Staff Nurse (Adult Community Services - Day Hospice & Hospice at Home)

Job responsibilities

Summary of Role

As a staff nurse working within The Shakespeare Hospice Adult Community Services, you will be a core member of the multidisciplinary palliative care team. The role will involve working across our traditional Hospice at Home and Day Hospice services covering South Warwickshire. Working in close collaboration with our other Hospice and community teams, the post holder will promote holistic, person centred care for patients, their families and those who require specialist palliative support.

We provide care for patients with life limiting illnesses, also offering carer and bereavement support. Our staff nurses are key members of the team and are expected to work closely with the Team Leaders to maintain excellent standards and develop future service provision. The post holder will uphold our hospice values: to be responsive, compassionate, supportive, collaborative and innovative.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

To act as a role model and provide exceptional nursing skill and care across The Shakespeare Hospice Adult Community Services traditionally Hospice at Home and Day Hospice

To provide physical, psychological, social and spiritual care for patients and carers.

To holistically assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care, continuously reviewing patient-led goals and outcomes through effective care planning.

To undertake specialist patient centred assessments, using an evidence-based practice approach, to support patients during end of life care, or where appropriate in maintaining and/or maximising their independence and quality of life.

To confidently identify and respond to changes in the patients condition and symptoms, adjusting care and nursing interventions accordingly and with the knowledge of the Team Leaders.

To respond appropriately in managing patient crisis/deterioration and to ensure that an effective plan of care is in place.

To ensure that all necessary and recommended infection control precautions are taken at all times.

To confidently liaise with other relevant professionals and statutory/voluntary organisations, as necessary, to facilitate appropriate patient care.

To participate and promote advanced care planning discussions with patients and carers, considering and respecting their priorities of care and individual preferences at all times.

To ensure that all patient and sensitive information will be treated confidentially and in line with local and national policies/legislation.

To act sensitively and, where appropriate, as an advocate to enable patients to undertake informed decision making.

To offer holistic support to carers and bereaved carers, identifying and responding to their individual and fluctuating psychosocial needs.

To utilise national standards and NICE guidelines to underpin evidence-based practice.

To utilise a range of effective communication and listening skills to facilitate complex and sensitive conversations.

To complete contemporaneous and accurate clinical records.

To be actively involved in caseload management and patient flow from point of referral to discharge.

To prioritise workload accordingly and to work flexibly to meet the changing needs of patients and the organisation.

To be able to work both autonomously and within close partnership with the Hospice team.

To actively participate in relevant multi-disciplinary team meetings, team handovers and case conferences to ensure optimal patient care.

To assist in the delivery of health promotion and educational programmes to patients, families and carers.

To be a source of expertise and an advocate for hospice palliative care.

Managerial

To supervise and support other members of the team, including both staff and volunteers, acting as a role model demonstrating our Hospice values at all times.

To support junior staff members, as delegated to you by the Team Leaders, with 1to1s, appraisals and objective setting.

To deputise for the Team Leaders, with support from other senior staff as required.

To demonstrate proficient IT skills in order to maintain and develop data collection and reporting.

To support the Team Leaders in local audit and evaluation, assisting with any improvement plans that might be identified.

To take a proactive approach towards service development, using initiative and creativity to implement new ideas and ways of working, where mutually agreed with the Team Leaders to be of benefit to patients, staff and the organisation.

Organisational

To demonstrate on a day to day basis the organisational values of the Hospice, acting as a role model to others.

To support the organisation to ensure that all clinical staff and clinical volunteers are appropriately equipped and trained to fulfil their duties.

To undertake administrative tasks for the purpose of your role and utilise volunteer support as appropriate.

To work in accordance with all Hospice policies and procedures.

To work in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Professional Code of Conduct, maintaining professional requirements to comply with revalidation requirements.

To participate in the Hospice appraisal process, responsible for complying with mutually agreed personal objectives.

To actively participate in clinical supervision, both in group scenarios and in one to one provision.

To raise any areas of risk or concern in accordance with hospice policy, including incident reporting.

To be involved with the wider organisational aspects of the hospice, such as promotion of the charity and its services. This may include representing the hospice at certain key events, where clinical support is required.

Educational

To adhere to all statutory and mandatory training requirements as designated by the organisation.

To be responsible for your own Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

To attend and participate in learning and development opportunities as deemed mutually beneficial for both yourself and the organisation.

To keep abreast of current policy and key developments in palliative care, both locally and nationally.

To be prepared to teach and share knowledge with the wider teams, within own scope of confidence and competence, and with support from other team members.

To actively engage with the assessment and supervision of nursing students, medical students and to take a key role in supporting work experience students.

To be involved in the induction programmes for new staff members and volunteers.

Other

1. To participate in mandatory training annually.

2. To participate in the annual appraisal programme.

3. Maintain high professional standards and continuing professional and personal development.

4. Adhere to all Hospice policies and procedures.

5. To undertake any other duties commensurate with the post and as requested by the Head of Clinical Services.

6. This job description is subject to periodic review in negotiation with the post holder and may be revised/updated as service requirements change and develop.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or Diploma in Adult Nursing (RGN)
• Evidence of current NMC registration
• Evidence of ongoing CPD

Desirable

• Evidence of further relevant post-qualification training, such as oncology, palliative care, bereavement support
• Mentoring / Assessing qualification or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience in palliative/end of life care.
• Ability to organise work and develop programmes of care.
• Experience of working in a variety of settings, including community settings and with a variety of patient groups.
• Ability to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals needs.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working.
• To advocate professionally on behalf of patients
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Ability to supervise other members of staff and volunteers
• Ability to identify risks and risk management
• Ability and willingness to participate within service development.
• Ability to motivate others
• Effective time management skills
• Knowledge of range of palliative conditions, including oncology, neurology, respiratory and cardiac conditions
• Good understanding of the role of carers in palliative and end of life support.
• Excellent understanding and application of caseload management skills.
• Excellent knowledge surrounding the safeguarding of patients.
• Ability and confidence to apply and use own initiative
• Good understanding and application of IT skills
• Committed to teaching and supporting others.
• Excellent listening & communication skills and ability to communicate with patients and families in distress
• Ability to communicate effectively with MDT staff, across all levels.
• To demonstrate an enthusiastic, approachable and friendly manner.
• Excellent and effective written communication.
• Ability to teach and coach patients, carers and colleagues
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Compassionate
• To be committed to expert patient care
• To adopt an enabling and empowering approach
• Ability to identify own learning needs and interests.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
• Demonstrate personal insight and the ability to cope with personal emotions in distressing situations
• Willingness to develop collaborative working with other provider groups
• Commitment to the work and values of The Shakespeare Hospice
• Current Driving License and use of car for business purposes.

Desirable

• Two years post qualification experience
• Ideally some previous community experience.
• Experience working directly in palliative care or life
• limiting illness management.
• Experience in practice assessor role
• An ability and understanding of how to undertake advanced care planning.
• To have an interest in the provision of bereavement support
• Advanced Communication Skills training
• Good presentation and teaching skills
• Personal Attributes

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).