Community Palliative Care Nurse / Community Palliative Care Paramedic

Job responsibilities

Job summary

The clinical nurse specialist or clinical paramedic specialist is a key worker role. The clinical nurse specialist/clinical paramedic specialist acts a keyworker for the person living with cancer and other life limiting illnesses. They hold regular supported conversations with the person, identifying their wide range of needs through a holistic needs assessment. They develop a comprehensive care and support plan for the person living with cancer, and other diseases, addressing their health concerns and working to promote their health, wellbeing and independence. Using their skills and expertise in cancer or palliative care, the clinical nurse specialist/ clinical paramedic specialist delivers high standards of personalised care, providing physical and emotional support to their patients, coordinating their care services, and informing and advising them on clinical and practical issues associated with their illness. This leads to a more positive outcome for patients.

Leadership

This post offers an opportunity to develop into the role of a Clinical Nuse Specialist or Community Paramedic Specialist (Palliative). Working closely with our service lead team you will be supported to develop the skills and competencies required.

As a member of the Community Specialist Palliative Care Team providing specialist palliative care and advice to patients, families, carers and other health and social professionals with in the North Brent community.

Work as a safe and autonomous team member responsible for individual clinical cases. Efficiently managing own caseload of patients.

Support the requirements of individuals with life limiting non curative diagnosis who have consented to referral to the community specialist palliative care service.

Support the primary care services with complex management of individuals within the community.

Acting as a key orchestrator of specialist palliative care and support of generic palliative and end of life care as provided by other health and social care providers.

Perform duties according to the values of the Hospice acting at all times to safeguard the interests of individual patients, their families and or carers.

Be accountable for personal professional practice in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Practice or Registered Paramedic HCPC. Clinical Care

Be responsible for a caseload of patients within the catchment area, working with the team to allocate and prioritise work appropriately providing clinical cover for absent colleagues, as required.

Support individualised care for each community patient. Encourage and advise patients in the community with life limiting non curative illnesses by providing specialist knowledge and expertise.

Practice holistic health assessment quality evaluation of interventions while communicating appropriate information with the relevant persons involved in the individual patient care.

Demonstrate advance communication skills.

Provide a supportive and advisory service to patients families, professional and non-professional carers.

Effectively liaise, communicate with and refer to all relevant professionals, statutory and voluntary agencies ensuring appropriate help, support and co-ordination of care for patients and carers.

Work collaboratively with other specialist services.

Act as a resource in all aspects of palliative care and facilitate the development of palliative care skills across the locality.

Implement evidence-based practice and participate in on going quality development with in at the hospice.

Demonstrate the highest regard for the principles of confidentiality and at no time disclose confidential information inappropriately.

Adopt a health educating approach to the care of patients and family.

Make available skilled bereavement care, utilising other members of the multidisciplinary team and agencies as appropriate.

To participate in an on-call over a 7 day service with support.

Managerial

Work collaboratively with the Community Team Leader and other professional colleagues to ensure efficient and effective team working in the day-to-day management of the service.

Participate and lead in the referral system, prioritising accordingly.

Manage own caseload, ensuring efficient use of resources. Regularly review caseload and identify issues and challenges through multidisciplinary discussion

Keep accurate and timely records of all patients, family and carer, health & social care professional interactions. Maintain all records in a safe and secure holding according to Hospice policy and procedure.

Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings and case conferences as appropriate and working with colleagues to identify needs and plan care.

Participate in audit and attend clinical and management meetings as required.

Participate in debriefing sessions, critical incident analysis and regular individual, or local team meetings

Meet regularly with colleagues for discussion, consultation and dissemination of information.

Understand the implications and assist where appropriate in the implementation of relevant local and national standards and guidelines to ensure the delivery of a high quality service for patients, families and carers.

Use time and financial resources effectively and efficiently.

Monitor own performance in the provision of care, ensuring that professional standards are always maintained.

Be a supportive and contributing member of the Hospice multi-disciplinary team and organisation.

Attend Primary care meetings.

Education/Training and quality

Maintain and improve professional competence, keeping abreast of the latest developments.

Promote good quality practice at all times.

Participate in the education, both internal and external to the hospice including induction programmes and support meetings for other professional staff.

Monitor own performance by working through competency assessments and reflective practice and identifying training and educational needs.

Share and disseminate information and expertise to colleagues.

Be involved in training and education as agreed with Clinical Nurse Lead.

Be involved in local and organisational audit and quality initiatives.

Regularly read and update personal and professional knowledge of palliative care nursing.

Regular attendance at in house statutory training requirements.

Skills / Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Effective time management skills
• Ability to manage conflict
• Ability to demonstrate organisational skills
• Ability to manage time
• Excellent written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in a confident and professional manner
• Self aware, reflective and proactive identifying and meeting own development needs
• Ability to practice safely and autonomously
• Be resourceful flexible and resilient.
• Demonstrate the ability to innovate and motivate others

Qualifications

Essential

• - NMC Registration RGN or RN Level 1 or Registered Paramedic
• HCPC
• Degree or Masters level of study in Health related topic (or willing to work towards)
• Post registration qualification in palliative care/oncology (or willing to work towards)
• Independent Nurse Prescribing (or willing to work towards)

Desirable

• MSC in related Health Topic
• Teaching Qualification
• Leadership training course
• Advanced communication skills training

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of palliative care and symptom management and the ability to use in care planning
• Experience of working at Senior Nurse level or above
• Experience of leading and managing
• Experience of working as part of a multi professional team
• Experience of mentorship and teaching
• Evidence of Holistic assessment skills and clear decision making skills
• IT skills Education/ presentation skills
• A working knowledge of clinical governance and evidence based practice
• Understanding of the CNS/CPS role in palliative care

Desirable

• Experience in Oncology - Dementia - chronic conditions and or palliative care
• Specialist knowledge of palliative care and symptom management Experience of clinical supervision
• Experience of Community Nursing
• Awareness of the use of clinical supervision in practice
• Experience of working in a Palliative Care Team
• Experience of audit and research

Other

Essential

• Car owner/driver
• Willingness to work to meet the demands of the service

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).