Overview
An opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, enthusiastic, self-motivated, experienced Clinician with good clinical palliative care knowledge to join our well-established Hospice Community Team as a Clinical Specialist. This post will provide varied senior experience in a multidisciplinary working environment delivering a 24/7 service to individuals, carers and other health care professionals across the community.
Job summary
We are a progressive, creative team, with a strong ethos, working in collaboration with our external place-based partners, enabling and encouraging access to palliative and end of life care to any individual living across Brentwood, Havering, Barking & Dagenham over a 24/7 service, as well as out-of-hours telephone support for Redbridge. There is no better time to join our experienced and skilled specialist palliative care service, providing excellent, compassionate care to individuals and their loved ones across all residential community settings. The role includes home, onsite or virtual face-to-face visits and telephone assessments. Travel across the boroughs listed above is essential and having use of your own car is required.
If you meet the criteria and want a job where you matter and contribute fully to the team, offering reflective practice, monthly supervision and annual appraisal, along with educational opportunities, free car parking and access to Orange Cafe, this might be the job for you.
We are looking for a candidate working at a senior level, with excellent communication, assessment and prioritisation skills, who understands the needs of those receiving palliative and end of life care, has working knowledge of evidence-based practice and the ability to develop knowledge of current initiatives and developments in palliative care.
About us
We are a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation delivering a full range of specialist palliative care services for individuals and their loved ones with palliative or end of life care needs. We achieved Outstanding in our CQC inspection and have reconfigured our services to meet the changing needs of our local community. We support 5 Clinical Commissioning Groups and have a robust governance structure in place. We provide ward clinical services within a modern, personal and friendly 18-bedded unit, as well as Specialist Community Crisis Support Service, Hospice at Home Service and Specialist Day Therapy Service. We also have the Pepperell Education Centre that delivers high quality education programmes and study days.
All communication regarding your application including invitations to interviews will be sent to the email address you have stated on your application form; please also provide a contact telephone number.
Saint Francis Hospice is a charity based in the UK. We will require all successful candidates to provide documentary ID proof of Right to Work in the UK. We are not a Licensed Sponsor and cannot sponsor applicants from outside the UK.
Please note that we are a charity and not part of an NHS Trust. We are situated in a quiet location in Havering-atte-Bower, outskirts of Romford; please consider location when applying.
Date posted: 20 October 2025
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £45,502 to £52,884 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: B0483-254
Job location: Saint Francis Hospice, Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower, Romford, RM4 1QH
Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
CLINICAL EXPERTISE, LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORKING
Work within community services to respond to referrals for individuals and carers by telephone and visiting caseloads within allocated geographical areas, in line with community service standards, to offer skills of a clinical nurse specialist.
Provide specialist holistic telephone assessment and ongoing support for healthcare professionals, individuals, carers and loved ones, in line with service standards.
Operate within an allocated Clinical Nurse Specialist role daily to ensure smooth service provision and flexibility of service demand.
Provide face-to-face holistic assessment and monitoring either at home, in hospice onsite sessions or within a specialist outreach environment.
Responsible for initial contact to all new referrals and re-referrals to community services to:
* initiate holistic telephone assessment and complete all relevant documentation
* liaise appropriately with primary health care team to resolve concerns identified
* provide individuals with contact details of the service
Provide expertise in complex symptom control and advise healthcare professionals associated with palliative care, helping them evaluate the effects of prescribed interventions and recognise and manage palliative care emergencies.
Offer psychosocial support for individuals with palliative care or end of life needs as well as loved ones, providing information about their condition, its management and services available to support them pre- and post-bereavement.
Liaise with other hospice services regarding waiting lists and other matters.
Take responsibility for assessment and clinical judgement of individuals at home known to the service, referred for admission to the hospice ward.
Administer subcutaneous injectable medication as prescribed, in the person’s residence as authorised in urgent situations, following assessment and clinical judgement and with appropriate equipment.
Provide ongoing telephone support while awaiting further hospice services.
Gather, document and coordinate information from other professionals and specialist care teams relating to individuals referred to community services.
Promote and facilitate communication within the multi-disciplinary team and other settings using advanced communication skills.
Lead on a specialist area of non-malignant interest and participate in related meetings, audits and network opportunities as part of the Saint Francis Hospice Widening Access programme.
Participate in weekly multidisciplinary meetings and external hospital MDTs to ensure the palliative care service has a high profile with other disciplines and professionals.
Attend monthly team meetings when on duty; champion multi-professional teamwork and uphold organisational values. Maintain confidentiality, respect different values and beliefs, and promote wellbeing of self and others.
Document and report incidents relating to GDPR, medications, accidents or other events; ensure learning opportunities are explored to prevent reoccurrences.
Maintain accurate documentation in line with hospice policies and professional body guidelines (e.g., NMC). Input and maintain records and data on systems such as icare and other data collection tools.
Participate in audit and development of community services, provide flexible support for face-to-face home assessments and on-call duties, and contribute to service improvement.
Contribute to on-call rota (including overnight and weekends) and outline expectations for on-call duties, with safety provisions per policy. The CNS will: use mobile phone for urgent calls, manage equipment, comply with Lone Working Policy, maintain remote work confidentiality, and discuss exceptional demand with the Community Team Lead.
EDUCATION AND QUALITY
Participate in development and delivery of an education strategy for nursing and other disciplines relating to palliative care; attend mandatory hospice training; deliver educational sessions; maintain professional development and current registration (e.g., NMC); ensure evidence-based practice; disseminate relevant findings.
Support the Gold Standard Framework Training Programme with GPs, in care homes and other settings as appropriate; review and participate in research to enhance clinical standards and outcomes.
Ensure post-registration training supports becoming a clinical specialist; engage in teaching programmes, mentor junior staff and implement/ evaluate teaching plans.
MANAGEMENT
Manage service caseloads while ensuring responsiveness to crisis support and new referrals; establish communication with hospitals and community services; develop policies, protocols and care pathways with an auditable programme; participate in governance initiatives and audits; lead service improvements and allocate supervision and on-call coverage.
Person Specification
Essential
* Ability to travel efficiently to clients’ homes across the hospice catchment area.
* Flexibility to work a 24/7 rota.
Demonstrating the Hospice Values
* Compassionate: a caring team, putting individuals and families first.
* Collaborative: working in partnership with communities and stakeholders.
* Creative: forward-thinking and adaptable to change.
Qualifications
* RGN with significant post-registration experience.
* Degree or equivalent.
* Significant senior post-registration experience in palliative care or related field.
* Non-Medical prescriber or willing/working towards.
Desirable
* Oncology/palliative care qualification ENB 237/285 or equivalent.
* Teaching qualification or equivalent experience.
* Counselling qualification/experience.
Leadership Skills
* Ability to lead with honesty, integrity and care; empower and delegate; contribute to hospice strategy; create an inclusive workplace.
Skills, Abilities, Knowledge
* Excellent symptom control knowledge; current issues in palliative care; ongoing professional development.
* Autonomous and team-working capability across MDTs; flexible and innovative service development.
* Advanced communication skills; IT skills; data handling; audit experience; capable under challenging conditions.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires Disclosure to be submitted to the DBS 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 (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Saint Francis Hospice
St. Francis Hospice, Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower, Romford, RM4 1QH
Employer's website: https://www.sfh.org.uk/
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