Triage Specialist Nurse

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical

Review all referrals to Princess Alice Hospice

1.1. To undertake complex and sensitive holistic care assessments using telephone assessment skills to plan care utilising advance care planning and excellent communication skills.

1.2. Where the referral is for Wellbeing Services, therapy or medical staff, obtains information as is necessary and ensure that referral is duly processed, having discussed with the recipient as appropriate. 1.3. Where the referral is for the Hospice at Home team, obtain clarification and supplementary information, as necessary. If deemed appropriate or urgent liaise with CNS and ensure that referral is correctly processed.

1.4. To provide a consistent approach to the triage process to ensure patients are prioritised appropriately

1.5. To work with the Triage Lead to support the Nurse Consultant in the development of Outpatient Clinics at Princess Alice Hospice.

1.6. To support the development and integration of triage into the Single Point of Access (SPA).

1.7. Liaise with referrer and other healthcare professionals as necessary and appropriate, gathering as much clinical information as possible. This will include obtaining clinic letters, imaging reports, blood results, discharging summaries and hospital MDT outcomes. Accountable for holding a caseload

1.8. Manage a telephone caseload of low complexity patients prior to being transferred to a CNS caseload, to support the hospice at home team when caseloads are working at capacity. Contact patient and/or carer

1.9. Contact patient and/or carer and assess need by discussing referral.

1.10. Undertake a full telephone assessment with the patient and give clinical advice as appropriate.

1.11. If an urgent visit is required liaise with CNS/Rapid Response CNS/Locality Lead. Compile and store information about the patient 1.12. Inform patient/carer of services available at Princess Alice Hospice; process of on-going referral will be made. Give patient telephone contact number.

1.13. Make referrals to Primary Care team, other teams, or departments within the Hospice as is necessary.

1.14. Record assessments, updating patients GP, referrer and/or other healthcare professional by telephone with a letter of referral and actions taken as appropriate.

2. Educational

2.1. Continue personal and professional development, to ensure clinical effectiveness of self.

2.2. Maintain contact with Consultants and other medical staff, social work, therapy and ward teams to ensure that clinical knowledge and knowledge of services available is up-to -date and that role is incorporated into the total work of the Hospice.

2.3. Visit Primary Care teams and other healthcare professionals to give information about role and act as an ambassador for Princess Alice Hospice.

2.4. Act as role model and mentor to others on the community team, visiting colleagues, providing informal education and support.

3. Audit and Research

3.1. Participate in clinical audit and research as appropriate to the role.

3.2. Critique current research and adapt to the role. Proactively seek to continuously improve processes and systems within which you are working. Always looking to improve the way you as an individual and we as an organisation work.

4. Management

4.1. Influence palliative care nursing practice and policy through engagement with partnerships and networks with colleagues.

4.2. To act as an ambassador for Princess Alice Hospice at all times, including representing the Hospice in fundraising and PR activities as requested.

4.3. To receive and disseminate information through attendance at appropriate meetings and liaison with other hospices and palliative care teams.

Experience

Essential

• Post registration experience
• Palliative care or oncology experience
• Interest in research/audit
• Community experience

Personal qualities and other requirements

Essential

• Flexible, motivated, self-directed
• Personable, with a calm manner
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to work well within a team
• Car driver/full driving licence
• Cover on-call rota, including weekends and bank holidays
• Sense of humour
• Awareness of, and commitment to the Mission, Vision and Values of the Hospice

Qualifications

Essential

• Current NMC Registration
• RGN qualification
• European Certificate in Essential Palliative Care or equivalent, or be prepared to undertake
• Teaching qualification (ENB 998 or equivalent)
• Relevant degree or in the process of undertaking degree or equivalent
• Community qualification
• Palliative Care Degree

Particular Skills and Aptitudes

Essential

• Evidence of highly developed communication skills, both written and verbal
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to work effectively in an emotionally demanding environment
• Computer literate
• Leadership capabilities
• Clinical assessment and evaluation
• Decision making skills
• Organisational skills
• Ability to influence change

Specialist Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development activities
• Knowledge of current healthcare and nursing policy and provision
• Understanding of specialist palliative care provision

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).