Deputy Unit Lead
The closing date is 28 December 2025.
We are looking for an enthusiastic team player to join our passionate palliative care team. If you have an interest in palliative care and want to work in a high‑functioning team to support patients and their families during the most challenging of times, this could be the post for you.
If you have experience and knowledge within specialist palliative care and are committed to the delivery of high‑quality patient centred care, please consider joining the team on the Primrose Unit.
We are a six‑bedded specialist palliative care unit. Patients are admitted under the care of an Advanced Clinical Practitioner who is supported by a Consultant in Palliative Medicine. The unit is staffed 24/7 with Band 5 nurses who work 12.5‑hour shifts.
Full‑time: 3 × 12.5‑hour shifts for three weeks and 4 × 12.5‑hour shifts for one week in a 4‑week rota. This is worked over 7 days including day and night shifts.
We work closely with the wider palliative care team and the local Day Hospice & Family Support Centre offering care for patients living with a life‑limiting illness and support for families and relatives.
Referrals are made from GPs, Consultants from Acute Trusts and Specialist Palliative Care CNS. Admission would be considered for patients for periods of symptom control and crisis intervention when this is difficult to manage in another setting, in addition to day‑case admissions for therapeutic procedures such as paracentesis and blood transfusions.
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for supporting the Nursing team clinically and to provide a high level of clinical supervision and support. You will also be responsible for providing care and symptom control. We work closely as a multi‑disciplinary team providing specialist palliative and end‑of‑life care, focusing on the comfort and wellbeing of patients and enabling them to live as well as possible. On the Primrose Unit we ensure the care we provide is patient‑focused; therefore our medication, hygiene and comfort routines are tailored around the patient’s individual needs. This often involves thinking outside the box and going above and beyond for patients and their relatives, making the unit a very special place to work and ensuring no two days are ever the same. As a Deputy Unit Lead you will be involved in supporting the team to develop clinical skills in venepuncture, cannulation, IV therapy, management of syringe pumps, and in developing communication skills to facilitate difficult conversations. Working in palliative care requires excellent communication skills and the ability to have open, honest conversations with patients and their relatives during difficult times. As a team we encourage ongoing learning and development through reflection and clinical supervision, which we try to embed in our daily practice. The Deputy Unit Lead works closely with the Unit Lead to ensure the unit is staffed safely.
About us
At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.
We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work‑life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.
What we offer
* 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
* Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
* Flexible and agile working opportunities
* Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
* Wide range of supportive staff networks
* Health and wellbeing opportunities
If you would like to know more, please visit our website.
We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.
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Job responsibilities
The post holder will:
* Behave consistently with the values and beliefs of the organisation and promote these on a day‑to‑day basis.
* Act as a role model to colleagues, always seeking to maintain the highest standards of professionalism.
* Use their initiative and take responsibility for themselves and the quality of their work and the service they provide to patients.
* Be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patients’ care within the Ward/unit, working in accordance with the philosophy of patient‑centred care and to NSF and other Trust standards.
* Practice as a member of the Community Hospital Nursing team, to support and work in partnership with the wider multidisciplinary team.
* For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.
Person Specification
Knowledge
* Understanding of evidence‑based nursing, multidisciplinary working, clinical governance
* Awareness of Audit
* Evidence of on‑going continuing professional development
* Awareness and understanding of advance care planning.
* Understanding of symptom management in last days of life.
* Management of syringe pump
* Competence in male and supra‑pubic catheterisation
* Venepuncture
* IV Therapy
* Cannulation
* Experience of Audit
* Knowledge and understanding of Mental Capacity and DOLs
Qualifications
* Registered Nurse (RN1)
* Degree / Diploma and working towards a first level degree
* Evidence of on‑going continuing professional development
* I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.
* Independent / supplementary prescriber
* Management and Leadership qualification
Experience
* Experience of management of teams
* Clinical audit / project work
* Experience of providing clinical supervision
Skills & Abilities
* Ability to challenge poor behaviour
* Ability to praise and be supportive to others
* Able to work competently without supervision
* Compassion and empathy skills
* Versatile and adaptable
* Able to cope under pressure
* Team player
* Basic IT skills
* Experience of staff rostering
* Advanced communication skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Address
The Primrose Unit, Princess of Wales Community Hospital
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