Manager Clinical Operations (Executive Leadership Position)

About Us:

Rural Care Australia [RCA] is a community-owned not for profit organisation dedicated to delivering services that support our community and is governed by a skills-based volunteer Board.

• Since opening its 61-bed facility in 2007, Chaffey Aged Care has grown and is now positioned as a regional leader in the delivery of residential aged care services. Staff and volunteers at Chaffey pride themselves on respecting resident’s choices by including them in decisions about their care and how it is delivered. Chaffey Aged Care now provides residential aged care and respite services for up to 100 care recipients.
• In January 2021, Rural Care Australia opened Generations Early Learning [GEL], one of Australia’s first rural Intergenerational Early Learning Centres. GEL is located on-site with Chaffey Aged Care and the intergenerational program provides tailored experiences for both aged care recipients and children. Generations Early Learning is a 72-place long day-care facility caring for children from 6 weeks to 6 years with a Kindergarten program for children aged 3-6 years.
• Rural Care Australia also operates Bingarra Units, incorporating 26 independent units over three campuses in the township of Merbein, providing accommodation for people aged over 55 years, no longer in full time employment.

About the Position of Manager Clinical Operations:

• Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Manager Clinical Operations (MCO) overall objective is to ensure Chaffey Aged Care delivers holistic and best practice Aged Care services to optimise the health and well-being of residents by leading and coordinating the Clinical Operations team.  
• The role is part of the Executive team and oversees and provides clinical guidance and governance for the organisation to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations.  The MCO will focus on business development, service improvement and efficiency, while ensuring compliance with all legislative, accreditation, and professional standards are met.

Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Operational leadership of clinical functions including governance, quality and compliance for Chaffey Aged Care.
• Supports high performing teams that drives excellence by leading by example with behaviours that underpin RCA’s values.
• Drives operational excellence by establishing and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and service metrics to drive continuous improvement.
• Support the priorities to assess whether Chaffey Aged Care goals have been met and improvements have been effective.
• Maintain and monitor Accreditation cycles across services.
• Develop, establish and lead the provision of care services to deliver resource effective, consumer driven programs.
• Oversea daily operations ensuring efficient service delivery, compliance with relevant regulations and adherence to best practice. 
• Coordinate and provide leadership to direct reports and implement strategies to ensure staff are supported, developed, and managed to ensure appropriate care is delivered.

Clinical Management

• Management and coordination of the Transition Care Program, liaising with Mildura Base Public Hospital staff to ensure service delivery in line with the contractual arrangements.
• Contribute to the optimisation of ANACC and other income streams and provide direction to the ANACC Coordinator.
• Implementation and optimisation of residential care systems to deliver consumer-directed care.
• Liaise with the Manager Consumer Experience and Administrative Services regarding clinical issues for potential clients and admissions, including overseeing the admission process.
• Liaise with care recipients, families, and representatives regarding care/clinical issues and provide clinical supervision ensuring staff adhere to clinical protocols and standards of care.
• Coordinate referrals and liaise with external clinical and allied health services. This includes Podiatry, Speech Pathology, Dietetics, Residential in Reach, Dental, Palliative Care, Wound Consultant
• Regularly monitor, maintain and review resident care needs and care plans.
• Investigate all clinical adverse events, and implement a continuous improvement response to address trends, ensuring individual events are managed appropriately.
• Lead, manage clinical/operational portfolios and projects and maintain emergency response and crisis management control process within the organisation.

Staff Management

• Oversee the coordination of Clinical Operations staffing according to policies and procedures at all times and within approved staffing compliments.
• Foster a culture within the organisation of teamwork, continuous quality improvement, and innovation. 
• Oversee the management of staff rosters according and contribute to the planning/review of the necessary skills mix, and personnel required to meet service requirements.
• Assist with the recruitment and selection of employees as required. - -.
• Facilitate the professional development of employees through training, mentoring, and appraisal. 
• Identify and analyse training needs for self and subordinates, participate in professional development and contribute to the education schedule, including delivery of educational content where required.

Accreditation, Regulatory Compliance and Quality Improvement

• Ensure policies and procedures are in place to comply with accreditation requirements which enhance resident outcomes.
• Maintain contemporary knowledge of and implement legislative requirements relating to regulatory requirements. -
• Ensure the completion of incident investigation processes immediately once an incident has become apparent to gather evidence and report on findings.
• Manage 'at risk' areas of care and management of staff during the incident investigation process 
• Act as the Infection Prevention Control Lead, including providing advice and guidance for the facility.
• Ensure personal, organisational and staff compliance with the Aged Care Act 1997 and Aged Care Quality Standards.
• Develop and review clinical practice and procedures to ensure all practices are evidence based and align with best practice and relevant clinical, industry, and legislative standards.
• Actively participate in continuous improvement activities including ACQSC site contacts, unannounced site audits, and support contact visits and contacts.
• Ensure documentation undertaken by direct reports is compliant with Accreditation Standard modules
• Contribute to the outcomes associated with self-assessments, quality programs, schedules, action plans, and activities
• Liaise with care recipients/persons responsible for monitoring that care recipient's rights and responsibilities are being observed and assist in the resolution of complaints when they arise.

Key Selection Criteria:

1. Registration with the Australian Health Professional Registration Agency with nil findings or restrictions and relevant tertiary or post-graduate tertiary qualifications in aged care, health, or business or working toward this.
2. Recognised Infection Prevention Control Qualification or working towards and minimum 3 years’ experience in a clinical leadership role and/or an aged care senior clinician’s role or equivalent demonstrating advanced clinical skills.
3. Demonstrated leadership and management experience including supervisory responsibilities of clinical and service support staff, change management, workforce development, ability to drive cultural change.
4. An experienced and accomplished operational manager with understanding of daily operations and staff management including recruitment and rostering; ideally in a facility or clinical management position.
5. Understanding of Financial Management and the ability to identify funding mismatches, clinical consumables in-line with budget and support requirements
6. Strong analytical, research, skills to evaluate issues, develop and implement policies and procedures, business cases and detailed reports.
7. Demonstrated knowledge of accreditation procedures and relevant standards.

Further Information:

To obtain a Rural Care Australia Information Brochure visit our RCA website at www.ruralcareaustralia.com.au/join-our-team. 

For a confidential discussion please contact:

• Amanda Berryman, Manager People and Culture on (03) 4050 4*** or ***@ruralcareaustralia.com.au

To Apply

Click "Apply Now" and submit your resume and cover letter addressing the selection criteria.  Applications close Sunday 19th May 2024.