Palliative Care Out of Hours Clinical Nurse/Paramedic Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

Assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing interventions for patients with complex palliative care needs

Integrate theory and practice to develop plans of specialist treatment and care

Work with high level of autonomy to manage a caseload of patients, using clinical judgement and experience to anticipate need and outcomes

Demonstrate high-level knowledge and understanding of disease processes and integrate this knowledge into the assessment and management of patients

Demonstrate high-level knowledge and understanding of the psychological responses to terminal illness and develop skills to assess and manage these in practice, referring to specialist services, as required

Comprehensively assess pain and other symptoms with the use of appropriate tools, ensuring an understanding of clinical history and physical examination to support clinical diagnosis

Demonstrate extensive knowledge of therapeutic treatment methods and uses of medications to treat patients, with reference to relevant national guidance and protocols

Demonstrate expertise of a range of therapeutic options, which may be available to support the management of symptoms, including medication and non-pharmacological measures such as complementary therapies

Review and monitor interventions and management plans, including medication and non pharmacological interventions, communicating appropriately with patients, carers and MDT colleagues regarding any changes made

Prescribe medication within own level of competence to support symptom management, in collaboration with MDT colleagues to ensure continuity of care

In partnership with MDT members, review assessments in response to changing needs, ensuring that information about these changes are shared appropriately, including changes to patient priorities and wishes

Support the autonomy and independence of patients, ensuring the provision of holistic and person centred care, with awareness of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005)

Demonstrate advanced communication skills to respond to the needs of patient and families and to enable open discussion, including facilitating discussion around advance care plans, death and the dying process

Demonstrate an ability to problem-solve, to enable patients and families to find resolution to their concerns, signposting to other professionals or services, as appropriate

Work closely as part of the multi-disciplinary team by engaging in and leading on, regular clinical meetings, which support patient care and care planning, demonstrating support for learners and junior colleagues

Act as a resource for junior colleagues

Facilitate support for carers, recognising their value in the care of patients facing palliative and end of life care

Demonstrate l understanding of clinical risk and safeguarding concerns, and an ability to use clinical reasoning to mitigate or escalate this and to act as a resource to support junior colleagues

Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records

Work within local lone working processes

Provision of initial bereavement support and awareness of services for onward referral/signposting

Actively participate in clinical supervision

Leadership and management

Act as a role model demonstrating high standards of care and clinical leadership at all times

Act as line manager for Junior CNSs

Provide a clinical triage service, as required

Work collaboratively with other services to support the continuum of care for patients across West Suffolk and Thetford including the Early Invention Team to support early access timely out of hours access to support and symptom control

Actively participate in service improvement work alongside senior colleagues, identifying and developing programmes of change

Lead on a one clinical team approach, having developed own skills to deliver care across settings to support business continuity

Provide senior clinical support and advice during out of hours periods, in the absence of senior colleagues, escalating concerns outside role and responsibilities, as appropriate

Act as a senior clinical resource for junior colleagues during out of hours periods, ensuring that clinical resource is allocated appropriately and clinical risk mitigated or escalated, as appropriate

Lead on work which demonstrate clinical quality outcomes

Design and participate in clinical audit, to demonstrate outcomes

Seek patient feedback proactively and collate responses as per organisational guidance in order to develop services

Education and Research

Review own training and education needs based on feedback from appraisal, audit and changes to national guidance

Completion of opioid conversion workbook and supporting others in practice with safe practice

Actively maintain current knowledge across specialist palliative care by reading and undertaking informal learning opportunities

Plan and lead on the development and delivery of educational programmes to enhance the learning of others, including professionals, patients and carers

Work with learners, acting as Practice Assessor, as appropriate, offering feedback to support practice

Engage in regular Continued Professional Development opportunities to ensure that own clinical practice remains current

Work towards achievement of additional Level 7 modules to support professional development

Where possible, participate in research opportunities across palliative care

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant post registration experience in palliative care or oncology
• Significant knowledge and experience of palliative care caseload management

Desirable

• Line management experience

Qualifications

Essential

• Adult Registered Nurse (active NMC registrant)
• OR
• Registered Paramedic with Health Care Professions Council (active registration)
• Relevant diploma or degree in Nursing/Paramedic sciences
• Qualification as Non-Medical Prescriber (V300)

Desirable

• Completion of Masters level study (eg: Advanced Communication Skills, Clinical Assessment)

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Evidence of continued professional development
• Understanding of the value of multi-disciplinary team working
• Significant experience of working autonomously
• Robust understanding of own professional and clinical boundaries
• Awareness of own emotional responses and ability to respond to these appropriately
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Ability to motivate self and others and to lead by example
• Able to recognise and consider professional and ethical issues, seeking support as appropriate
• Driving license, use of own car, business insurance

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).

Employer details

Employer name

St Nicholas Hospice Care

Address

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk

IP33 2QY

Employer's website

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