Community Palliative Care Virtual Ward Senior Staff Nurse / Paramedic

Job responsibilities

To work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide a high standard of individualised patient / family care and support

To work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide a high standard of individualised patient / family care and support

To be responsible for those patients allocated on a daily basis

To ensure that excellent standards of support and clinical practice and care are achieved

To manage a caseload of our higher acuity patients with daily virtual and potentially in-person reviews in their own homes

To work with wider Hospice team as well as system partners to support delivery of care and enable patients to remain in their preferred place of care

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Practice & Leadership

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including the daily management of patients in own care

To provide a high standard of holistic and individualised care to patients using the hospice services and their families/carers by:

• Supporting those patients allocated from day to day in partnership with other members of the multidisciplinary team and wider system partners
• Ability to work autonomously with designated patients alongside a vast degree of flexibility due to the unpredictable nature of the role
• Be proactive in not only the planning and delivery of care, but in making themselves available to support the wider clinical services of the Hospice, when capacity allows
• Supporting the creation of an appropriate environment in which to care for patients and their families/carers, taking account of individual physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs
• Demonstrating and applying a knowledge of the options for achieving control of symptoms in liaison with other health care professionals
• Acting as a reflective practitioner, applying evidence based practice and critical thinking to review all practices and processes of care
• Maintaining a concept of care which reflects Hospice philosophy
• Maintaining effective communication and relationships with all of the Hospice multi-disciplinary team and collaborating effectively with external specialist palliative care services, other agencies and system partners
• As part of the multidisciplinary team, independently assess patients needs and identify their goals, then work with patients and families towards achieving them in a timely manner
• Referring patients into the other parts of the hospice and community services
• Reviewing patients when required and discussing changes required in their care with colleagues and other key stakeholders
• Assistance with mobilization of patients when necessary, taking into account the guidelines of safe moving and handling practice and using mechanical aids where necessary and if trained to use.
• Ensure that guidelines, policies and procedures for the administration and recording of drugs and administration of subcutaneous fluids are followed in patients homes

Give information, support and advice to carers prior to and following the death of a patient

Adhere to safeguarding policy and escalate concerns appropriately

Leadership & Management

• Supporting and reporting back to senior medical team, virtual ward colleagues, District Nurses, GPs
• Supporting and facilitating the orientation and teaching of new and existing staff, colleagues and students
• Be responsible for looking after an allocated group of patients each day
• Giving feedback to staff and managers about individual performance as appropriate
• Through practice, role modelling, teaching, and mentorship, provide staff support and training, to enhance the teams and ones own development
• Implementing health and safety, infection control, safe moving and handling and fire procedures where appropriate
• Reporting incidents, accidents, near misses and complaints to managers and completing the relevant paper work
• Contribute to the development of the service by attending team meetings and sharing good practice and ideas for service and quality improvement

Communication

Contributing positively to anti-discriminatory practice, actively promoting equality and diversity and inclusion from all you interact with

Leading (as required) and participating in MDT, Virtual ward round, ongoing discussions and team handovers relating to the care of patients and their families/carers

Facilitating communication between Hospice and primary care services

Practicing excellent communication skills with patients, family and members of the multi-disciplinary team including showing empathy and understanding and communicating sometimes complex information where there may be barriers to understanding

Maintain accurate and timely records using the electronic patient record

Quality

• Continually monitoring outcomes of care, taking effective action as required
• Initiating clinical reviews of patient and family care
• Working to ensure that patient dignity is respected at all times both before and after death, including acting as the patients advocate and caring for patients after they have died
• Participating in forums for discussion of research and audit programmes
• Assisting in maintaining equipment to a high standard of cleanliness and safety and ensuring that patient areas are kept clean and tidy
• Ensuring all practices and procedures are in accordance with hospice policy
• Participating in information gathering and audit for quality improvement and service development

• Supporting staff in managing loss in the community, providing support for distressed patients, bereaved relatives, students and staff
• Supporting and educating staff in issues surrounding tissue and organ donation
• Facilitating staff support through organised debriefs

Education & Training

• Identifying own and others learning needs, liaising with managers and attending training seminars, courses and study days as appropriate
• Participating in the delivery of educational programmes
• Creating a positive learning environment and coaching culture
• Use staff appraisal constructively for personal and professional development
• Participate in clinical supervision and one to one meetings

Additional Information

• Working in unpleasant conditions at times including dealing with soiled linen, use of bed pans, body fluids etc
• The post holder will work within the NMCs / HCPCs Code of Conduct

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Paramedic or Nurse
• Willing to or working towards of have completed further study in Palliative Care or relevant area
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Advanced Communications Skills Course
• Studying towards Diploma/ Degree in relevant area

Experience

Essential

• Working with patients at the end of life
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Post registration experience of palliative care/ oncology/ general medicine/ community

Desirable

• Teaching/ Assessing/
• Mentorship Course

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Essential

• Awareness of health and safety procedures and how they affect people in the workplace
• Competent computer/IT skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Able to prioritise clinical duties
• Able to instruct clearly, delegate and support colleagues
• Use initiative and self-direction, learning and support
• Work using reflective practice
• Participation in audit
• Have an awareness of indicators of abuse and how to report and manage issues relating to vulnerable adults/ children

Desirable

• Research skills
• Phlebotomy and cannulation skills
• Evidence of extended roles within their practice.

Aptitude, Personal Characteristics

Essential

• Ability to work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to plan workload of self and others
• Diplomacy skills
• Approachable and adaptable
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Good listening skills
• Demonstrable resilience to working with those facing bereavement
• Able to contribute to a learning environment
• Demonstrable commitment to equal opportunities
• A flexible approach to work and an ability to work at weekends
• Ability to undertake training and direct own learning
• An understanding of the need for self care when working in a palliative care environment

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).