Job summary
Dougie Macs Childrens Services team provides holistic care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. We deliver care and support children from birth to age 16 with symptom control, respite, emotional support, and end-of-life care. Our care is child-led, developmentally appropriate and delivered by a team of skilled paediatric professionals with compassion, creativity and expertise
Main duties of the job
At Dougie Mac, we are proud to offer a Nurse-led, family-centred service for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. We expect each Registered Childrens Nurse (RNC) to share our passion for providing compassionate, personalised, and expert care that truly makes a difference to children and their families.
As a Registered Childrens Nurse you will assess, implement and evaluate nursing care for children living with palliative and often complex health conditions.
You will share our passion to provide excellent, personalised and compassionate care for children & their families.
You will work flexibly over a 7-day period; this will include a combination of early, late, & night shifts. We are recruiting for both part- and full-time positions.
About us
Dougie Mac provides compassionate care and support for adults, young adults, and children with life-limiting conditions across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. As a values-driven organisation, we strive to deliver high-quality, person-led, and inclusive care across our inpatient, community, and supportive care services. Following our merger with Approach Dementia Support and expansion into children and young adult services, Dougie Mac now supports more people than ever before across all age groups and diagnoses.
Our team is made up of dedicated, skilled professionals who are committed to delivering responsive and meaningful care in line with our hospice values. We offer a collaborative working environment with access to professional development, reflective practice, and staff wellbeing support.
Dougie Mac is proud to be a financially independent local charity, offering a competitive salary and benefits package including generous annual leave, contributory pension scheme, funded study opportunities, hospice-paid healthcare cash plan, and free on-site parking.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Childrens Nurse, you will work both autonomously and collaboratively with the team assessing, planning and delivering high-quality palliative care.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities:
1.Coordinate evidence-based holistic, individualised care for children with complex palliative health needs either within the hospice building or in the community/family home
2.Work closely with a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to care planning, clinical audits, service development, and safeguarding
3.To assess the needs of children and their families and identify their respective physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs
4.Lead the shift as the Nurse in Charge with support from the Team Leaders and Multidisciplinary Team (once probationary period is completed)
5.To take professional responsibility for ensuring effective communication between children, families and professionals involved across the services
6.To work as a role model within the team, making effective decisions, motivating staff and setting an appropriate example
7.To recognise and manage the potentially emotional effects of working with children and families with life-limiting illnesses, maintaining personal resilience while accessing the support, guidance, and resources available at the hospice
8.Use Dougie Mac IT systems responsibly and securely, adhering to policies on data protection, confidentiality and acceptable use
9.Participate in clinical supervision, debriefing and reflective practice sessions
10.Supervise and support care staff, students, newly qualified nurses and volunteers
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Childrens Nurse, you will work both autonomously and collaboratively with the team assessing, planning and delivering high-quality palliative care.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities:
1.Coordinate evidence-based holistic, individualised care for children with complex palliative health needs either within the hospice building or in the community/family home
2.Work closely with a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to care planning, clinical audits, service development, and safeguarding
3.To assess the needs of children and their families and identify their respective physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs
4.Lead the shift as the Nurse in Charge with support from the Team Leaders and Multidisciplinary Team (once probationary period is completed)
5.To take professional responsibility for ensuring effective communication between children, families and professionals involved across the services
6.To work as a role model within the team, making effective decisions, motivating staff and setting an appropriate example
7.To recognise and manage the potentially emotional effects of working with children and families with life-limiting illnesses, maintaining personal resilience while accessing the support, guidance, and resources available at the hospice
8.Use Dougie Mac IT systems responsibly and securely, adhering to policies on data protection, confidentiality and acceptable use
9.Participate in clinical supervision, debriefing and reflective practice sessions
10.Supervise and support care staff, students, newly qualified nurses and volunteers
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Childrens Nurse (A)
- ENB 998 or C&G 7307 or equivalent(A)
- Ability to travel independently throughout the locality with access to suitable vehicle for business purposes (A)
Desirable
- Childrens Palliative Care Qualification (A)
Experience
Essential
- 2 years post registration experience (A)
- Competent delivery of core nursing clinical skills (observations, clinical competence, empathy and compassion, critical thinking) (A/I)
- Experience of working with children with complex needs (A/I)
- Experience of working in a skill mixed team (A/I)
- Experience of mentoring students (A/I)
- Experience of partnership working across agencies in hospice/ hospital/community/education(A/I)
Desirable
- Experience in hospice or palliative care setting (A/I)
- An understanding of end-of-life care or child bereavement (A/I)
- Experience using electronic records systems (A)
- Experience in audit(A/I)
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Good verbal and written communication skills (A/I)
- The ability to carry out a wide range of clinical skills (A/I)
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team (A/I)
- Planning and organisational skills (A/I)
- Awareness of the national guidance and policies relating to children (A/I)
- Knowledge of safeguarding and consent (A/I)
- Able to define own personal boundaries and professional behaviours (I)
- Compassionate and respectful approach (A/I)
- Demonstrate a positive, confident attitude (I)
- Ability to prioritise and use own initiative (A/I)
- Supportive of others at all levels of the team (A/I)
- The ability to adapt to change (A/I)
- To be able to meet the requirements of the post
- Flexible working to meet shift requirements
- Present a professional appearance appropriate to the role (I)
Desirable
- Awareness of health & safety or infection(A/I)
- Experience of audit or research (A/I)
- Knowledge of the needs of children with life-limiting conditions (A/I)
- Resilience and ability to remain calm under pressure (A/I)
- Ability to relate to the multi-disciplinary team within the hospice. (I)
- Actively seeks opportunities
- for personal and professional development (A/I)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Childrens Nurse (A)
- ENB 998 or C&G 7307 or equivalent(A)
- Ability to travel independently throughout the locality with access to suitable vehicle for business purposes (A)
Desirable
- Childrens Palliative Care Qualification (A)
Experience
Essential
- 2 years post registration experience (A)
- Competent delivery of core nursing clinical skills (observations, clinical competence, empathy and compassion, critical thinking) (A/I)
- Experience of working with children with complex needs (A/I)
- Experience of working in a skill mixed team (A/I)
- Experience of mentoring students (A/I)
- Experience of partnership working across agencies in hospice/ hospital/community/education(A/I)
Desirable
- Experience in hospice or palliative care setting (A/I)
- An understanding of end-of-life care or child bereavement (A/I)
- Experience using electronic records systems (A)
- Experience in audit(A/I)
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Good verbal and written communication skills (A/I)
- The ability to carry out a wide range of clinical skills (A/I)
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team (A/I)
- Planning and organisational skills (A/I)
- Awareness of the national guidance and policies relating to children (A/I)
- Knowledge of safeguarding and consent (A/I)
- Able to define own personal boundaries and professional behaviours (I)
- Compassionate and respectful approach (A/I)
- Demonstrate a positive, confident attitude (I)
- Ability to prioritise and use own initiative (A/I)
- Supportive of others at all levels of the team (A/I)
- The ability to adapt to change (A/I)
- To be able to meet the requirements of the post
- Flexible working to meet shift requirements
- Present a professional appearance appropriate to the role (I)
Desirable
- Awareness of health & safety or infection(A/I)
- Experience of audit or research (A/I)
- Knowledge of the needs of children with life-limiting conditions (A/I)
- Resilience and ability to remain calm under pressure (A/I)
- Ability to relate to the multi-disciplinary team within the hospice. (I)
- Actively seeks opportunities
- for personal and professional development (A/I)
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).
Additional information
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).
