A. Operational Management
Provide executive oversight of hospital bed capacity management processes.
- Lead the development of capacity planning systems and operational escalation frameworks.
- Ensure robust forecasting and demand modelling methodologies are in place to support decision-making.
- Oversee the management of occupancy levels and patient placement processes.
- Lead organisational responses to periods of increased activity and capacity pressures.
- Ensure effective utilisation of available inpatient capacity across all clinical services.
- Work with Clinical Directorates to identify opportunities for capacity creation and improved utilisation.
- Drive initiatives that reduce avoidable delays and maximise patient throughput.
B. Service Planning
Lead organisational efforts to improve patient flow across all care pathways. Develop performance improvement programmes that reduce delays in admission, transfer and discharge. Monitor organisational performance against key access and flow indicators. Lead multidisciplinary initiatives to improve:
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Emergency Department performance
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Length of Stay
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Discharge performance
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Delayed Transfers of Care
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Bed Occupancy
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Elective Access
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Patient Experience
Ensure appropriate governance and accountability arrangements are in place to support performance improvement. Provide regular performance updates to the Executive Management Team and Board Committees as required.
C. Performance Management
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Monitoring organisational performance against relevant KPIs
- Producing regular performance reports for the COO and senior management.
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Analysing trends and identifying opportunities for improvement and modernisation.
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Lead major service improvement initiatives relating to patient flow and hospital capacity.
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Benchmarking against national metrics.
D. HR Management and Organisational Development
Provide effective leadership and management of the Bed Management Department, creating a high performance culture of, accountability, collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement and Patient-centered care.
- Develop and maintain a high-performing, engaged and motivated multidisciplinary team through effective communication, coaching, performance management and recognition.
- Ensure departmental staffing establishments, skill mix and roster arrangements are planned and managed to provide safe, effective and responsive services that meet the operational requirements of the hospital seven days per week.
- Ensure workforce resources are deployed flexibly to respond to changing patterns of demand, service pressures and organisational priorities while maintaining safe patient care.
- Lead workforce planning for the department, identifying future staffing requirements and supporting recruitment, retention and succession planning in collaboration with Human Resources.
- Ensure all staff have clearly defined roles, responsibilities and performance objectives, with regular performance review and development planning in line with hospital policy.
- Foster a culture of innovation, empowerment and continuous quality improvement, encouraging staff to identify opportunities to improve patient flow, departmental performance and patient experience.
- Promote collaborative working across clinical directorates and operational departments, ensuring the Bed Management Department is recognised as an integrated partner in achieving organisational objectives.
- Ensure compliance with all Human Resource policies and procedures, including attendance management, mandatory training, health and safety, equality, dignity at work and organisational values.
E. Quality Assurance and Risk Management
Lead the identification and management of operational risks associated with hospital flow and capacity, and ensure effective governance structures are in place.
Ensure compliance with:
- Health and Safety Legislation
- Data Protection Requirements
- Corporate Governance Requirements
Take responsibility for enquiries and parliamentary questions relating to the bed management department
The job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities of the post and is subject to review and amendment. Other specific work not covered in this job description may also be assigned by the Director of Nursing from time to time.
