Job responsibilities
Job Purpose:
Work as a specialist palliative care resource in relation to the control of symptoms and the provision of social, economic and spiritual care for the patient and family in the community setting. To provide advice, support and education to the primary health care team where appropriate, as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
Main requirements of the role:
Clinical
- To work through a set of competencies to build on specialist knowledge and experience.
- To demonstrate skills and expertise in assessing, identifying and prioritising the physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients and emotional needs of those important to them.
- Contribute to the provision of a quality specialist service, which will complement the generalist services provided for patients and informal carers living within the boroughs of Merton and Sutton in primary health care, and care homes.
- To undertake clinical assessments of the specialist palliative care needs of patients and plan with support, the delivery of appropriate interventions in collaboration with other members of the CPCT and primary carers.
- Participate in regular monitoring of individual clinical practice through undertaking regular case load review and patient visits with Community Services Manager, members of the CPCT and the community medical team.
- Apply the skills required to demonstrate clinical expertise through achieving effective symptom control. Adjusting medication in consultation with the GP and Hospice Medical Team within the limits of the Hospice drug policy and national legislation.
- Participate in the regular multi-professional and clinical meetings.
- Attend and participate in meetings including departmental, case conferences, and MDT in the primary health care setting and secondary care.
- Work within a team framework, enlisting the skills of immediate colleagues and members of other disciplines.
- Participate and regularly rotate into the Triage Service and Hospice Point of Contact (HPOC) provided by the CPCT, when required.
- The post holder with the support of the Community Services Manager will be responsible for their personal development, ensuring it reflects ongoing education and understanding of the core components of a specialist role.
- Further develop and maintain effective communication systems between Primary and Secondary Care and collaboration with voluntary agencies and other stakeholders.
- Further develop Advanced Communication skills in order to communicate highly sensitive information to patients and relatives.
- Demonstrate sensitivity and respect for patients and families from different religious and cultural backgrounds and sexual orientation
- Act as an advocate for patients and those important to them.
- To assess for bereavement support where appropriate and liaise with Bereavement Service Team.
- Take responsibility for the safe and administration of drugs in accordance with the Hospice policy.
- If registered as a Non-Medical Prescriber, to work within the organisational SRH NMP policy and meet the requirements of your professional regulatory body
Communication
- Comply with agreed St Raphael's Hospice policies, protocols and guidelines and those relevant to the local/clinical network.
- Maintain accurate data to the clinical service ensuring strict confidentiality, effective and appropriate information sharing.
- Maintain accurate activity on the Hospice data base ensuring specialist team activity can be accurately audited and evaluated.
- Communicate effectively face to face, by telephone, in writing (including email) both internally and externally.
- Communicate both verbally and in writing to patients whose first language may not be English in a manner they understand using interpreters appropriately.
- Manage dissatisfied patients and relatives, anticipating potential problems, escalating complaints according to the SRH Complaints policy.
- Attend and participate in meetings including departmental, case conferences, and community meetings.
- Engage on a regular basis with hospital palliative care teams and community generalist palliative care teams to ensure effective working relationships and best possible patient care
- Positively participate in peer caseload review meetings.
