Palliative Community Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Our aim is to provide a responsive, flexible, high qualityseven daypalliative care service to patients and their families living in Kirklees.

Our charitable purpose is to deliver palliative care services free of charge to people in a trulyperson centredway, recognising thedifferent needseach individualhas. We ensure that services are designed in collaboration with patients, carers and other agencies / teams involved in theindividualscare.

The role will focus on providing support to patients and their loved ones. Enhancingpatientsquality of life, promoting dignity and supporting the delivery of holistic care in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT), guided by personalised plans of care.

Primary Responsibilities

Patient Care

• To carry out holistic assessment of patients,familiesand carers with palliative care needs.

• With the support andsupervisonof the IDT: plan, implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health care needs,wishesand culture.

• Assess family / carer needs, and act as an advocate whenrequired, escalating any concernsidentifiedand the need for specialist clinical assessment / review.

• Understanding of the different therapeutic options available to meet the needs of patients requiring specialist palliative care.

• Todemonstrate, teach and supervise simple procedures that can besafleydelegated to patients and carers with support and approval from senior members of the IDT.

• Deliver care in a variety of settingsincludingpatientshomes, TheKirkwoodsin-patient unit and other community settings promoting independence and wellbeing, respecting individual choices.

• Completing referrals to other disciplines / services, discussing these with the patients and carers asappropriateand ensuring the relevant documentation is completed.

• To foster positive working relationships with other colleagues within the organisation to ensure effective patient care.

• To be actively involved in discharge planning to ensure effective transition of patient care.

• Maintain clinical competency asrequiredto meet the needs of the patients both on community caseload and patients on the In-Patient Unit.

• Attend andparticipateat regular IDT meetings within the organisationand alsoMDT meetings held within primary care networks.

• Report incidents / concerns through the recognised channels, adhering to policy and procedure.

• Tobe responsible forinputting data, effectively andtimelyontoSystmOne, adhering to Information Governance (IG) standards and TheKirkwoodspolicies.

• Take responsibility for the workload as delegated by the Senior Palliative Care Nurse, effectively managing your own time and workload and communicate any issues / concerns.

Managing People / Self

• To recognise own accountability and limitations.

• Toparticipatein the annual appraisal scheme / personal development review in matching organisational aims with personalobjectives.

• To act appropriatelyin the event ofa serious incident.

• Toidentifypoor performanceand report to a relevant person for further action to be taken.

• To attend mandatory training, relevantcoursesand study days / updates, asrequiredin line with The Kirkwood policy. To keep up to date with current trends and procedures.

• To be able to adapt to changein accordance withthe needs of the teams and organisations.

Training and Education

• To develop personal and professional knowledge and skills, accessing clinical supervision asappropriate.

• To support colleagues and health care professionals to deliver ahigh qualitypalliative care service by sharing knowledge andexpertise.

• To act as a mentor, preceptor and supervisor to team members, students and other Kirkwood staff and volunteers asrequired.

• To be actively involved in the development and delivery of education sessions for The Kirkwood.

• To instigate,facilitateand support change in clinical practice in line with best practice.

• Toidentifyown training needs and ensure personal competence.

• Tobe responsible fordeveloping and sustaining own knowledge, clinicalskillsand professional awarenessin accordance withPREP requirements and tomaintaina professional portfolio with evidence of reflective practice.

• To contribute to clinical audit.

Management & Operational Development

• Tomaintainaccurateandtimelywritten and computerised patient records.

• Recognise when a situation is beyond your level of competence and responsibility seekingappropriateandtimelysupport.

• Toparticipatein the induction, supervision and ongoing development of team members including clinical volunteers.

• To be an active team member contributing to and supporting the teams agreed operational management and future service developments,representingThe Kirkwood and ourclinical services at external events and meetings.

• To influence and implement improved ways of working through patient involvement and clinical experience and coproduction of services, constructively contributingideasand engaging in quality improvement processes.

• To develop and build upon relationships across professional and organisational boundaries ensuring collaborative working.

• To attend internalanexternal meetingsrelevant to the role and to the development of The Kirkwoods services.

• Toassistthe clinical team in implementing efficient and effective services across Kirklees.

Research & Audit

• Toparticipatein policy and standard setting,reviewand audit.

Other Responsibilities

• To workin accordance withthe values of The Kirkwood. Patients, Families and Carers are the focus of everything we do. Our values are what we live and work by.

We are:

• Respectful and Inclusive

• Passionate and Determined

• Open and Honest

• Kind and Compassionate

• Forward-thinking

• We strive for Quality and Excellence

• Toparticipatein The Kirkwoods performance and development review process.

• To undertake any other duties required by The Kirkwoods Management teamcommensuratewith the post.

• To undertake annual mandatory training provided by The Kirkwood.

• Tomaintaincomplete confidentiality as a condition of employment. Information relating to patients, other members of staff and volunteers or which isacquiredfor the purposes of employment may only bedisclosedwith the express permission of theappropriate manager.

• To respect the ethos and values of The Kirkwood and its services andcomply withits policies,proceduresand regulations.

This job description is not exhaustive therefore the employer and employee share responsibility to review and amend this job descriptionin order toreflect any changes in role/development.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent).
• A full, clean UK driving licence with regular access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Desirable

• Willingness to undertake relevant training in palliative care.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a health and social care setting.
• Experience of supporting individuals with life limiting conditions or at end of life.

Desirable

• Participation in audit and service development.
• Experience of working in a community setting or domiciliary care.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work with a range of professionals and external services.
• Understanding of palliative and end of life care principles.
• Ability to act as change agent, while supporting peers and team members with this.
• Demonstrable IT and presentation skills.
• Able to provide personal care with dignity and respect.
• Excellent communication skills including active listening.
• Ability to work as part of an integrated team and as an autonomous practitioner.
• Demonstrates a positive & flexible approach to changing needs.
• Self-motivated and confident.
• Ability to work and promote The Kirkwoods ethos and values.

Desirable

• Understanding of cultural and spiritual needs in palliative care.
• Knowledge of local health and social care systems in Kirklees.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Kirkwood

Address

21 Albany Road

Dalton

Huddersfield

HD5 9UY

Employer's website

https://www.thekirkwood.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)