Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job responsibilities

Management and Quality

• Independently assess the patient needs, identify their goals and work with the patient and family towards achieving them.
• To collect and report accurate information relating to patients caseload and dependencies.
• To make appropriate referrals to the multi-disciplinary team and work collaboratively with a wide range of community-based services.
• To actively seek and identify areas where changes to routines and practices will result in improvements.
• Observe legal requirements regarding the security and administration of drugs in accordance with the NMC Standards for Medicines Management (2007).
• Prioritise and distribute referrals equitably amongst the team members ensuring patients are seen according to need.
• Effective caseload management within the locality team; this will include reviewing patients for discharge at three months or sooner.
• Record contemporaneous and accurate patient records according to NMC guidance.
• Work within The NMC Code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics.
• Contribute to the aims and objectives of improving health and wellbeing outcomes, including health promotion, widening access to services and reducing health inequalities by maintaining awareness of current trends and developments.
• Participate in the planning and undertaking of patient and carer satisfaction surveys contributing to action plans to address the identified outcomes.
• Actively participate in audit programmes and clinical governance initiatives for the organisation.
• Participate in, and where appropriate undertake, research as approved by St Margarets Research and Education Forum.
• Actively contribute to the implementations of hospice strategic and business objectives.
• Contribute to and participate in the review and development of policies, procedures and strategies in the interest of users, the team and the organisation.

Practice & Leadership

• Record concisely, accurately and confidentially the appropriate elements of the history, examination, results of investigations differential diagnosis and management plan within the electronic health records. Navigate different IT systems to ensure holistic care for patients and families ie EMIS, Rio, Sider, SMH electronic health records.
• Present cases clearly, consistently and professionally to the multi professional team contributing effectively in patient management.
• Provide clinical expertise, and specialist advice and support to assess and analyse highly complex situations, including patients with multiple comorbidities, complex psychological or social issues.
• Demonstrate an in depth knowledge of the options for achieving control of symptoms and ability to advise the primary healthcare team.
• Plan and manage own caseload and prioritise response to referrals and urgent requests for advice.
• Participate in primary care Gold Standards Framework meeting, Primary care network meetings with GPs and in Care Homes.
• Explore the personal resources of families and carers in order to ensure patients are cared for in the place of their choice.
• Support carers at home in managing a relative whose condition is deteriorating.
• Recognise and manage palliative care emergencies.
• Demonstrate safe mobilisation and movement of patients in the community and how to obtain appropriate equipment.
• Initiative advance care planning discussions and documentation, visible on different IT systems.

Communication

• Manage complex communication issues with patient and families as a lone worker in the community; using advanced level of knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills
• Anticipate potential problems, or barriers to communication, and take action to improve the communication skills and strategies of the team.
• To discuss sensitive and emotional information with patients and their families/carers Involve patients and carers in decision making, offering them informed choices and respecting their views.
• Work collaboratively with all relevant health and social care professionals and agencies
• Gather and provide information using appropriate questioning, avoiding jargon using familiar language, at the patients own pace.
• Remain professionalism and facilitate appropriate boundaries within the nurse-patient relationship.

Education and Training

• Maintain expert clinical knowledge and skills, using evidence based practice.
• Develop and provide relevant education programmes internally and externally.
• Continually provide informal education in the clinical setting to meet these needs and ensure continuing promotion of excellence in palliative care.
• Maintain own continuing professional development, including a reflective portfolio of evidence, as required by the NMC for revalidation.
• Participate in the induction, training and mentorship of new staff, and the teaching of all staff up to and including post-graduate level
• Provide support, assessment and mentorship of student nurses with St Margarets on pre-registration nursing programmes.
• Participate in clinical supervision, significant event meetings within the hospice and within the locality setting.
• Provide learning opportunities for other health and social care workers via mentorship and supervision. This includes providing inter-professional support for staff of all disciplines and clinical placements.
• Undertake any necessary skills, training and mandatory training as appropriate to the post
• Maintain revalidation requirements according the NMC.

Self Awareness

Essential

• Recognises own limitations.
• Ability to work flexibly and respond to changing or conflicting priorities.
• Effectively manages multiple tasks and priorities
• Ability to meet deadlines.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse 1 RN1
• Degree level or equivalent study in related subject, such as acute oncology, palliative care, chronic conditions management (or willing to work towards).
• Post registration qualification or experience in palliative care/oncology or related subject
• Recognised teaching qualification or prepared to work towards.
• A willingness to undertake further study at Masters level regardless of point of entry
• Commitment to continuing education and professional development at an advanced level

Desirable

• Non-medical prescribing qualification
• Advanced Communication skills including negotiation and diplomacy skills
• Physical assessment and clinical reasoning (PACR)
• Managing Qualification

Working with others

Essential

• Calm and objective.
• Is assertive not aggressive
• Treats confidential information sensitively and in line with policy
• Positive role model to the team and service
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to a diverse range of people

Outcome and Results

Essential

• Ability to work autonomously with minimum supervision, managing time, work commitments and priorities.
• Recognises and understands own roles and responsibilities
• Able to prioritise and manage caseload effectively.
• Shares and communicates information clearly and in a timely way.

Leading in your area

Essential

• Relevant post-registration experience in cancer, palliative care or relevant speciality.
• In-depth specialist experience in care of patients with complex needs.
• Recent leadership and management experience
• Experience of multi-professional working.
• Experience of mentorship and teaching
• Computer literate, able to use word documents, database and e-mail communication.

Desirable

• Experience of community nursing
• Understanding and commitment to audit and research.
• Excellent presentation and report writing skills.
• Knowledge of End of Life Care tools and their application in practice.

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).