LAMBETH LIVING WELL NETWORK ALLIANCE

JOB DESCRIPTION

1. JOB DETAILS

Post Title: Community Living and Support Service – Team Manager

Grade: 8a or equivalent grade across partner organisations

Hours: Full Time - 37.5 hours

Directorate: Lambeth

Reports To: Inpatient General Manager and Head of Service for Mental Health, Lambeth Council

Accountable To: Lambeth Directorate Director

1.1 JOB PURPOSE:

We are introducing a new team in the Lambeth Alliance, located within the Lambeth borough Directorate within South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), to assist in the management of improving flow across our adult services. The post holder will be leading a team responsible for driving operational improvement in the flow of people using Inpatient beds within SLaM, with day to day operational responsibility for understanding and driving down delays experienced. This new team is called the Community Living and Support Service (CLaSS)

The CLaSS Team Manager will have a dual reporting line, into both the General Manager for Inpatients and the Head of Service for Mental Health in Lambeth Council; mirroring the partnership approach required for this team to be successful. They will also report into the Trust wide Flow Director to escalate any delays in resolving barriers to discharge from our inpatient units. The Team Manager will maintain strong links with the Medical Lead, General Managers and Deputy Directors in the Directorate and will work across Inpatient, Community and Rehabilitation services. CLaSS will consist of of a clinical lead, social workers, administrator, and voluntary sector staff, who will work across the Inpatient and Community services lines to ensure that service

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users are supported to remain in, and return to their communities as quickly as possible post discharge. The new team has a tripartite focus:

1. To oversee and take the lead in ensuring that actions for delayed persons (or those at risk of being delayed) are being carried out quickly and effectively

2. To increase support in the community to people to avoid admission where possible or where admission is likely, to commence work which supports timely discharge

3. To bring together existing aligned resource and ensure transparency and coordination of resource which can guarantee ‘best fit’, equal distribution of workload, and the ability to target resources that are most amenable to reducing hospital length of stay.

The purpose of the role is to ensure a reduction in length of stay on the inpatient units and more generally, improve flow across the mental health system. This will require excellent and highly developed communication, negotiation and problem solving skills. The postholder will utilise highly specialist knowledge and expertise through comprehensive support in the assessment, complex planning, implementation and overall evaluation of individual patients where a likely delay in discharge is indicated. In these circumstances liaison with multi-disciplinary teams and external partners to plan complex discharges and resolve organisational or external issues impacting on a timely transfer of care are required.

The role necessitates strong and confident decision-making ability. The post-holder will understand the principles of critical thinking and positive risk taking and be confident to apply these in practice to aid staff in the management of flow. Specifically, the postholder will actively pursue actions relating to patients who are delayed discharges due to barriers. This will require the postholder to work collaboratively with all relevant parties including external agencies.

The postholder will be accountable for escalating internal and external issues and delays that cannot be resolved in a timely manner and providing assurance a resolution is achieved. To do this they will gather and synthesise information obtained from the Inpatient patient flow coordinator, weekly Bed Management Meeting, quarterly Multi Agency Discharge Events (MADE), Zoning information from community services, Home Treatment in reach and Delayed Transfer of Care reporting. The role is Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:00, although some flexibility may be required.

2. LAMBETH ALLIANCE DETAILS

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Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group and Lambeth Council want people of Lambeth to have a fully integrated and coordinated mental health system which focuses on people’s strengths and supports their whole health and wellbeing. They have commissioned the Lambeth Living Well Network (LWN) Alliance to lead, co-ordinate and, in large part, deliver support and services for those experiencing mental health issues in Lambeth. The LWN Alliance is responsible for the large majority of the adult mental health services in Lambeth, including the existing Living Well Network as well as all inpatient and community care.

The LWN Alliance functions as a virtual organisation, bringing together Certitude, Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group, Lambeth Council South London & Maudsley NHS FT and Thames Reach. The expertise and perspectives of its member organisations to deliver the mandate as set by Lambeth CCG and Council. The objectives of the LWN Alliance are to:

Improve access to support – including easier early access and a rapid crisis response;

Integrate and coordinate care and support for people and their networks across Lambeth;

Reduce the inequalities experienced by people experiencing mental health problems;

Manage demand and resources effectively; and

Drive culture change – including leadership and asset-based working.

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Professional Responsibilities

To provide expertise in developing robust discharge plans for complex patients. This may include consideration of alternative service providers or settings where appropriate or other advice to achieve transfer/discharge that enables patient choice whilst balancing risk

To have an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of care throughout the patient journey and utilise this holistic knowledge and expertise to assist the MDT.

To take a proactive approach to the discharge management of patients with complex needs. This will involve communicating with Family/Carers, Social Service, Housing Support Services, Continuing Care, Community Services, GP’s, Rehabilitation Services and other service providers to ensure health or social care issues that may impact on a timely transfer of care are identified and resolved early in the patient pathway.

To be the point of contact for the directorate for issues relating to transfers of care/discharges and identifying concerns or potential delays early.

Holding live information about the status of all Directorate inpatients (including those in private or other Directorate beds) including estimated

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discharge dates and knowledge of those patients who are medically fit for discharge or formally declared as a Delayed Transfer of Care.

Understanding the barriers to discharge for all inpatients and the actions required to resolve these barriers.

Early escalation of internal and external factors resulting delays in resolution of barriers to discharge.

Regular and as required liaison with the Trust Flow Director. Review of and suggestion of improvements which could be made to

processes supporting flow in the Directorate. To develop and support quality improvement initiatives with a specific

focus on patient flow.

Management Responsibilities

Act as an effective role model and demonstrate effective communication, organisational and leadership skills.

Ensure monthly supervision and annual appraisal for all staff in the team excluding social work. May take over the line management supervision of the patient flow coordinator

To provide effective and visible clinical leadership that will support wards and clinical teams on their quality improvement plans with specific focus on patient flow leading to safe, timely and effective discharges.

Management of the team budget Initiate and develop implementation of data collection and subsequent

improvements to measure and enhance quality outcomes related to flow. Work in partnership with the General Managers on quality improvement

flow programs escalating challenges issues appropriately. Have a high level of autonomy and will work in a self-directed way within

the parameters of the post. Prioritise workload and make necessary contributions to ensure delivery

on flow and support development of future initiatives. Provide daily and monthly reports and presentations for the directorate. Identify areas for improvement and make recommendations utilising

improvement methodology which will drive service improvement. Participate in the management on call rota. Development of the teams’ operational policy and method of service

evaluation

Research

To actively participate in and encourage research activity within clinical services in order to achieve targets set by the Medical Lead.

Service improvement & innovation

To support and promote engagement in Trust wide initiatives for continuous quality improvement.

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To produce reports on service performance and development as required.

To contribute to the delivery of effective and efficient clinical services by ensuring that staff are engaged in continuous quality improvement initiatives.

To be a “change agent” driving a cycle of continuous quality improvement utilising lean methodology and other relevant techniques as appropriate

6. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

COMMUNICATION WITH FREQUENCYService Directors Daily Service users and carers As requiredProfessional colleagues DailySupervisor WeeklySupervisees At least monthlyOther services Daily Voluntary sector agencies As requiredPolice and other statutory organisations Daily Senior staff Weekly Ward Staff Daily Adult Social Care Team Daily Acute Referral Centre Daily

Other Information:

Confidentiality

Confidentiality/data protection regarding all personal information and Trust activity must be maintained at all times (both in and out of working hours) in accordance with professional codes of conduct and relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act. The post holder should ensure that they are familiar with and adhere to all Trust Information governance policies and procedures. Any breach of confidentiality will be taken seriously and appropriate disciplinary action may be taken. 

Equal Opportunities

Promote the concepts of equality of opportunity and managing diversity Trust wide.

Health and Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, paying due regard to health and safety in the workplace and management of risk to maintain a safe working environment for service users, visitors and employees.

Infection Prevention and Control

Employees must be aware of their responsibilities to protect service users, visitors and employees against the risks of acquiring health care associated infections, in accordance with Trust policy. 

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Professional standards and performance review

Maintain consistently high professional standards and act in accordance with the relevant professional code of conduct. Employees are expected to participate in the performance review process. 

Service/Department standards

Support the development of performance standards within the Service/Department to ensure the service is responsive to and meeting the needs of its customers.

Finance

All Trust staff will comply with the financial processes and procedures. 

Safeguarding Children

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Children Act 1989, 2004.

Code of Conduct

The post holder is required to adhere to the standards of conduct expected of all NHS managers set out in the Code of Conduct for NHS managers.

This job description will be subject to regular review and adjustment.  

SUMMARY

This job description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the post and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to the pay band. The post may change over time to reflect the developing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as the personal development of the post holder.

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PERSON SPECIFICATIONCommunity Living and Support Service – Team Manager

Verified at interview (I), by application form (A) or by a test (T)

Essential Desirable/To be developed in post

How tested

Education/ Qualifications

Recognised Professional Qualification in Social Work (DipSW/CQSW), Occupational Therapy, Nursing or relevant professional experience in a related field.

Evidence of continuing professional development.

Live Professional registration if professionally qualified

Management or leadership course.

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Experience Demonstrable experience of advanced knowledge in regards to discharge planning and patient flow

Experience of working within an acute mental health setting or experience of working with people with mental health diagnoses  Experience of leading and managing change to deliver organisational goals.  Experience of leading business planning processes and delivering targets.  Experience of working within the NHS, or a related public or voluntary sector organisation.  Experience of individual and team Performance Management and Appraisals.  Experience of involving service users and carers in the development of services. Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.

Experience of recruitment and selection of staff.

Experience of project management.

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Knowledge Knowledge of principles and ways of working relating to maximising independence and choice

Specialist knowledge relevant to the service, including evidence based practice.

Working knowledge of all relevant legislation associated with health and social care.

Understanding of the role and function of other organisations providing services to people with mental ill-health.

Understanding of the legislative and quality frameworks that govern provision of mental health and social care – Kris to review

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Skills and Abilities

Effective communications and interpersonal skills and proven ability to develop and manage key relationships at all levels Understanding of working in a multi-cultural, inner city environment with diverse communities and complex needs.

Ability to support, manage and advise the team through difficult and challenging situations.

  Ability to develop close collaborative working relationship between individuals, teams and organisations and to manage conflict effectively Excellent report writing and presentation skills and proven ability to evaluate services and present findings to stakeholders  Leadership skills especially the ability to lead and manage change through influence without direct management 

Ability to negotiate, persuade and influence others and reach compromises which demonstrate commitment to Alliance outcomes  Ability to function effectively in an organisational management role which involves working closely with clinicians.  Ability to work with minimum supervision and ability to set priorities in line with local and national priorities  High level competency in using Information Technology (word, excel, access, PowerPoint etc), especially spreadsheets and databases, to analyse and interpret complex data

Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of personnel and agencies.

Able to analyse complex issues/problems, gather relevant information and exercise sound judgement in reaching the most appropriate conclusions.

Ability to monitor and evaluate standards for quality within the service

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Personal attributes and

other skills

Recognition of own limitations, strengths and weaknesses and an ability to seek advice when necessary.

Able to gain easily the trust, confidence and respect of service users, their relatives and staff of a variety of levels and disciplines.

Innovative, creative and willing to try new approaches.

Able to work with attention to detail.

Able to work changeable hours at fairly short notice.

Evidence of undertaking audit work.

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Specialist Knowledge

Current good practice in assessment, short term time limited treatments and interventions

Understanding of the principles of supervision and Appraisal.

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