Job Summary
Join a dynamic team delivering outstanding palliative care. We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist (or Band 6 development position) to join our Community Nursing Service, working across both the Hospice Inpatient Nurse Led Beds and CNS Response.
About Us
Our progressive and dynamic team is at the forefront of delivering exceptional palliative care. We are committed to continual improvement and outstanding patient outcomes.
We’ve spent over 40 years helping people die in peace, with dignity, and we provide support that’s remembered forever. As a centre of educational excellence, we share our skills with other health professionals to help the NHS and care homes provide better end‑of‑life care.
Responsibilities
* Utilise clinical palliative care knowledge and experience to provide high‑quality care.
* Demonstrate confident decision‑making skills and a passion for ongoing improvement.
* Support and develop junior staff members.
* Manage patients admitted to the nurse‑led beds for end‑of‑life care.
* Triage urgent referrals and support patients requiring urgent assistance.
* Work 7.5‑hour days, covering 7 days a week (including weekends to develop NLB service into a 7‑day operation).
* Act as a clinical resource for less experienced / non‑prescribing colleagues.
* Coordinate the day‑to‑day running of the team’s clinical caseload.
* Take and analyse clinical histories in a relevant, succinct and logical manner.
* Conduct independent assessments, identify priorities, and work with patients and families toward achieving them.
* Apply physical assessment and clinical reasoning skills to support advice, communication and documentation.
* Perform independent prescribing within competence once registered as an Independent Prescriber.
* Advise primary and community health‑care teams on symptom control options.
* Explore families/carers’ resources to facilitate care in the place of their choice where possible.
* Support and coach carers at home managing a relative whose condition is deteriorating.
* Recognise the impact of caring for dying patients on yourself and colleagues, offering and seeking support.
* Safely administer medication in the community.
* Recognise and manage / appropriately escalates palliative care and oncological emergencies.
* Provide closure to the nurse‑patient relationship and transition to another care provider as appropriate.
* Support palliative care meeting work; attend and present at MDT meetings.
* Develop and maintain communication with patients and families about difficult matters.
* Role‑model best practice communication and provide feedback to others.
* Manage complex communication issues as a lone worker in the community.
* Structure interviews using appropriate questioning, avoid jargon, and use familiar language.
* Involve patients and carers in decision making, offering informed choices and respecting views.
* Break bad news in appropriate steps and support distress and discussions around prognosis and future care options.
* Use the ReSPECT process to document patients’ preferences and clinical recommendations for emergency care.
* Record history, investigations, outcomes and management plan concisely, accurately and confidentially.
* Manage dissatisfied patients/relatives, anticipate potential problems, manage expectations, investigate complaints, incidents and concerns.
* Engage in service improvement by identifying, evaluating and implementing potential improvements and supporting teamwork in quality and safety.
Person Specification – Qualifications
* Current NMC registration.
* Relevant qualification at degree level or equivalent.
* Communication skills training or willingness to undertake.
* Independent prescribing (if band 7).
Desirable Qualifications
* Physical assessment and clinical reasoning experience, or willingness to undertake.
* Leadership training.
* Mentoring training.
Experience
* Minimum experience in a specialist palliative care role (18 months for band 6, 2 years for band 7).
* Complex symptom management.
* Advance care planning.
* Knowledge of clinical governance and evidence‑based practice.
* Knowledge of community palliative care provision.
* Knowledge of safeguarding individuals at risk.
* Knowledge of relevant digital systems (e.g. EMIS).
Desirable Experience
* Experience in practice/service development.
* Teaching.
* Leadership.
* Assessing risk.
Additional Criteria
* Excellent verbal/written and digital communication skills.
* Professional behaviour and communication.
* Holistic assessment and intervention in complex palliative and end‑of‑life care.
* Time and organisation management.
* Audit and practice development.
* Practical independent prescribing.
* Staff development and performance management.
* Facilitation of learning.
* Physical examination skills.
* Managing complaints.
* Demonstrate St Peter’s Hospice values: excellence, compassion, respect, passion, collaboration, flexibility, resilience, people focus, problem solving, decision making, organisation, adaptability.
* Current driving licence and access to a vehicle for work.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.
Employer Details
St Peter’s Hospice, Charlton Road, Bristol, Somerset, BS10 6NL
Employer website
https://www.stpetershospice.org.uk
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