Go back West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Band 6-Palliative Care Discharge Liaison Nurse Cancer Palliative Care
The closing date is 27 August 2025
The Specialist Palliative Care team are recruiting to their discharge team and are looking for an experienced qualified nurse who would like a new challenge performing this key role.
If you are someone who is passionate about palliative care, keen to promote a patient centred approach and understand the importance of facilitating safe, effective and timely discharges from hospital, then this could be the job for you.
Main duties of the job
As a post holder in this role, you will work at Watford General Hospital, assessing and working with our palliative care patients and those important to them, to identify their needs and wishes on discharge from hospital.
Much of the role will involve liaising with other care providers, including ward based staff, community nurses, social services, local hospices, community palliative care providers, continuing healthcare teams and local nursing homes.
Whilst this post sits with the Specialist Palliative Care team, collaboration with the Hospital Integrated discharge team, the local Continuing Healthcare team, Integrated Care Board and Community Palliative Care Teams, is essential.
You will need excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work with the patient, families and the multi-disciplinary team to coordinate safe discharges from hospital.
The candidate will be an experienced Band 5 or above and be able to demonstrate experience of working with Palliative patients and their families/carers.
Knowledge of the Fast Track Continuing Healthcare Funding Process and of services available to palliative patients on discharge from hospital is advantageous.
About us
With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be expected to manage their own often complex caseload but will have full support from the Clinical Nurse Specialists and Consultants in the palliative care team.
You will develop strong links with your patients and their families and carers, guiding them through their discharge journey from initial assessment to day of discharge.
You will help to identify preferred place of care or death if appropriate and ensure that patients wishes are communicated to those who need to know, through advance care planning or via the Electronic Palliative Care Coordination System (EPaCCS).
You will be supported to improve your skills and competencies through regular supervision, appraisals and identified learning needs.
This is a key role within the Specialist Palliative Care Team and is one that is valued highly by staff throughout the West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
* Registered Nurse
* Evidence of ongoing development related to speciality.
* Advanced Communication Skills
* Evidence of continued role development
* Relevant post registration qualification, e.g. Diploma in Palliative Care or equivalent.
* Teaching Certificate
* Willingness to undertake learning and development related to the role.
Knowledge
* Knowledge of best up to date practice in palliative care.
* Knowledge of palliative care discharges and issues surrounding them.
* An awareness of relevant political & professional issues in health care.
* Knowledge of local and national guidance relevant to palliative care and palliative discharge.
* Knowledge of Advance Care Planning (ACP).
* Knowledge of community services available to palliative patients and those important to them on discharge.
Experience
* Previous experience of caring for patients with palliative care/end of life needs.
* Experience of discharge planning processes.
* Experience of Advance Care Planning.
* Experience of Fast Track CHC assessment.
* Experience of completing ACP.
* Experience of prioritising care and case management.
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.
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
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