Assistant Director of Nursing

Cahercalla Community Care is seeking an experienced and motivated Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) to support the Director of Nursing in delivering safe, high-quality, person-centred care and effective clinical governance across our 112-bed nursing home.
About Cahercalla Community Care

The ADON reports to the Person in Charge/Director of Nursing (PIC/DON) and deputises for the PIC/DON as delegated. The post holder works closely with Clinical Nurse Managers (CNMs), nursing and care teams, and the multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will:

• Support the PIC/DON in leading safe, person-centred nursing and care.
• Oversee standards of care, staffing, supervision, quality improvement and risk management within delegated authority.
• Support effective clinical governance in accordance with the Health Act 2007, applicable regulations, HIQA standards, NMBI guidance and Cahercalla policies.
• Deputise for the PIC/DON when required, ensuring clear handover and appropriate escalation.

Key Responsibilities
Clinical Leadership & Resident Care

• Support CNMs and nursing teams to provide safe, respectful and person-centred care that promotes residents’ dignity, choice, independence and rights.
• Monitor assessments, care plans and reviews, including falls, wounds, nutrition, dysphagia, medication management, safeguarding, restraint and end-of-life care.
• Ensure changes in residents’ conditions are appropriately assessed, documented and escalated.
• Work collaboratively with residents, families/representatives, medical practitioners and the multidisciplinary team.
• Respond appropriately to concerns and complaints within delegated authority.
• Support referral, admission and discharge processes across rehabilitation, Egress and long-term care services.

Governance, Quality & Safety

• Support the implementation of applicable legislation, HIQA standards, NMBI guidance and Cahercalla policies and procedures.
• Review incidents, near misses, complaints and safeguarding concerns, ensuring appropriate action, documentation, escalation and learning.
• Support the PIC/DON with statutory notifications and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate audits, action plans and quality-improvement initiatives and monitor progress.
• Identify and report trends, outstanding risks and areas for improvement.
• Promote infection prevention and control, outbreak preparedness, fire safety, evacuation planning and health and safety.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Guide, supervise and mentor CNMs, nurses and care staff.
• Address clinical performance concerns promptly and through the appropriate processes.
• Participate in recruitment, induction, probation, appraisal, attendance management, education and competency development.
• Review rosters and resident dependency to support safe staffing and appropriate skill mix.
• Escalate staffing risks and arrange appropriate cover where required.
• Chair or participate in staff and clinical meetings and promote effective communication and handovers.

Administration & Deputising

• Maintain accurate clinical and administrative records while ensuring confidentiality.
• Support the safe and effective use of clinical and administrative systems.
• Monitor supplies and equipment within delegated budgets and report resource or maintenance concerns.
• Deputise for the PIC/DON as directed and escalate significant clinical, staffing or regulatory concerns without delay.
• Undertake other duties reasonably assigned by the PIC/DON/DON consistent with the role.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Current registration on the Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
• Substantial post-registration nursing experience in older persons’ care or comparable residential services.
• Demonstrable clinical leadership or nursing management experience.
• Relevant post-registration qualification in nursing management, healthcare management or a related discipline, or a commitment to undertake one where agreed.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience in quality assurance, audit and staff development.

Essential Skills & Competencies
Clinical & Regulatory Knowledge

• Strong clinical assessment and decision-making skills in older persons’ care, including dementia, safeguarding, medication management, wound care and palliative care.
• Working knowledge of the Health Act 2007, regulations for designated centres for older people, HIQA standards, NMBI guidance and relevant health and safety requirements.
• Ability to interpret clinical information, identify risk, investigate incidents and use audit and feedback to improve care.

Leadership & Communication

• Ability to lead and support multidisciplinary teams and delegate effectively.
• Strong performance-management and change-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with residents, families, staff, external partners and regulators.
• Strong report-writing, planning and organisational skills.
• Experience with rostering, prioritisation and resource management.
• Competence using electronic care records, email and standard office systems, with willingness to learn Cahercalla systems.
• Professional judgement, discretion, flexibility and the ability to deputise safely within agreed authority.

The successful candidate must be able to perform the duties of the role safely, with reasonable accommodation where applicable. Occupational health and vaccination arrangements will be managed in accordance with Cahercalla policies and applicable requirements.

All posts are subject to satisfactory references, medical and Garda vetting.

Note
This job description is intended to give the post holder an appreciation of the role and the range of duties, it does not attempt to detail every activity. Given the nature of the work, it must be stressed that maximum flexibility is required to work in the nursing home. Specific tasks and objectives will be agreed with the post holder periodically by the Home Manager.