Unit Manager - Maternity and Labour Ward at Life Healthcare

A vacancy exists for a Unit Manager for the Combined Maternity and Labour Ward Unit based at Life Beacon Bay Hospital, reporting to the Nurse Manager. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and coordinating clinical practice and resources within the Labour ward, antenatal and post natal ward to achieve the company and hospital objectives of quality, growth and people. The successful candidate will have strong business acumen i.e ability to grow the unit and manage risks and costs; build relationships with key stakeholders; develop a strong staffing model; drive service delivery and have good administrative and management competencies

Outputs:

Effective clinical leadership

• Lead the nursing team and co-ordinate and facilitate the delivery of the correct treatment plans within the correct MDT program in order to achieve clinical outcomes.
• Function as clinical expert in achieving perinatal patient outcomes.
• Ensure competence of staff, basic and post basic students, determine and drive criteria for effective professional socialization, create an environment conducive to learning and provide feedback to relevant stakeholders.
• Promote customer satisfaction within unit, address customer complaints, conduct quality care rounds and clinical practice audits to monitor care levels and report accordingly.
• Implement national quality initiatives within unit with the focus on improved clinical outcomes and report accordingly.
• Identify clinical and safety risks and trends in all of the above, implement corrective action where necessary and monitor on an ongoing basis.
• Initiate and drive unit specific best operating practice, communicate these for wider implementation and participate in hospital specific marketing initiatives
• Coordinate Antenatal Classes
• Manage quarterly Report on Maternal and Perinatal Infant Mortality, submitted quarterly to Clinical Directorate. 

Effective leadership and people management

• Demonstrate visible leadership in respect of LHC values, operating model, Nursing strategy and image of the profession, actively sponsor LHC initiatives and projects to ensure continued and improved productivity.
• Drive and manage all people related processes within unit. 

Effective financial management (including equipment)

• Participate in business planning and budgeting processes and manage nursing costs according to budget.
• Manage stock utilization and drive product management processes within unit together with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure staff is trained on the operation of equipment within unit and together with relevant stakeholders ensure equipment is in working order to provide a safe patient environment. 

Effective relationships with internal & external stakeholders

• Build and maintain productive relationships with internal (i.e. HOD’s, Enabling functions, NICU, Theatre, Patient services etc, Services) and external stakeholders patients, family members, service providers etc through ongoing communication and feedback.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with doctors by agreeing professional code of conduct, driving and monitoring effective communication regarding positive patient outcomes, functioning as an advocate for LHC and communicate impact of industry challenges on the Nursing profession. 

Requirements:

• Degree or Diploma in nursing
• Current registration with SANC
• Relevant experience in nursing to meet the critical outputs
• Midwifery qualification is essential (advanced midwifery an added advantage)
• Experience in managing a Combined Maternity unit advantage.
• Proven leadership and people management skill
• Strong business admin and organisational skills
• Basic understanding of labour legislation, financial and chain management principles
• Understanding of the private healthcare industry, its challenges and role players would be an advantage
• Driver’s license and ability to travel