Respite Unit Manager

Job/Role Summary

• Ensuring needs of children are a priority in service delivery
• Develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care
• Ensure compliance with standards in respect of nursing home, children’s home and palliative care.
• Management of staff within the care setting
• Efficient use of resources in day to day management
• Allocation of respite, facilitation of referrals
• Participation in reviews

Specific qualifications and experience required

Registered Sick Children’s Nurse Experience in working with children with learning disabilities

Career Milestones

I worked as a hospice at home nurse for 1 year. The training and experience I received there is of a great benefit to me in my current post. I studied and obtained a BSc in Health and Social Welfare which provided a broad knowledge for anyone working in thr health sector

What attracted you to this job?

• Interest in working with children with learning disabilities
• Challenge
• Non acute setting

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

• Reward from caring for a sick child
• Feedback from parents re need for respite and their appreciation
• Working within a multidisciplinary team – social workers/teachers/nurses/occupational therapist/physiotherapist/medical personnel

Important success factors

• A team of staff who work well together to provide care
• Support from clinical services manager
• Support from other ward managers

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

• Work with children with learning disabilities on a trial period eg agency, before applying for a post
• Get experience in medical nursing first
• Must have people skills
• A management qualification is useful (eg ILS)

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

• Managing staff – assertiveness/confidence/leadership
• Enhanced communication skills
• Organisational skills
• Managing conflict
• Coaching/training staff
• Responsibility
• Delegation

Career Profiles