Hospital Specialist Palliative Care CNS – Acute In-Reach
Closing date: 03 May 2026
The Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist will in-reach with the acute hospital areas of Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (A&E, Acute floor, and SDEC), alongside an allocated palliative care social worker. The role is to identify and facilitate the rapid discharge or transfer of patients with palliative care needs to an appropriate preferred place of care, supporting timely, effective care, assessment, and intervention within a multi‑professional workforce.
About us
We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals – Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary – as well as in community sites, health centres and patients’ homes. We are proud to have almost 150 volunteers. Our services include urgent and emergency care; medical, surgical, maternity, gynaecology, critical care; children’s and young people’s services; end‑of‑life care; outpatient and diagnostic imaging; and community health services such as sexual health, hosted at Calderdale Royal and local health centres like Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.
Responsibilities
* Work within the multi‑professional team to manage the caseload of patients presenting with specialist palliative care needs in the acute setting (Emergency Department, Acute floor, and SDEC).
* Triage and holistically assess patients with life‑limiting conditions that may not require prolonged hospital stay, facilitating rapid discharge to preferred place of care.
* Provide symptom management advice and support escalation to the Hospital specialist palliative care team when necessary.
* Work alongside an allocated palliative care social worker to facilitate social care and funded needs.
* Liaise with community palliative care teams to support admission avoidance in the acute setting and from home.
* Act as a resource for sign‑posting patients, families, carers, and health professionals about palliative care services within the hospital and community.
* Provide guidance and support for patients making choices about preferred place of care and advance care planning.
* Involve patients, families, and carers in the planning and delivery of their care.
* Assess and facilitate rapid assessment to hospice when appropriate.
* Support advance care planning and record information in System One EPaCCS when consented.
* Integrate end‑of‑life care tools such as SPICT / Gold Standards Framework.
* Audit performance of the project, contributing to service review and development with the Macmillan palliative care team leader.
Professional Duties
* Work within the NMC Code of Conduct at all times.
* Ensure adherence to all CHFT protocols, policies, and directives within service delivery.
* Act as a role model for quality nursing care, promoting evidence‑based interventions and compassionate care.
* Demonstrate specialist skills and knowledge.
* Act as a patient advocate throughout the care pathway.
Managing Self
* Participate in regular supervision.
* Attend all mandatory training and annual development planning.
* Comply with all Trust policies, procedures, and protocols.
* Maintain professional conduct and appearance at all times.
* Ensure ongoing Professional Registration and adherence to the Trust’s Equal Opportunity Policy.
Managerial Duties
* Participate in service review and development alongside the specialist palliative care team.
* Ensure continuity of care for patients, liaising with other care settings and professionals.
* Work with disease‑specific clinical teams to ensure equity of access to specialist palliative care.
* Support CHFT aims and objectives around service delivery and target achievement.
* Contribute to weekly clinical review meetings, audit projects, and evidence‑based practice initiatives.
* Identify and highlight gaps in evidence/service provision under the supervision of the Macmillan team leader.
* Attend relevant internal and external meetings, maintaining effective communication within the team.
* Maintain flexible approach, developing the role according to needs, and support the Trust’s cost‑efficiency programme.
Person Specification
Qualifications / Training
* Registered General Nurse (RGN) with degree level study (and above).
* Advanced communication training.
* Palliative care training, Trust EoL champion, or postgraduate oncology or palliative care.
* Independent prescribing.
Knowledge, Experience & Expertise
* Evidence of skills in assessment and management of patients with specialist palliative care needs.
* IT skills, EPR, and System One, or willingness to receive training.
* Knowledge and experience in palliative/fast‑track discharge planning.
* Advanced knowledge in symptom management for patients with palliative needs.
* Understanding of audit processes, including implementation of findings and outcome reviews.
* Knowledge of organisations and support networks available to patients and families affected by life‑limiting conditions.
Communication and Relationships (Including Management Responsibilities)
* Advanced communication skills, including breaking bad news.
* Capacity to coordinate caseloads and other workload demands.
* Ability to work independently (as a loan worker) and as part of a team.
* Experience performing Advance Care Planning, DNACPR, and related discussions.
* Experience in service development, change management, and audit.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. Applicants must provide a Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) check.
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year, pro rata.
#J-18808-Ljbffr