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Job title: Clinical Nurse Manager –Specialist (Neurological & Spinal) Nursing Home
Division: Social care
Base: The Daley Centre
Reports to: Registered Manager
Professionally Accountable to:
Nurse Director – Social Care
Role Summary:
The Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM) provides visible, expert clinical leadership across the specialist neurological nursing home, ensuring the delivery of safe, high‑quality, person‑centred care to residents with complex neurological and rehabilitation needs.
The role is responsible for clinical governance, professional nursing standards, workforce competence, and multidisciplinary coordination, supporting residents with conditions such as acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, progressive neurological disease, PDOC, severe disability, and complex behaviours.
Key tasks & responsibilities:
1. Clinical Leadership & Standards
- Provide senior clinical leadership for all nursing practice within the neurological service
- Ensure care is evidence‑based, person‑centred, and aligned to best practice in neurological and rehabilitative care
- Act as the clinical escalation point for complex decision‑making, deterioration, and high‑risk situations
- Oversee the management of complex needs including:
- Tracheostomy and respiratory support, including ventilation (where applicable)
- Enteral feeding (PEG/PEJ)
- Seizure management
- Severe physical disability and spasticity
- Cognitive impairment and behavioural complexity
2. Professional Nursing Leadership & Workforce Development
- Lead, support, and supervise Registered Nurses and other care personnel
- Ensure nurses maintain NMC compliance, competence, and professional accountability
- Support in the compliance and competence of support workers
- Oversee recruitment, induction, appraisal, supervision, and performance management of nursing staff
- Develop and oversee specialist training and competency frameworks (e.g. neuro care, tracheostomy care, dysphagia, behavior support, end‑of‑life care)
- Ensure safe staffing levels, appropriate skill mix at all times and oversight of nursing rota.
- Fulfil responsibilities within the senior manager on-call rota, working designated shifts as required.
3. Clinical Governance & Quality Assurance
- Lead clinical governance for the service, ensuring compliance with CQC Regulations and professional standards
- Oversee quality and clinical audits including:
- Medication management
- Pressure ulcer prevention
- Falls, seizures, aspiration events
- Infection prevention and control
- Review incidents, conduct root‑cause analysis, and implement learning and improvement actions
- Support preparation for CQC inspections and external quality reviews
- Monitor clinical outcomes and quality indicators relevant to neurological & spinal care
4. Care Planning & Risk Management
- Ensure robust, personalised care plans are in place and reviewed regularly
- Oversee neurological & spinal risk assessments including:
- Dysphagia and aspiration risk
- Postural management
- Pressure ulcer risk
- Behavioural and environmental risk
- Elimination care
- Support anticipatory and advanced care planning, including end‑of‑life care where appropriate
- Ensure Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest decisions are completed lawfully and ethically
5. Medication & Treatment Oversight
- Ensure safe storage, prescribing, administration, and recording of medicines
- Provide leadership on complex medication regimes commonly used in neurological care (e.g. anticonvulsants, anti‑spasticity medication, Parkinson’s medication, psychotropics)
- Support nurses in medication error management, fostering learning and continuous improvement in resident safety.
- Work closely with GPs, neurology, and pharmacy teams
6. Multidisciplinary & External Liaison
- Lead and participate in MDT meetings involving:
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- SALT
- Psychology / Behaviour Support
- Act as senior nursing liaison with:
- Neurology, spinal and rehabilitation consultants
- Community services
- Commissioners and CHC teams
- Acute hospitals and specialist units
- Ensure continuity of care across admissions, discharges, and transfers
7. Infection Prevention Control & Safety
- Lead Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices within the service
- Monitor and manage outbreaks and infection risks
- Ensure staff compliance with IPC training and procedures
- Promote a culture of safety, dignity, and continuous improvement
8. Families, Residents & Advocacy
- Act as a senior point of contact for residents and families regarding clinical care
- Provide clear, compassionate communication around complex clinical needs and prognosis
- Support families through difficult conversations, including deterioration and end‑of‑life planning
- Promote resident dignity, choice, and autonomy wherever possible
9. Safeguarding & Risk Escalation
- Identify and respond promptly to safeguarding concerns
- Provide clinical input to safeguarding investigations and reviews
- Ensure restrictive practices are lawful, proportionate, and regularly reviewed
- Work closely with safeguarding teams and external agencies where required
Person specification:
Criteria
Essential
(the qualities without which a post holder could not be appointed)
Desirable
(extra qualities which can be used to choose between candidates who meet all the essential criteria)
Method of Assessment
Qualifications
- Registered General Nurse /Current NMC registration
- Degree or equivalent level of education or experience
- Evidence of current professional development.
certificate
- PGCert in Respiratory Care / Respiratory Disease Management
Certificates
Application Form / CV
Knowledge
&
Experience
- Significant post‑registration experience in neurological, complex, spinal or rehabilitative care
- Experience in respiratory conditions including tracheostomy management
- Senior leadership experience (e.g. Matron, Senior Nurse, Clinical Lead)
- Strong knowledge of CQC standards and clinical governance
- Excellent leadership, communication, and decision‑making skills
- Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality
Experience of participation in clinical audit and research.
Experience of involvement in quality improvement
Ability to accurately input and extract data from computer systems ie ability to use Word/Excel/ PowerPoint etc
Experience managing MDT services
Application
Form / CV
Interview
References
Values
- Ability to demonstrate the Cygnet’s values and behaviours
Application
Form / CV
Interview
References
Skills and Aptitude
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to assess and assimilate information and adopt a problem solving approach in order to achieve change
- Ability to work independently and in a small team and with a range of staff across the organization
- Able to cope with unpredictable workload with frequent interruptions
- Report writing / Presentation skills
Application
Form / CV
Interview
References
Flexibility
- ability to work flexibly and travel across the organization as required
- Capability to work some unsocial hours including weekends, evenings & bank holidays
- Capacity to provide on-call cover as per senior nurse rota
Interview
This job description is a guide to the duties of the post and is not an exhaustive specification. It is subject to review and may be altered by mutual agreement in light of future developments.
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