Clinical Nurse Manager 2 - Quality and Patient Safety - UPMC Kildare Hospital

Location: UPMC Kildare Hospital
Job type: Permanent

Overview of role:

The Clinical Nurse Manager 2, Quality and Patient Safety plays a key role in supporting the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred care across the hospital. The role provides professional leadership in quality and patient safety, with responsibility for clinical review, audit and assurance, incident learning, document control, accreditation preparedness and continuous quality improvement.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Quality Management

Works in collaboration with the General manager, Director of Nursing , Chief Quality and Compliance Officer , Medical Director and hospital leadership in the development of the hospital quality improvement programme and strategy.
Develop, implement, and monitor the hospital’s Quality Management System (QMS).
Ensure compliance with national healthcare standards (e.g. HIQA, JCI, ISO, CHKS, JAG, HSA)
Lead quality audits, coordinate action plans, and monitor improvement outcomes.
Analyse quality data, produce dashboards, and present reports to senior leadership.

Risk Management

Oversee the hospital’s Risk Management Framework, including risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring.

Maintain the organisational risk register and ensure regular review with senior management.
Lead incident management processes, including investigation, root cause analysis (RCA), and implementation of learning.
Promote a culture of open disclosure and support staff involved in incidents.
Ensure statutory reporting of incidents and risks where required.

Patient Safety

Implement and enhance patient safety initiatives (falls reduction, medication safety, infection prevention, etc.).
Monitor safety indicators and clinical outcomes; identify trends and support improvement strategies.
Facilitate multidisciplinary patient safety committees.
Support compliance with safeguarding, patient rights, and safe‑care standards.

Continuous Improvement / Lean Management

Lead continuous improvement activities using methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA cycles, and process mapping.

Train and coach staff on quality improvement tools and techniques.
Facilitate cross‑departmental improvement projects and evaluate their effectiveness.

Develop and track KPIs to measure progress and ensure sustained improvement.

Accreditation & Compliance

Lead on the preparation for internal and external inspections or accreditation surveys.
Ensure documentation, policies, and processes meet required standards.
Liaise with regulators and accreditation bodies.
Support service development and change management programmes.

Data, Reporting & Governance

Provide regular quality, risk, and patient safety reports to General Manager and Director of Nursing.

Maintain accurate records and ensure timely submission of compliance reports.
Support clinical audit programmes and oversee audit action plans.
Contribute to governance meetings and promote evidence‑based decision‑making.

Education & Staff Engagement

Deliver training on risk management, incident reporting, quality tools, and improvement methodologies.

Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous learning.
Engage teams through communication, feedback, and recognition of improvement efforts.

Qualifications & Experience:

Essential

Registered General Nurse with at least 5 years post qualification experience.
Demonstrated experience in quality and patient safety, including areas such as clinical audit, quality assurance, risk management or clinical governance.
Experience with hospital accreditation essential – CHKS or JCI.
Knowledge of healthcare standards and regulatory requirements.
Demonstrate a high level of knowledge of developments within the healthcare quality.
Demonstrate a knowledge of applying standards to practice, quality improvement process and quality and safety frameworks.
Excellent IT skills: MS Office skills to include, MS Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, knowledge and experience of using an email system effectively e.g., Outlook.

Desirable

A management or leadership qualification, or willingness to undertake one.

A relevant qualification in Quality.

Please note that UPMC will close this recruitment campaign when suitable candidates have been identified. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.

A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign from which current and future vacancies may be filled.

Please contact margeyp@upmc.ie for queries relating to the recruitment process or role.

We are not in a position to offer a work permit for this role.

This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility. As UPMC and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the business.

Equal Opportunity Statement and Benefits

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

At UPMC we provide a total rewards program that is not only market competitive, but fair and provides growth opportunities for all our colleagues.

Benefits – Fully paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents. Competitive Pension Plan, company funded Death in Service Benefit x 3 times. Critical Illness cover for all employees up to the age of 66.

Performance and Recognition – Rewards for performance that supports the goals and mission of UPMC through our annual ACES programme.

Work-Life Balance – Enhanced annual leave up to a maximum of 27 days. Flexible working opportunities to support you to work around external family commitments.

Development and Career Opportunities – Opportunities for each employee to reach their career goals through continued learning and/or advancement.

About UPMC

UPMC is a renowned multinational academic medical centre committed to delivering people-focused care that’s close to home. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC shapes the future of health through clinical and technological innovation, research and education. UPMC expands its expertise globally, bringing world-class care across continents through its UPMC International division — an owned and operated network of hospitals and ambulatory care centres in Italy, Ireland and Croatia. UPMC International brings new access to the signature specialty services of UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre, UPMC Sports Medicine and others to more people in more places around the world.

In Ireland UPMC has provided high-quality healthcare in the South East since 2006. UPMC’s operations in Ireland now include UPMC Whitfield Hospital in Waterford, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in Dublin, UPMC Kildare Hospital in Clane, and UPMC Aut Even Hospital in Kilkenny. Outpatient care is available at the UPMC Carlow Outreach Centre, UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre radiotherapy locations in Waterford and Cork, UPMC The 4th Practice in Mallow, and across UPMC Sports Medicine Clinics in Dublin, Waterford, Limerick, Tipperary, Cork, and Mayo. UPMC has also established a nationwide Concussion Network. UPMC's Global Technology Operation Centre is based in Kilkenny.

Clinical Nurse Manager 2 - Quality and Patient Safety - UPMC Kildare Hospital

Benefits

Job Description