Clinical Manager - Competence Test Centre

About the Job

Interview Date: 27 March 2024

Full time - Fixed term: Until 19 February 2025 in line with the duration of the current Test Centre NMC contract with an option to extend to 2027

The post holder will work in partnership with the existing deputy managers and will provide sessional support at occasional weekends

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior nurse or midwife with strategic and operational leadership experience to work collaboratively with the Deputy Managers and Operations Manager to lead and manage the Competency Test Centre which offers the OSCE Test of Competence (TOC) and other exams to Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) and midwives (IEN/M) seeking entry to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register and nurses, midwives and nursing associates returning to the register after lapsed registration.

The CTC is part of the University of Northampton. It performs an important function and has a national social impact. The CTC facilitates NMC registration to around 10,000 IENs and midwives annually, allowing them to enter the UK healthcare workforce and directly contribute to patient care nationally.

The successful candidate will direct a large team of lead assessors, clinical assessors, actors, and support staff (eg. OSCE administrator / technician, invigilators, operations team) in the streamlined delivery of simulated TOC exams ensuring an excellent candidate experience and a high-quality service is always maintained and contractual requirements are met.

The CTC is a welcoming, inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce.  We care and are committed to staff professional development. You will benefit from a structured induction programme, annual appraisal to help identify career aspirations, access to an extensive programme of in-house and Linked-In courses. You will be supported through a mentoring, shadowing and coaching approach along with mandatory and more formal training.

About you

This post is suitable for senior nurses, or midwives who have the knowledge, skills and experience in leading multi-professional clinical teams, and the potential skills required for working with OSCEs and similar clinical exams. 

The post holder should have:

• Significant experience of leading multi- professional clinical teams, team building and mentoring
• A comprehensive understanding of the NMC Standards for Nurses, Midwives and Nursing Associates, and the requirements for those seeking entry to the NMC register
• Experience of governance through quality assurance and risk management processes
• Experience in leading the development and achievement of quality standards and taken part in initiatives to improve quality
• Ability to accept individual accountability in the delivery of a high quality service
• Experience of line management and a supportive approach when managing team members in the performance of their roles and responsibilities
• Ability to adapt to and implement organisational change
• Ability to be responsive to changing culture, expectations and needs
• Experience in some aspects of scholarship and research, consultancy and income generation
• Experience in the development and delivery of staff training programmes using appropriate media including IT
• A caring and person-centred ethos that embeds high quality, safe and effective care
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate at a professional level with stakeholders, such as the NMC, Trust employers, and candidates; along with exam delivery partners from other Test Centres, and test developers attending meetings in line with the role
• Excellent organisational, strategic planning and delegation skills
• The motivation to strive to do the best individually and collectively

Qualifications

Essential;

• Must have a current Nursing, Midwifery Council registration and a degree in Nursing, Midwifery or Nursing Associate
• Post Graduate qualification in a related subject or proven clinical experience/expertise

Desirable;

• Professional Recognition as HEA Fellow (D2) or teaching qualification recognised by HESA, or willingness to obtain within a reasonable period; With relation to a Nursing and Midwifery teaching qualification

Department

The Competence Test Centre is part of the Faculty of Health Education and Society.

NMC Test of Competence - The Nursing and Midwifery Council

We offer the Test of Competence (TOC) which measures candidates against the current UK pre-registration standards for nursing, midwifery and nursing associates.

Standards for nurses - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

Standards for midwives - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

Standards for nursing associates - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

The distinct fields of practice tested includes:

Adult, Child, Learning disabilities, Mental health, Midwifery and Nursing Associates.

Our Test Centre (CTC) has expanded its facilities, and offers purpose built examination facilities for international candidates; centrally located in the heart of Northampton, opposite to the railway station.

About Us

Come to the University of Northampton and you will see that we do things a bit differently.

We are one of the youngest universities in the UK but we are already leading the way in adding value to society, which we call social impact. We have won multiple awards for our work in this area, among others, but what matters the most to us is ensuring that our students and
graduates have the opportunity to make their mark on the world too. That’s why we were the first university in the UK to be named as a Changemaker Campus in 2012.

We want to break the mould of what Higher Education can be. This has led us to build a whole new University from the ground up that is designed to reflect the way that students actually learn rather than the way they are expected to learn. Waterside Campus opened in September 2018.

Our commitment to transforming lives and inspiring change is at the heart of all that we do.

Right to Work

All candidates will be asked to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK at interview.

Equality

We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

The University of Northampton is committed to providing a vibrant, ethical and sustainable work, study and living environment that values equality, diversity and inclusion.

This commitment, along with our legal and moral obligations, provides an inclusive environment for staff, students and the public who may be affected by our activities.

Together @ UON confirms our commitment to equality and inclusion, underpinned by our belief in taking action. We are dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates equality and harnesses the power of diversity.

Together @ UON demonstrates our pledge to our staff, students and partners to nurture and develop an environment where equality and inclusion can thrive whilst we Transform Lives and Inspire Change.

To find out more, please visit: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/governance-and-management/management/equality-and-diversity/