Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Palliative Care Nurse Specialist
The closing date is 17 May 2026
To provide specialist palliative care, advice and resources to patients with cancer and other life-limiting illness in the hospital. To work as an effective team member within the Specialist Palliative Care Team, collaborating with other clinicians within the acute setting. To work with and signpost to other agencies and providers in the Community. To provide education, specialist advice, and support to professionals, patients and carers, working with others within the acute setting to provide strategic direction for end of life care.
Main duties of the job
* Share responsibility for the day-to-day management and delivery of the specialist palliative care service within the acute setting.
* Lead, develop and supervise the practice of those working with palliative care patients within the acute setting.
* Support Band 6 palliative care nurses by triaging referrals and identifying patients appropriate for their caseload.
* Holistically assess patients with a variety of complex physical and emotional needs throughout the duration of their admission.
* Work directly with all members of the hospital palliative care team and liaise with hospices, community palliative care teams and the Marie Curie End of Life Discharge Service.
* Act as a specialist resource offering expertise in symptom control and psychological support for patients and families with life-limiting illness.
* Develop plans to meet the complex needs of palliative care patients in every acute clinical area.
* Implement and evaluate evidence-based practice within the field of specialist palliative care nursing to improve standards of care.
* Participate in the development and monitor the implementation of policies, standards and guidelines.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
* Educated to degree level in nursing related subject
* Registered Nurse
* Current NMC Registration
* Demonstrate specialist palliative care knowledge and skills in an acute setting
* Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
* A recognised teaching qualification (or ability to demonstrate teaching experience)
* Experience of, or currently working at Band 6 or above
* MSc / MA in nursing or related subject
* Extended and Supplementary Non-Medical Prescriber qualification
Knowledge & Experience
* Demonstrates up-to-date clinical knowledge in palliative care
* Experience of working within palliative care speciality or with patients with palliative care needs in the acute setting
* Current knowledge of national policies relevant to the specialty and understanding of national initiatives
* Experience of managing a case load
* Experience of multi-agency working
* Experience of implementing evidence based practice
* Has developed, facilitated and taught on education programmes at all levels
* Has initiated and actively participated in research or audit
Skills
* Ability to work independently as well as part of a multi-disciplinary team
* Ability to make autonomous decisions
* Ability to manage own caseload and demonstrate time management skills
* Ability to exercise initiative
* Ability to implement change / innovation
* Able to collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team and successfully negotiate with and influence others
* Ability to work under pressurised circumstances
* Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, with an ability to demonstrate a high standard of written, verbal and networking skills
* Research awareness
* Computer skills
* Flexible working patterns and able to positively respond to changing needs of the service
* Has successfully supervised / mentored other clinical staff
* Accredited communication / counselling course
* Demonstrates a positive, confident attitude and has an empathetic approach to both staff and patients/families
* Reliable, honest and trustworthy
* Maintains a mature outlook and can deal with contentious and challenging situations in a creative and non-judgemental way
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.
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire
£49,387 to £56,515 a year (pro rata)
Permanent
Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 264-7948368-CSS
Job locations: University Hospitals of Northamptonshire
UHN welcomes applications from people from all protected groups and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and have achieved the Gold Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.
Our Excellence Values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage.
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