Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job responsibilities

St Josephs Hospice, Hackney

Job description

Job title: CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST - FIRST CONTACT TEAM

Responsible to: Team Manager - First Contact Team

Responsible for: No one, however the post holder is responsible for performing all the key responsibilities listed here with minimal supervision and for presenting themselves and their work effectively

Basic function

The time of referral to St Josephs Hospice is a crucial point in the care pathway for patients and their families. The role of the First Contact Clinical Nurse Specialist is a key component of this process, receiving and processing referrals to the most appropriate service at the right time. The role demands that the post holder is an expert in specialist palliative care, and will have an overview of all referrals made to the hospice. An understanding and commitment to multi-professional working is a prerequisite in order for the jobholder to promote and provide a high quality referral service, and to ensure equitable use of all hospice services. The duties outlined below may be subject to amendment in accordance with the developing needs of the service

• The post holder will provide expert assessment of patients as the first point of contact for those with progressive and life threatening conditions. Considering their individual needs and preferences - including physical, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions - they will act as an early responder providing assessment at home and by the telephone, working in partnership, where appropriate with primary care professionals to plan care which will address the needs identified.

• To ensure that referrals are assessed and treated promptly and to deputise for the Team Manager in their absence

To identify opportunities for clinical audit and research and undertake these activities within the research governance framework of the hospice.

Organisational context

St Josephs Hospice was founded in 1905 by the Religious Sisters of Charity who retain an interest in the oversight of the Hospice. The Hospice is working to achieve Vision 2024, which has five key strands: patients, enterprise, estates, funding and fundraising, and human resources. The Hospice seeks to be an outstanding provider of palliative and end of life care. Each employee is critical to delivering and maintain those standards in accordance with the Hospices core values.

Discretion to act

The post holder will involve the Multidisciplinary team, Medical team and their Manager as part of their clinical decision-making.

Scale and impact

Management responsibility for 0 direct reports 0 indirect reports. Not a budget holder

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

• Provide expert assessment of patients with palliative care needs who are referred to St Josephs Hospice and make appropriate decisions based on clinical judgement.
• Assess the appropriateness of the referral and the urgency of referrals received by the hospice.
• Access further clinical information as needed to aid determining if referrals are suitable for specialist palliative care services.
• Make telephone contact with referrers regarding referrals received, clarifying information received and providing information regarding the outcome of the referral.
• Make telephone assessment of the patients and those important to them, prioritising the urgency of the referral, identifying any interim help required, and discussing the proposed care plan.
• Visit the patient at home or place of residence if a face-to-face assessment will assist in the assessment of patients need and level of urgency for referral.
• Ensure appropriate referral of patients and those important to them to other health and social care professionals
• Provide condition-related information to patients, taking account of their individual needs, qualifying their needs, taking advice from their families, from those who are close to them and from other colleagues and professionals, where appropriate.
• Present assessments daily at the morning referrals meeting and contribute to multidisciplinary decision making.
• Inform and coordinate with the in-patient ward managers for planned admissions to the ward, highlighting any complex needs of the patient and family
• Arrange transport via London Ambulance Service for patients coming into the hospice.
• Inform and co-ordinate with the palliative rehabilitation multidisciplinary team to plan admissions.
• Visit patients within 24 hours who are assessed to be urgent.
• Visit patients to assess at home if unable to determine from a telephone assessment if suitable for specialist palliative care.
• Provide advice to potential referrers.
• Ensure accurate written and computerised patients records are maintained, in line with confidentiality, data protection and other statutory regulations and requirements

Leadership

• Manage assessment visits to patients on a daily basis with other team members, ensuring cover for the telephone lines.
• Maintain up to date accurate records on patient care as a means of documenting decisions and actions, informing multi-disciplinary care and ensuring seamless, timely provision.
• Contribute to and receive reports on clinical activity and the profile of patients as a basis for exploring trends, anticipating new areas of need and planning innovative and appropriate service development.
• Engage proactively in ongoing relationships with colleagues in acute trusts, primary care teams and hospices across local Integrated Care Boards and beyond to ensure the provision of coordinated care regardless of setting.
• Participate in the development of relevant policies, procedures and guidelines within the First Contact Team and the wider hospice, reflecting local and national standards and policy developments
• Participate in the induction of staff within the Hospice
• Provide mentorship and supervision for other staff working in the hospice and beyond as a means of disseminating knowledge and encouraging related confidence and skill in others
• Be proactive in improving information technology (IT) and computer skills and contribute positively to embracing future processes which promote the utilisation of available and emerging IT in the delivery of the aims and objectives of the service.
• Assist the Team Manager for the First Contact Team and Director of Clinical Services with translating service strategy into effective operational functionality and objectives
• Provide professional/clinical (nursing) leadership to other professionals and grades of staff, acting as a point of expertise, providing advice and support.
• Input into workforce planning process and maintaining effective use of resources.
• Participate in multi-professional meetings, acting as a patient advocate and representing nursing
• Attend appropriate patient related and team meetings
• Participate in service development initiatives as appropriate and instigate and manage change within a complex environment
• To be responsible for assurance of standards and clinical governance, standard setting and audit.

Education and Training

• Participate in the delivery of training programs within the hospice, external referrers and other interested groups, as requested
• Attend external and community engagement events to increase the knowledge of health and social care professionals and public about hospice services.
• Act as a resource, advisor and role model to junior colleagues in relation to clinical and professional issues.

Initiate and participate in research projects as required.

Personal development

Identify your own learning and development needs in order to meet the key requirements of the post.

Take responsibility for linking your own development needs with the Hospice appraisal and objective setting process.

Take responsibility for your own continuing development by undertaking specific areas of work/projects to develop new skills.

Take responsibility for your own professional development, including keeping up-to-date with relevant professional and other developments in HR at local and national levels

Engage in supervision to support your personal and professional development.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Comply with and promote St Josephs Hospice Equal Opportunity Policy and avoid any behavior, which discriminates against colleagues, potential employees, patients/clients or their families on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, age, belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion, disability, creed, class, gender, sexual orientation.

Mission & core values

All Hospice staff are expected to work in line with St Josephs Mission & Core Values as these precepts act as a value base which directly influence how all work activities are undertaken. The ethos of the Hospice should be apparent in the behaviours and attitudes of all employees as the work they undertake, whether it is direct or indirect, care is ultimately for the benefit of patients. The Mission and Core Values are an integral part of all job descriptions, the probationary period and performance and development reviews. (Full details attached).

Experience

Essential

• E1 Substantial post registration experience and expertise which includes practicing at advanced practitioner level in palliative care
• E2 Experience in developing and teaching others
• E3 Quality focused customer care ethos

Desirable

• E4 Triage of referrals
• Experience of urgent assessment visits

COMMUNICATION AND PEOPLE SKILLS

Essential

• C1 Advanced communication qualification
• C2 Ability to foster positive relationships
• C3 Good presentation skills
• C4 Proactive influential and motivational leader

Qualifications

Essential

• Q1. Relevant professional qualification and registration/RGN
• Q2 Appropriate degree level qualification

Desirable

• Q3 Masters degree in palliative care or similar
• Q4 Advanced clinical assessment training

OTHER

Essential

• O1 Willing and able to conduct oneself in accordance with the Values and Behaviours Framework of St. Josephs Hospice
• 02 Able to travel independently throughout the locality

PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS

Essential

• P2 Resilient practitioner and decision-maker
• P3 Confident and self-aware of own limitations and professional boundaries
• P4 Work independently and as part of community and extended teams

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).