A part‑time, fixed‑term clinical nurse specialist vacancy has arisen within the specialist palliative care team at North Bristol NHS Trust.
The team is a hospital‑based, multi‑disciplinary unit that receives approximately 2,150 patient referrals per year from all specialties within the Trust.
Key Responsibilities
* Facilitate the highest possible quality of care to palliative care patients and their families.
* Provide specialist symptom‑control advice and support to patients, their relatives, carers, and to professional colleagues in an acute hospital setting.
* Facilitate rapid or complex discharges, enabling preferred place of care at the end of life where possible.
* Support health‑care professionals caring for palliative patients in both hospital and community settings through role education.
* Act as an independent practitioner with a defined clinical caseload.
Patient Care Responsibilities
* Provide specialist advice to nursing, medical and paramedical staff regarding all aspects of evidence‑based palliative care and cancer‑related issues.
* Offer support, advice and information to patients, their families and carers on all aspects of palliative care.
* Regularly review treatment plans and suggest changes based on new information or changes in a patient’s condition.
* Act as a patient’s advocate where necessary.
* Independently manage a caseload of patients, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating individual care needs.
* Respect patients’ dignity, wishes and beliefs and involve them in shared decision‑making.
* Liaise and establish good working relationships with health‑care professionals and other disciplines involved in the patient’s care.
* Recognise and advise on changes in a patient’s condition that may affect care planning, discharge and treatment.
* Use diplomatic interaction and negotiation skills to achieve effective changes in practice and promote a palliative care approach with all grades of staff.
* Contribute to effective discharge planning to ensure continuity of care between hospital and community.
* Ensure resources are used effectively and liaise with relevant health and social care agencies when deficiencies arise.
* Contribute to multidisciplinary meetings.
* Refer patients to other specialist agencies as necessary.
Policy, Service Development and Implementation Responsibilities
* Keep professionally updated on research‑evidence‑based care delivery.
* Continuously reflect on practice to improve patient outcomes.
* Actively promote equality and diversity.
* Understand financial budgets when recommending specialist palliative care equipment and drugs.
* Work in conjunction with budget holders to ensure a cost‑effective approach to symptom management and equipment use.
* Contribute to the development, dissemination and implementation of guidelines and protocols on palliative care issues.
* Contribute to clinical governance initiatives.
* Propose changes to working practices within own and other specialist areas to improve patient outcomes.
Research, Audit and Development Responsibilities
* Regularly lead or contribute to clinical audit initiatives and research that influence practice development.
* Disseminate clinical audit outcomes to improve professional practice and/or patient care.
Information Resources and Systems Responsibilities
* Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records and data, protecting confidential information in compliance with the Data Protection Act and Trust Policy.
Human Resources Responsibilities
* Provide specialist training and education on cancer and palliative care to a wide range of multidisciplinary teams, including pre‑registration nurses and medical students.
* Provide effective clinical placements for pre‑ and post‑registration nurses and medical students.
* Act as a role model for good practice.
* Be aware of the well‑being of all members of the palliative care team and support them appropriately.
* Act as an educational resource and adviser to staff, patients and their carers.
* Provide clinical supervision/mentorship to other health‑care professionals.
* Evaluate the effectiveness of learning and development informed by learners, others in the team and own reflections, and use the evaluation to inform future practice.
* Practice within NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
* Work within the policies and procedures of North Bristol NHS Trust.
* Keep up to date with current developments in the field of palliative care and related areas.
* Attend mandatory training as defined by the Trust.
* Be aware of local infection control policies and procedures.
* Ensure working conditions are safe, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
* Maintain a secure environment and report breaches of security promptly to the team leader, recording them according to Trust policy.
* Keep up to date in national, local and Trust development/policy.
* Respond to, record and report adverse events or incidents relating to interventions/treatments.
* Report on accidents/incidents using RADAR as appropriate.
* Engage in appropriate exercises, training and investigations to update and extend knowledge for safe and competent practice.
Qualifications
* Significant post‑registration experience of at least 2 years, including recent experience caring for patients with end‑stage non‑malignant disease, cancer or those receiving palliative care.
* Recognised teaching qualification (ENB 998 or equivalent).
* Evidence of recent study at degree or higher level.
* Ability to work autonomously and without direct supervision.
* Accountability for own actions when making clinical decisions regarding patient management.
* Responsibility for managing a client caseload regarding provision of specialist palliative care support and advice.
* Advanced interpersonal, communication and organisational skills.
* Ability to motivate and empower staff to address palliative care needs in a holistic manner.
* Skill in communicating bad news to patients and families sensitively, and supporting staff in the breaking of bad news.
* Ability to identify and resolve complex physical and psycho‑social needs using expert, evidence‑based assessment and facilitation skills.
* Proficiency in assessing palliative care patients using a systematic process of reasoning, including differential diagnosis.
* In‑depth knowledge of symptom management using drug and non‑drug measures.
* Capability to coordinate and negotiate care packages with internal and external health and social care agencies.
* Recognition of and appropriate response to complex bereavement issues.
* IT skills including Microsoft Word, email, Excel and PowerPoint.
Employer Statement
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff, providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award‑winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti‑discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all under‑represented groups.
Closing Details
This advert closes on Tuesday 19 May 2026.
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