Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON)

Ju Eng Home for Senior Citizens; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ju Eng Home for Senior Citizens in Singapore seeks an Assistant Director of Nursing to support the Director of Nursing in leadership and oversight of nursing operations. The role ensures safe, high‑quality, person‑centred care with clinical governance, manpower deployment and staff development.

The ADON deputises for the DON as needed, coordinating with the nursing leadership team and other departments to maintain continuity and safety of resident care.

Qualifications

• Degree in Nursing from an institution recognised by the Singapore Nursing Board.
• Fully registered as a Registered Nurse with the Singapore Nursing Board.
• Possess a valid Practising Certificate and remain in good professional standing.
• Postgraduate qualification in gerontology, clinical nursing, nursing management, healthcare management, infection prevention, education or another relevant field would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Nursing Department in alignment with strategic priorities.
• Translate Home priorities into nursing operational plans and initiatives.
• Oversee daily nursing operations and ensure policies and care standards are consistently implemented.
• Provide leadership and support to Nursing Managers, Nurse Clinicians, Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, Nursing Aides and Healthcare Assistants.
• Promote professionalism, accountability, teamwork, resident safety and continuous improvement.
• Escalate significant concerns to the Director of Nursing and senior management.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Clinical governance

Manpower deployment

Quality improvement

Staff development

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Degree in Nursing (SNB registered)

Postgraduate qualification in gerontology/management

Tools

Healthcare IT systems

Job description

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Nursing supports the Director of Nursing in providing leadership and oversight of the nursing operations at Ju Eng Home.

The role assists in ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, person-centred and evidence-based care to residents. The ADON is responsible for supporting clinical governance, nursing operations, manpower deployment, staff competency and development, quality improvement, risk management and compliance with applicable regulatory and professional requirements.

The ADON deputises for the Director of Nursing on operational and clinical matters when formally assigned and works closely with the nursing leadership team and other departments to ensure continuity and quality of resident care.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Operational Management

• Support the Director of Nursing in leading and managing the Nursing Department.
• Assist in translating the Home’s strategic priorities into nursing operational plans and initiatives.
• Oversee daily nursing operations and ensure that nursing policies, procedures, workflows and care standards are consistently implemented.
• Provide leadership, guidance and support to Nursing Managers, Nurse Clinicians, Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, Nursing Aides and Healthcare Assistants.
• Promote a culture of professionalism, accountability, teamwork, compassion, resident safety and continuous improvement.
• Escalate significant clinical, manpower, operational and resident-safety concerns promptly to the Director of Nursing and relevant management personnel.
• Deputise for the Director of Nursing during periods of absence or when specifically assigned.

2. Clinical Oversight and Resident Care

• Monitor the standard and quality of nursing care provided to residents through clinical rounds, observations, audits, reviews and feedback.
• Ensure nursing assessments and care plans are individualised, regularly reviewed and responsive to residents’ physical, psychological, social, emotional and functional needs.
• Promote person-centred and dignified care that respects residents’ preferences, values, privacy, cultural background and rights.
• Ensure appropriate clinical monitoring and timely escalation of changes in residents’ conditions.
• Support the safe management of medication, wounds, falls, pressure injuries, restraints, nutrition, hydration, continence, infection risks and other key clinical areas.
• Review complex clinical cases and provide guidance to nursing staff in consultation with doctors and other healthcare professionals.
• Participate in resident case conferences, care reviews and discharge or transfer planning where required.

3. Regulatory Compliance and Clinical Governance

• Support the Director of Nursing and Clinical Governance Officer in ensuring compliance with the Healthcare Services Act, applicable Nursing Home Service Regulations, MOH licence conditions and other regulatory requirements.
• Ensure nursing practices comply with applicable Singapore Nursing Board professional standards, scope of practice and ethical requirements.
• Assist in preparing for MOH, AIC and other regulatory inspections, audits, assessments and licensing reviews.
• Monitor the implementation of corrective and preventive actions arising from inspections, audits, incidents, complaints or quality reviews.
• Ensure required nursing records, clinical documentation, registers and reports are accurate, complete, timely and properly maintained.
• Support the timely identification, escalation, investigation and reporting of serious incidents, adverse events, abuse allegations and other reportable matters.
• Participate in or support the relevant Quality Assurance Committee, clinical governance committee, infection prevention committee and other care-related committees.
• Perform the responsibilities of the Clinical Governance Officer only where the employee has been formally appointed and meets the prevailing HCSA requirements.

HCSA requires nursing home licensees to comply with the Act, regulations, licence conditions and codes of practice. It also specifies requirements concerning clinical governance and the reporting of abuse allegations and incidents.

4. Nursing Manpower Planning and Deployment

• Assist the Director of Nursing in determining nursing manpower requirements based on resident numbers, care needs, acuity, operational requirements and regulatory expectations.
• Oversee nursing rosters, deployment and duty assignments to ensure appropriate coverage and continuity of care.
• Monitor overtime, absenteeism, leave coverage, manpower gaps and the use of relief or agency nursing staff.
• Ensure staff deployment takes into account individual competency, experience, scope of practice and resident-care requirements.
• Work with Human Resources on nursing recruitment, retention, onboarding, confirmation, performance management and succession planning.
• Recommend timely manpower or deployment adjustments where resident safety or service quality may be affected.

5. Staff Development and Competency

• Identify nursing training and competency-development needs in consultation with the Director of Nursing and nursing leadership team.
• Support the development and implementation of orientation, induction, in-service training and competency-assessment programmes.
• Ensure nursing staff are appropriately trained and assessed before undertaking assigned clinical duties.
• Coach and mentor nursing leaders and nursing staff to strengthen clinical judgement, leadership capability and professional accountability.
• Participate in performance reviews, confirmation assessments and development planning for nursing staff.
• Support career development and succession planning within the Nursing Department.
• Promote continuing professional education and compliance with applicable professional and organisational requirements.

SNB publishes professional codes, scope-of-practice guidance and core competencies applicable to nurses practising in Singapore.

6. Quality Improvement, Resident Safety and Risk Management

• Monitor nursing-related quality and safety indicators and identify trends, gaps and areas requiring improvement.
• Lead or support quality-improvement projects relating to resident care, clinical outcomes, safety and operational efficiency.
• Participate in root-cause analyses and reviews of incidents, medication errors, falls, pressure injuries, infections, complaints and other adverse events.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented, monitored and evaluated for effectiveness.
• Promote standardisation of good nursing practices across the Home.
• Support infection prevention and control programmes, including surveillance, staff practices, outbreak preparedness and response.
• Work with relevant departments to maintain emergency preparedness, business continuity and resident-safety arrangements.
• Encourage the use of data, audits and evidence-based practices to improve clinical and service outcomes.

AIC promotes continuous quality improvement among residential Community Care providers and provides resources on clinical improvement and infection prevention for long-term care facilities.

7. Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with medical, allied health, pharmacy, social work, operations, human resources and other departments to coordinate resident care.
• Facilitate effective communication and handovers within the Nursing Department and across multidisciplinary teams.
• Engage residents and their families appropriately regarding care plans, changes in condition, concerns and care-related decisions.
• Address or elevate feedback and complaints in a timely, professional and compassionate manner.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, family conferences and internal care reviews.
• Build constructive working relationships with hospitals, polyclinics, general practitioners, AIC and other healthcare and community partners.

8. Budget and Resource Management

• Assist the Director of Nursing in preparing and monitoring the Nursing Department’s operating and manpower budgets.
• Monitor nursing expenditure, overtime, equipment usage, supplies and other department resources.
• Ensure responsible and cost-effective use of nursing resources without compromising resident safety or quality of care.
• Assess nursing equipment, supplies and technology requirements and provide recommendations based on operational and clinical needs.
• Support procurement evaluations, equipment trials and the implementation of approved systems or technology.
• Ensure nursing equipment is properly maintained, safely used and available when required.

9. Succession Planning and Nursing Leadership Development

• Identify and mentor nursing employees with the potential to assume supervisory and leadership responsibilities.
• Support the development of Nursing Managers, Nurse Clinicians, Registered Nurses and other nursing leaders.
• Assist in establishing clear leadership coverage and succession arrangements for the Nursing Department.
• Encourage ownership, accountability and leadership at all levels of nursing practice.
• Ensure appropriate handover and continuity arrangements during changes in nursing leadership.

Ad-hoc Duties

• Review and assess referrals for potential resident admissions where assigned.
• Participate in admission assessments and resident-placement discussions.
• Attend management, committee or Board meetings to present nursing-related updates when required.
• Support VIP, regulatory, stakeholder and professional visits to the Home.
• Support the management of clinical emergencies, outbreaks, serious incidents and other operational contingencies.
• Participate in Home-wide projects, events, workgroups and improvement initiatives.
• Carry out other reasonable responsibilities assigned by the Director of Nursing or CEO.

Job Requirements

Qualifications

• Degree in Nursing from an institution recognised by the Singapore Nursing Board.
• Fully registered as a Registered Nurse with the Singapore Nursing Board.
• Possess a valid Practising Certificate and remain in good professional standing.
• A recognised postgraduate qualification in gerontology, clinical nursing, nursing management, healthcare management, infection prevention, education or another relevant field would be an advantage.
• Additional training in quality improvement, clinical governance, risk management or leadership would be advantageous.

Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant nursing experience, preferably within a nursing home, community hospital, acute hospital, intermediate and long-term care or eldercare setting.
• At least five years of nursing supervisory or management experience.
• Demonstrated experience in managing nursing operations, clinical quality, staff deployment and multidisciplinary care.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections, clinical audits, incident investigations and quality-improvement programmes would be advantageous.
• Nursing-home or gerontology experience is strongly preferred.

Knowledge and Competencies

• Good working knowledge of nursing-home operations and eldercare practices in Singapore.
• Knowledge of the Healthcare Services Act, Nursing Home Service requirements, MOH licence conditions and SNB professional standards.
• Strong clinical judgement, leadership, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to analyse clinical information, manpower data, audit findings and quality indicators.
• Strong interpersonal, coaching, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive resident, family and staff matters professionally and compassionately.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external healthcare partners.
• Proficient in clinical documentation, report writing and the use of relevant healthcare information systems.
• Able to respond to urgent clinical or operational matters outside normal working hours when reasonably required.