Hospice Clinical Nurse

Job responsibilities

Dimensions and Limits of Authority

Hospice Clinical Nurses (HCN) new in post will only take on the full aspects of the role post Probationary/Preceptorship period. For Newly Qualified HCNs this will be a minimum preceptorship period of 12 months

To work without supervision ensuring personal accountability in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives

To refer to a senior member of the clinical team for advice/guidance during a shift

To contribute to the coordination of a shift (post probation/ preceptorship period)

Qualification and Skills Level

Professional background as a Registered Nurse- Child, Adult or Learning Disabilities

Knowledge and/ or experience working in a childrens hospice or caring for children with life limiting/life threatening conditions

Part 2: MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Responsibility for Staff

To act as a positive role model by displaying CH values, attitudes, and behaviour. In clinical practice, role model by using evidence/research-based care and practice

To participate in in-service training programmes and teaching sessions

To participate in the orientation of new staff, students, and volunteers, acting as mentor when requested

To work alongside, supervise and induct new members of staff ensuring clinical tasks are delegated appropriately

To provide training and assessment in core competencies to new members of the team

To take responsibility for the appropriate delegation of duties to non-registered members of the care team

To assist and participate in the safe and smooth coordination of a shift, reporting to the senior clinical lead on duty at the time

Responsibility for Patient Care

To work in partnership with parents/carers to identify the care and emotional needs of the child/young person. To plan care recognising best practice and evidence-based guidelines

To be responsible for maintaining the care plans. Assessing and implementing care based on current evidence-based and researched best practice. Amendments will be negotiated with the child/young person and their parents/carers, documented, and communicated to the other members of the team

To accurately evaluate and document the care of the child/young person in accordance with NMCs guidance on documentation

To deliver all aspects of care following the individuals care, pain and manual handling assessment plan

To ensure patient safety by appropriate delegation of duties to suitably trained members of staff

To share responsibility within the Hospice to maintain a safe but homely environment taking into account health and safety, including infection control and risk assessments

To liaise with outside agencies from health, education and social care involved in the care and support of children/young people and their family

To be responsible and accountable for the safe administration of medicines on a shift basis ensuring medicine management policies and procedures are adhered to

To adapt the delivery of care according to the changing emotional, physical, and environmental demands

To be aware of and work to Safeguarding Children and (Vulnerable) Adults policies and procedures

To comply with manual handling policies and procedures

To attend regular meetings with the multi-disciplinary team to discuss individual children, respecting and inviting the sharing of skills and expertise

To provide early bereavement care and support, working in partnership with the Family Support Team

To be able to undertake the mental, physical, and emotional demands of the role, whilst at the same time taking care to safeguard their own health and safety as well as fellow care team members, children, young people and their family

3. Responsibility for Clinical Governance and Quality

To participate in quality measures for the delivery of care to maintain high standards through best practice

To be proactive in identifying ways of improving practice. Contributing positively to the development and audit of standards and, when appropriate, taking responsibility for identified project work

To participate in audit to enhance the delivery of care

To identify ways of continued quality improvement, using reflective practice through Clinical Supervision

To attend, actively participate and learn from significant event analysis

To actively complete clinical incident documentation in accordance with no blame and whistle-blowing policy

To adhere to and comply with all Hospice policies and procedures

4. Responsibility for Clinical Leadership and Practice Development

To take responsibility for maintaining his/her own professional development. Meeting with Senior Nurse/Team Coordinator for regular appraisals, identifying and agreeing personal targets

To share previous knowledge and experience that promotes best practice

To be competent in Claire Houses core clinical competencies and working toward extending such clinical skills

To ensure the economical and appropriate use of all resources within the Hospice

To be responsible for the safe use, storage and maintenance of equipment/technical apparatus

To maintain appropriate client records ensuring they are stored securely and confidentially

To attend and participate in Hospice meetings

To report and record all accidents and incidents in line with Hospice procedure safe guarding the welfare and safety of all staff during working hours with regard to the Health

and Safety at Work Act

To be fully involved in the process of preventing and controlling infections

To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the role, especially information regarding children/young people and their families

To participate in hospice special interest groups

5. General Claire House Requirements

Adhere to and comply with organisational policies, procedures and guidelines at all times

Implement risk management strategies (including reporting, registering risk and learning), taking all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment which is free from discrimination

Implement Health and Safety regulations through risk assessment. Maintain a constant awareness of health, welfare and safety issues affecting colleagues, service users, volunteers, visitors and themselves, reporting any accidents or faults in line with organisational policy. Participate fully in health and safety training

Comply with the organisational policy on confidentiality and the Data Protection Act 1998 relating to information held manually or on computerised systems

Respect the confidentiality and privacy of children, young adults, volunteers and staff at all times

Participate in personal training, development and appraisal, and attend all relevant training courses as required

Take part in organisational research

Embrace the positive volunteer culture which Claire House strives to create.

The post holder must act at all times in a professional and responsible manner and have due regard to confidentiality and Health & Safety legislation.

This is an outline job description and should not be regarded as an inflexible specification. Responsibilities will be reviewed periodically in line with service priorities and duties may change or new duties be introduced after consultation with the post holder. As a term of your employment you may be required to undertake such other duties, such as link roles, and/or hours of work as may reasonably be required, commensurate with your general level of responsibility with the organisation, at your initial place of work or at any other of the Claire House establishments.

DBS level: Enhanced with child and adult barred list

Our working premises are no smoking areas.

Qualifications

Essential

• RSCN/RN (Child), RGN & RNLD with relevant experience (including experience during Nurse Training for Newly Qualified Staff)
• Understanding/ evidence of NMC requirements in regard to continuous professional development (revalidation)

Desirable

• Recognised Mentorship qualification (degree level min)

Special Circumstances/Additional Requirements

Essential

• Basic IT skills

Desirable

• Car driver

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Positive attitude, values and behaviours
• Flexible able to cover a range of shifts in a
• 24-hour period
• Professional and approachable
• Supportive of colleagues, children and families
• Honest and trustworthy

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge and/ or Experience of working with children and young people with complex health needs

Desirable

• Experience of working in a childrens hospice (either through previous employment or student placement)
• Experience in paediatric complex health care palliative/ end of life care
• Experience of a variety of clinical skills
• Post registration consolidation/ experience in a relevant setting
• Knowledge/experience of working for a charity

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Effective communication skills; Communicate with peers and
• supervisors alike; Relates well with families and other healthcare professionals
• Motivated and willing to assist in the motivation and professional
• development of others
• Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise work load.
• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care
• Ability to record information in a concise, legible and accurate manner
• Good interpersonal and Team working skills.

Desirable

• Supervisory skills

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).