Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Palliative Care Specialist Nurse
The closing date is 02 January 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit an experienced senior nurse to work as a Band7 Palliative Care Specialist Nurse with the community service at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
We are seeking a knowledgeable, dynamic, forward‑thinking, adaptable individual with highly developed interpersonal, nursing leadership and excellent communication skills who has a passion for delivering excellence in care and driving improvements and developments across the Specialist Palliative Care service.
Successful applicants will need to demonstrate an interest and sound clinical knowledge as well as an understanding of the specialist care and management required by patients across the Specialist Palliative care pathway. The specialist nurse role provides an outpatient and inpatient service to support complex patients, carers and staff with specialist advice, education and training in managing Specialist Palliative Care and its associated complications.
If you feel that you can meet the essential criteria for this post and have a focus on delivering high‑quality outcomes for patients, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Clinical
* Ensure provision of expert specialist advice and knowledge to patients, carers, and staff regarding Specialist Palliative Care.
* Accountable for the planning and delivery of patient care in relation to Specialist Palliative Care services.
* Pro‑actively manage own workload and clinical caseload of patients, making decisions regarding care, treatment and support required.
* liaise with Specialist Palliative Care consultants, coordinate the delivery of the complex palliative care patient pathways using effective evidence‑based practice and national standards for patient safety and monitoring.
* Play a key role in optimising complex treatment regimes, supporting hospital discharge and preventing avoidable hospital admissions.
* Applicants must hold Clinical Skill and Advanced Prescribing qualification.
Managerial
* Attend meetings regarding specialist palliative care and represent the organisation.
* Participate in service improvement meetings and directorate level discussions.
* Contribute to MDT meetings ensuring patients are appropriately reviewed and treatment options discussed.
* Provide palliative education and training support to wider generalist teams.
* To represent the service and play a key role in ensuring that national and local standards/targets are met.
Audit/Research/Governance
* Participate in audit, research and governance activity relevant to the specialist palliative care services.
* Continuously improve clinical care standards in line with the STSFT clinical Governance framework.
About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust – There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award‑winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture and working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforce's health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.
A specialist palliative care nurse is defined as a qualified nurse whose primary role is to provide care, guidance and support which is based on an advanced level of knowledge to patients, carers and health professionals concerning a specific disease/condition.
The specialist palliative care nurse will:
* Continue to develop advanced knowledge and skills within specialist sphere of practice.
* Manage a clinical caseload, reviewing patients and play a key role in optimising complex treatment regimes within specialist palliative care, facilitating complex hospital discharge and liaison with multi‑professionals to improve the patient journey by increasing access to on‑going assessment and appropriate care and treatment post‑discharge.
* Contribute to the facilitation of the planning, delivery and evaluation of care pathways for complex patients with specialist palliative care needs.
* Support the development of nursing practice within the specialist field through the use of evidence based practice and in line with agreed national standards, and contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.
* Work as an autonomous practitioner within their sphere of practice.
* Continuously improve clinical standards in line with the clinical governance framework.
* Exercise accountability as set out in the NMC Code.
* Contribute to training and education within specialist palliative care.
* Provide expert specialist clinical advice and support to patients and clinical staff within the Trust on the management and care of patients within the specialist area.
* Provide direct support for palliative patients, either face to face or telephone consultation.
* Represent specialist palliative care regionally and nationally.
* Play a key role in ensuring that national and local standards/targets for the specialist area are met.
* Undertake research relevant to the needs of specialist palliative care practice.
* Comply with the Trust's vision, values and behavioural compact.
Person Specification
Physical Skills
* Ability to assist patients to move as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.
* Carrying teaching equipment such as laptop, stationary, etc.
* Manual dexterity and up to date working knowledge of equipment e.g. syringe drivers, infusion pumps, etc.
Skills and Knowledge
* Advanced specialist knowledge and skills within specialist sphere of practice.
* Effective presentation/report writing skills.
* Thorough understanding of contemporary nursing issues.
* Evidence of continuous professional development.
* Knowledge of how to facilitate learning.
* Knowledge of current professional and clinical governance issues.
* Knowledge of research and clinical audit.
* Knowledge and experience of handling complex relationships and interpersonal dynamics.
* Venepuncture, cannulation and IV drug administration.
* Counselling and appraisal skills.
* Evidence of competency in relation to nursing practices appropriate to the post.
* Time management.
* Ability to assess, deliver, evaluate and benchmark quality care.
* Qualification in specialty.
Experience
* Extensive post‑registration experience, some of which will be at a senior level within the required specialist area of practice.
* Experience of care delivery.
* Experience of leading a team.
* Evidence of leading innovation in practice.
* Evidence of leading change management.
* Evidence of practice development.
* Experience of coordinating care for a caseload of patients.
* Long Term Conditions Management.
* Budget Management.
* Participation in recruitment and selection process.
* Project management.
* Experience in conducting research and critiquing clinical evidence.
* Experience in implementing quality frameworks.
Qualifications
* Degree in nursing studies or relevant clinical degree (UK equivalent).
* Masters level study, or equivalent specialist study / experience.
* Mentorship certificate/Practice Assessor training or demonstrable equivalent experience.
* Clinical skills accreditation.
* Non‑medical prescribing.
* Leadership and Management Course.
* Basic knowledge of financial management.
* Diploma in Palliative Care.
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.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata (22.5 hours per week)
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