Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Deputy Unit Lead

The closing date is 28 December 2025

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic team player to come and join our passionate palliative care team. If you have an interest in palliative care and want to work in a high functioning team to support patients and their families during the most challenging of times, this could be the post for you.

If you would have experience and knowledge within specialist palliative care and are committed to the delivery of high-quality patient centred care, please consider coming to join the team on the Primrose Unit.

We are a six bedded specialist palliative care unit. Patients are admitted under the care of an Advanced Clinical Practitioner who is supported by a Consultant in Palliative Medicine. The Unit is staffed 24/7 with Band 5 nurses who work 12.5 hour shifts.

Full time : 3 x 12.5 hour shifts for three weeks and 4 x12.5hour shifts for one week in a 4 week rota . This is worked over 7 days including days and nights.

We work closely with the wider palliative care team and the local Day Hospice & Family Support Centre offering care for patients living with a life limiting illness and support for families and relatives.

Referrals are made from GPs, Consultants from Acute Trusts and Specialist Palliative Care CNS. Admission would be considered for patients for periods of symptom control and crisis intervention when this is difficult to manage in another setting. In addition to day case admissions for therapeutic procedures such as paracentesis and blood transfusions.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for supporting the Nursing team clinically and to provide a high level of clinical supervision and support. You will be responsible for providing care and symptom control. We work closely as a multi-disciplinary team providing specialist palliative and end of life care. Our focusispromoting the comfort and wellbeing of patients, enablingthemto live as wellas possible. On the Primrose Unit we ensure the care we provide is patient focused therefore, our medication, hygiene and comfort routines are tailored around the patients individual needs. This often involves us thinking outside the box, going above and beyond for patients and their relatives. This makes the unit a very special place to work and ensures that no two days are ever the same! As a Deputy Unit Lead be involved in supporting the team to develop their clinical skills in venepuncture, cannulation, IV therapy, management of syringe pumps. To support staff to develop communication skills to enable them to facilitate difficult conversations Working in palliative care requires excellent communication skills and the ability to have open, honest conversations with patients and their relatives during difficult times. As a team we encourage ongoing learning and development through reflection and clinical supervision which we try and embed in our daily practice. The Deputy Unit Lead works closely with the Unit Lead to ensure the Unit is staffed safely.

About us

At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.

We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work-life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.

What we offer;

  • 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
  • Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
  • Flexible and agile working opportunities
  • Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
  • Wide range of supportive staff networks
  • Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website.

We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.

Sharing your data - As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trusts understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Details

Date posted

17 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9798-1912

Job locations

The Primrose Unit, Princess of Wales Community Hospital

Stourbridge Road

Bromsgrove

Worcestershire

B61 0BB


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will :

Behave consistently with the values and beliefs of the organisation and promote these on day to day basis.

Act as a role model to colleagues, always seeking to maintain the highest standards of professionalism.

Use their initiative and take responsibility for themselves and the quality of their work and the service they provide to patients.

Responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patients care within the Ward/unit, working in accordance with the philosophy of patient centred care and to NSF and other Trust standards.

Practice as a member of the Community Hospital Nursing team, to support and work in partnership with the wider multidisciplinary team.

For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will :

Behave consistently with the values and beliefs of the organisation and promote these on day to day basis.

Act as a role model to colleagues, always seeking to maintain the highest standards of professionalism.

Use their initiative and take responsibility for themselves and the quality of their work and the service they provide to patients.

Responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patients care within the Ward/unit, working in accordance with the philosophy of patient centred care and to NSF and other Trust standards.

Practice as a member of the Community Hospital Nursing team, to support and work in partnership with the wider multidisciplinary team.

For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of evidence-based nursing, multidisciplinary working, clinical governance
  • Awareness of Audit
  • Evidence of on-going continuing professional development
  • Awareness and understanding of advance care planning.
  • Understanding of symptom management in last days of life.
  • Medication administration via various routes PO, PR, S/C, IM, IV
  • Management of syringe pump

Desirable

  • Competence in male and supra-pubic catheterisation
  • Venepuncture
  • IV Therapy
  • Cannulation
  • Experience of Audit
  • Knowledge and understanding of Mental Capacity and DOLs

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse (RN1)
  • Degree / Diploma and working towards a first level degree
  • Mentor award
  • Evidence of on-going continuing professional development
  • I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.

Desirable

  • Independent / supplementary prescriber
  • Management and Leadership qualification
  • Practice educator

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of management of teams
  • Clinical audit / project work

Desirable

  • Experience of providing clinical supervision

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to challenge poor behaviour
  • Role modelling good behaviour
  • Ability to praise and be supportive to others
  • Able to work competently without supervision
  • Reflective practitioner
  • Compassion and empathy skills
  • Versatile and adaptable
  • Able to cope under pressure
  • Team player
  • Basic IT skills

Desirable

  • Experience of staff rostering
  • Advanced communication skills
Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of evidence-based nursing, multidisciplinary working, clinical governance
  • Awareness of Audit
  • Evidence of on-going continuing professional development
  • Awareness and understanding of advance care planning.
  • Understanding of symptom management in last days of life.
  • Medication administration via various routes PO, PR, S/C, IM, IV
  • Management of syringe pump

Desirable

  • Competence in male and supra-pubic catheterisation
  • Venepuncture
  • IV Therapy
  • Cannulation
  • Experience of Audit
  • Knowledge and understanding of Mental Capacity and DOLs

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse (RN1)
  • Degree / Diploma and working towards a first level degree
  • Mentor award
  • Evidence of on-going continuing professional development
  • I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.

Desirable

  • Independent / supplementary prescriber
  • Management and Leadership qualification
  • Practice educator

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of management of teams
  • Clinical audit / project work

Desirable

  • Experience of providing clinical supervision

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to challenge poor behaviour
  • Role modelling good behaviour
  • Ability to praise and be supportive to others
  • Able to work competently without supervision
  • Reflective practitioner
  • Compassion and empathy skills
  • Versatile and adaptable
  • Able to cope under pressure
  • Team player
  • Basic IT skills

Desirable

  • Experience of staff rostering
  • Advanced communication skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

The Primrose Unit, Princess of Wales Community Hospital

Stourbridge Road

Bromsgrove

Worcestershire

B61 0BB


Employer's website

https://www.hacw.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

The Primrose Unit, Princess of Wales Community Hospital

Stourbridge Road

Bromsgrove

Worcestershire

B61 0BB


Employer's website

https://www.hacw.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Unit Lead

Jennifer Streeter

jstreeter@nhs.net

01527488213

Details

Date posted

17 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9798-1912

Job locations

The Primrose Unit, Princess of Wales Community Hospital

Stourbridge Road

Bromsgrove

Worcestershire

B61 0BB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)