Associate Palliative Care Nurse Specialist (Band 6)

Job responsibilities

DBS level: Enhanced with child and adult barred list

THE ROLE

Care:

Working in partnership with parents/carers to identify the care needs of the baby/child/young person and plan care recognising best practice and evidence based guidelines:

To be responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care based on current evidence-based and researched best practice. Amendments will be negotiated with the baby/child/young person and their parents/carers, documented and communicated to the other members of the team and external professionals.

To accurately evaluate and document the care of the child/young person in accordance with NMCs guidance.

To share responsibility within the Hospice in order to maintain a safe but homely environment taking into account health and safety, including infection control and risk assessments.

To liaise with outside agencies from health, education and social care involved in the care and support of babies/children/young people and their families.

To work alongside, supervise and induct junior/senior members of staff ensuring clinical tasks and workload are delegated appropriately.

To liaise and provide reports for the Clinical Leadership team to keep them updated on babies/children/young people receiving support from the Response Team.

To be competent in Claire Houses core and extended clinical competencies.

To provide specialist advice and care on palliative care issues.

To participate in the assessment for newly referred neonates/children/young people.

To participate and attend Multi disciplinary team meetings in all settings, advocating for the family.

To be responsible and accountable for the safe administration of medicines within the community/hospice ensuring medicine management policies and procedures are adhered to.

To adapt the delivery of care according to the emotional, physical and environmental demands.

To be aware and working to Safeguarding and Prevention of Vulnerable Adults policies and procedures.

To comply with manual handling policies and procedures.

To provide and take the lead for early bereavement care and support working in partnership with the Butterfly and Family Support Team.

To lead and co-ordinate hospice special interest groups.

To respond to parents by visiting the baby/child/young person in their preferred place of care to assess symptoms and manage accordingly.

To liaise with the relevant medics to make amendments to treatment in order to manage symptoms.

To provide a 24 hour on call service for telephone advice and home assessment visits using advanced clinical skills to base decisions on.

To be a supportive person to families during crisis management and bereavement care.

To be able to undertake the mental, physical and emotional demands of the role, whilst at the same time taking care to safeguard their own health and safety as well as fellow care team members, neonates, children, young people and their family.

Education:

To act as a positive role model by using evidence/research-based care and practice.

To participate in in-house and external training programmes and teaching sessions.

To participate in the orientation of new staff, students and volunteers. Acting as mentor/sign off mentor as and when required.

To identify ways of continued quality improvement, using reflective practice through Clinical Supervision.

To act as a clinical supervisor and participate in ongoing training.

To take responsibility for maintaining his/her own professional development. Meeting with line manager for regular appraisals, identifying and agreeing personal targets.

To act as an appraiser for junior members of staff.

To undertake further education to degree level.

To be proactive in identifying ways of improving practice. Contributing positively to the development and audit of standards and, when appropriate, taking responsibility for identified project work.

To attend regular meetings with the multi-disciplinary team to discuss individual children, respecting and inviting the sharing of skills and expertise.

To undertake research as appropriate to area of work.

Quality Control:

To participate in quality measures for the delivery of care to maintain high standards through best practice.

To participate/take lead in audits to enhance the delivery of care.

To liaise with the Integrated Care Service Lead/Practice Development Team in significant event analysis.

To actively complete care improvement documentation in accordance to no blame and whistle-blowing policy.

To adhere and comply with all Hospice policies and procedures.

To undertake risk assessments within the Rapid Respo and participating in appropriate training.

Managing:

To ensure the economical and appropriate use of all resources within the Hospice.

To be responsible for the safe use, storage and maintenance of equipment/technical apparatus.

To liaise with the appropriate Community teams to ensure that equipment is maintained.

To ensure that mileage forms are completed.

To maintain appropriate client records ensuring they are stored securely and confidentially.

To attend and participate in Hospice meetings.

To provide positive leadership.

To report and record all accidents and incidents in line with hospice procedure safeguarding the welfare and safety of all staff during working hours with regard to the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To be fully involved in the process of preventing and controlling infections.

To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the role, especially information regarding babies/children/young people, their families and staff.

This job description does not attempt to describe all aspects of the role to be performed, but indicates the general role required of the post holder. It is open to review and as a result alterations and additions may be made.

Qualifications

Essential

• RSCN, RN (Child), RGN & RNLD with paediatric/neonatal experience.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Evidence of complying with NMC/PREP requirements.

Desirable

• ENB 998, NM 3.157 or equivalent
• Appraisal Training
• Clinical supervising training
• Advanced communication skills training
• Leadership skills training
• Palliative care qualification
• Ability to study to degree level
• Community nursing qualification
• Independent & Supplementary non-medical prescribing qualification.

Special Circumstances/Additional Requirements

Essential

• Good IT skills
• Car driver

Experience

Essential

• Extensive post-registration experience in relevant neonatal/paediatric environment
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary Team
• Understanding of specific needs of babies/children/ young people with complex or palliative care needs.
• Experience in paediatric palliative/ end of life care
• Leadership experience
• Community nursing experience
• Experience of lone working and risk assessments

Desirable

• Experience of coordinating a shift and/or managing a small team
• Experience of undertaking audit
• Experience of risk assessments
• Experience of working in a hospice experience
• Knowledge/experience of working for a charity.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Effective communication skills
• Relate well with children, families, and other healthcare professionals.
• Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise and delegate workload.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care.
• Ability to record information in a concise, accurate and legible manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and Team working skills.
• Competent in core/advanced clinical skills

Desirable

• Willing to assist in the professional development of others.
• High level of personal responsibility and accountability
• Is competent in advanced clinical care skills eg IVs, tracheostomy care, care of long-term ventilation etc.

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).