SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERIVCE JOB DESCRIPTION 1. JOB IDENTIFICATION JOB TITLE General Manager(AIR AMBULANCE AND SCOTSTAR) JOB DESCRIPTION REFERENCE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS NO OF JOB HOLDERS ONE DATE JOB DESCRPTION AGREED June 2017 Page 1 of 8
2. JOB PURPOSE To lead the Specialist Transport and Retrieval provision across NHS Scotland and the Scottish Air Ambulance Service The postholder will enable ScotSTAR to achieve its operational, clinical and strategic aims, objectives and goals in line with SAS Strategy and local delivery plan and will develop long term strategic plans for all aspects of Specialist Transport and Retrieval service and align Air Ambulance operations where appropriate. The postholder will develop ScotSTAR and Air Ambulance staff to deliver excellence in all areas of operation through effective managerial, leadership, innovation, communication and motivation. 3. DIMENSIONS To ensure the delivery of a quality, person centred service within allocated budgets. Managing circa 20m annual budget to ensure value for money is being achieved. 4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION Director National Operations PA to Director General Manager Air Ambulance/ScotSTAR Head of Ambulance Control General Manager Risk & Resilience Page 2 of 8
5. MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES LEADERSHIP In cooperation with the Director of National Operations, ScotSTAR Associate Medical Director, as well as close working relationships with the General Manager National Risk & Resilience and the Head of Ambulance Control Centre s for the delivery of specialist services. Provide effective leadership to staff and other stakeholders to implement the aims and objectives of the Scottish Air Ambulance Service and ScotSTAR, Develop long term strategic plans for the organisation, taking cognisance of SAS strategic plans as well as those of territorial Health Boards (for example around service redesign) and Scottish Government aspirations, Provide leadership in the development, implementation and monitoring of management systems in support of quality patient outcomes across all areas and staff in the national service, Provide leadership to and facilitation of research and development, ensuring the national service is developed in a coordinated manner, Lead the liaison with territorial Board management colleagues to ensure Service Level Agreements for provision of staff are being adhered to. OPERATIONAL Provide the day to day senior operational management of the service, Ensure fair and consistent application of all service policies and procedures at all times, Ensure that all Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR operations throughout Scotland are undertaken in conformity with the priorities, policies and values of the team, NHS Scotland and the SAS and that their spirit is fully adopted, Undertake an active role in the Air Ambulance contract management board to ensure effective delivery Work closely with Ambulance Control, National Risk and Resilience, Air Ambulance, Scotland s Charity Air Ambulance Service and territorial Divisional management teams to ensure seamless delivery of service, Enable Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR to achieve its operational, clinical and strategic aims, objectives and goals in line with SAS strategy and local delivery plan, To develop Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR services and staff to deliver excellence in all areas of operation through effective managerial and leadership, innovation, communication and motivation, Develop and review strategic and business plans for Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR including business issues and service delivery model, Develop arrangements for ScotSTAR to support the Service in its response to Major Incidents as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, Developing recommendations to the ScotSTAR Oversight Group and SAS Board to achieve improvements in the ScotSTAR service delivery capabilities and lead their implementation, Represent Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR in national and international forums, Planning, developing and coordinating of risk management strategies that are integrated with strategic planning processes and ScotSTAR and Air Ambulance objectives, Develop new and monitor existing Service Level Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding with internal and external agencies, taking appropriate action as necessary in partnership with others, Lead on national projects relating to corporate objectives as required, Develop written proposals and bids for service developments as required. CLINICAL PERFORMANCE & GOVERNANCE Identify and address challenges within SAS and the wider NHS which impact on performance Page 3 of 8
standards, Ensure robust business continuity plans and risk planning are developed to enable business as usual where ever possible, Carrying out adverse event reviews, investigations of complaints and grievances, potentially of a complex and highly sensitive nature which could include instigating and carrying out learning opportunities/plans and in extremis disciplinary procedures that result in recommending dismissal, Ensure compliance with national Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs) and standards, expectations and targets, and where appropriate develop systems and processes for the reporting of these QPIs, Implement and lead effective governance arrangements for ScotSTAR reporting to the ScotSTAR Oversight Group and SAS Board, Ensure Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR is compliant with all relevant laws and directives from Scottish and UK governments as well as the EU, Regular requirement to conduct reviews and debriefings with clinical teams, discussing highly distressing clinical/retrieval issues, Regular requirement to review Datix reports from clinical incidents/near misses across the country, often including highly distressing information. HUMAN RESOURCES Develop a culture within Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR that values continuing professional development and strives for excellence in the delivery of patient care, acting as a role model for the behaviours and high professional standards expected, Ensure that staff governance, employee relations and other HR strategies are implemented positively within areas of responsibility, Lead the professional development, education and training of staff, Liaise with SAS and territorial Board HR colleagues to ensure staff governance arrangements are being fully implemented. FINANCIAL RESOURCES Responsible and accountable for managing the Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR budget with freedom and flexibility to propose major budget changes. Managing the annual budget to ensure value for money is being achieved, Liaise with territorial Boards finance colleagues to ensure financial governance arrangements are being fully implemented, Identify initiatives for continuous improvements, efficiency savings and alternative funding streams. GENERAL Working with the SAS Communications and Corporate Affairs Department to identify and facilitate opportunities for promoting Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR. Deputising for the Director of National Operations as appropriate to ensure Directorate matters are effectively managed. 6 EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY Competent in use of computer and various software packages including Microsoft Word/Excel/Power Point/Project/Visio, Page 4 of 8
Competent use of email, internet and intranet, Use of EIS, Cleric, GRTD, Command and Control reports, 7. SYSTEMS Authorisation of payroll data (e.g. overtime, expenses) where required, The post holder receives highly complex or highly sensitive information and acts accordingly and generating information or, for example, updating systems using restricted password access, Cleric, GRTD, C3 Command & Control, Data Warehouse, eprf. General Software applications e.g. Microsoft Word, Access, Outlook, Powerpoint etc. Page 5 of 8
8. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS Limits of autonomy are agreed in advance with the Director of National Operations and SAS Exec team, Responsible for assignment of and prioritising of own workload, Ability to use own initiative and act independently with a high level of discretion, Negotiate with external stakeholders and other NHS bodies on service improvement and development issues then formulate action plan for implementation of concepts, Post holder is expected to initiate action and seek advice and support as necessary, Carry out investigations, which could have many components, which require analysis and judgement of a highly complex nature. Decisions may have to be justified in subsequent forums e.g. at disciplinary hearings, Provide professional advice, guidance and support in area of responsibility to internal and external stakeholders, Amend the resource allocation (staff skill mix) to take account of changing environmental factors and the conflicting priorities, Responsible for the decision making process when selecting and appointing staff up to and including managers, Requires the ability to make clear and precise judgements and decisions on a wide range of intricate issues inherent in a developing service. 9. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS Internal All staff within Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR (both the SAS or NHS Board employed) Service trade union officials ScotSTAR Associate Medical Director (AMD) ScotSTAR Clinical Leads SAS Senior Management Team SAS Airwing SAS Regional Directors SAS Control Centre s ScotSTAR Oversight Group National Risk and Resilience Departments External NHS Board Chief Executive Group Air Ambulance contract group Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates All NHS Health Boards, particularly those employing ScotSTAR staff and users of the service Leads for Tayside Trauma Team (in conjunction with AMD) Academic Institutions NHS 24 National Services Division The General Manager for Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR is a member of the following groups: ScotSTAR management team SAS SMT SAS OMT Page 6 of 8
Relevant Remote & Rural groups Air Ambulance contract group Strategic and Working Relationships Ensuring the needs of all cultures are met through the provision of appropriate services, Coordinating and acting as the primary point of communication for questions and information, Developing and maintaining strategic alliances to assist Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR to achieve its goals and objectives, Liaising with a range of national and international organisations and external stakeholders to ensure Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR services are best practice, Initiating, developing and maintaining effective working relationships with all relevant colleagues in NHS Scotland, Developing and maintaining effective relationships with service providers, key organisations and stakeholders both within and outside Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR, Promoting and advocating Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR in relevant forums Consulting extensively and working in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that appropriate services and programmes are pursued and developed for Air Ambulance and ScotSTAR 10. PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB Delivering presentations to a variety of groups regularly, Mental Demands manage a wide range of issues and concerns, e.g. performance, absence, clinical reviews with retrieval teams and finance, Negotiation, persuasion and a rational approach to decision making, Working at this level within the NHS health economy can demand periods of intense concentration whilst pro-actively engaging with the general public and pressure groups, Emotional demands typically the post holder will deal with the resolution of differences between the Service and staff, at a high level, There will be a requirement to deal with some complaints/complainants at a high level, There will be a frequent requirement to review and debrief on clinical operations which will regularly include highly distressing circumstances, There will be a frequent requirement to review Datix incidents/near misses often on highly distressing situations. 11. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB To gain commitment across a diverse and disparate team to the development and implementation of a flexible and responsive single national specialist transport and retrieval service for NHS Scotland, providing safe, effective and person-centred care To work between the SAS and NHS Health Boards hosting the clinical teams to ensure standards are being delivered consistently and equally across NHS Scotland Managing internal conflicting priorities of the Service To ensure robust governance processes are effectively and reliably delivered across a number of different groups and teams, across a number of locations. Page 7 of 8
12. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB Significant expertise in managing highly complex clinical teams Formal healthcare management qualification or experience equivalent to masters level Ability to understand the aviation industry Ability, experience and judgement to work independently and as part of a senior/corporate management team, Ability to work in complex environments where the parameters of the job are not necessarily clearly defined, Ability to understand, operate and deliver results in a political environment, Highly developed interpersonal skills, including ability to work in effective partnership with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, disciplines and organisations, Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, Advanced skills of persuasion, influence and negotiation when communicating with a range of internal and external stakeholders. Ability to deliver within tight deadlines, Understanding and knowledge of government and NHS health policy and strategy, IT skills, Organisational skills, including time management, prioritisation, delegation and managing conflicting demands, Ability to draft information, reports, articles and papers to publication standard, Ability to present highly complex/specialist information at internal and external meetings, committees and conferences, Excellent budgetary/financial experience and awareness. 13. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT Job Holder s Signature: Date Head of Department Signature: Date Page 8 of 8