Registration and Inspection Officer, Quality and Improvement Authority

Job/Role Summary

• Responsibility for monitoring and inspecting the availability and quality of health and social care services and encouraging improvements in the quality of those services
• Monitoring the implementation of the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and subordinate legislation
• Monitoring the implementation of Departmental and Authority policy and procedure in relation to registration and inspection both within the independent and statutory sector
• Providing reports in accordance with the Authority’s procedures in respect of ‘open reporting’ and monitoring and evaluating both the quality of care and/or the quality of life experienced
• Offering advice on the standards of practice acceptable to the Authority
• Responsibility for the investigation of complaints and untoward incidents in accordance with agreed policies and procedures.

Specific qualifications and experience required

• Registered General Nurse currently on Part 1 of the NMC Register
• 5 years experience at Grade G (or equivalent in the independent sector)
• Sound knowledge of residential/nursing home care and the effects of illness, ageing process and disabilities.

Career Milestones

My years of experience in various care settings within the National Health Service were fundamental to my personal and professional development. The position of Registered Manager in a Private Nursing Home and later Regional Operations Manager also within the Independent Sector added a further dimension to my personal and professional development and equipped me with a broad depth of knowledge, skills and experience. The excellent developmental opportunities and experience gained have made me acutely aware of the importance of roles of responsibility, roles of accountability, corporate responsibility and governance. As a Regional Operations Manager I had a holistic overview of the delivery of care from strategic and business planning to the implementation of the governance initiatives necessary to ensure the delivery of service and care which focused on quality and safety. These experiences and skills I have found to be transferable and applicable in my current position as Registration and Inspection officer. My appointment as a professional member to NIPEC Council and my involvement as a member of a regional team which conducted a review of the In-service Education Consortia in Northern Ireland in 2003 has provided opportunities to participate in the development, implementation, evaluation and review of policy and practice relating to nursing and midwifery at a strategic level. Experience gained has enhanced my understanding and appreciation of the complexities involved in delivering a Health and Personal Social Services which is fit for purpose.

What attracted you to this job?

• My skills and experience would transfer well
• I had extensive knowledge and experience in the development of policy and practice in relation to the provision of nursing and residential care in the Independent sector
• I had a lot of experience at various levels of operational management and nursing care delivery
• The opportunity to influence standards of care and encourage improvement

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

• The inspection process and opportunity to liaise with patients, residents, staff and members of the public
• The advisory and supportive aspect of my role and job satisfaction when improvement is achieved and sustained
• The variety of issues which may be faced daily which range from registration issues, professional issues, untoward incidents, complaint investigations and care and service issues

Important success factors

• The support, advice and wisdom of several colleagues from both the Independent and Statutory Sectors which has enabled me to develop and progress.
• The ability to learn from experience, transfer it into practice and communicate it to others.
• The ability to listen to the views and opinions of others.

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

Consider what it is you wish to get from the job and measure this against the main responsibilities of the job. Reflect upon the knowledge and skills you can bring to the job and remember that the job is difficult and complex and its importance within the quality agenda is not one to be undervalued. My final piece of advice is that the role of Registration and Inspection Officer places you in a pivotal position to influence the quality of care and service being delivered to drive improvement. This role will call on you day and daily to make judgements, offer advice and support and, when necessary, trigger enforcement. Maintenance of communication networks with professional colleagues across the HPSS, Independent and voluntary sectors is essential.

Key skills that can be gained within this job/role?

• Assessment of care and service provision against agreed standards and determining requirements and recommendations based on findings
• Understanding, interpretation and application of the relevant legislation
• Report Writing – producing factually accurate reports which are open to the public and the skills involved in following up on requirements and recommendations
• Multi-professional, multi-disciplinary, multi-agency working
• Involvement in the Registration of Facilities and the Registration of Persons in Control and Registered Managers
• Skills in investigation of complaints, untoward incidents and allegations of abuse
• Skills in initiating proceedings and presenting evidence to the authorities and the Courts when breaches of legislation and failures in service delivery are identified.

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