Junior Clinical Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Band 6 Junior Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an experienced childrens nurse who provides high-quality, specialist clinical care to children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families.

Working under the supervision of the Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist (Band 7), the post holder plays a key role in end-of-life care, crisis response, anticipatory planning and symptom management, across hospice, home and community settings.

The role has a strong clinical focus, contributing specialist assessment, care coordination and clinical decision-making, while supporting continuity of care and preventing avoidable hospital admissions.

The post holder will contribute to the on-call rota as required and act as a specialist clinical resource to families and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Specialist Clinical Practice

• Deliver high-quality specialist nursing care to children and young people with complex, life-limiting or life-threatening conditions
• Undertake holistic assessments, identifying clinical, emotional and psychosocial needs
• Provide skilled symptom management, including pain, respiratory distress, seizures and end-of-life care
• Support families to care for their child safely at home, including anticipatory guidance and crisis prevention
• Contribute to advance care planning and end-of-life decision-making in partnership with families and MDT colleagues

2. Care Coordination and Case Management

• Act as a key clinical contact for a defined caseload of children and families
• Coordinate care across hospice, hospital, community and social care services
• Liaise closely with acute paediatric teams, community nursing, GPs and specialist services
• Support safe hospital discharge and step-down care
• Ensure care plans are clearly documented, shared and regularly reviewed

3. End-of-Life and Crisis Response

• Participate in the delivery of responsive end-of-life and crisis nursing support
• Contribute to the on-call rota in line with service requirements
• Provide timely clinical assessment and intervention to prevent deterioration where possible
• Support families during periods of acute distress with compassionate, skilled care

4. Quality, Safety and Governance

• Practice in accordance with Haven House policies, procedures and clinical guidelines
• Contribute to incident reporting, reflective practice and learning
• Participate in audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activity
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential clinical records
• Escalate clinical concerns appropriately to the Senior CNS or nurse in charge

5. Professional Role and Development

• Act as a role model for excellent clinical practice and professional behaviour
• Support junior staff and students through informal supervision and clinical guidance
• Participate in mandatory training, safeguarding supervision and clinical supervision
• Maintain professional registration and ongoing professional development

Professional Responsibilities

• Adhere to the NMC Code of Conduct, Performance and Ethics
• Maintain confidentiality in line with data protection and Caldicott principles
• Promote equality, dignity and respect for children, families and colleagues
• Uphold Haven House values at all times

General Requirements

• To attend staff meetings, training and supervision as required
• To participate in safeguarding supervision every quarter
• To work flexibly across hospice and community settings
• To support service delivery during periods of increased demand
• To behave at all times in line with Haven House values and behaviours
• To attend staff meetings, training and supervision as required
• To uphold privacy, dignity and respect for children, families and colleagues
• To actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion

This job description is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder. The specific objectives of the post holder will be subject to review as part of the individual performance process.

Haven House is committed to Equal Opportunities in Employment and therefore it is our aim to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on grounds of gender, disability, religion, race, colour, sexual orientation, and nationality, ethnic or national origins or is placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Haven House is responsible under the existing equality and diversity legislation to ensure equality issues are promoted and you are expected to work with Haven House to fulfil these obligations, policies and codes of good practice.

Employees must take reasonable care and be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.

Haven House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of caring for children with complex or life-limiting conditions
• Experience of community, hospice or acute paediatric nursing
• Experience of end-of-life or palliative care
• Knowledge of symptom management and anticipatory care
• Experience of multidisciplinary working

Desirable

• Post-registration specialist training

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Compassionate, calm and resilient
• Values-led and family-centered
• Flexible and adaptable
• Commitment to safeguarding and equality
• Willingness to contribute to on-call services

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Excellent clinical assessment and decision-making skills
• Ability to manage complex and emotionally demanding situations
• Strong communication skills with children, families and professionals
• Ability to work autonomously with appropriate escalation
• Good organisational and time-management skills
• IT skills for electronic record keeping

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (RN Child / RSCN / RGN) with current NMC registration

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

Haven House Children’s Hospice

Address

The White House

Woodford Green

Essex

IG8 9LB

Employer's website

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