Frail Care Unit Manager (Registered Nurse)

Role Overview

A retirement village in Plettenberg Bay, on the Garden Route, is seeking a warm, compassionate and customer-focused Registered Nurse to lead and manage its care unit. The unit has 12 frail-care beds and the estate has 50 units.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage approximately 12 to 14 careworkers and junior nurses, ensuring high standards of resident care.
• Oversee the frail-care unit and in-home care services for retired residents, ensuring compassionate, dignified and personalised care.
• Manage the kitchen and a team of three cooks, ensuring appropriate food-service and hygiene standards.
• Manage cleaning staff and the laundry, which is sent off site for washing.
• Coordinate and ensure consistent delivery of a programme of resident activities and engagement.
• Build positive relationships with residents, families, staff and service providers.
• Monitor and support high occupancy levels in the care unit, identify potential residents within the estate, and send quotes and conduct site tours for prospective residents.
• Oversee staffing, supplies and equipment within the unit’s budget.
• Liaise regularly with head office and the Retirement Estate Board.
• Ensure operational, clinical and service standards are maintained.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse with current South African Nursing Council (SANC) registration (essential).
• At least 5 years of nursing experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership or management role.
• Experience in elderly care is preferred.
• Warm, approachable and caring, with a customer-service orientation and a passion for working with older people.
• Confident working with retired and frail residents.
• Organised, hands-on and able to manage multiple operational responsibilities.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Commercial awareness, including an understanding of occupancy, service quality and resident satisfaction.
• Valid driver’s licence and own vehicle.

Additional Information

• Permanent position linked to the site contract.
• Monday to Friday, office hours, with occasional overtime as needed.
• Provident fund and discretionary 13th cheque.
• Accommodation on the estate for an appointee who relocates, including meals and utilities.
• Advertised basic salary: R30,000 to R38,000 per month.