Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a clinical nurse specialist within the specialist palliative care team at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS foundation Trust. The team is committed to improving the quality of care and service experienced by patients and their families during their palliative and end of life care journey. The team provides expert clinical leadership, advice , education and training to support and further develop practice within this area of patient care

This is a 30 hour band 6 opportunity - permanent

Main duties of the job

We are inviting applications from highly motivated registered nurses with advanced communication and interpersonal skills who are educated to degree level. The applicant should have post registration experience in a palliative care setting. In return we will offer a supportive and friendly environment where you will be challenged and encouraged to maintain and improve knowledge and skills to ensure expert high quality palliative and end of life care is delivered to all patients.

About us

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.

We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition - a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.

We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool"

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

The post holder will be an integral part of the Out of Hospital Care Specialist Palliative Care Team working across both the Hospital and Community settings, under the supervision of the Operational Lead or Clinical Nurse Specialist.

The post holder will provide specialist advice and support to patients on the existing Specialist Palliative Care caseload liaising with external agencies as needed.

The post holder will have excellent communication skills and demonstrate leadership through ongoing development of clinical expertise, delivering high standards of person centred care.

The role will promote a culture that supports independence and enables self-management whenever possible.

The role will include supporting and participation in the delivery of multi-professional education, and audit. The post holder will be an active member of the MDT and will actively network with other professionals locally and regionally for the purpose of continually developing practice.

The role is expected to support reduction in the length of stay and the management and facilitation of complex discharges along with prevention of unnecessary hospital admission.

To post holder will advise both hospital and community staff knowledgeably and skilfully on the management of patients who have palliative care needs. The post holder will be continually aware of the importance of empowering other colleagues with the aim of developing the wider team skills and avoidance of dependency. Any concerns will be escalated to senior staff members within the SPC team as they arise.

The post holder will demonstrate and develop skills in conflict resolution and negotiation skills when dealing with difficult or challenging situations.

Key Result Areas

To act as Band 6 Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for a supervised clinical caseload coordinating holistic care and providing on-going support for patients, their relatives and carers

Working alongside the Clinical Nurse Specialists, complete on going assessment, review, planning and evaluation of care requiring clinical expertise within the area of Specialist Palliative Care escalating any concerns to senior members of the team as required.

To communicate effectively in informing patients and their families and carers of current specialist practice and to be empathetic and reassuring when communicating highly sensitive information.

Act as the patient advocate, palliative care resource within the multidisciplinary meetings, participating in the discussion on clinical management of patients on the SPC caseload, escalating concerns for discussion when appropriate.

To ensure continuous development of clinical skills in relation to symptom management for patients on the specialist palliative care caseload, ensuring timely escalation to clinical nurse specialists or SPC consultants when needs fall outside of the associates scope of practice or competency.

Demonstrate a high level of clinical judgement under the supervision/guidance of the CNS in a variety of contexts including both acute and primary care settings.

Review patient medications in accordance with current Palliative Care guidance referring on for CNS/Consultant review when required to ensure patients receive maximum therapeutic support.

Proactively monitor patients on the caseload recognising the early signs of the deteriorating patient or acute illness based on an understanding of the disease process.

Identify training needs & facilitate the development of best practice that is evidence based in the department, ward and other areas as relevant to the patient group.

Participate in providing training as relevant to the wider multi disciplinary team.

Sign post patients their relatives and carers to other agencies and services as appropriate

Organise own clinical workload to ensure that aims and objectives of the role are met.

Participate in and provide clinical supervision to nursing colleagues on an individual & group basis if required.

To collaborate in the production of the Specialist Palliative Care team reports relating to the service, and actively participate in the annual review with line Manager, to drive service improvement through the collation and recording of quantative and qualitative data.

To conduct assessment and care planning to meet patients future care needs to enable patients wishes and preferences to be met and shared including Emergency Health Care Planning, Preferred Place of Care and DNACPR.

Apply the highest standards of patient centred care in the hospital and community in line with agreed policies procedure & clinical protocols, providing specialist advice and support within a multidisciplinary context.

Identify, assess and facilitate the informational and educational needs of the patient/family/carer.

Advise and communicate with other professionals regarding the support and management of patients, forming a link between hospital, community, Hospice and voluntary services.

Identify risks associated with treatment/care systems/practices and implement ways to manage this.

Ensure records are clearly and logically documented in relation to the clinical finding and management of each patient in line with legislation and professional guidelines to ensure contemporaneous record keeping.elegate work appropriately to other staff to ensure they are properly supported and supervised.

Demonstrate commitment to IWL principles and flexible working patterns, to meet the needs of the service and staff.

Tackle discrimination and harassment, and promote equality and diversity in the workplace.

Reduce sickness absence; work place accidents; and promote zero tolerance on violence against staff.

Take responsibility for personal development and education and the development of a Personal Development Plan and access regular supervision and support from the line manager.

Communications and Working Relationships

To maintain and contribute to an effective communication system with multi-professional teams, in the Palliative Care Team and wider Palliative Care Services, throughout the Hospital & Community settings.

To communicate effectively with patients, carers and professionals, utilising skilled interpersonal relationships to build trust, aid decision-making and improve care outcomes.

Use expert communication skills in relation to breaking bad news and provision of ongoing psychological support to those with a palliative or uncertain prognosis and their carers.

The post holder will be expected to communicate effectively with all multiprofessional and non-professional groups internally and externally involved in the provision of care to patients / carers with a palliative care diagnosis.

The post holder will formulate effective working relationships with relevant professionals and experts within palliative care and related fields, as well as utilising support networks including clinical supervision.

Participation and networking within Local and Regional Forums relevant to the provision of general and specialist palliative care.

3. Control of Infection

Be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene. To undertake annual training/updates in infection prevention and control.

Prepare for and undertake the protective interventions that he/she is responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence based practice and maintaining patient safety.

The Most Challenging Part of the Job

Participate in the ongoing service development.

Provide holistic care to patients, their families and carers who are receiving palliative or end of life care.

Respond to and support change management within the service.

Monitor and maintain highest standards of service delivery.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

degree level or relevant experience

Desirable

non medical prescribing

Qualifications

Essential

teaching qualification /relevant experience

Desirable

advanced communication skills

Experience

Essential

post reg experience in palliative care or similar setting

Desirable

experience of service development

skills/aptitudes

Essential

Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team

Desirable

Can demonstrate participation in change management

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