Service Lead - Band 8 - Specialist Palliative Urgent Response (SPUR)

Job responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities

Expert Clinical Practice

Ensure the NMC Code professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives, and nursing associates (2018) is always upheld

To administer drugs in accordance with Hospice policy and the professional guidance on the sage and secure handling of medicines (2018)

Identify risk involved with patient care and/or lone working, escalating concerns where appropriate and implementing learning outcomes from recorded incidents

To be responsible for identifying and acting on any risks of safeguarding to patients and their families/cares in line with Hospice and National Policies and Procedures

Give encourage, support, empathy, time, reassurance and advice to patients, their families, and carers, to enable them to explore and express feeling and issues of concern promoting informed choice.

Demonstrate advanced practice in holistic assessment, development and evaluation of individual specialist nursing care programmes involving patients, families, and carers as appropriate

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

To promote autonomy and advocacy to ensure the delivery of appropriate care

Demonstrate a high level of empathetic and interpersonal skills for patients and carers needing palliative care

Utilise Non-Medical Prescribing skills and holistic health assessment within competence as part of patients medicine and symptom management

Demonstrate advanced knowledge as an expert practitioner in palliative care by use of innovative practice and skills

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

Act as a role model demonstrating high standards of holistic care, promoting clinical excellence and leadership

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

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

Use a range of strategies to improve and lead patient care and management

Contribute to effective multidisciplinary team working and discussion

Attend multidisciplinary team meetings, both internal and external to the organisation

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

Liaise with GP and District Nursing teams to advise and implement appropriate treatment regimens for the management of symptoms

Clinical Effectiveness

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

Promote an environment where enquire 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 or other reviews to improve clinical care

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

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

Participate in the development and implementation of the Birmingham Hospices Clinical Strategy

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

Demonstrate a proactive approach to the development 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 ensuring safe delivery of care, which is evidence based and adheres to good practice guidelines

Works alongside stakeholders to develop, monitor and record ongoing KPIs for the service.

Management and Leadership

Operational management and delivery of the SPUR service, including management of our clinical and administrative service team.

Promote the safety, wellbeing and interest of patients and staff in the service

Report, monitor and investigate accidents, incidents and complaints, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared and timely feedback of information occurs

Actively contribute to the hospice clinical governance framework

Participate in the development of operational plans for the delivery of safe and effective care

Demonstrate positive and motivational leadership to staff and volunteers in the service

Ensure Team Leads and Nurses in charge are supported in managing their teams effectively

Line Manage the Team Leads and wider SPUR Team

Co-ordinate, supervise and support team caseload management

Ensure appraisals are conducted annually and on time as part of the performance management of the SPUR staff, and copies provided to the People Team

Identify performance/conduct improvement issues among staff and ensure supportive training and other appropriate improvement programmes ware implemented, monitored, reviewed and reported

Manage any employee relations cases which arise, in line with Hospice policy

Take responsibility for the effective management of the SPUR budget

Take a lead role in the recruitment, selection, and induction of SPUR staff

Monitor the quality and content of patient record keeping, ensuring this meets the standards required by the NMC and CQC

Manage data entry for the clinical area including generating statistics and reports, ensuring these are disseminated appropriately

Monitor medicines management ensuring compliance with Hospice policy and NMC guidelines, and working with pharmacy colleagues/providers

Assist in the development of policies and procedures relating to the hospice and to review and update in line with relevant legislation, research, or guidance

Support the clinical team in audit and learning from the recommendations of clinical audits

Be proactive in embracing future processes which promote the utilisation of available and emerging technology in the delivery of service aims and objectives

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

Support the use of reflective skills and facilitation skills to evaluate and improve current practice

To receive clinical supervision and ensure that clinical supervision is offered to your team members

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

Effectively manage change by understanding group developmental needs in order to maintain good working relationships across organisational and professional boundaries to enhance and improve team working

To participate in the on-call rota.

Service Development

As the Lead Clinical for the SPUR Team, undertake service reviews and develop business cases for any increase in establishment or changes to the service

Streamline the service, reviewing clinical and administrative pathways, implement change as necessary and ensure the best and most efficient use of resources

Escalate any budgetary issues to the Head of Services, Community

Work closely and collaborate with other services leads and stakeholders ensuring a seamless patient pathway across all departments

Education, Research and Audit

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

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

Deliver formal and informal education initiatives to staff (internal and external organisation), patients, and carers to achieve effective clinical outcomes

Contribute to curriculum design and education strategy development together with the Hospices education department to ensure effective training programmes are available

Supervise the development of healthcare professionals on placement

Support practice development through the facilitation of complex case discussion/reflection with District Nurses and other healthcare providers as appropriate

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

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

Utilise up-to-date research/evidence to deliver patient care and disseminate knowledge to all members of the multidisciplinary team

Participate in/contribute to research studies and projects as agreed by the Hospice

Evaluate research which is appropriate and relevant to specialist palliative care provision

Initiate, monitor and regularly audit aspects of the SPUR service to continuously improve care

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

Identify innovative opportunities for sharing practice development initiatives and examples of good practice

Role model effective clinical practice

Complete all mandatory training, according to hospice guidelines and ensure that your team remains up-to-date and compliant

Qualifications

Essential

• First degree Nursing Qualification, or equivalent, preferably with a minimum 20 credits in palliative care
• Registered Level 1 Adult Nurse
• Non-Medical Prescribing qualification, or willingness to work towards
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Princess Alice qualification

Desirable

• Specialist practitioner district nursing qualification
• Educated to masters level or equivalent
• Teaching/Mentoring/Assessing qualifications
• Leadership qualification
• Post registration education in palliative/end of life care or equivalent

Personal Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Ability to flexible, reliable and responsible
• Able to work on own initiative
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to work as a member of a team and unsupervised when on call
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to communicate across diverse groups and communities and evidence of equality of opportunity in approach

Desirable

• Intermediate/Advanced IT competency

Experience

Essential

• Relevant experience at Band 7 (or equivalent) in palliative care or another clinical speciality with significant palliative care input
• Substantial experience at a senior nurse level
• Demonstrable senior nursing management experience
• Experience in clinical education, informal and formal
• Excellent clinical skills underpinned by advanced knowledge of palliative care and current issues
• Knowledge of principles of research and audit
• Experience of working in community settings/services
• Evidence of advanced assessment skills
• Experience of supervision/line management
• Excellent standard of documentation
• Experience of service development
• Knowledge and understanding of changes affecting health and social care.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Hospice work
• Understanding of health and social care reform
• Experience of undertaking research/audit
• Experience of budget management and reporting

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).