Hospital Group (CHG) is part of the acute health sector reform programme and

consists of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital,

and the National Children's Hospital at Tallaght Hospital. The three children’s hospitals and the

CHG will be moving from four separate, independently governed entities into one new single

organisation in 2018 to govern and operate paediatric services in Dublin.

This new organisation will operate as a single service across the existing locations before

transitioning to the new facilities at the two paediatric outpatient and urgent care centres at

Connolly and Tallaght Hospitals and the new children’s hospital on the campus shared with St

James’s Hospital.

The Children’s Hospital Programme is a major programme of work led by the CHG, focused on transformative service change to integrate the three existing hospitals, while maintaining existing and new services, ensuring patient safety and quality until transition is complete. It will:

Establish an integrated paediatric healthcare network

Transition the three existing independently governed children’s hospitals into a new entity

Act as client for the government funded capital project to build the new hospital and the two paediatric outpatient and urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght Hospitals, and a separately funded research and education centre

Act as client to a major ICT programme

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Commission, transition to and operate the new children’s hospitals and the two paediatric outpatient and urgent care centres

Reporting

Arrangements

The CMO will report to the Group Chief Executive of the Children’s Hospital Group Executive Organisation structure:

Key Working

Relationships

The nature of the work determines that successful execution of duties will involve the development of key relationships with each of the members of the Children’s Hospital Group executive team.

A key emphasis is placed on the relationships with the board, regulatory bodies, clinical community, Clinical Directors, Director of Quality and Patient Safety and external stakeholders.

Scope of the

Role

The CMO is a medical/ clinical professional leadership role and has no service management remit.

It is an organisation-wide role with professional accountability to the CHG board - via the Group Chief Executive - for medical professional and clinical QSRM (quality, safety and risk management) for all services provided for within the Children’s Hospital Group. The CMO will also operate in a clinical practice capacity.

The scope of the role includes:

- Transitional activities in supporting the transition of the CHG from four independently governed entities into one single organisation.

- Enduring activities in clinical leadership and compliance in the newly established single organisation.

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Purpose of

the Role

The CMO role is the executive role designed to provide assurance on medical professional and clinical quality, safety and risk management. The CMO is the lead role in clinical leadership and compliance, developing and mandating implementation of medical professional policies, standards, practices and procedures.

The CMO represents the CHG externally, developing relationships nationally and internationally with other hospitals and health systems, and acts as a spokesperson for the hospital.

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Principal Duties

and

Responsibilities

Enduring

The key enduring duties and responsibilities of the CMO are outlined below.

Quality, patient safety and governance

Ensure that all statutory, other legal and extern mandated clinical policies and procedures are effected in and across the organisation and provide full assurance thereon.

Create the overall framework to monitor the delivery of high-quality, safe patient care at all levels and on all sites across the CHG, supported by the Director of Quality and Patient Safety and Chief Director of Nursing

Work closely with executive colleagues to develop and communicate the strategic vision for quality and patient safety and clinical governance, galvanising and supporting staff in promoting the CHG’s commitment to these strategic priorities.

Ensure that within each clinical area, effective systems and processes are established to enable the delivery of the clinical governance agenda.

Assure the CHG Board, through its Quality and Safety Director, in all aspects of quality, patient safety, governance and clinical risk ensuring any exceptions are reported and that recommended actions are fully implemented and appropriately reviewed to ensure compliance.

Leadership

Work as a dynamic, innovative leader using a positive, strong influencing style to provide visionary leadership to the Medical workforce, all senior clinicians and HSCPs and Clinical Support Services.

Work closely with the Clinical Directorates to shape the vision and strategies for developing and transforming medical practice throughout the hospital, including the strategic vision for clinical governance in order to ensure high quality safe, personal and effective care is consistently delivered

Aligned to the clinical strategy, set the ambition for clinical standards across the CHG and provide leadership in relation to clinical governance and risk.

In conjunction with the Clinical Directors, develop effective clinical leadership across all levels, services and sites, ensuring the medical workforce are highly motivated and responsive to the needs of staff, patients and the public.

Provide leadership towards the attainment of full hospital licensing areas not already covered.

Clinical

Set the vision for professional development for all medical practice within the CHG, ensuring clinical standards, working practices and performance are in line with the aspirations of a leading edge, learning organisation.

Provide an overall framework through which medical training and development can be implemented within the Clinical Directorates, in collaboration with the Chief Academic

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Officer.

Support the Clinical Directors, as the point of escalation, to challenge and manage poor practice in all areas including clinical quality, patient experience and operational ineffectiveness and put remedial actions in place to ensure and evidence improvement and demonstrate that quality and safety are of the utmost priority in the daily operation of the organisation.

Represent the CHG externally in pertinent national and international forums, develop reciprocal training programmes with other world class children’s hospitals, and explore income generation opportunities with international partnerships with other health systems.

Manage and discharge organisational relationships with medical training, certification and accrediting bodies, in collaboration with the Chief Academic Officer.

Work in collaboration with the Chief Academic Officer to develop and implement innovative clinical education and research programmes in the CHG.

Provide medical advisory support and assistance to Clinical Directors.

Communications and working relationships

Establish and maintain regular and effective dialogue with consultants and other medical staff, through the establishment of appropriate group-wide communication networks and mechanisms.

Provide medical direction, coaching and oversight to each of The Clinical Directors, offering expertise and leadership to build overall medical capability and ensure the delivery of affordable quality healthcare services.

Ensure that the medical workforce is actively engaged in the development of services and clinical policy and protocols.

Contribute to effective communications within the Children’s Hospital Group and with external stakeholders including the external media in relation to professional quality, safety and other issues.

Provide public leadership and communications to support staff morale and public confidence to the population served by the CHG.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office

Principal Duties

and

Responsibilities

In addition to their enduring responsibilities, the CMO will carry out activities to support the transition of the CHG from four independently governed entities into one single organisation. These include the following:

Work with the existing clinical leadership teams across the organisation to provide

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Transitional

assurance to the CHG Board in respect of clinical standards, professionalism, clinical governance, quality and patient safety.

Work with existing leadership teams and the Director of Quality and Patient Safety to influence and foster cross city clinical ways of working and build medical capability across the organisation.

Act as a champion to the medical workforce in the transition and adoption of the Clinical Directorate structure.

Foster senior level collaboration and engagement to influence and develop cross city collaboration, service alignment and the development of common ways of managing Clinical Directorates.

Facilitate cross hospital solutions and service developments to business as usual issues on a planned and responsive basis.

Our Values Our values reflect what we all believe will make the most positive difference to the care we offer and to the way we work with one another. By ‘living our values’ we will develop our organisation, our people, and continue to improve the quality of the patient experience in everything we do. The post holder will be expected to embody these values and enable them across the organisation

The children and families in our care are at the centre of everything we do. We are…

o Accountable for our patients safety

o Great team members

o Passionate about our purpose

We care about our patients, their families and our colleagues. We are…

o Always kind

o Aware of our impact

o Leaders in care

We provide access to the latest knowledge, innovation and technology for the best patient outcomes. We are…

o Focused on developing our self and others

o Always seeking to improve

o Always looking for innovative solutions

Child-Centred

Compassionate

Progressive

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Qualifications

& Experience

Candidates must meet the following criteria relevant to the role:

Essential Criteria

Qualifications:

Medical graduate.

Higher medical professional qualification.

Post graduate medical qualifications.

Skills & Experience:

At least 10 years of clinical experience in a hospital setting, of which a minimum of 5

years are at a senior leadership level (e.g. CMO/ Medical Director/ clinical leadership

position)

Evidence of a successful track record of working in paediatric healthcare environment

Outstanding reputation as a clinical leader, with a proven track record of producing high

quality results in the management and leadership of clinical services.

Experience in building organisational capabilities, including establishing a clear strategic

vision and direction and translation into successful outcomes.

Experience of managing governance agendas, including clinical governance and

research governance.

Evidence of continuing professional and managerial development.

Valid, state-issued medical license in good standing.

Experience with clinical risk management and safety protocols.

Excellent communication and organisational skills.

Desirable criteria:

Qualifications

Management qualification Skills & Experience:

Experience of leading an organisation or function through significant change

Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Age

Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate who is not

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classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age.

Health & Safety

These duties must be performed in accordance with the Children’s’ Hospital Group health and safety policy. In carrying out these duties the employee must ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply with the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act. Staff must carry out their duties in a safe and responsible manner in line with the Hospital Policy as set out in the appropriate department’s safety statement, which must be read and understood.

Quality, Risk &

Safety

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of all staff to:

Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements with regard to Quality, Risk and Safety.

Participate and cooperate with the Children’s Hospital Group Quality and Risk and Safety initiatives as required.

Participate and cooperate with internal and external evaluations of hospital structures, services and processes as required, including but not limited to: National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections HSE Standards and Recommended Practices for Healthcare Records Management HSE Standards and Recommended practices for Decontamination of Reusable Invasive

Medical Devices (RIMD Safety audits and other audits specified by the HSE or other regulatory authorities

To initiate, support and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with the hospitals continuous quality improvement programme.

It is the responsibility of all managers to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for Quality, Safety and Risk within their area/department.

Specific

Responsibility

for Best

Practice in

Hygiene

Hygiene in healthcare is defined as “the practice that serves to keep people and the environment clean and prevent infection. It involves preserving one’s health, preventing the spread of disease and recognizing, evaluating and controlling health hazards.”

It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure compliance with hospital hygiene standards, guidelines and practices.

Department heads/ managers have overall responsibility for best practice in hygiene in their area.

It is mandatory to attend hand hygiene and sharps awareness workshops yearly

Short listing &

next steps

The criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and/or the essential & desirable knowledge, skills and competencies section of this job specification. Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process To apply for this position, please send a CV and letter of application via email to executiverecruitment@nchg.ie, or by post to Aoife Rafferty, HR Lead, Workforce Planning, Children’s Hospital Group, Block A Herberton, St James’s Walk, Rialto, Dublin 8

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The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 16th February 2018. Informal enquiries or further information can be obtained from Ms Eilísh Hardiman, chief

executive Children’s Hospital Group (ceo@nchg.ie)

The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be

neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.

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Terms and Conditions of Employment

Chief Medical Officer

Grade: Assistant National Director or appropriate Consultant Grade

Duration of post

This is a permanent post.

Remuneration

Remuneration is in accordance with the salary scales approved by the

Department of Health

Annual Leave

Annual Leave entitlement is 30 days (222 hours) per annum.

Working Week

The hours allocated to this post are 37 hours per week with 7.4 hours

as a standard working day. The allocation of these hours will be at

the discretion of the Department Head and in accordance with the

needs of the service.

HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs

(Extended Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for

Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the

terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to

promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work

agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line

manager. Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the

hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for

extended day services in accordance with the terms of the

Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards

2016).

Pension

Employees of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital (on behalf

of the Children’s Hospital Group) are required to be members of the

Hospitals Superannuation Scheme. Deductions at the appropriate

rate will be made from your salary payment.

Probation All employees will be subject to a probationary period as per the

probation policy. This policy applies to all employees irrespective of the

type of contract under which they have been employed. A period of 9

month probation will be served:

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• On commencement of employment

• Fixed term to permanent contract

• Permanent employees commencing in promotional posts will

also undertake a probationary period relating to their new post.

Place of work/location Within the geographical area of the Children’s Hospital Group (CHG),

the CHG is located at Herberton, Block A, St. James’s Walk, Rialto,

Dublin 8.

Due to the plan for the new children’s hospital and the Paediatric

OPD and Urgent Care Centres, you may be required to transfer to

another location in in the future. You will be kept informed and

advised of the proposed relocation.

Age Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not

classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service

Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a

new entrant must be under 65 years of age.

Maternity Leave Maternity leave is granted in accordance with the terms of the

Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2001.

Payment of sick leave The Children’s Hospital Group operates a Sickness Absence

Management policy in line with the new Public Service Sick Leave

Scheme as introduced in 31st March 2014. An employee cannot avail

of paid sick leave during their first six months of employment with

the hospital.

Pre-Employment Health

Assessment

Prior to commencing in this role a person will be required to

complete a form declaring their health status which is reviewed by

the hospital’s Occupational Health Service and if required undergo a

medical assessment with this department. Any person employed by

the Children’s Hospital Group must be fully competent and capable of

undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of

health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to

render regular and efficient service.

Validation of

Qualifications &

Experience

Any credit given to a candidate at interview, in respect of claims to

qualifications, training and experience is provisional and is subject to

verification. The recommendation of the interview board is liable to

revision if the claimed qualification, training or experience is not

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proven.

References

The Children’s Hospital Group will seek up to three written references

from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any

other organisations with which the candidate has been associated.

The hospital also reserves the right to determine the merit,

appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.

Garda Vetting

The Children’s Hospital Group will carry out Garda vetting on all new

employees. An employee will not take up employment with the

hospital until the Garda Vetting process has been completed and the

hospital is satisfied that such an appointment does not pose a risk to

clients, service users and employees.

Ethics in Public Office 1995

and 2001

Positions remunerated at

or above the minimum

point of the Grade VIII

salary scale (€65,812

as of 01.04.2017)

Positions remunerated at or above the minimum point of the Grade

VIII salary scale (€ 64,812 as at 01.01.2010) are designated positions

under Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. Any person

appointed to a designated position must comply with the

requirements of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 as

outlined below;

A) In accordance with Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act

1995, a person holding such a post is required to prepare and furnish

an annual statement of any interests which could materially influence

the performance of the official functions of the post. This annual

statement of interest should be submitted to the Chief Executive

Officer not later than 31st January in the following year.

B) In addition to the annual statement, a person holding such a post

is required, whenever they are performing a function as an employee

of the HSE and have actual knowledge, or a connected person, has a

material interest in a matter to which the function relates, provide at

the time a statement of the facts of that interest. A person holding

such a post should provide such statement to the Chief Executive

Officer. The function in question cannot be performed unless there

are compelling reasons to do so and, if this is the case, those

compelling reasons must be stated in writing and must be provided

to the Chief Executive Officer.

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C) A person holding such a post is required under the Ethics in Public

Office Acts 1995 and 2001 to act in accordance with any guidelines or

advice published or given by the Standards in Public Office

Commission. Guidelines for public servants on compliance with the

provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 are

available on the Standards Commission’s website

http://www.sipo.gov.ie/