JOB DESCRIPTION
Assistant Director of Nursing Patient Flow
Fulltime Specified Purpose Position
Reference No: 08.014* (2025)
JOB SUMMARY
The post of Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) for is accountable and professionally responsible to the Director of Nursing but will work in close collaboration with The Directorate Nurse Managers and Senior Nursing Executive committees clinical staff senior managers and department heads to ensure the smooth running of the service. The ADON is an integral part of the Senior Nursing Executive team and will work to facilitate the implementation of a new process for patient flow through ED.
To fulfil the requirements of the position targets and key objectives (based on the job description) will be set by the Director of Nursing and Directorate Nurse Manager for the Assistant Director of Nursing appointed.
Although this is an established role the above duties and responsibilities are reflective of the expectation in defining this role now. This is not an exhaustive list and it is expected that the post holder will embrace the evolving nature of the role consistent with the direction being followed by the hospital and the DMHG in the current dynamic and changing operating environment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Each candidate must on the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office -:
- Be registered in the general division of the live Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) or be entitled to be so registered.
- Have at least 7 years recent post-registration nursing experience with 3 years nursing management experience at a minimum of CNM2 grade in an acute setting.
- Possess a post graduate qualification at not less than level 8 on the NFQ framework in the area of healthcare or management related area.
- Candidates must possess the requisite clinical leadership managerial and administrative knowledge and ability for the proper discharge of the office.
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrate evidence of higher learning and professional development.
2. Age Restrictions In Relation To Applications
Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed applications for the office occurs.
3. 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 as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
4. Be of good character.
5. Garda Vetting
Garda Vetting is sought for all employees and prospective employees of Tallaght University Hospital. Given the specialised nature of the services provided your appointment will be subject to satisfactory Garda Vetting and re-vetting in circumstances where the Hospital deems it appropriate. The Hospital will then process the necessary documentation to endeavour to obtain satisfactory Garda clearance for you. You are obliged to disclose previous and any criminal convictions acquired during the course of your employment. Should the Hospital obtain information from the Garda Vetting Unit to indicate that your Garda clearance report is not satisfactory and / or if you have supplied the hospital with false or misleading information in relation to your Garda clearance status the Hospital reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contract in accordance with Tallaght University Hospital Garda Vetting policy.
6. Mandated and Designated Persons under Children First Act 2015
Schedule 2 of the Children First Act 2015 specifies the classes of persons defined as Mandated Persons for the purposes of the Act. This includes a range of disciplines that are employed by the hospital including all medical practitioners registered nurses physiotherapists psychologists social workers and others. This includes staff working in adult services. All mandated persons have two main legal obligations under the Children First Act 2015. Mandated persons under the legislation are required to report any knowledge belief or reasonable suspicion that a child has been harmed is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed. The Act defines harm as assault ill-treatment neglect or sexual abuse and covers single and multiple instances. Mandated persons are also required to assist Tusla if requested in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report. Designated Officer are required to receive reports of suspected child abuse or neglect from any person who is of the opinion that (a) a child has been or is being assaulted ill-treated neglected or sexually abused or (b) a childs health development or welfare has been or is being avoidably impaired or neglected. Full detailed list of mandated and designated staff together with details of their roles and responsibilities can be found on It is the responsibility of all staff employed by TUH to be aware of their roles and responsibilities under the legislation and to complete mandatory Children First Training.
PARTICULARS OF OFFICE
1. The appointment full time specified purpose and pensionable position.
2. Remuneration:
Remuneration is in accordance with the salary scale approved by the Department of Health & Children. Current remuneration with effect from 1st March 2025 is:
70701 by 9 increments to 87250
Salary scales will be updated in line with nationally agreed pay agreements and will be updated accordingly and retrospective payments applied as applicable.
3. Pension arrangements and retirement age
There are three superannuation schemes currently in operation for staff in Tallaght University Hospital:
(a) Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (Non-New Entrant)
(b) Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (New Entrant)
(c) Single Public Service Pension Scheme
Please read carefully the summary of the criteria for the three superannuation schemes below. This will assist you in identifying which scheme membership is applicable to your employment circumstances.
(a) If you have been continually employed in the public service prior to the 1st April 2004 and you have not had a break in service of more than 26 weeks you will be included in the Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (Non-New Entrant) with a Minimum Retirement Age of 60 and a Maximum Retirement Age of 65.
(b) If you have been continually employed in the public service post the 1st April 2004 and you have not had a break in service of more than 26 weeks you will be included in the Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (New Entrant) with a Minimum Retirement Age of 65. There is no Maximum Retirement Age.
(c) If you have commenced employment in the public service as a new entrant or you are a former public servant returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks you will be included in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme effective from the 1st January 2013 with a minimum retirement age of 66 (rising to 67 and 68 in line with state pension changes). The maximum retirement age under this scheme will be age 70.
4. Duties:
The ADON Patient Flow will perform such duties as are outlined in this job description.
5. Hours of work:
Normal working hours are 37.5 worked over 5 days. Your contracted hours of work are liable to change to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement.
6. Probation:
The successful candidate will be appointed initially for a probationary period of 6 months. During the probationary period progress or otherwise will be monitored and at the end of the probationary period the service will (a) be certified as satisfactory and confirmed in writing or if not satisfactory the probationary period may be extended by 3 months.
7. Annual Leave:
The annual leave entitlement is 28 working days per year. The leave year runs from 1st April to the 31st of March each year.
8. Sick Leave:
Payment of salary during illness will be in accordance with arrangements as approved from time to time by the Department of Health and Children.
9. Termination of Office:
The employment may be terminated at any time by three months notice on either side except where circumstances are dictated by the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973/91. The Managements right under this paragraph shall not be exercised save in circumstances where the Management is of the opinion that the holder of the office has failed to perform satisfactorily the duties of the post or has misconducted himself/herself in relation to the post or is otherwise unfit to hold the appointment.
GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY
The person chosen will:
- Maintain throughout the Hospital awareness of the primacy of the patients in relation to all hospital activities.
- Report to the Directorate Nurse Manager and will be accountable and professionally responsible to the Director of Nursing.
- Establish a clear leadership role for all staff and act as a focal point of all management effort within the area of responsibility. He/she will ensure the provision of the most efficient and effective standard of services that is possible within the available resources.
SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITY
1. Service
Key roles and responsibilities:
- Work collaboratively with the ADONs responsible for the operational management of the ED/ Acute Floor and inpatient areas.
- The ADON Patient Flow will engage and influence the performance of the Hospital patient flow pathways and support systems to facilitate optimum efficiency and effectiveness and safe responsive high quality patient services.
- The ADON Patient Flow will provide leadership and be accountable and responsible to further develop governance structures and within those have the authority to assess plan action improve and review unscheduled care patient flow.
- In order to enhance the effectiveness of patient flow across the Hospital the ADON Patient Flow will engage and influence the prioritisation of patient access to diagnostic facilities in collaboration with clinicians and other key flow management personnel.
- The ADON Patient Flow will work collaboratively with in house colleagues who have responsibility to drive processes essential to timely discharge such as Plan for every patient discharge planning predicted date of discharge; criteria led discharge use of discharge/transit area etc.
- The ADON Patient Flow will have responsibility for the analysis of weekly data. This will entail oversight of data compilation trend analysis and creating bespoke reports with the ED CNM 3 and looking at national statistics.
- The ADON Patient Flow has responsibility for developing and enhancing relationships across the Primary and Community Care structures creating collaborative fora in order to improve integrated working and problem solving to reduce unnecessary attendances and support early discharge to the most appropriate setting.
- The ADON Patient Flow will collaborate with established clinical programmes to facilitate timely patient flow and on the introduction of new pathways (clinical and organizational) and will monitor using data analysis and intelligence to determine effectiveness and report on the performance of the patient pathways to the unscheduled care governance group and the executive management team.
- The ADON Patient Flow will identify and support opportunities to develop IT practices to enhance patient care and flow and to increase efficiency while decreasing workload e.g. the development of systems to facilitate rapid ordering tracing and review of diagnostic testing electronic bed mapping and navigational hub.
- The ADON Patient Flow will ensure that relevant timely data is available to support decision making and to assess quality improvement deliverables.
- Maintain good employee relations and promote good communication with all relevant staff.
- Give support and counsel to nursing and healthcare staff as necessary and take action in accordance with agreed service policy if necessary
- Plan and guide activities to provide optimum patient care in accordance with service policies and procedure and undertake audits as required.
- Ensure adherence to all standards and guidelines relating to professional nursing practice and behaviour
- Undertake other relevant duties as may be determined from time to time by the Director of Nursing
Professional /Clinical Responsibilities
- Provide a high level of professional and clinical leadership to maintain efficient patient flow in the Emergency Department across the Acute Floor and inpatient areas
- Provide safe comprehensive nursing care to service users within the guidelines laid out by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
- Practice nursing according to Professional Clinical Guidelines National and Area Health Service Executive guidelines local policies protocols and current legislation.
- Place the values of kindness care compassion trust and learning at the core of daily work.
- Manage own work load in accordance with the needs of the post
- Participate in teams as appropriate communicating and working in co-operation with the other team members the wider multi-disciplinary teams and integrated care teams
- Facilitate co-ordination cooperation and liaison across health care teams programmes and services
- Formulate manage and implement best practice policies and procedures
- Adhere and contribute to the development and maintenance of nursing standards protocols and guidelines consistent with the highest standards of patient care.
- Maintain professional standards in relation to confidentiality ethics and legislation
- Assist in the development of divisional service policies and procedures and the implementation of same and to update them as required
- Participate in development of quality initiatives including clinical audit standard setting investigation of complaints and untoward incidents use of quality improvement methodologies
Education and Training
- Contribute to service development through appropriate continuous education research initiatives keeping up to date with nursing and relevant literature recent nursing and relevant research and new developments in nursing management patient flow management education and practice and attend staff study days as considered appropriate.
- Provide support/advice to those engaging in continuous professional development in his/her area of responsibility
- In respect of Patient flow participate in in-service training orientation programmes all nursing staff.
- Provide support supervision and professional development of appropriate staff in respect of patient flow.
- Develop a shared sense of commitment and participation among staff in the management of change the development of the nursing services and in responding to the changing health needs of patients. Be proactive about planning for the development of new services and practices anticipating resources needed and forward planning on complex service issues (e.g. new work practices etc)
- Develop appropriate management and operational links working closely with Hospital Management and other appropriate forums as determined by the Director of Nursing and the CEO making a full contribution to the executive management of the services by taking an inter- professional perspective and adopting a corporate overview to the wider organisation and service strategies.
- Keep the Directorate Nurse Manager/DON/CEO appraised of any significant development within his/her area of responsibility and perform such additional duties as may be assigned from time to time.
- Promote and maintain the values expressed in the Mission Statement of Tallaght University Hospital and ensure that patient focused services and activities are nurtured and developed throughout the Hospital.
- Act as an ambassador for and lead staff in achieving the Hospitals mission vision values and strategic plan as envisaged by the Board of Tallaght University Hospital.
- Participate as a member of the Senior Nursing Executive and contribute to the preparation and execution of plans for the service.
Details of Function and Performance Standards
Leadership and Management
- Creates an enthusiastic and committed work climate through the articulation of the role and contribution of nursing to the service
- Determine how best to achieve the aims directions and objectives set for the Nursing Service and your areas of responsibility to ensure they are delivered within the set timeframe policies and guidelines.
- Adopt a proactive forward planning approach to service delivery anticipating health trends and developments identifying the need for new services staffing and succession planning
- Lead and drive the change agenda and initiatives within your portfolio and contribute to wider change agenda for the Hospital working collaboratively with key stakeholders to achieve strategic and operational change.
- Lead manage and develop the services as part of your remit in partnership with consultants/clinical leads within agreed financial allocation and staff complement.
- Actively pursue cost containment resource efficiency measures bed reconfiguration and catchment area management initiatives and Value for Money (VFM) activities aimed at contributing positively to the Hospitals budgetary/financial and headcount challenges in the current operating environment.
- Ensure good communication and inter-personal relationships with all staff and the multidisciplinary teams promoting an environment that enhances staff retention and promotes good employee relations.
- Participate in meetings committees and represent the Nursing Service and the Hospital as required.
- Introduce changes in education clinical and organizational processes and structures that support the hospital and nurses compliance with the new Nurses and Midwives Act 2011.
- Work in partnership with the relevant clinical personnel other departments and agencies in the development of service level agreements and service development or cost effective business cases as appropriate.
- Be responsible for people management activities and the introduction and maintenance of management tools and initiatives such as; Team Based Performance Management Legal Framework Personal Development Planning Continuous Professional Development and Learning Needs Analysis etc.
- Have a strong focus on developing the contribution of staff at all levels. Is a good judge of capability and promotes talent creating a positive climate for the development of performance and contributions at all levels of the services. This will include performance appraisal and review including management development planning developmental tasking and stretching of staff promoting a continuous improvement culture championing and promoting learning throughout the system and putting in place systems to capture and disseminate learning.
- Promote and monitor the uptake of continuous professional development planning for staff and meet targets for full compliance.
- Manage staff performance grievance disciplinary and other issues within the context of the organisations HR policies and procedures.
Quality of Services
- Ensure the delivery of high quality patient care within areas of responsibility in line with organizational governance structures and processes.
- Develop and foster a proactive Health and Safety culture having regard to legislative requirement and best practice.
- Lead and be proactive in the delivery of best practice standards in collaboration with key stakeholders.
- Ensure professional protocols policies and guidelines reflecting the code of professional conduct of NMBI and of the organisation are communicated implemented monitored and evaluated regularly.
- Be responsible in partnership with lead clinicians for identifying services for development within the portfolio and for preparing business cases for these areas including the rationale for development.
- Support monitor and evaluate methods of quality assurance and clinical effectiveness in nursing practice and overall patient services.
- Identify and develop research awareness in nursing practice and service delivery and assist in the dissemination and implementation of research findings among the Multidisciplinary teams.
- Identify areas for continuous quality improvement and work with interdisciplinary team members to improve processes /systems/practices in line with organizations risk management strategy.
- Liaise with Nursing Site managers as required.
- Participate and lead in the Hospitals Accreditation processes (for example HIQA) and other quality management systems in the hospital.
Education
- Ensure that all staff have a clear understanding of their roles responsibilities and the competencies expected to deliver a safe service.
- Identify and facilitate educational development needs of nurses healthcare assistants and members of the multidisciplinary teams as appropriate.
- Participate in in-service education as required and represent Tallaght University Hospital at national and international meetings and conferences.
- Read current literature and recent nursing research attend seminars/ conferences and be aware of any new developments in areas of responsibility.
- The post holder may be requested to participate/ lead projects on a hospital/organisational wide basis by the CEO or other authorised officer.
- Engage in performance review processes including personal achievement processes by setting own objectives and providing and receiving feedback.
Information Technology & data
- Make the most effective and efficient use of developments in information technology for both patient care and administrative support in a manner which integrates well with systems throughout the organisation.
- Collect interpret and present data and information on the Departments activities staffing and expenditure as required.
Health & Safety
- All employees must comply with the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
- Comply with relevant Health and Safety responsibilities as outlined in Hospital Polices Protocols and Procedures relevant to your area.
- Take reasonable care to protect your own safety health and welfare and that of any other person who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work.
- The ADON Patient Flow will ensure as part of the management team that prompt action is taken to identify general and specific health and safety risks. This will include regular consultation with appointed H&S representatives in the ED & Assessment units.
- In addition the post-holder will introduce appropriate risk elimination measures or where this is not possible will introduce risk mitigation management measures. The process of monitoring and responding to Health and Safety (H&S) concerns will be ongoing.
- Ensure that effective safety procedures are developed and managed to comply with statutory obligations
- Be aware of risk management issues identify risks and take appropriate action
- Comply with the policies procedures and safe professional practice of the Irish Healthcare System by adhering to relevant legislation regulations and standards.
- Assist in the development implementation and review of Health and Safety statements as appropriate.
- Document appropriately and report any near misses hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of the relevant person(s).
- Maintain a feedback mechanism and report to senior management where appropriate
- Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.
- Ensure adherence to policies in relation to the care and safety of any equipment supplied for the fulfilment of duty. Ensure advice of relevant stakeholders is sought prior to procurement
- The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with organisational Policies.
Hygiene / Infection prevention and control
- All employees have responsibility for Hygiene awareness. Hygiene is defined as The practice that serves to keep people and environments clean and prevent infection.
- All employees also have a responsibility under their terms of employment to prevent transmission of infection and to follow the hospital infection control policies and guidelines as outlined in the Infection Control Manual.
- All employees must be aware that they work in an area where there is potential for transmission of infection.
- All employees have a responsibility to follow hand hygiene guidelines as this is the single most important intervention to prevent the transmission of infection
Quality safety and risk management
- Support the delivery of the Quality Safety and Risk Management Programme including the appropriate identification and management of risks and incidents throughout the hospital.
Confidentiality
- You will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in particular the right of patients to confidentiality. To this end you will not discuss workings of the Hospital or its patients or disclose any information of a confidential nature except as required to do so in the course of your work. No records documents or property of the Hospital may be removed from the premises of the Hospital without prior authorisation. You must return to the Hospital upon request and in any event upon the termination of your employment all documents or other property of the Hospital which are in your possession or under your control.
Data Management
- Ensure compliance with the obligations required by the Data Protection Act 2018.
Informal enquires to Ms Fiona Hillary Medical Directorate Nurse Manager- Telephone (01)or email:
All candidates should note that in order to maintain a timely process the closing date and time for receipt of applications will be strictly adhered to
Required Experience:
Director