Clinical/Nurse Lead – Homecare (Ireland)Role Purpose
The Clinical/Nurse Lead oversees the safe, high‑quality delivery of homecare services, ensuring compliance with HIQA, HSE contractual standards, and NMBI professional guidelines. They provide clinical governance, staff leadership, client assessment, and ongoing care management across all home support packages.
Key Responsibilities Clinical Governance & Quality Assurance
- Clinical oversight — Maintain clinical responsibility for all homecare clients, ensuring care plans are evidence‑based and person‑centred.
- HIQA compliance — Implement and monitor adherence to national standards, infection control, safeguarding, and risk‑management protocols.
- Audit management — Lead internal audits, incident reviews, and quality‑improvement initiatives.
- Clinical documentation — Ensure accurate, timely record‑keeping and reporting.
Client Assessment & Care Planning
- Comprehensive assessments — Conduct initial and ongoing clinical assessments for new and existing clients.
- Care plan development — Create tailored care plans addressing medical, functional, cognitive, and social needs.
- Risk assessment — Identify risks (falls, medication, skin integrity, safeguarding) and implement mitigation strategies.
- Family liaison — Act as the primary clinical contact for families, GPs, PHNs, and multidisciplinary teams.
Leadership & Staff Management
- Supervision of care staff — Provide clinical leadership to healthcare assistants and nurses.
- Training & competency — Deliver clinical training (manual handling, infection control, dementia care, medication support).
- Performance management — Conduct supervision, spot checks, and competency assessments.
- On‑call clinical support — Provide guidance for urgent clinical queries or incidents.
Medication & Clinical Interventions
- Medication management — Oversee safe administration, storage, and documentation of medications.
- Clinical tasks — Support wound care, catheter care, PEG feeding, diabetes management, and other delegated tasks.
- Coordination with GPs — Ensure timely communication regarding changes in client condition.
Operational & Service Delivery
- Service coordination — Work closely with scheduling teams to ensure appropriate staffing and continuity of care.
- HSE reporting — Complete required documentation for HSE Home Support Service, including clinical reviews and incident reports.
- Safeguarding — Act as Designated Officer or support safeguarding investigations as required.
- Emergency response — Lead clinical decision‑making during incidents or deterioration in client condition.
Required Qualifications & Experience Education & Registration
- Registered General Nurse (RGN), Registered Intellectual Disability Nurse (RNID), or equivalent with NMBI registration.
- Postgraduate qualification in management, gerontology, or community nursing is an advantage.
Experience
- Minimum 3–5 years post‑registration experience, ideally in homecare, community nursing, or elder care.
- Proven experience in clinical leadership, staff supervision, and care planning.
Skills
- Strong clinical judgement and risk‑management skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Ability to work autonomously and manage a dispersed workforce.
- Proficiency in digital care‑management systems.
Typical Reporting Structure
- Reports to: Director of Nursing / Clinical Manager / Operations Manager
- Supervises: Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, Care Supervisors
- Works with: HSE Case Managers, PHNs, GPs, MDTs
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Compliance with HIQA and HSE standards
- Client satisfaction and retention
- Incident reduction and timely reporting
- Staff competency and retention
- Quality audit outcomes
- Timeliness of assessments and care‑plan updates
Benefits:
- Free or subsidised travel
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
