Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job summary

The post holder will work as part of the wider specialist palliative care team and be responsible for providing specialist/complex advice and support to all members of the multi-professional team in the care of patients with a life limiting illness who are experiencing symptoms that require specialist palliative care.

Provide an effective and supportive service by giving specialist advice to our patients and those important to them about the disease process, treatment interventions and symptom management. Manage and prioritise a caseload independently.

It is essential that the post holder be a competent and confident practitioner in order to participate in the on-going seven-day face-to-face palliative care service.

The post holder will uphold professional standards and act accordingly at all times within the SPC team and the wider Trust.

The post holder will work collaboratively with our Primary Care colleagues, hospices, community palliative care teams, social services, care homes, district nursing teams and voluntary sectors. The post holder will be encouraged to take part in wider Northwest London, Pan London and National palliative care strategic planning to provide a seamless integrated pathway for our patient group and those important to them.

An essential part of the role will be to recognise, contribute and participate in the Trusts wider EOL care ambitions and take an active role in the on-going education programme and strategic objectives.

Main duties of the job

A Band 7 Palliative Care CNS role encompasses a vast skill set, including clinical reasoning and expertise, leadership qualities, education, audit, and service development.

Using advanced clinical judgement and skills you will be expected to provide advice and support for patients with a life limiting illness, recommending a concise and evidence based management plan.

Demonstrate ability and skills to carry out a comprehensive holistic needs assessment for each individual patient and those important to them.

Provide emotional, psychological and practical support to the individual, their family and /or those important to them.

Demonstrate advanced communication skills in all aspects of your role as a CNS supporting other members of the wider MDT who may require additional support.

Manage an agreed caseload using in-depth knowledge of the patient group, and disease trajectories, acting as the key worker and co-ordinator where appropriate.

Triage and manage referrals effectively from members of the multi-professional team in a clear and equitable way, to ensure that specialist palliative care is accessible according to need.

Actively participate as a member of the Specialist Palliative Care MDT and represent specialist palliative care services at cancer-site specific MDTs, and Ward based MDT's

Demonstrate an ability to autonomously and independently assess, advise and suggest a management plan at the weekends when lone working.

About us

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven't heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.