Job Summary
We are looking for a Registered Nurse to join our incredible team on a permanent basis. Based in the beautiful village of Bartestree, approximately 5 miles east of Hereford city, St Michael's Hospice has been providing the highest quality care to the local community for over 40 years. At St Michaels we are not just offering a job, but the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives. You will work within our multi‑disciplinary team providing physical, psycho‑social and spiritual care to patients and their families. You will be able to organise your own time effectively, adapt to changing demands and conditions, remain calm under pressure, and communicate in a clear and engaging manner. We offer support with revalidation and ongoing CPD through in‑house and external education. Flexible and part‑time working patterns are available. This post is conditional to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.
Main Duties of the Job
As a Registered Nurse in the Community you will use your nursing skills and knowledge, complemented by the education, support and mentoring we will provide, to ensure all patients’ end‑of‑life care needs are addressed. You will work with multiple agencies, advising, explaining and acting as a patient advocate in conversations with GPs, paramedics and other healthcare providers. Your multidisciplinary collaboration and excellent communication will ensure patients have continuity of care and can focus on quality time with their family.
Plan, implement and evaluate care for patients, ensuring all practices are evidence‑based. Provide specialist advice on symptom management and act as a link nurse in specific areas such as diabetes. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the best outcomes for patients and their families. Communicate sensitively with patients, families and carers, providing emotional support where needed. Supervise and mentor healthcare assistants, junior staff and volunteers, promoting best practices in palliative care. Contribute to quality improvement initiatives, audits and service development projects to enhance care delivery. Ensure a safe, clean environment, adhering to health and safety, infection control and medication management protocols.
About us
St Michael's Hospice is nestled in the stunning Herefordshire countryside, in a state‑of‑the‑art facility. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a transferable NHS pension or you can enroll onto our hospice pension. We have a Life Assurance, a superb working environment and facilities, generous study leave allowance, discounts with local suppliers, individualised training needs analysis, advanced communication skills training, employee counselling service, free tea & coffee, a friendly and welcoming work environment, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays. St Michael's is one of the top 100 best not‑for‑profit organisations to work for and has been caring for patients living with a terminal illness and their families for 40 years.
Responsibilities
Care Provision
* Contribute to the comprehensive holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the needs of patients on each shift.
* Deliver generalist nursing care interventions that are responsive to the individual patients’ requirements.
* Identify and report any concerns or changes in patients’ condition and/or families’ wellbeing to wider community teams as appropriate.
* Contribute to the patient‑centred assessment and care planning ensuring timely review and update utilising the OACC suite of outcome measures.
* Carry out assurance visits with the Senior Community HCAs to assess the accuracy of work and completion of documentation.
* Work within NMC guidelines, recognising the delegated authority for delegating care to the senior community HCA workforce.
* Identify pre‑ and post‑bereavement needs and potential issues; refer to supportive care team.
* Provide expert telephone advice and support to professionals, patients and families.
* Ensure that patients/carers’ needs are identified and refer to supportive care if needs are greater.
* Supervise and upskill the Senior HCAs during joint visits; share expertise, knowledge and skills.
* Act as a link nurse in selected specialties (e.g. diabetes).
* Follow all agreed hospice and community NHS clinical procedures ensuring alignment with NMC/statutory regulations related to medicine management.
* Follow all agreed policies for manual handling, infection control, health and safety, ensuring a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff.
Planning
* Manage caseload patients on a shift basis, ensuring care is reviewed and delivered in a timely manner.
* Provide clinical oversight for the Senior Community Health Care Assistant (HCA) activities on a shift basis, ensuring appropriate use of staff resources.
* Participate in the initial assessment post Continuing Health Care Fast Track (CHCFT) approval prior to Senior Community HCA care commencement.
* Undertake risk assessments, document these and implement risk‑reducing measures; escalating to senior colleagues as appropriate.
* Contribute to case management of patients to monitor caseload, anticipate problems and risks before crises arise; ensuring appropriate GP and community team involvement.
Communication
* Communicate changes to patients to the senior community nurse so information can be updated and cascaded to appropriate professionals.
* Be able to communicate highly sensitive information, ensuring patients and families/carers are adequately supported.
* Promote collaborative working and effective communication between all members of the multidisciplinary team.
* Encourage patients/relatives/carers to give feedback and express what is important to them, to identify their needs and inform the care plan.
* Ensure the nursing voice is represented in ethical decision‑making.
* Recognise own limitations when offering emotional support.
* Respond to complaints in line with Hospice policy, escalating as appropriate.
* Promote awareness of child and adult protection issues policy and guidelines.
Professional Leadership
* Act as a role‑model in all aspects of clinical and non‑clinical nursing practice.
* Provide formal and informal clinical supervision, support and mentorship to the Senior Community HCAs.
* Deliver informal and formal training sessions for staff and others.
* Deputise in the absence of senior nursing colleagues.
Quality, Improvement, Audit and Research
* Contribute to audits and evaluation of work to develop and improve palliative/end‑of‑life care for patients and their carers.
* Embrace quality improvement initiatives and deliver evidence‑based service development projects.
* Participate in reflective reviews of palliative care.
* Ensure clinical incidents/near misses are recorded.
* Be aware of local partner organisations’ policies regarding care practices and referral pathways.
Education
* Attend mandatory training and in‑service training opportunities.
* Maintain a professional portfolio and reflective diary.
Health and Safety
* Act at all times to promote safety and wellbeing of patients, visitors and volunteers.
* Ensure clinical incidents/near misses are reported in a timely manner and take action to minimise risk.
* Ensure the environment is free from hazards.
* Be aware of own limitations and seek advice and help when needed.
* Contribute and adhere to infection control practices applicable to a community setting.
* Adhere to safe storage of medicines and hazardous substances policy applicable to community setting.
Person Specification
Specialist Knowledge and Experience (Essential)
* Live Registered Nurse
* Experience and broad knowledge of general nursing care
* Knowledge of national and local health initiatives
* Basic IT functions
* Full UK driving licence, over 21, held for 12 months
Specialist Knowledge and Experience (Desirable)
* Experience and knowledge of specialist palliative care
* Specialist palliative care qualification
* Relevant degree or equivalent experience
* Teaching and mentorship qualification
* Experience of nursing patients within community setting
Skills and Behaviours
* Planning and organising – allocates time effectively, prioritises and sets realistic time‑scales.
* Interpersonal sensitivity – handles difficult information sensitively, demonstrates active listening.
* Communication – speaks clearly, writes concisely, engages with individuals and groups.
* Personal motivation – shows enthusiasm and works hard.
* Problem solving – analyzes issues, makes systematic judgments based on relevant information.
* Flexibility – adapts to changing demands and conditions.
* Resilience – maintains effective work behaviour in the face of setbacks or pressure.
Special Conditions
* Conditional to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.
* Requirement to work shifts, including rotation/unsocial hours, weekends and bank holidays.
* Unsocial hours payments:
• Saturdays – basic salary + 33.33%
• Sundays – basic salary + 66.66%
• Bank Holidays – basic salary + 66.66%
• Nights – basic salary + 33.33%
* Requirement to work flexibly to cover shifts according to service needs.
* Able to meet moving and handling requirements of the job with any aids or adaptations.
Our Values
We value knowledge, judgment, kindness, courage, integrity, passion, honesty, empathy and determination. Living our values influences the way we behave and the way we do things – this is the St Michael’s way.
Equal Opportunities Statement
At St Michael’s Hospice we are committed to an equal opportunities approach in everything we do. We ensure anyone connected with St Michael’s – from patients and families through to donors, supporters, volunteers and staff – are treated fairly, appropriately and with dignity and respect.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be made to check for any previous convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer Details
St Michael’s Hospice
Bartestree, Hereford, HR1 4HA
Website: https://www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk/
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