OAK HILL
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
JOB DESCRIPTION
Director of Nursing Services
GENERAL PURPOSE
Posted 3/19/2021
Deadline 3/26/2021
The Director of Nursing Services ensures the provision of all health services for program individuals by overseeing the job performance of the agency RN Supervisor, RN Coordinators, and SLP. Ensures DDS, DPH and Nursing Standards of Practice are maintained. As a means of enhancing the lives of program individuals in keeping with the Oak Hill mission, assists the Planning and Support Teams (PST) to address the medical needs of and oversee interventions for program individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, and/or mental and physical health diagnoses. The Director of Nursing Services assists the Clinical Response Team (CRT) as needed and provides clinical supervision to the CRT RN.
CRITICAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS AND WORKFLOW INTERDEPENDENCIES
The Director of Nursing Services works under the supervision of the Senior Director of Community Programs. This individual has clinical oversight over the Nursing Supervisors and RN Coordinators in Community Programs, and clinically supervises the Clinical Response Team RN (CRTRN). They may have contact with any person who falls within the range of Oak Hill’s programs, and specifically with the individuals served, Direct Support Staff, supervisors, families and guardians, and other persons on Planning and Support Teams. They professionally represent the Community Program Office in interactions with other Oak Hill programs and services. They may liaise with administrators and representatives of outside organizations including DDS, DHS, DHMAS, Easter Seals, and other active or potential treatment partners.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- The Director of Nursing works in conjunction with the Group Home Nursing Supervisors, Coordinator and Planning and Support Team. The Director of Nursing Services reports to the Senior Director and collaborates on setting standards and creating policies for nursing services across the agency.
- Holds monthly meetings and trainings with agencies RN Coordinators. Completes job performance reviews of RN coordinators. Addresses any RN Coordinator performance concerns in conjunction with the RN Supervisor and Senior Director.
- Works with RN Supervisor and RN Coordinators to ensure on call after hours schedule is effective and rotates coverage fairly.
- Approves RN Coordinator case load changes to meet the needs of the locations and cover all vacancies.
- The Director of Nursing Services, working with the RN Supervisor, ensures that each RN Coordinator secures medical, dental, pharmacy and related health care services in the community, works with health professionals in maintaining regular contact, and also works with families and vendors in order to remain informed of changes which might affect services for individuals.
- The Director of Nursing Services works closely with the Director of Behavioral Services and Senior Director to ensure consultant psychiatrists and other psychiatric prescribers providing necessary services to ensure the well-being of individuals and meet DDS and DPH standards.
- The Director of Nursing Services, working with the RN Supervisor, ensures that RN Coordinators communicate problems and issues relating to the health of individuals and follow up in writing with timely (Nursing Focus Notes) until closure/resolution.
- The Director of Nursing Services represents Oak Hill in a positive and professional manner when interacting with RN coordinators, licensing inspectors, DDS Nurse Consultants, individuals, co-workers, families, outside agencies and others in the community. And, ensures that all actions, activities and decisions are aligned with Oak Hill vision and values, creating a welcoming, attractive, person-centered, culturally aware environment for individuals and staff.
- Participates in fact findings regarding injury, medication violations and suspected abuse or neglect, as needed, to ensure that the health-related aspects of such issues are properly addressed.
- The Director of Nursing Services works in coordination with the RN Supervisor and RN Coordinators to compile mortality review packets in a timely fashion as expected by DDS.
- The Director of Nursing Services attends DDS regional meetings and encourages RN Coordinators to do the same.
- The Director of Nursing Services, ensuring optimal health of individuals receiving services, works with the RN Supervisor to ensures the RN Coordinators assess and monitor the health status of individuals on an on-going basis. In addition, ensures that physician orders are followed with the assistance of the Manager, Program Managers and Program Directors as well as, direct care staff. The Director of Nursing Services ensures RN Coordinators, Dieticians and Speech and Language Pathologist are all coordinating services to meet individuals’ needs.
- Working with the RN Supervisor, the Director of Nursing Services teaches new nurses the necessary skills and procedures for successful delivery of services per the Oak Hill mission.
- Working with the RN Supervisor, the Director of Nursing ensures that RN Coordinators utilize Electronic Health Records to the fullest extent to review, document and monitor the individuals’ health. Ensures RNs create quarterly and annual health care summaries and submits these to the Planning and Support Team prior to IP/OPS meetings in order to ensure input on health-related issues.
- When communicable diseases are reported, the Director of Nursing Services works with the Senior Director and other senior management along with DPH, DDS, and infection control experts as needed in order to ensure that proper preventative and treatment measures are taken.
- In order to make sure that staff have the information and RN delegated skills necessary to ensure that individuals maintain good health, The Director of Nursing Services or appropriate designees teach classes related to Medication Certification refresher and health related issues. These classes may include safe storage, handling and administration of medications, health care needs of individuals, and personal care / hygiene.
- Working with the RN Supervisor, the Director of Nursing monitors medication administration records, incident reporting, restraint and other health related reports, following up with RN Coordinators where necessary.
- Working with the RN Supervisor, the Director of Nursing ensures that RN Coordinators maintain accurate medical records for individuals to ensure that such records are complete and current, meet Oak Hill’s policy guidelines, and DDS and/or ICF regulations.
- Working with the RN Supervisor, the Director of Nursing teaches and monitors RN Coordinators to ensure that they provide all teaching mandated by DDS in the CNP recertification process, and provides any additional teaching, to ensure that support staff are properly prepared for dispensing medication to individuals.
- Working with the RN Supervisor, the Director of Nursing audits medical records routinely to ensure that medication administration and documentation are in accordance with DDS and Oak Hill Standards. Reviewed RN Coordinators’ concerns about support staff who fail to administer medication in accordance with their CNP training in accordance with Oak Hill’s Medication Administration Policy and DDS regulations, and assists with sanction process.
- Is on call to accept calls to advise on individual’s health matters.
TARGET OUTCOMES/MEASURES OF SUCCESS
1. High quality person-centered, culturally relevant services.
2. Oak Hill, individual, family, DDS and related outside agencies satisfaction with the quality of service.
3. Increased attraction and retention of high-quality staff.
4. Increased teamwork and collaboration.
5. Employee engagement and satisfaction.
6. Cost effective use of resources.
7. Improvement in Oak Hill brand as employer of choice.
8. Reduction in turnover.
9. Increase in services and individuals.
10. Accomplishment of Oak Hill vision and mission.
Qualifications QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Requirements:
Current Connecticut Registered Nurse license, BSN, professional nursing experience, Current Connecticut driver’s license, knowledge of health and needs of individuals with disabilities, and the skills and ability to plan and implement ways of meeting these needs in a community setting. The awarded candidate must complete Infection Control certification in the first 6 months of the job.
Preferred Qualifications:
Minimum qualifications plus MSN or higher nursing degree and 5 or more years of
experience of nursing in the residential agency/long term care setting. CDDN certification.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to effectively supervise other professionals and work collaboratively with other
professions and disciplines.
- Knowledge, skills, and ability to assess and document the health needs of individuals.
- In depth knowledge of health issues which are common among individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism.
- Skills and ability to assess needs, and evaluate, plan, and implement ways of addressing these health issues.
- Ability to organize and maintain accurate records.
- The ability to teach health related issues.
- Knowledge and ability to maintain a safe and hygienic environment treating information
with confidentiality.
- Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops,
reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in
professional societies
- In depth knowledge of those DDS and ICF regulations and guidelines which apply to medical issues in the program setting.
- Ability to understand and express ideas very well, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to be flexible and dependable.
- Ability to carry out responsibilities with minimal supervision.
- The ability to respond appropriately in emergency situations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The following physical activities are performed in this job within the frequency listed below:
Sitting: frequently Driving, Traveling: frequently
Walking: frequently Hearing/listening: frequently
Grasping: occasionally Keyboarding: frequently
Speaking: frequently Using hands/fingers: frequently
Standing: frequently Balancing: occasionally
Working Inside: frequently Working Outside: occasionally
Kneeling: occasionally Moving around: frequently Seeing: close, constantly Reaching: occasionally Climbing: occasionally Restraints: occasionally
Blocking: occasionally Using equipment: occasionally
Repetitive Posture: frequently
Squatting, Stooping, Bending, Twisting: occasionally
Weight Bearing Activities: 0 – 50 lbs. occasionally
Pivot: 75 lbs. – 90 lbs. Transfer: 75 lbs. – 90 lbs.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Exposure to biological, mechanical, and electrical hazards Low
Chemicals (household cleaners, pesticides, paint) Low
Odors, Mold, Dust, Fumes Low
Noise Level Low to Moderate Weather: exposure to marked changes Low Muscular Strain/Physical Injury Low Communicable Diseases Low