Advanced Nurse Practitioner - Maternity Cover

Job responsibilities

The post holder will have responsibilities in four main areas of work:

1. Clinical Practice & Education

2. Leadership and consultancy

3. Evidence Based Practice

4. Education and Development

Key relationships:

Internal

· Medical Director

· Director of Care

· Clinical Services Managers – In-patients, Day Hospice services, St Luke’s @ Home (SL@H) and Family Support Services

· Palliative Medicine Consultants(s)

· Specialty Doctors and Doctors in Training

External

· Ensures effective network working relationships and communication with; clinician colleagues across primary and secondary care and third sector organisations such as, The End of Life Partnership and other hospices, as necessary to maintain effective patient and family care.

Principal Responsibilities:

· To function as part of the medical team led by the Medical Director

· Use advanced practice skills to identify, assess, diagnose, treat and manage patients with palliative care needs.

· As part of a multidisciplinary team exercise complex levels of judgement, discretion and decision-making in clinical care

· Make appropriate use of the latest evidence base to supervise practice, audit clinical care, teach and support professional colleagues and to provide skilled leadership to clinical decision making

· To champion innovative practice within the field of hospice and end of life care and work closely with both the medical director and director of care to develop progressive professional practice policies.

· The Advanced Nurse Practitioner will demonstrate and work as part of the medical team at an advanced practice level applying their extended knowledge and skills in the principles and practice of palliative care settings as required by the hospice strategic plan.

· To utilise advanced communication skills when interacting with patient’s families.

Clinical Duties

· To work as part of the hospice specialist care team, carrying out a high standard of holistic clinical assessment, determining and providing plans treatment/ interventions, advice or support as appropriate.

· Manage a caseload of patients whenever the clinical need arises

· Maintain clinical records in line with hospice, NMC, RCN and GDPR guidance

· Uses advanced clinical skills and judgement to diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients with complex palliative needs throughout the hospice, community and via telephone advice line.

· Anticipates problems and risks and takes action before crises arise.

· Fulfils the requirements of being a non-medical prescriber in keeping with RCN guidance and hospice policy.

· As an independent prescriber, prescribes medicines for patients in accordance with local polices, national standards and formularies relating to independent prescribing

· Undertakes medication reviews with patients and takes a proactive approach in ensuring patients understanding of their medication

· Participates fully as part of the 24/7 specialist team as 1st on-call (accountable to 2nd on-call physician) one weeknight and one weekend in six to ensure effective co-ordination of care and appropriate and timely responses for patients

· When on-call at weekends and bank holidays, will attend ward to assess, reassess and review patients’ instigating treatment for symptom control and psychological support.

· Admits patients, with reference to second on-call, at weekends and out-of-hours as appropriate.

· Provide advice to patients and professionals as required via the 24-hour advice line both in office hours and also as part of on-call duties when required out-of-hours.

· Provides a source of expertise to all health care practitioners, including undertaking joint assessments as required.

· Identifies clinical issues and incidents within the specialty that may affect the quality of palliative care services raising with medical director and Director of Care as appropriate to ensure the delivery of a safe, effective service.

· Participates in the allocated duties and responsibilities of the medical team covering the in-patient unit, day services and other areas as required.

· Liaises daily with the medical and nursing teams and ensures all are kept fully briefed of all palliative care patient activity under the responsibility of the advanced nurse practitioner.

· Ensures senior nurse managers, nursing, and therapy colleagues are aware of clinical activity ensuring the role links appropriately with all other nursing and therapy interventions in the best interests of the patient.

Professional Leadership

· Demonstrates leadership skills when undertaking the clinical assessment process and when planning and delivering care.

· Actively promotes the rehabilitative and therapeutic approaches to specialist palliative care.

· Motivates all staff and other through providing training, supervision and mentorship.

· Applies a repertoire of interpersonal skills in response to the different needs of staff and colleagues

· Encourages proactivity and innovation amongst the MDT and demonstrates flexibly within parameters of hospice policies

· Acts as role model and is accountable for own professional actions and decisions

· Leads the development of ideas and specialist practice within the scope of the role.

· Innovates through exploring ideas with other and takes action, which brings in different ways of working.

· Works with Medical Director and Director of Care to ensure development of progressive professional practice policies.

Quality Improvement, Audit and Research

· Ensures the delivery of high quality, clinically effective care by prioritising and using research and audit in practice

· An active participant within the clinical audit and quality improvement group and clinical governance committees and work plan as required and directed by Medical Director.

· Leads on specific projects required and directed by Medical director.

· Identifies and supports audits, evaluation, and work that may be required to develop and improve palliative / end of life care for patients and their careers.

· Identifies and supports quality improvement initiatives and evidence based in service development plans/ projects wherever possible.

· Participates in maintaining the profile of St Luke’s Hospice through the presentation of quality improvement initiatives.

Resource Management

· Manages own time and work effectively to meet objectives and requirements of the role.

· Is proactive as part of the clinical team in ensuring the totality of hospice skills are used to best effect to ensure appropriate and timely responses for patients.

· Makes proactive use of the multidisciplinary team discussions and review meetings to ensure skills, expertise and use of hospice and professional resources are utilised in the patient’s interest

· Is aware of the local policies of partner organisations with regard to care practices, treatments and prescribing formularies.

Governance and Education

· Contribute to the clinical governance process

· Supports the implementation and monitoring of clinical practice guidelines including standards, policies and protocols in line with local, regional and national directives.

· Facilitates and participates in reflective reviews of palliative care.

· To be aware of professional responsibilities and comply with all appropriate policies, standards and guidelines.

· Understands and complies with guidance surrounding advanced practice

· To be aware of one’s own continuous professional development needs and maintain an annual personal develop plan in association with Medical Director.

· Actively contributes to the delivery of hospice education programme

· Actively participates in clinical supervision and resilience training.

· Influences the setting and monitoring of standards of practice, ensuring cost-effective delivery and evidence-based care.

Service Development

· Continuous quality improvement through care review.

· Work with other disciplines to optimise integrated care and coordinated care

· Maintain links with other Palliative Care Specialists in order to share or learn examples of good practice.

· Critically evaluate relevant research findings in order to develop practice

· Represents the hospice and the work of the hospice at local, regional and national level as required through conference presentations.

Personal Development The post holder will be expected to maintain high professional standards and keep abreast of professional issues and best practice in their area of specialism. The Hospice will support relevant education and development opportunities whenever possible and as agreed as part of personal development discussions.

Qualifications

Essential

• Current registration on part 1 of NMC register
• 1st degree
• Masters level qualification (Advanced Practice) or equivalent experience
• Independent prescriber
• Advanced Communication skills training

Desirable

• Post-graduate qualification in palliative care
• Teaching qualification

Experience

Essential

• Able to demonstrate previous successful ability of working at advanced practice level
• Management of change
• Partnership working across sectors
• Demonstrable evidence of delivering formal and informal teaching
• Evidence of ability to undertake clinical audit
• Capable and skills in working independently, able to plan and prioritise with advanced decision-making skills
• Management of clinical issue related to palliative care
• Clinical leadership in a multi-professional service

Desirable

• Previously worked within specialist palliative care setting
• Research experience

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, multi-agency communications and multi-disciplinary communications.
• Comprehensive physical assessment, history taking, diagnostic and clinical decision-making skill.
• Applied pharmacology and evidence-based prescribing
• Leadership and team working abilities
• Motivational skills for both self and others
• Effective IT skills, competence in Microsoft office programmes and EMISWeb
• Critical evaluation skills
• Clear understanding of the systems of clinical governance, specifically relating to advanced practice
• Awareness and understanding of the systems of palliative care delivery
• Up-to-date knowledge of all aspects of palliative care

Desirable

• Experience in care of the older person
• Experience in oncology

Other Requirements

Essential

• Available to be on-call and work flexibly over a 24/7 365 day per year service as services and patient needs dictate
• Ability to manage time, self and workload
• Ability to transport self around the locality

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to direct and co-ordinate programmes of care, able to work both collaboratively and autonomously
• Ability to work across traditional professional and organisational boundaries and agencies
• Empathy with palliative care setting
• Enthusiastic team-player
• Ability to liaise and network effectively
• Commitment to equal opportunities
• Ability to work flexibly
• Ability to think creatively, laterally and problem solve.

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).