Job Description: Better and fairer care. Always. Exceptional leadership opportunity in critical care nursing Lead a dynamic Intensive Care Unit at one of Australia’s premier tertiary hospitals Better and fairer care. Always. About Us St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is a leading teaching, research and tertiary health service employing over 7,500 staff across 18 sites in Melbourne. Part of Australia’s largest not-for-profit Catholic health and aged care network, St Vincent’s Health Australia, we deliver a broad range of adult clinical services — including acute medical and surgical care, sub-acute care, rehabilitation, allied health, mental health, palliative care, correctional health, and community residential services. Our mission is to provide high quality, efficient, and compassionate health services to the people of Victoria, inspired by the values of compassion, justice, integrity, and excellence. We continue the legacy of the Sisters of Charity, striving every day to create a fairer, more inclusive healthcare system. The Opportunity Nurse Unit Manager – Intensive Care Unit- It’s a NM12 position Reports to: General Manager, Medicine, Emergency and Intensive Care Join SVHM’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) — a 15-bed ICU and 4-bed High Dependency Unit (HDU) — as Nurse Unit Manager (NUM). This critical leadership role offers the chance to guide a highly skilled multidisciplinary team delivering exceptional evidence-based care to complex tertiary referral patients. You will be responsible for managing the professional standards of nursing practice within the unit, achieving key performance indicators including access targets, managing operational resources effectively, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and compassionate care. You will liaise closely with the General Manager and Chief Nursing Officer and provide mentorship and leadership to nursing staff. What You’ll Do Lead and inspire nursing, medical, allied health, and administrative staff to deliver patient-centred care aligned with SVHM’s mission and values Drive active leadership in ICU and hospital-wide operations through the Daily Management System Ensure achievement of SVHM activity targets in line with Department of Health guidelines Support organisational change initiatives and promote a culture of continuous improvement Mentor, precept, and act as a clinical and professional role model Oversee day-to-day nursing staff management and clinical care standards, including annual competency programs Implement comprehensive education and training plans supporting postgraduate nursing programs Collaborate with medical staff to optimise patient flow and clinical outcomes Ensure timely follow-up of clinical incidents Develop, monitor and manage the ICU budget and provide regular financial updates to leadership Implement leave management strategies, oversee rostering and staff deployment in line with EBA requirements and budget constraints Manage recruitment, monitor vacancy rates, and participate in performance reviews and disciplinary processes Maintain nursing competency registers and promote cost-effective practices Ensure compliance with OH&S policies, fire training and emergency procedures Lead policy reviews and improvements to enhance workplace safety Encourage participation in mandatory training and professional development Proactively identify and address safety risks Ensure safe, high-quality clinical care is delivered in accordance with established procedures and scope of practice Promote a culture of learning and incident reporting Implement SVHM’s safety and clinical quality programs and collaborate on hospital-wide initiatives Facilitate patient-centred care by ensuring accessible information and supporting informed decision-making About You You are a possession of a Nursing degree meeting AHPRA registration requirements, current condition-free AHPRA registration, and a postgraduate qualification in Critical Care Nursing. Previous experience as a Nurse Unit Manager in a clinical unit, ward, or department Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams Experience in budget planning, preparation, and management Minimum of 5 years post-qualification nursing experience (preferred) Diploma of Management or equivalent (preferred) Commitment to the values and health care philosophy of the Sisters of Charity and St Vincent’s Health Australia Adherence to the Hospital Code of Conduct High-level clinical nursing expertise Strong leadership qualities with the ability to motivate and guide multidisciplinary teams Demonstrated organisational and change management skills Experience in financial and project management Skilled in conflict management and negotiation Excellent written and verbal communication skills Commitment to the principles of the Patient Care Model Knowledge of and dedication to Continuous Quality Improvement Commitment to the St Vincent’s Occupational Health and Safety framework and policies Thorough understanding of professional nursing issues Why Join St Vincent’s? Be part of a world-class tertiary hospital embedded in a strong faith-based mission Work in a supportive environment promoting professional growth and education Lead an engaged, multidisciplinary team dedicated to excellence in critical care Access to comprehensive employee benefits including salary packaging, wellness programs, and flexible work arrangements Pre-Employment Requirements Employment is conditional upon completion of all pre-employment checks including relevant immunisations as per SVHM Employee Health Screening and Immunisation Policy. You must also provide a current National Police Check. Equal Opportunity SVHM values diversity and inclusion and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all applicants. How to Apply If this is the role for you, please hit the APPLY button now! Your application must include: Cover Letter Resume Have a Question and Want to Know More If you would like to discuss this opportunity, please contact Amber Mccullagh- SVHM General Manager Medicine and Emergency • Acute Services on 0433336615. Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately. We encourage you to apply promptly as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be sourced. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities. Inclusion is essential to our mission and diversity reflects the community we serve. Please visit our website, for further information regarding our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment at SVHM. SVHA has a duty of care under work health and safety legislation to eliminate and/or control the risk of transmission of vaccine preventable diseases in healthcare settings. You may therefore be required to undergo mandatory immunisations/vaccinations (including flu vaccinations). This position is subject to a Victorian government direction regarding vaccination against COVID-19. Successful applicants must meet these vaccination requirements. Please contact us if you would like to know more. 1. THE ORGANISATION AND OUR MISSION St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is a leading teaching, research and tertiary health service, which employs more than 7,500 staff across 18 sites throughout Melbourne. Part of Australia's largest not-for-profit Catholic health and aged care network, St Vincent's Health Australia, SVHM provides a diverse range of adult clinical services including acute medical and surgical services, sub-acute care, medical diagnostics, rehabilitation, allied health, mental health, palliative care, correctional health and community residential care. SVHM's mission is to provide high quality and efficient health services to the people of Victoria in accordance with the philosophy of St Vincent’s Health Australia. This mission is based on the values of compassion, justice, integrity and excellence. 2. KEY POSITION DETAILS Job Title: Nurse Unit Manager Reports to: General Manager Medicine, Emergency and Intensive Care Program: Medicine, Emergency and Intensive Care Department: Intensive Care Unit Industrial Agreement: Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2028 or its successor Classification: Risk Category: NM12 3. LOCAL WORK ENVIRONMENT St Vincent’s Department of Intensive Care Unit is committed to delivering exceptional care to patients and their families with kindness and compassion. It includes a15 bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a 4 bed High Dependency Unit (HDU). It is a major tertiary referral centre admitting patients with a broad spectrum of health conditions. The multidisciplinary team of clinicians strive to provide the highest level of evidence based care and best possible outcomes. 4. POSITION PURPOSE The Nurse Unit Manager (NUM), will manage, maintain and promote the professional standards of Nursing Practice within the Unit. The NUM will be primarily responsible for ensuring that the Unit achieves its Access targets and other hospital and key Unit performance indicators. The NUM will manage the operational resources of the Unit having regard to the organisational objectives, policies and procedures. The NUM will directly report to and liaise with General Manager of Medicine, Emeregncy and Intensive Care and if appropriate, the Chief Nursing Officer. The NUM will be responsible for providing mentoring and leadership to all Nurses within the Unit. 5. POSITION DUTIES Leadership • Lead all relevant nursing, medical, allied health and administrative staff and other key stakeholders in the delivery of the highest standard of patient care which incorporates the mission and values of the Sisters of Charity • Demonstrates active leadership in the Daily Management System of the ICU and Hospital wide operations • Ensure that relevant SVHM activity targets are achieved as per Department of Health guidelines • Demonstrates the ability to assist and support organisational change • Actively participates in mentor/preceptorship of all staff • Acts as a resource person and role model to all nursing and multidisciplinary staff • Lead and promote a culture of continuous improvement • Promote excellent morale and a positive attitude to change within the Unit • Lead the day-to-day management of nursing staff including overseeing direct clinical care • Ensure the maintenance of high standards of nursing practice, including participation in the annual nursing competency program by all nursing staff • Ensure a training and development plan including an education program is in place for all staff within the unit to enable maintenance and updating of nursing knowledge • Support the Post Graduate Nursing programs within the unit and participate in raising the unit profile within the external community • Liaise with medical staff to ensure that patients are treated, reviewed and discharged as early as clinically appropriate. • Ensure timely follow up of all clinical incidents Financial and Human Resource Management • Set, monitor and review the budget to ensure the Unit meets the annual allocated budget • Provide monthly updates to the General Manager in relation to budget trends and performance ensuring prompt notification of any issues • Ensure annual leave, ADO’s, and other leave is managed in accordance with Hospital policy • Implement a leave management strategy to ensure leave balances are maintained within acceptable limits • Monitor Nurse bank and Agency usage on a monthly basis and reports variances to General Manager, together with action strategies as required • Identify new and replacement capital needs in accord with CAPEX process • Utilise Health-e Workforce and KRONOS in relation to staffing, availability and roster shortfall • Monitor nursing vacancy rates monthly and liaise with relevant staff as appropriate to ensure full recruitment • Ensure that staffing rosters and staff deployment are organised to achieve effective program delivery, within relevant EBA requirements and budget allocation • Ensure completion of annual performance development discussions with all nursing and support staff • Ensure issues of substandard performance are monitored and managed in accordance with SVHM human resource policy and procedure • Participate in the interview, recruitment and performance review process for all nursing and support staff as required • Maintain register of nursing competencies and ensure completion of all training packages • Awareness of cost effective work practices to ensure that optimal efficiency is achieved and quality of practice is maintained. Occupational Health and Safety • Ensure the promotion and adherence to OH&S requirements and STV policies, and participate in relevant committees as required • Ensure all staff attend fire training and evacuation procedure exercises annually • Actively participate in policy development and reviews around safe practice • Ensure self and all staff attend relevant professional development activities and mandatory training • Demonstrate leadership in identifying and responding to areas in need of improvement. 6. INCUMBENT OBLIGATIONS General • Perform the duties of the position to the best of their ability and to a standard acceptable to SVHM • Ensure all those in the area they manage, comply with all SVHM policies, procedures, by laws and directions • Ensure all those in the area they manage, only access confidential information held by SVHM when this is necessary for business purposes, maintaining the confidentiality of that information once accessed • Display adaptability and flexibility to meet the changing operational needs of the business Clinical Quality and Safety • Ensure clinical care is undertaken within established procedures in order to provide safe clinical care for patients/residents, ensuring clinical risk is minimised • Ensure clinical staff work within their approved scope of practice and at all times with appropriate supervision. . • Ensure all clinical staff maintain their clinical registration and any required indemnity cover • Ensure all novice clinical staff are appropriately supervised by senior clinical staff and trained to provide safe clinical care • Ensure all staff attend necessary training that enhances safety and quality of clinical care • Promote a culture that supports learning and encourages reporting of errors • Implement systems to identify and manage risks and to deal with and learn from incidents and complaints • Implement all facets of the SVHM safety and clinical quality programme within clinical area managed • Collaborate with more senior levels of management to implement the SVHM safety and quality agenda • Provide feedback to more senior management in relation to problems or issues that impact on safety and clinical quality Person Centred Care • Ensure that consumers receive information in an appropriate and accessible format • Actively support consumers to make informed decisions about their treatment and ongoing care • Ensure consumers are aware of their rights responsibilities and how to provide feedback. Health and Safety • Ensure all health and safety related policies, procedures and directions are complied with in the area they manage • Ensure all in the area they manage undertake annual Fire and Emergency Training and comply with fire and emergency procedures • Ensure all those in the area they manage, treat others with respect, behaving professionally and in accordance with the SVHM Code of Conduct and undertaking annual Workplace Culture and Equity Training • Conduct regular safety audits with Health and Safety Representatives and implement required improvements • Minimise WorkCover costs by actively assisting the return to work of any employee injured in the area they manage. • As required, comply with fit-testing and PPE requirements • Participate in reporting and analysis of safety and quality data including risks or hazards, • Report any hazards, near misses and incidents (regardless of whether an injury occurred or not) into Riskman • Identify and report any variance to expected standard and minimising the risk of adverse outcomes Human Resource Management • Ensure that workforce planning is regularly undertaken and implemented to provide for the ongoing resource needs of the area they manage • Ensure recruitment and rostering practices comply with applicable Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and cost effectively support delivery of quality service • Ensure new employees are properly inducted to their local work environment and attend the General Hospital Orientation program • Ensure all those who work in the area managed, undertake an annual performance review and are continually developed to reach their full potential • Ensure leave is rostered fairly and that employees in the area managed, regularly take leave and do not accumulate excessive leave except where a plan is in place as to when that leave will be taken. • Actively manage individual and team performance to maximise performance and minimise workplace problems and conflict. • Continuously seek individual and team improvement and take responsibility for the introduction of any changes required to bring about such improvements. Financial management • Participate in the development of the annual budget allocation for the area managed. • Monitor EFT and expenditure to ensure spending remains within budget allocation • Ensure decision making remains within delegated authority 8. SELECTION CRITERIA 8.1 ESSENTIAL REGISTRATION, LICENSE OR QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS • Degree in Nursing which meets AHPRA registration requirements • Current condition free AHPRA registration • Post-graduate qualification in Critical Care Nursing 8.2 OTHER ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS • Previous experience as a Nurse Unit Manager in a clinical unit, ward or department • Experience in the leadership of a multidisciplinary team • Experience in budget planning, preparation and management 8.3 OTHER NON ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS • Minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience • Diploma of Management or equivalent • Commitment to the Values and Health Care Philosophy of the Sisters of Charity and St. Vincent’s Health Australia • Commitment to Hospital Code of Conduct • High level clinical nursing ability • Leadership qualities with proven ability to direct enthuse and encourage a multidisciplinary team • Demonstrated organizational ability • Demonstrated ability to assist, support and achieve change • Demonstrated financial management and project management skills • Experience in conflict management and negotiation • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Commitment to the principles of the Patient Care Model • Knowledge of and commitment to Continuous Quality Improvement • Commitment to the St Vincent’s Occupational Health and Safety framework and policies • Demonstrated understanding of professional nursing issues. 9. REQUIRED IMMUNISATIONS SVHM Employee Health Screening and Immunisation Policy outlines the requirements for staff working in SVHM facilities. Table 1: Vaccine Preventable Diseases for which vaccination and/or assessment is required within SVHM Chicken pox (varicella) Hepatitis B Measles Mumps Rubella Whooping cough (pertussis) Diphtheria Tetanus Influenza Tuberculosis COVID-19 NOTE: Vaccination requirements may differ according to individual jurisdictional requirements and policy directives and where there is a conflict the higher directive will apply. SVHM has grouped individuals according to their risk of transmitting vaccine preventable diseases and their risk of exposure to blood or body substances (Table 2). Table 2: Health Care Worker Risk Categorisation Risk Category Description Vaccination requirement Category A Vaccination is required for this category of health care worker. Healthcare workers within this category have the potential to transmit Vaccine Preventable Diseases to vulnerable patients most at risk of mortality and morbidity from these diseases within SVHM. This includes employees with direct physical contact with patients/clients, deceased persons, blood, body substances or infectious material or surfaces/equipment that might contain these or contact that would allow acquisition and/or transmission of a specific infectious disease by respiratory means. This includes laboratory workers. Category B Vaccination is recommended for this category of HCW. This includes individuals who do not work with the risk of exposure to blood or body substances, their normal work location is not in a clinical area (e.g. chef, administrative staff) and only attends the clinical area for short periods of time. Essentially, these individuals have no greater level of risk than that of the general community. 10. PRE-EXISTING INJURY Prior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose full details of any pre-existing injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in this position. Closing Date: 30 August 2025 11:59pm Reconciliation Action Plan: At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. For further information, visit https ://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at indigenouscareers@svha.org.au View Reconciliation Action Plan Code of Conduct: View Code of Conduct
