RESPONSIBLE PERSON

• In charge of overseeing the management of services regulated by the Regulator (RQIA), the Responsible Person is ultimately accountable for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people in their care.

• Has knowledge of and commitment to the service.

• Honesty, integrity and trustworthiness are essential requirements in determining the suitability of an applicant for registration.

• Encourages the respect of staff and service users and operate the agency in accordance with the Regulations and Minimum Standards.

• Ensures that a registered nurse is responsible for the recruitment, assessment and supply or placement of all agency nurses.

• The registered person and the registered manager undertake training to ensure they are up-to date in all areas relevant to the management and provisions of service.

• Any absence of the registered manager of more than 28 days is notified to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, and arrangements for managing the nursing agency in the absence of the registered manager are approved by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.

• Monitors the quality of services in accordance with the nursing agency’s written procedures and completes a monitoring report on a monthly basis. This report summarises the comments of people who use the services and/or their representatives about the quality of the service provided, and any actions taken by the registered person or the registered manager to ensure that the nursing agency is being managed in accordance with minimum standards.

• Has an arrangement in place to ensure that:

• all necessary pre-employment checks are carried out;
  • criminal history disclosure information in respect of the preferred candidate, at the appropriate disclosure level is sought from Access NI; and
  • all appropriate referrals necessary are made in order to safeguard vulnerable adults.

REGISTERED NURSE MANAGER

• Adhere to NMC code of Professional Conduct

• Interview all potential applicants who are Registered Nurses

• Undertake training and development to keep up to date with legislation and best practice

• Conduct annual appraisals for all nurses and identify any training needs. The appraisals will be linked to NMC Revalidation

• Manage identified lack of competence and poor performance and reporting in line with DHSSPS and NMC guidance

• Implement quality management and improvement systems.

• Effectively manage complaints and incidents.

• Carry out investigations relating to the quality of the service and use the findings to improve the service.

• Ensure arrangements are in place for dealing with alert bulletins

• Liaise with Directors of Nursing

• Keep Statement of Purpose and Service User Guide under review and notify RQIA of any changes

• Update policies and procedures as required

• Notify RQIA in the event of the Registered Manager being absent for more than 28 days informing them of the temporary arrangements put in place.

• Ensures that all nurses are registered with NMC, that they abide by the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and obtains evidence that professional registration requirements are met and maintained on an ongoing basis.

• Ensures the nursing agency delivers services effectively with good professional relationships on a day-to-day basis in accordance with legislative requirements, DHSSPS Minimum Standards, and other standards set by professional regulatory bodies and standard setting organizations. Issues arising are reported to the registered person

• Provides the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority with documentary evidence of his or her NMC registration either annually or on request.