Family Liaison Nurse

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

· To be responsible for the assessment of holistic care needs of all children, young people and their families, when referred to the service

· To manage a caseload of families acting as the family liaison nurse, signposting, advising and offering support as necessary

· To act as a clinical leader and expert in children’s palliative and end of life care, acting as a role model to all staff.

· To act in an advisory role to other professionals and staff from other agencies in respect of palliative and end of life care for children and families.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Responsibility for Children and Family Care:

· Responsible for the holistic, need based assessment of all child and family needs

· Responsible for the assessment of family information needs and the provision of information for children, young people and families, giving clear ongoing information as the child’s illness progresses, ensuring that parents are facilitated to maintain control and make informed decisions relating to the care of their child.

· Liaise with healthcare and social care professionals across organisations to ensure an integrated package of care and support designed to meet the specific needs of the family, is delivered and co-coordinated.

· To ensure all documentation is complete and kept up to date in accordance with Trust policy

· Work with care team members to implement systems that ensure effective day-to-day communication in respect of children’s and young people’s health and care management

· Contribute to the protection of children at risk in accordance with the Trust policy and area safeguarding procedures.

· To act as an advocate for the child and family.

· To attend Multi-disciplinary and safeguarding meetings as requested

· To engage in transition assessments and planning for young people going through transition and attend transition meetings wherever relevant

· To work with families to complete Advanced Care Plans to support their wishes around the future care of their child

Responsibility for Resources:

· Promote the safe and effective use of equipment and resources

· Observe a personal duty of care when using equipment.

· Inform and liaise with Director of Care in regard to resource needs, including skill mix

· Have a good knowledge of equipment available and process of appropriate equipment supply.

Strategic and service responsibilities:

· Attend meetings relevant to post

· Implement changes to established practices and/or policies

· Identify potential areas for service improvement and development

· Participate in and conduct audits of service

· Contribute to the development and provision of a safe, effective and efficient service

· To promote the philosophy of the Donna Louise beyond the establishment.

· To act at all times with the highest possible standards of integrity and professionalism, acting as a positive role model inside the organisation and an effective ambassador externally

Professional responsibilities:

· Ensure practice is effective and evidence based

· Responsible for own professional development

· To maintain NMC revalidation and registration

Experience

Essential

• - Minimum of 3 years post qualification working within the field of childrens nursing or children with learning disabilities
• - Experience of partnership working across agencies including social care, education and the voluntary sector.
• - Experience of working with children and families with palliative and / or complex care needs

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking assessments of children and families with multiple and complex needs in either a health or social are setting, including transition assessments

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• - Understanding of Advocacy needs of children, young people and families
• - Knowledge of the needs of young people with complex health and palliative care needs.
• - Ability to work independently and as a team member
• - Planning and organisational skills.
• - Able to define own personal boundaries and professional behaviour
• - Demonstrable advanced communication/ inter-personal skills
• - Demonstrable ability to engage with and develop constructive and supportive relationships with children, young people and families
• - IT skills including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook and Powerpoint)
• - Awareness of Equality & Valuing Diversity Principles.
• - Understanding of Confidentiality & Data Protection Act.
• - National policies and the wider agenda in relation to children.
• - Child Protection, safeguarding.
• - Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, research and audit.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the challenges and issues around transition for young people

Aptitudes & Attributes and other job requirements

Essential

• - Have an excellent face to face & telephone manner
• - Ability to relate to the multi-disciplinary team within the hospice.
• - Due to the nature of the workplace, a Covid vaccine is necessary for all new starters. You will be required to provide proof of your vaccine status.
• - Dress in a manner that conforms to accepted formal codes of business dress
• - Flexible working to meet shift requirements
• - Able to meet the requirement of the job role
• - Ability to travel independently throughout the locality with access to suitable vehicle for business purposes.

Qualifications

Essential

• - Registered Childrens Nurse/ RNCB or RNLD

Desirable

• - Advanced Communications Skills
• - Health Visitor Qualification
• - Childrens Palliative Care qualification

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).