Clinical Nurse Specialist Band 7 (Community)

Job responsibilities

Key accountabilities, responsibilities and tasks:

• Advise and support patients and their families at home, in an outpatient setting or in other care settings e.g residential homes. Acting in a consultative capacity to other members of the health care team.
• Participate with others involved in the patients care in the initial and continuous assessment/evaluation of the individual patient, establishing with the patient and carers the objectives of care in order to maintain as far as possible the patients mental and physical comfort, independence and dignity, providing an individual and holistic programme of care.
• Provide psychological support/assessment for patients and their families using recognised theoretical models to identify specific needs and make appropriate referrals for psychological support
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the effects of prescribed treatments/interventions, in consultation with medical staff and ensure appropriate adjustment are made to ensure the most effective palliative care is achieved.
• Share with other members of the health care team the social, cultural and emotional support of patients, families, friends and other colleagues, which may include providing advice on ethical issues and acting as the patients advocate.
• Provide continuity of care through comprehensive, accurate recording and verbal handover to the multi-professional team within the Hospice and/or community.
• To assess patients with view to admitting and discharging to and from virtual ward as appropriate.
• Select referrals for Spring Centre health and Wellbeing services and refer appropriately.
• To work collaboratively with RPCS, supporting the service in the delivery of care to our patients.
• To work as required at Palliative Care referral Centre, triaging referrals, ensuring correct services involved in the most appropriate response time.
• Provide bereavement support for patients family as appropriate following the death of a patient, liaising with the Supportive Care Team to provide comprehensive handover of care.
• To be competent at discussing and completing Do Not Attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation paperwork.
• A willingness to complete Non-Medical Prescribing recognised module. Once competent in this extended role to practice safe prescribing within HOSF and NMC guidelines. Keeping up to date with prescribing developments, changes and MRHA warnings.
• Maintain a research-based approach to nursing and participate in research projects when appropriate and in line with Hospice policy.
• Be aware of and comply with legal and professional, standards relating to the duties and responsibilities of a Clinical Nurse Specialist, including The Code: Nursing and Midwifery Council (2015)
• Participate in the weekend/Bank Holiday working to support patient and their families by offering symptom control/other advice advice and visiting as required. Also to support junior staff working at the weekend, liaising with other services as required.
• The post holder will be required to deputize in the absence of the Team leader. In such instances to lead the team. In these circumstances, to report to the Director of Care.
• To support the allocation of patient referrals as required to ensure timely communication and sign posting to appropriate services and liaising with referrer as appropriate.
• Ensure the availability for advice/guidance for rest of community team and external professionals.
• Act as mentor and line manager for junior members of the team, for example mentor band 6 Hospice of St. Francis Community Nurses and support Health Care Assistants.
• Take appropriate action in the event of a drug error or discrepancy, in line with the Hospice Medicine policy and procedure.
• Receive and disseminate information through attendance at community nursing team and other unit meetings, and liaise with other hospices and support teams.
• Serve on committees and working groups as appropriate.
• To keep abreast of key changes in legislation, governance and practice development relevant to the mission of The Hospice of St Francis with onward briefing into the organisation.
• To take responsibility for the continuing professional support and self-development, receiving regular supervision, working where appropriate with a mentor, actively seeking opportunities to develop skills and knowledge through the processes of additional education and training, reflection with peers and engagement with other professionals
• To act as an ambassador and role model at all times promoting the values of the Charity and in accordance with the post holders professional Code of Practice where appropriate
• Participate in the induction of new staff to the Hospice.
• Participate in the teaching and training of professionals in field of palliative care and end of life planning.
• Help promote the philosophy of hospice/palliative care by teaching members of the community, lay and professional, either within the Unit or elsewhere
• Be involved in the education and teaching of both patients and carers in all aspects of health care, including drug administration, moving and handling techniques.
• Assure compliance with statutory and mandatory training, continuous professional development
• Ensure when handling personally identifiable and sensitive information your conduct and that of your direct reports is consistent with the requirements of the legislative and regulatory frameworks for information and information governance whether that be in hard or soft copy or digital formats

Experience

Essential

• Experience in managing, developing and supporting staff.
• Experience of assessment in outpatient nurse clinics
• Proven experience of working effectively in a team and autonomously.
• Proven experience of using IT systems.
• Good organisational skills.
• Knowledge of symptom control.
• Ability to perform assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in an emotionally demanding environment.
• Caring and empathetic approach
• Excellent listening and interpersonal skills
• Good team player who is willing to support others/learn new skills
• Ability to work as an advanced practitioner coordinating complex cases, working under pressure and prioritising effectively.
• Ability to work with confidential sensitive information & understand boundaries and support others to work in this way
• Excellent judgement and good decision making skills
• Ability to work within variety of settings, including flexibility between outpatient and community.
• Flexible working to defined shift patterns including occasional weekend working.

Desirable

• Community experience
• Proven experience of working in diverse communities, understanding and overcoming the impact of discrimination
• Experience of Systmone electronic patient record system
• Experience working with volunteers
• Advanced communication skills

Additional

Desirable

• Ability to speak, write and/or sign more than one language relevant to the population served

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse (Level 1) with extensive post registration experience, including within palliative care.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Nurse prescriber or willingness to undertake.
• Up to date knowledge of best practice within palliative care.
• Car owner and driver

Desirable

• Nurse prescriber or willingness to undertake.

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).