Community Palliative Care Senior Staff Nurse

Job Overview
CNWL are pleased to announce a vacancy within the Palliative Integrated Care Service (PICS) Hub. The role will involve working with a Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialist to pro-actively manage a patient caseload. The nurse will also work alongside and within the Palliative Integrated Care Service (PICS) Hub and at times will work within the Your Life Line 24/7 responsive end of life service.
The post holder will:

• Support the community Clinical Nurse Specialists to assist patients in their preferred place of care/death.
• Be responsible for implementing and maintaining high standards of nursing care for individual patients.
• Provide skilled nursing care, treatment, advice, and support to patients and their carers.
  You should have excellent interpersonal skills with post graduate experience of working in the community, hospital, or hospice environment with associated palliative care experience. As part of a 6-month rotation period between specialist palliative services, we would expect this post holder to deliver clinically effective, efficient, and high-quality nursing care to clients with complex needs. You would be responsible for assessing, planning, and treating a caseload of patients and their families in partnership with other care providers with the clinical nurse specialist support.
  This is a 7-day-a-week post with some shifts covering the 24-hour service; day and night shifts are required. Car user essential.
  Main Duties and Responsibilities
• Respond to urgent needs identified within the community setting to prevent unnecessary/unwanted admission to hospital.
• Participate in the planning, assessment, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care, supplementing the care provided by the District Nursing Team to enable the patient to continue to be cared for at home.
• Provide advice, support, and respite care for the carers and family according to their needs and the level of intervention required during the shift.
• Communicate and liaise with medical and nursing colleagues, providing accurate reports of any changes in the condition of the patient.
• Administer medication according to the care plan and be aware of the current drugs and therapies used in the treatment of pain and other symptoms.
• Set realistic goals for each of the identified needs in liaison with professionals and carers.
• Support conversations around future care planning to support end of life plans with patients and their family and carers.
• Support the creation, review, and creation of Universal Care Plans (UCPs).
• Demonstrate knowledge of the grieving process and recognize normal and abnormal grief reactions, referring for bereavement support where indicated.
  Working for our Organisation
  The Palliative Integrated Care Service (PICS) Hub is a small team that consists of the Your Life Line 24/7 responsive end of life service and the Specialist Palliative Care Team (SPCT). YLL 24/7 comprises a small team of CNSs, HCAs, while SPCT consists of CNSs and admin who strive to provide the best possible care to palliative/end of life patients in their homes within the community.
  Working for SPCT and YLL 24/7, we pride ourselves on great teamwork and rising to the challenges of day-to-day work in such a diverse community. No two shifts are the same with SPCT and YLL 24/7, which makes it challenging but rewarding at the same time.
  This post holder will deliver clinically effective, efficient, and high-quality nursing care to clients with complex needs that is both evidence-based and reflects current best practices. You would be responsible for assessing, planning, and treating a caseload of patients and their families in the field of palliative care, working in partnership with other care providers with the support of the CNS.
  Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities
• Support the creation and review of Universal Care Plans (UCPs).
• Critically evaluate nursing care provided and liaise with clinical nurse specialists and the district nurse if the care plan requires altering.
• Act as the patient’s advocate in communicating information between the patient and members of the multi-professional team.
• Demonstrate insight into the many cultural aspects of life and death, and the implications for nursing care.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the grieving process and recognize normal and abnormal grief reactions, referring for bereavement support where indicated.
• Assist in the orientation of new members of staff to the service.
• Participate in formal and informal educational programs.
• Adhere to CNWL policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and be conversant with the Scope of Professional Practice.
• Attend induction programs, team meetings, and training sessions.
• Keep up to date with current developments in nursing and palliative care.
  Person Specification
  Qualifications and Education
  Essential Criteria
• NMC Registration Level 1.
• Numeracy skills required for the safe administration of medicines.
• Non-medical prescribing or willingness to undertake.
  Desirable Criteria
• Educated to Degree/Masters level.
• Oncology/Palliative Care course.
• Advanced Communication Skills Training.
  Experience and Knowledge
  Essential Criteria
• Recent experience of nursing patients with palliative care needs and/or oncology needs.
• Experience in caring for patients at the end of life.
• HR skills training (e.g., recruitment, managing absence).
• Care planning: being able to assess patients, develop, implement, and evaluate a care plan.
• Empowering and working in partnership.
• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding/Advocacy.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health Act.
• Manual handling of patients.
• Obtaining consent.
• Medicines management and administration.
• Infection control and Aseptic Non-Touch Technique.
  Desirable Criteria
• Experience of working in a palliative care environment (e.g., hospice).
• Experience of working within the community.
• Supervision, line management, and appraisal training.
  Skills and Abilities
  Essential Criteria
• Able to communicate with the multi-disciplinary team, present cases, take note of actions, update others in the team, and use handover effectively.
• Maintain accurate, timely, concise, and legible clinical records, both electronic and handwritten, which adhere to CNWL policies.
• Able to talk to people about sensitive issues in a supportive manner but also challenge others assertively where necessary.
• Able to maintain electronic patient records and use Microsoft Word for letter and report writing.
• Understanding the concept of quality and their role in improving safety, clinical outcomes, and the patient experience.
  Personal Qualities
  Essential Criteria
• Work well with other team members, communicating effectively, being kind and considerate, reliable, and enthusiastic.
• Manage others and contribute to the management of the team.
• Contribute to the team's culture and play a role in making it inclusive, kind, and hardworking.
• Help others in the team achieve their objectives and deliver safe, effective care.