Specialist Palliative Care Nurse

Job responsibilities

Co-ordinate timely and comprehensive assessment of specialist palliative and end of life care needs for the patient and the supportive needs of their loved ones.

Plan, implement and evaluate in collaboration with the patient, their loved ones and indicated health and social care professionals, the specialist care of the patient in the community setting.

Provide appropriate symptom management, psychological and spiritual support for patients complex palliative and end of life care needs to promote physical and emotional wellbeing.

Act as an advocate for the patient and their loved ones, providing essential specialist knowledge and advice, appropriate information regarding specialist palliative and end of life care.

Recognise a deteriorating patient and those where symptoms are not controlled based on the understanding of the disease process, including current evidence and practice standards and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations

Provide specialist palliative care rapid response intervention to support patients and carers, across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland as required

Work on a rotational basis providing triage and co-ordination within the co-ordination centre, providing telephone advice service to patients, their loved ones and professionals as appropriate.

Ensure legible, contemporaneous and accurate records in accordance with organisational policy and legal requirements.

Develop and maintain effective communication with patients, their loved ones and a range of statutory and voluntary care professionals on complex palliative and end of care issues whilst meeting the integrated care needs of the patient in complex situations.

Participate in individual caseload review regularly with line manager to ensure caseload size and complexity is appropriate

Contribute as appropriate to daily MDT discussions and integrated locality neighbourhood board rounds

Comply with the NMC Code of Professional Practice, legislation for Health and Safety at Work and Clinical Governance. Adhering to all organisational policies and procedures to ensure quality and standard of clinical skill and practice.

Ensure own compliance with regard to mandatory training and NMC/Professional re-registration and revalidation requirements.

If the post holder is a qualified Non-Medical Prescriber, practice within their scope of practice and in accordance with the organisational Non-Medical Prescribing Policy.

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 1 Nurse
• Degree or equivalent
• Post registration qualifications
• Evidence of continuing professional development in last 12 months

Desirable

• Degree,Diploma in Palliative or Cancer care
• Teaching qualification
• Non-medical prescribing qualification
• Leadership or management qualification
• Advanced communication skills training
• Advanced care planning training

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of needs of patients and families with cancer and
• other life threatening illnesses
• Understanding of current developments within healthcare and their implications for quality care for patients
• Understanding of efficient and effective use of resources
• Awareness of impact of audit and research on practice.

Desirable

• Knowledge of budget management

Experience

Essential

• Significant post- registration/proven experience in palliative/cancer setting
• Experience in symptom management including the administration of medications via a syringe driver or by subcutaneous injection
• Experience in teaching and assessing

Desirable

• Community experience
• Project management experience
• Experience of patient and public involvement in service delivery

Skills / Abilities

Essential

• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership potential and ability to work effectively with others
• Planning and organisational skills
• Able to make judgements based on evidence based practice and translate this for use in the clinical environment
• Demonstrates initiative and ability to work independently, problem solve and prioritise own work
• IT literate
• Clinical role model and able to support learners

Desirable

• Experience of using electronic patient records
• Involvement in Audit and Change Management
• Research skills

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).