Children's Palliative Care Nurse

Job responsibilities

To assess, plan, implement, deliver and evaluate, holistic family-centred care, taking into account the child and familys physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs. This may take place in a range of settings

Completion of clinical care plans to support effective delivery of care

Provision of high quality palliative, and end of life care following Symptom Management Plans, where appropriate, to maintain comfort at end of life

Provide pre bereavement support, for patients and families with support as required, ensuring timely and appropriate referral to relevant services to enhance the care of the child and family

With support from the senior nursing team, prioritise workload and collaborate with other team members to meet the needs of patients and families.

To work within the designated Keech locality team and wider childrens service to maintain effective communication with children, young people and their families, colleagues and the broader multi-disciplinary team, internally and externally.

To be actively involved in the sharing of knowledge with families and all those who care for the child in a range of settings, attending multi-disciplinary meetings as required

To encourage parental participation in care and to demonstrate, instruct and supervise parents/carers in nursing procedures, which may be safely delegated to them.

Enabling families to reach their maximum potential for health and well being

To be able to act as an advocate, promoting empowerment as opposed to dependence, for children and families as appropriate, facilitating informed choice and opportunity.

To be able to respond to the demands of the family in a flexible way; workload is delegated within the team to maintain a healthy work/life balance in accordance with the working time directive.

Collaborate and liaises with a range of professionals to meet the needs of the patient and family to promote awareness of the services provided by Keech Hospice Care.

To participate in planning discharges from hospice or hospital to the community or hospice settings, including parallel planning for a child who is deemed to be nearing the end of life.

Participate in the Child Death Review process and completion of relevant documentation

Take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work and cooperate with the Hospice to ensure that statutory and departmental regulations are adhered to.

Maintain an awareness of the needs of colleagues, ensuring they are supported to deliver the requirements of their roles.

Participate in staff support sessions

Ensure written and electronic record keeping is comprehensive, accurate and up to date written and is maintained in line with legislation and organisational standards.

Take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work and cooperate with the Hospice to ensure that statutory and departmental regulations are adhered to

Qualifications

Essential

• RSCN
• RN Child Branch

Desirable

• Learning disabilities qualification

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Demonstrates knowledge and application of palliative care principles
• Use of reflective practice
• Demonstrates knowledge and application of loss and bereavement
• Working knowledge of child protection and vulnerable adults policies and procedures
• Demonstrates an understanding of health and safety, standard infection control precautions and information governance principles and policies.
• Evidence of recent professional updating
• Demonstrates effective clinical practice, including complex health care needs of children
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to work in collaboration with other professionals/teams
• Belief in holistic and family centred care
• Evidence of working competently with IT equipment and electronic patient records

Desirable

• Symptom control in palliative care
• Teaching skills
• Student assessor

Experience

Essential

• 1 year post registration relevant experience
• Assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care
• Direct work with a wider multi-disciplinary team
• Supporting and developing HCA and students

Desirable

• Nursing children with complex health needs
• Children with disabilities
• Care of the dying child

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).