Unit Manager X1 at Life Healthcare

• A Vacancy exists for a Unit Manager position at Life Nkanyisa Kirkwood Care Centre (Chronic Psychiatric Hospital) in Kirkwood. The position will be reporting to the Nurse Manager. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring delivery of uncompromising quality care in line with Company strategic objectives and applicable health / nursing legislation for our intermediate care.

Critical Outputs
Effective clinical leadership

• Lead the implementation of the nursing care plan and co-ordinate and facilitate the delivery of the correct treatment plan within the correct MDT program in order to achieve clinical outcomes
• Function as a clinical expert in achieving patient outcomes
• Ensure competence of staff, 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 the 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

Effective leadership and people management

• Demonstrate visible leadership in respect of Life Nkanyisa values, operating model, nursing strategy and image of the profession, actively sponsor Life Nkanyisa 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 the unit and together with relevant stakeholders ensure equipment is in working order to provide a safe patient environment

Effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Build and maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders (i.e. HOD’s, enabling functions, 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 Life Nkanyisa and communicate impact of industry challenges on the nursing profession
• Drive rehab programmes in the facility as determined by the MDT

Requirements

• Grade 12/NSC
• Degree / diploma in Psychiatric Nursing with post basic experience and approximately 2-3 years’ leadership and / or people management experience within the healthcare industry
• Relevant experience in nursing to meet the critical outputs
• Current registration with South African Council
• Basic understanding of labour legislation, financial and change management principles
• Understanding of the private healthcare industry, its challenges and role players would be an advantage
• Computer proficiency (MS Office)

Competencies

• Effective communication skills, written, verbal and presentation
• Problem-solving, analysis and judgement
• Planning and organizing
• Application of ethical principles
• Customer responsiveness
• Resilience
• Cost control

Deadline:19th August,2026