Registered Nurse (Band 5)

Job responsibilities

Professional Standards & Clinical Practice

• Work in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Conduct, ensuring all nursing care meets professional and ethical standards.
• Demonstrate skilled, evidence-based palliative and end-of-life nursing practice, contributing to high-quality holistic care.
• Maintain safe and effective clinical practice, ensuring accurate, timely and contemporaneous record-keeping, including patient and carer contacts.
• Undertake medicine rounds in accordance with Bury Hospice Medicines Management policies.
• Demonstrate current knowledge of infection prevention and control and follow all related policies to protect patients, visitors, staff and volunteers.
• Assist in creating and sustaining an environment that reflects the Hospices philosophy, values and specialist palliative care approach.
• Work in accordance with Hospice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), best practice guidance and relevant external standards.

Leadership, Role Modelling & Team Contribution

• Provide clinical leadership and act as a role model for junior staff and students, promoting safe, evidence-based practice.
• Deputise for Senior Staff Nurses / Ward Manager / Team Leader in their absence, including safe workload allocation based on patient needs, continuity of care and staff capability.
• Promote a safe, positive and supportive working environment for staff, volunteers, patients and visitors.
• Embrace the organisational culture of volunteering, understanding employee responsibilities towards supporting and role-managing volunteers.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Use appropriate, timely documentation, verbal and non-verbal communication when interacting with patients, families, visitors and the multidisciplinary team.
• Ensure patients and carers receive accurate, current and relevant information, supporting informed decision-making.
• Act as a patient advocate, particularly in complex or challenging discussions with families, carers or other professionals.
• Support Consultant/Doctor ward rounds, ensuring effective dissemination of information and timely updating of patient records.

Multidisciplinary & Interagency Collaboration

• Promote and enhance the role of nursing within the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
• Liaise regularly with the MDT to support coordinated, timely and high-quality care.
• Communicate effectively with external partners such as District Nurses, Specialist Palliative Care Nurses and Health and Social Care teams.
• Participate in daily admissions meetings, weekly MDT meetings and other inter-professional forums as required.

Care Planning, Coordination & Discharge

• Assess patient needs and make referrals to other healthcare agencies where appropriate, with patient consent.
• Initiate and support discharge planning, including the Continuing Healthcare (CHC) process, ensuring smooth transition between care settings.
• Negotiate referrals to other hospice services to ensure holistic patient support.

Evidence-Based Care, Quality and Governance

• Participate in clinical audits to monitor, evaluate and improve standards of care.
• Work with colleagues to define, implement and review care standards, ensuring delivery of consistent, high-quality services.
• Implement and monitor relevant Bury Hospice policies, Health & Safety guidance and professional requirements.
• Demonstrate awareness of clinical governance and contribute to a culture of quality improvement and shared learning.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Implement the Hospices Health & Safety policy, ensuring all duties are carried out safely and in line with statutory regulations.
• Follow all incident reporting processes, recognising their importance in enabling continuous organisational learning and service improvement.
• Ensure personal and team safety by adhering to Hospice policies and raising concerns promptly with the IPU Manager / Team Leader.
• Promote awareness of, and respect for, equality, diversity and inclusion in accordance with Hospice policies.

Time Management & Organisation

• Manage own time effectively to maintain professional efficiency and high standards of care.
• Organise work to meet quality standards, targets and deadlines.
• Contribute actively and consistently to clinical practice, prioritising workload based on patient needs and service requirements.

Information Systems & Administration

• Maintain accurate confidential patient information using the I-Care system.
• Use the electronic rota system (StaffCare) as required.
• Be competent with IT systems including Microsoft Office applications.

Health and Safety

All employees have a duty to report accidents, complaints, defects in equipment, near misses and untoward incidents, following hospice procedure. Ensure health and safety legislation is complied with at all times, including COSHH and Workplace Assessment.

Confidentiality

All information relating to patients, patients families, staff, volunteers, supporters and suppliers gained through your employment with Bury Hospice is confidential. Disclosure to any unauthorised person is a serious disciplinary offence.

Infection Control

Prevent spread of infection. Comply with policies and procedures for correct disposal of waste, sharps and soiled linen.

Safeguarding Vulnerable People (Children and Adults)

All employees have a responsibility to protect and safeguard vulnerable people (children and adults). They must be aware of child and adult protection procedures and who to contact within the Hospice for further advice. All employees are required to attend safeguarding awareness training and to undertake additional training appropriate to their role.Disclosure & Barring Service Check

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

Continuous Personal Development

You are responsible for your own professional development, identifying training and development needs to your line manager and completing all mandatory training as required. You must attend any specialist training and development activities relevant to your role within the hospice.

This job description is not exhaustive and outlines the main requirements of the role. The line manager may assign other reasonable duties. The job description will be reviewed regularly and may be subject to change.

Experience

Essential

• Proven experience of managing change Application of evidence to practice Evidence of multi-professional working Understanding and evidence of application of the NMC and other professional codes of conduct

Desirable

• Experience in the specialty

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse Diploma or relevant experience

Desirable

• ENB998 or Mentorship Recognised post- registration palliative care qualification

Skills

Essential

• Ability to manage risk effectively
• Ability to plan personal and professional development of self and others Computer literacy
• Basic life support or Intermediate Life Support
• Medication management
• Ability to use electronic patient record systems
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Punctual, reliable and flexible
• Ability to manage time effectively
• Numeracy skills

Desirable

• Communication skills training
• Clinical credibility within the sphere of palliative care

Other

Essential

• Able to work proactively, independently and on own initiative
• Full clean driving licence and access to vehicle for business use subject to the Equality Act 2010.
• Adaptable and able to work in a team environment
• Able to work under pressure
• Assertive and confident
• Ability to inspire trust and respect
• A commitment to the vision and values of Bury Hospice

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness and understanding of palliative care
• Safeguarding knowledge (adults/children)
• Knowledge of controlled drugs legislation / policy
• Understanding of holistic care (psychological, social, spiritual)
• Awareness of clinical governance and quality improvement
• Ability to use electronic patient record systems

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).