Clinical Head of Community Specialist Nursing

Job responsibilities

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

· Be an inspirational leader and exemplar role model who clearly and consistently role models, supports and articulates the hospice vision, values and expectations regarding service quality to team members and nurtures their development to enable delivery of exceptional care

· Holding a reduced/time limited caseload and acting as named worker, undertake comprehensive specialist assessment of complex palliative care needs and provide excellent clinical care

· Using clinical and analytical skills alongside ethical and legal reasoning formulate, with the patient and their family, individualised recommendations/care plans and evaluate their effectiveness

· Effectively manage the care of patients with advanced disease and complex needs who require specialist palliative care including advance care planning, symptom management and end of life care that meets the needs of the individual and those important to them, promotes choice and empowers people to live life to the full and die with dignity in their preferred place of care

· Collaborate effectively with primary and community care colleagues and other partners to identify those individuals in the last 12 months of life, promote awareness of and access to hospice services, encourage referrals and reduce the fear associated with death and dying

· Work across departmental boundaries and with all relevant professionals, groups and individuals to achieve awareness of hospice services, the community team model of provision, its outcomes and impact for patients and those that matter to them

· Ensure effective systems are in place and maintained to respond to referrals in a timely manner ensuring delegation takes account of the capacity and capability of team members to meet the needs of patients and those important to them

· Develop, manage and maintain the service to be able to respond to patients and their families experiencing crisis situations within community to prevent avoidable hospital admissions/readmissions negotiating admission to ELH inpatient beds where this can better meet patient need

· Lead on non-medical prescribing (NMP) within the team, including the development, implementation and review of NMP policy and procedures

· Take a lead on specific projects and work collaboratively with others making a significant contribution to the delivery of hospice strategic objectives, governance agenda and local initiatives to improve specialist and supportive palliative care across our community

· Develop and motivate team members to ensure the delivery of high quality care and support that meets the standards set out in legislation, national and local best practice guidance, clinical guidelines and hospice policies and procedures

· Manage the organisation, coordination and delivery of clinical care ensuring patients, staff, volunteers and the public are supported in ways that maximise health, safety, wellbeing and self-determination

· Function as a recognised specialist resource, within and beyond the hospice, and ensure the community team provide professional advice and interventions in order to improve quality of life through palliation of symptoms and individualised end of life care to meet people’s wishes and needs.

· Monitor the teams clinical caseloads, including admissions, episode closures and outcomes to provide assurance of a cost effective and equitable service that complements generic provision and is appropriate to the specific purpose, roles and skills of the hospice community team

· Lead on the development and provision of high quality formal and informal education to all involved in the delivery of palliative and end of life care as identified by organisational training needs analysis

· Manage the service budget in line within agreed departmental limits, financial policies and procedures

· Be accountable and responsible for a defined portfolio directed by service need which might include for example, clinical supervision, safeguarding.

Knowledge

Essential

• K1 Current interventions and strategies for palliative care
• K3 Current palliative care research/ developments and implications for patients
• K4 Governance priorities, and the standards and expectations of regulatory bodies
• K5 Practical use of computer systems and Microsoft packages

Desirable

• K2 Knowledge of national and local drivers and developments within palliative and end of life care
• K6 Project management
• K7 Audit
• K8 Change management strategies

Qualifications

Essential

• Q1 RN (Adult) with valid NMC registration
• Q2 Level 7 degree/study in a relevant clinical field or nearing completion
• Q3 Recognised post-registration qualification(s) / in field relevant to role
• Q4 V300 Non-Medical Prescribing or willing to undertake
• Q5 Advanced assessment/clinical examination skills or willingness to undertake
• Q6 Advanced communication skills
• Q7 Leadership / Management qualification
• Q8 Teaching/Assessing qualification
• Q9 Evidence of professional development including validated clinical development or courses
• Q10 Educated to a minimum GCSE/ NVQ Level 2 level in English/Maths
• Q11 ECDL or equivalent certificates/experience using Microsoft / office packages

Desirable

• See above

Experience

Essential

• E1 Substantial post-registration experience
• E2 Recent post-registration interest and experience in the delivery of specialist palliative care for a range of life limiting illness
• E3 Experience working with a wide range of people in a variety of settings to improve patient outcomes including patients, carers, the multidisciplinary team and other providers including wider health and social care professionals
• E4 Advance care planning and supporting patients, relatives and others through life changing situations, impending grief and bereavement
• E5 Caseload management including the planning, supervising and organising of work
• E10 Development and mentorship of clinical staff/volunteers
• E12 Complex case management

Desirable

• E6 Experience of providing clinical advice and/or triaging referrals
• E7 Community nursing experience
• E8 Team leadership/ supervisory experience
• E9 Formal/Informal teaching/education provision
• E11 Leading and managing change

Skills

Essential

• S1 Ability to take full responsibility for the management of a service and caseload
• S2 High level of clinical skills relevant to the speciality with an understanding of reversible causes, integrating theory to practice
• S3 Understanding of the clinical rationale for the pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of symptoms utilised within palliative care
• S4 Excellent written and verbal communication skills with report writing and presentation skills
• S5 Ability to effectively time manage and plan, prioritise and coordinate workload
• S6 Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills with the ability to establish effective working relationships with the multidisciplinary team and wider stakeholders
• S7 Leadership skills/qualities
• S8 Change management experience/skill
• S9 Critical thinking with the ability to think objectively and laterally, recognising internal and external influences on service provision and development
• S10 Proficient with the keyboard and Microsoft office applications with the ability to record/deal with accurate facts, figures and information to support clinical and managerial activity
• S11 Well developed approach to customer care with the ability to influence, negotiate and deal with conflict situations
• S12 Good budget management and housekeeping skills
• S13 Car driver with full UK license and access to a vehicle for work purposes

Desirable

• S14 Project management

Personal Attributes

Essential

• PA1 Awareness of the Hospice charitable status and influence of service delivery and professionalism on charitable donations
• PA2 Able to work as part of a rota over 7 days, contribute to the on-call rota and be flexible to meet changing service need
• PA3 Self-motivated, confident and decisive with the ability to work alone and manage own time without direct supervision
• PA4 Able to recognise own and others limitations and pro-actively seek guidance and/or support where necessary
• PA5 Team player with commitment to multi-professional working and ability to network/establish effective working relationships
• PA6 Enthusiastic and motivated to engage with/drive change and innovative practice
• PA7 High level of personal integrity and professionalism displaying behaviour and an attitude to work that is consistent with organisational values
• PA8 Expert and effective role model and motivator, able to take and provide constructive feedback
• PA9 Good sense of humour and a genuine and non-judgemental approach to others

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).