Clinical Nurse Specialist - Developmental Post (3 Years)
We can't change what is going to happen, but we can change how it happens.
Make a real difference to people's lives.
Our Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) support palliative patients with often complex needs in the community. Working with other community services as well as hospice colleagues, they help to manage symptoms and provide emotional, psychological and social support to both the patient and those supporting them.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join this amazing team in a developmental role capacity.
You will gain experience and knowledge through shadowing the team, following a comprehensive training programme and managing a caseload.
The successful candidate will work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering care to patients in their own homes, so teamwork is important as well as the ability to travel across South Devon.
You would be fully supported by a senior CNS throughout your development.
Starting in Band D rising to Band E, once training and competent in role which will take approximately 3 years to complete.
Main duties of the job
What you'll bring
To be successful in this role you will need to be a Registered Nurse, passionate about palliative care, have excellent communication skills and the drive to learn and develop.
Our values are important to us and we expect our staff to base their work ethic around them. We have our goals and to deliver on our strategy takes real teamwork, energy and passion, no two days are ever the same!
What's in it for you?
You will be supported and encouraged to innovate and to try new things. Our scope of work and our confident organisational vision creates opportunities for progress and development. And we work together with passion and pride in an environment where people are caring, considerate, inclusive and welcoming. It can be tough. We don't shy away from that. But you'll see clearly the importance and impact of your work and feel recognised and part of something remarkable.
About us
Working at Rowcroft Hospice
Rowcroft Hospice is an independent charity that provides comfort, support and specialist care to over 2,000 patients and their loved ones across South Devon each year. Our Vision is to make every day the best day possible for patients, and those closest to them, living with life-limiting illnesses in South Devon.
For more Information
Please see below to download the Job Description and Person Specification for this role.
For more information or an informal discussion about the role please contact Tracey Hurley, CNS Team Leader, on 01803 217623or tracey.hurley@rowcrofthospice.org.uk or Karenne Weaver, Head of Community and Hospice at Home, on 01803 217638 or karenne.weaver@rowcrofthospice.org.uk
Closing date: 11:59pm Sunday 27 July 2025
Interview date: To be confirmed
Job responsibilities
Job purpose: OurVision is to make every day the best day possible for patients, and thoseclosest to them, living with life-limiting illnesses in South Devon. As a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), youwill deliver this by delivering effective symptom management, emotional andpsychological support and referring to appropriate health and social carecolleagues both in the organisation and in the wider community.
OurValues:
Honesty & Integrity Generosity of Spirit Respect Team Player
Key Roles and Responsibilities
* Take reasonable care for your own safety and thesafety of others. Adhere to all Health& Safety requirements, including Covid-19 secure processes and procedures.
* Work towards holding your own community caseloadunder the supervision of one of the Band E CNSs and CNS team leader. It isintended that you would progress to a Band E CNS position within 3 years, by completinga comprehensive training programme, see below.
* Attend the recommended learning (symptommanagement module, leadership module, Non-medical prescribing and RowcroftFacility Program).
* Accurately assess patients needs for pain andsymptom control with support.
* Regularly monitor and evaluate the effects ofprescribed treatment and, in consultation with medical teams and CNS colleagues,ensure appropriate adjustments are made to ensure patients receive the mosteffective palliative care possible.
* Provide direct care for people with advancedillness who have complex needs, and their families with support.
* Maintain and develop effective communication andworking relationships with healthcare professionals and other related agenciesto ensure a seamless service for patients, promoting best practice inpalliative care.
* Provide psychological support for patients andtheir families using recognised models to identify specific needs and makeappropriate referrals to other professionals as required.
* Identifyyour own learning and development needs undertake continuous professionaldevelopment and actively engage in clinical supervision, maintaining anobjective and innovative practice.
* Promote a culture of continuous learning anddevelopment and wellbeing, helpto create an environment that is continually critically questioning practiceand promoting learning.
* Bea safe practitioner, adhere to the standards required of a clinical nursespecialist and work within the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code ofProfessional Conduct. Ensure standards of nursing are maintained, recognisingthe importance of attention to the Clinical Nurse Specialist JD to detail allaspects of personalised patient care and the administration and security ofdrugs.
* Maintainsafe and accurate documentation in the electronic patient care record, incidentreporting system and shared care records.
* Tocontribute towards service development which may include audit, policy reviewsand participation in learning activities.
* Play an active part in team meetings and ensureyour mandatory and other relevant training is kept up-to-date.
This list can never be exhaustive but covers mostof the work youll be doing - always with talent, initiative and a commitmentto great customer service.
InfectionPrevention
All Rowcroft Hospice employees in both clinicaland non-clinical roles are required to adhere to theInfection Preventionand Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards ofinfection control at all times to reduce the burden of Healthcare AssociatedInfections including MRSA.
Youagree to the following responsibilities:
* To decontaminate your hands prior to and afterdirect patient care or contact with the patient's surroundings;
* To take part in mandatory infection controltraining provided;
* To responsibly manage your own infections (otherthan common colds and illness) that may be transmittable to patients, includingto contact Occupational Health for guidance.
Placeof Work
Thisrole has been identified as a Fieldworker (role could be carried out at a Rowcroft site or other location,including home, subject to the varying needs of the role. Will spend planned time at Rowcroft sites orother locations as the role requires which could include patient homes andRowcroft and non-Rowcroft locations to meet the needs of the service).
This will be fully discussed and agreed with thepostholder to meet individual and business needs.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Registered Nurse.
* A relevant first degree, or a demonstratable commitment to work towards the completion of agreed elements at degree level.
* Palliative care module.
Knowledge and Skills
* Excellent communication skills and have the ability to have difficult conversations.
* Knowledge and skills to evaluate research and ensure evidence-based practice.
* Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within Primary Health Care Teams and as part of a multiprofessional specialist team.
* Demonstrate a working knowledge of holistic person-centred assessment.
* Knowledge in end of life and complex symptom control care.
* Able to effectively manage multiple demands upon your time.
* Completed an advanced communication course.
Experience
* Previous Hospice or specialist palliative care experience.
* 1 year experience post registration.
* Experience in community nursing.
Personal Requirements
* Leadership through creative problem solving, a positive can-do attitude and a willingness and desire to ensure all who come into contact with Rowcroft have the best possible experience.
* Proven ability to be part of a committed and hardworking team in line with the ethics and values of Rowcroft Hospice, acting in the best interests of Rowcroft at all times.
* A good understanding of the purpose, values and strategy of Rowcroft Hospice.
* Willing and able to volunteer for at least one Rowcroft event each year.
* Ability to travel across South Devon.
* A commitment and ability to continually learn and develop.
* Initiative and vision to provide excellent quality care to our patients and families and support team development.
* Remain calm in difficult situations and act in a professional manner.
* Be flexible in your approach to patients wishes.
* The motivation to provide education to Rowcroft staff and external agencies.
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.
Rowcroft Hospice, Ella's Gardens, Avenue Road, Torquay
£30,569 to £37,213 a year-Rising to £38,085 once training and competent in role (3 years)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
VP521E0480
Job locations
Rowcroft Hospice, Ella's Gardens, Avenue Road, Torquay
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