Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) X 2 - Band 6

Job description

Job responsibilities

Expert Clinical Practice

Give encouragement, support, empathy, time, reassurance and advice to patients, families and carers to enable them to explore and express feelings and issues of concern, promoting informed choice

Demonstrate effective practice in holistic assessment, development and evaluation of the patient and family

Facilitate the management and support of palliative care patients to ensure the pathway is seamless and of a high quality

Promote autonomy and advocacy to ensure the delivery of appropriate care

Demonstrate a high level of empathic and interpersonal communication skills for patients and carers need palliative care.

Demonstrate sound knowledge as a practitioner in palliative care by use of innovative practice and skills

Maintain accurate records using a system of nursing documentation and appropriate information systems that reflect on advanced assessment and practice

Act as a role model demonstrating high standards of holistic care

Identify and apply innovative care and practice to ensure best clinical outcomes to benefit the patients, families, carers and organisational needs

Analyse situations and develop action plans to improve the quality of patient care

Have the ability to use a range of strategies to improve and lead patient care and management

Provide initial support to bereaved families, friends and carers, referring to the Hospice bereavement service as appropriate

To participate in the hospices telephone triage service, providing specialist palliative support and advice to patients, families/carers and other healthcare professionals

Education

Recognise the importance of knowledge and learning to maintain standards in palliative care

Utilise sound knowledge of specialist palliative care to ensure all opportunities are taken to advise, educate and share information

Deliver informal education initiatives to staff, patients, and carers to achieve effective clinical outcomes

Contribute to the development of healthcare professionals on short term placement with the Community palliative Care Team

Encourage individual practitioners and teams to participate in the education strategy to develop palliative care knowledge and competence in their own practice

Consultancy/Leadership

Contribute to effective multidisciplinary team working and discussion

Attend meeting to optimise team working and allow for an effective and seamless patient journey to improve the patients quality of life through high standards of practice in palliative care

Support the development and effectiveness of Gold Standard Framework meetings through appropriate attendance and participation

Establish and maintain a network of regional contacts in order to actively contribute to effective and positive working relationships

Facilitation Action Learning and other similar initiatives for district nurses where appropriate

Use of reflective skills and facilitation of complex case discussion/reflection with district nurses and other healthcare professionals as appropriate

Role model effective clinical practice by encouraging joint visits to patients with district nurses and general practitioners

Identify and act upon opportunities that arise for informal teaching or sharing of knowledge through joint working and shared care approaches

Manage time effectively and respond creatively to situations within the resources available to manage the caseload given

Foster effective management of change by understanding group development needs in order to maintain good working relationships across organisation and professional boundaries to enhance and improve team working

Identify areas of tension or opposition to effective changes in practice and aim to maintain optimum multidisciplinary team working and effective communication between healthcare teams, patients and families

Participate in meetings and informal education sessions to promote the services provided by the hospice

Work within the hospices policies, procedures and guidelines

Contribute to the formation of relevant policies and procedures

Clinical Effectiveness

Ensure practice is research based by implementing evidence, research policy and standards that are relevant to specialist palliative care

Promote and environment where enquiry is valued as a means to improve patient care

Identify areas of palliative care practice or service provision which could be developed through audit or research and actively participate in audit and other reviews to improve clinical care

Demonstrate continual evaluation of practice, make agreed changes and work within the multidisciplinary team to enhance service provision

Ensure that information given to the multidisciplinary team and patients is research based

Monitor quality initiative in line with local and national guidelines by assessing, monitoring and reviewing own and others practice to ensure safe delivery of care, reduce risks and effectively use resources

Practice in line with the hospices Clinical Strategy

Contribute to a questioning and open culture in practice to enable a higher standard of care allowing patients, families and carers to participate in this process

Participate in/contribute to relevant research projects

Be aware of policies, protocols and clinical guidelines in order to develop and adapt the role to the healthcare needs of patients, families and carers

Assess and monitor risks in own and others practice to ensure safe delivery of care, which is evidence based and adheres to good practice guidance

Complete mandatory training according to hospice guidelines

Participate in the hospice appraisal system setting realistic objectives in order to maintain a personal professional profile and demonstrate progression from intermediate level of specialist practice to a high level of specialist practice

Flexibility to work in all clinical areas of the hospice

Person Specification

Personal Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Ability to participate in audit
• Able to manage own workload
• Ability to be flexible and responsible, and to work effectively as a team
• Able to teach staff, patients and relatives across all areas of care and nursing practice
• Good IT skills
• Car owner/driver with full UK driving Licence

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Level 1 adult nurse with current NMC registration
• Post registration qualification in Palliative Care or willingness to undertake an appropriate module of 20 credits as part of the role
• Evidence of continued professional development

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of substantial experience within acute hospital or hospice, with relevant post registration palliative experience
• Relevant (palliative care or other clinical speciality with significant palliative care input) experience at Band 5 or equivalent
• Clinical skills underpinned by intermediate knowledge of palliative care and current issues
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• Knowledge and application of up-to-date evidence based clinical trends and practices
• Understanding and knowledge of risk management processes and procedures and how these relate to clinical practice
• Knowledge of principles of research and audit
• Evidence of assessment skills

Desirable

• Experience of working in a community setting
• Experience in clinical informal teaching
• Understanding health and social care reform
• Knowledge of hospice work
• Evidence of leadership 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.

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

Birmingham Hospice

Address

Birmingham St. Marys Hospice

176 Raddlebarn Road

Birmingham

B29 7DA

Employer's website

https://www.birminghamhospice.org.uk (Opens in a new tab)