Job summary
St Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington is seeking a highly knowledgeable, proactive and motivated expert clinician and leader to join our clinical management team, to support our specialist palliative care provision to patients, carers and families across our hospice services.
If you are passionate about palliative care and want to be part of an effective team that makes a real difference within the community, then this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
You should be able to commit to three to five 7.5 hour shifts (22.5 – 37.5 hours) per week, with a view to developing a full 7-day service model.
St Teresa’s Hospice Band 8a (£42,274.19 – £50,728.81 per annum, pro-rata). Permanent or fixed term contract considered.
Employer: St Teresa’s Hospice (independent registered charity)
Important application info:
Successful applicants are required to provide an enhanced disclosure with a check of the adult barred list. Disclosure expense will be met by St Teresa’s Hospice. All posts are subject to a six-month probationary period.
This job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.
Please be aware that we do not have a sponsor licence, and are therefore only able to appoint candidates who are eligible to work in the UK.
Main duties of the job
We are a forward thinking, inclusive registered Charity with Inpatient, Outpatient and Community services, providing care and support to palliative patients and their families in their own homes and at St Teresa’s Hospice.
In this post, you will be able to work autonomously and independently to assess and treat referred patients with complex specialist palliative care needs, both in the hospice and community settings. You will provide specialist holistic advice and support to address complex issues.
As part of our specialist team, you will manage and mentor our Clinical Nurse Specialist, and work together with our IPU and Community Service Leads and local palliative care consultants as our internal clinical lead post.
You will have an integral role in the development of the end of life services within the Hospice and the wider community; providing leadership and mentorship to our nursing team and participating in specialist palliative care audit.
Essential qualifications and skills include:
- NMC registration as a Nurse Independent Prescriber, and an MSc in a relevant subject,
- Significant post-registration palliative care clinical experience at a senior level,
- Knowledge of national guidelines and standards in cancer and palliative care, and understanding of the health economy,
- Experience of service, policy and clinical strategy development.
Please see the job description and person specification.
About us
Join an organisation where we all work together for a shared charitable goal, based in beautiful grounds, with a community feel and an inclusive culture.
Benefits of working for St T's include:
- Training and development opportunities
- Flexible working schemes
- Generous company annual leave, sick pay, and maternity/paternity/adoption pay entitlements
- Continuation of existing NHS pension scheme at Band 5+, and other pension schemes available
- Opportunities to attend and participate in fun and exciting fundraising and awareness events, including discounted tickets to our annual Hospice Ball
- Annual staff workshop and workforce events, including long service awards
- Employee Assistance Programme including free counselling/CBT
- Discounted complementary therapies including acupuncture & massage
- Subsidised onsite Bistro
- Free eye tests for computer users
- Hospice-based staff are eligible for free annual flu jabs
Please contact HR for further details.
St Teresa’s Hospice complies with GDPR during the recruitment and selection process. For information on how we process your data, please see the NHS Jobs Privacy Notice and St Teresa’s Hospice Recruitment Privacy Notice.
St Teresa’s Hospice is a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to employing and retaining disabled people, and we encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. JOB PURPOSE
To champion and pioneer innovative practice in the delivery of palliative care and end of life care services at St Teresa’s Hospice and in the community served by the Hospice, and to be the Clinical Governance Lead for the Hospice. To lead in the development of a multi-professional and seamless service, integrating the Hospice’s specialist palliative care service with other healthcare services, voluntary services and social services. To fulfil all the dimensions of the Nurse Consultant’s role, embracing expert practice, leadership (including line management), service development, consultancy, education and training.
2. ORGANISATIONAL CHART
(see full job description which is available to download from Supporting Documents)
3. DIMENSIONS
The Clinical Governance Lead:
Lead clinician with responsibility for Clinical governance within St Teresa’s Hospice.
Expert Practitioner:
Working closely with medical colleagues to establish and maintain quality clinical care in the Hospice’s catchment area.
Practice Development:
Lead clinician to establish strong links between nursing practice, research and education.
4. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
- Chief Executive
- Director of Care Services
- Registered Manager
- Palliative Care Team
- All St Teresa’s Hospice Nursing teams/roles
- Specialist Palliative Care Teams (community and hospital)
5. KEY RESULT AREAS
Clinical Duties:
- To work autonomously in the assessment and development of clinical management, including prescribing where appropriate, and to communicate recommendations to the Primary Healthcare teams to ensure a seamless delivery of care; providing expert professional advice and support to patients, carers, multi-disciplinary team members and service managers
- To identify and prioritise referrals to the Hospice, working with other professionals including the CDDFT medical consultant to ensure a timely and effective response for patients
- To receive independent direct referrals as expert nurse and take responsibility for a caseload of patients with complex palliative care needs. Working autonomously to develop care plans, organising treatment interventions, and prescribing as a non-medical prescriber for inpatients, community and outpatients consistent with the NMC scope of Professional Practice
- To devise programmes of care, based on knowledge and experience, and either directly admit or support admission of, or discharge of, patients to/from the hospice as appropriate
- To provide skilled nursing interventions for patients, working closely with multi-disciplinary teams, to ensure a coordinated response to complex problems, working across the boundaries of inpatient outpatient and community care as appropriate, and to review progress of patients
- To engage with families and carers of patients, in particular those with complex needs, using advanced communication skills to identify their needs, respond to them and engage other professionals as appropriate
- To lead in the implementation of established frameworks (e.g. GSF, Deciding Right, etc.), and the development of novel solutions and innovative clinical practice in palliative and end of life care, based upon patient need
- To work in partnership with other healthcare services in establishing integrated pathways for care
- To be an expert in specialist palliative care, advising colleagues, within and without the Hospice on relevant issues including advanced symptom control, ethical issues at the end of life and complex packages of care
- To participate in clinical supervision
- To develop working practices (for self and teams) following advances in clinical practice, education and/or research
Practice and Service Development
Working closely with the Director of Care Services:
- To serve as the lead clinical nurse within the Hospice, advising the strategic management team on relevant issues in nursing
- To contribute to establishment of new plans for the development of clinical skills across the Hospice
- To lead a programme of development for nurses within the Hospice to increase their clinical expertise and confidence addressing areas of practice around decision making, assessment, clinical interventions including symptom control
- To advise clinical colleagues and help them in the development and analysis of assessment skills incorporating social, psychological and physical assessment of need
- To demonstrate and share good practice and innovations within the organisation
- To disseminate clinical and educational findings to develop nurse-led initiatives
- To provide professional leadership and mentorship to nurses (including nurse prescribers)
- To undertake staff appraisals and prepare personal development plans as applicable
- To contribute to succession planning, and recruitment and selection in clinical service
- To be the organisational lead for Clinical Governance regarding:
- to lead in the interpretation and implementation of appropriate clinical statutory directives, guidelines and regulations
- to consider new models of care to meet the diverse and changing needs of the population and to work with colleagues to establish, monitor and review pathways of care; taking into account strategies to involve service users in service planning, development and delivery
- working with the Director of Care Services to develop strategies for interdisciplinary, interagency and cross boundary integrated practice, and develop links with other healthcare organisations
- to clarify and strengthen the role of the Hospice in delivery of end of life care tools, contributing to development of new tools as appropriate
- To support the delivery of cost effective services
- To contribute to raising the profile of St Teresa’s Hospice
Regulatory Compliance - To work with the Registered Manager and other staff as necessary to ensure compliance with regulators such as the CQC by embedding good trackable practice into everyday work and monitoring it via the clinical governance work plan.
Audit Lead
- To be the clinical lead for audit, working closely with the Data & Quality Assurance Manager and clinical department managers to ensure the annual plan is updated and that scheduled audits are completed and followed up with education/changes to practice as necessary.
Education and training
To work with the Head of Workforce Development to:
- identify a strategic approach for development, delivery and evaluation of clinical education and training and its impact on service provision
- Design and deliver education, giving inspirational and aspirational guidance to nursing staff
- To identify internal training needs and lead in the development of continued education programmes for the nursing teams
- To lead in developing and maintaining specialist palliative care skills in the clinical staff, including nursing staff, therapists, trainee GP’s, visiting professionals
- To link regionally in developing and disseminating good practice in palliative care
- To pursue personal and professional development
- To establish a working relationship with an academic centre, providing education pertinent to palliative care nursing at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
- To lead on new initiatives designed to build new skills and learning in key groups of clinical staff
6. MANAGEMENT - To work with the Director of Care Services to oversee and provide leadership for the management and strategic direction of clinical services at the Hospice
- To review and monitor standards for best practice, contributing towards preparation for performance evaluations
- To contribute to the delivery of clinical governance within the organisation
- To advise the Strategic Management Team as a consultant advisor on issues relating to palliative and end of life care nursing, and in the development of policies and procedures
- To line manage St T’s Clinical Nurse Specialist(s), where in post
7. MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB
Dealing with the multiple priorities of excellent clinical practice and contribution to clinical governance, whilst acting as a consultant to the Strategic Management Team for all matters relating to palliative and end of life care service provision.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. JOB PURPOSE
To champion and pioneer innovative practice in the delivery of palliative care and end of life care services at St Teresa’s Hospice and in the community served by the Hospice, and to be the Clinical Governance Lead for the Hospice. To lead in the development of a multi-professional and seamless service, integrating the Hospice’s specialist palliative care service with other healthcare services, voluntary services and social services. To fulfil all the dimensions of the Nurse Consultant’s role, embracing expert practice, leadership (including line management), service development, consultancy, education and training.
2. ORGANISATIONAL CHART
(see full job description which is available to download from Supporting Documents)
3. DIMENSIONS
The Clinical Governance Lead:
Lead clinician with responsibility for Clinical governance within St Teresa’s Hospice.
Expert Practitioner:
Working closely with medical colleagues to establish and maintain quality clinical care in the Hospice’s catchment area.
Practice Development:
Lead clinician to establish strong links between nursing practice, research and education.
4. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
- Chief Executive
- Director of Care Services
- Registered Manager
- Palliative Care Team
- All St Teresa’s Hospice Nursing teams/roles
- Specialist Palliative Care Teams (community and hospital)
5. KEY RESULT AREAS
Clinical Duties:
- To work autonomously in the assessment and development of clinical management, including prescribing where appropriate, and to communicate recommendations to the Primary Healthcare teams to ensure a seamless delivery of care; providing expert professional advice and support to patients, carers, multi-disciplinary team members and service managers
- To identify and prioritise referrals to the Hospice, working with other professionals including the CDDFT medical consultant to ensure a timely and effective response for patients
- To receive independent direct referrals as expert nurse and take responsibility for a caseload of patients with complex palliative care needs. Working autonomously to develop care plans, organising treatment interventions, and prescribing as a non-medical prescriber for inpatients, community and outpatients consistent with the NMC scope of Professional Practice
- To devise programmes of care, based on knowledge and experience, and either directly admit or support admission of, or discharge of, patients to/from the hospice as appropriate
- To provide skilled nursing interventions for patients, working closely with multi-disciplinary teams, to ensure a coordinated response to complex problems, working across the boundaries of inpatient outpatient and community care as appropriate, and to review progress of patients
- To engage with families and carers of patients, in particular those with complex needs, using advanced communication skills to identify their needs, respond to them and engage other professionals as appropriate
- To lead in the implementation of established frameworks (e.g. GSF, Deciding Right, etc.), and the development of novel solutions and innovative clinical practice in palliative and end of life care, based upon patient need
- To work in partnership with other healthcare services in establishing integrated pathways for care
- To be an expert in specialist palliative care, advising colleagues, within and without the Hospice on relevant issues including advanced symptom control, ethical issues at the end of life and complex packages of care
- To participate in clinical supervision
- To develop working practices (for self and teams) following advances in clinical practice, education and/or research
Practice and Service Development
Working closely with the Director of Care Services:
- To serve as the lead clinical nurse within the Hospice, advising the strategic management team on relevant issues in nursing
- To contribute to establishment of new plans for the development of clinical skills across the Hospice
- To lead a programme of development for nurses within the Hospice to increase their clinical expertise and confidence addressing areas of practice around decision making, assessment, clinical interventions including symptom control
- To advise clinical colleagues and help them in the development and analysis of assessment skills incorporating social, psychological and physical assessment of need
- To demonstrate and share good practice and innovations within the organisation
- To disseminate clinical and educational findings to develop nurse-led initiatives
- To provide professional leadership and mentorship to nurses (including nurse prescribers)
- To undertake staff appraisals and prepare personal development plans as applicable
- To contribute to succession planning, and recruitment and selection in clinical service
- To be the organisational lead for Clinical Governance regarding:
- to lead in the interpretation and implementation of appropriate clinical statutory directives, guidelines and regulations
- to consider new models of care to meet the diverse and changing needs of the population and to work with colleagues to establish, monitor and review pathways of care; taking into account strategies to involve service users in service planning, development and delivery
- working with the Director of Care Services to develop strategies for interdisciplinary, interagency and cross boundary integrated practice, and develop links with other healthcare organisations
- to clarify and strengthen the role of the Hospice in delivery of end of life care tools, contributing to development of new tools as appropriate
- To support the delivery of cost effective services
- To contribute to raising the profile of St Teresa’s Hospice
Regulatory Compliance - To work with the Registered Manager and other staff as necessary to ensure compliance with regulators such as the CQC by embedding good trackable practice into everyday work and monitoring it via the clinical governance work plan.
Audit Lead
- To be the clinical lead for audit, working closely with the Data & Quality Assurance Manager and clinical department managers to ensure the annual plan is updated and that scheduled audits are completed and followed up with education/changes to practice as necessary.
Education and training
To work with the Head of Workforce Development to:
- identify a strategic approach for development, delivery and evaluation of clinical education and training and its impact on service provision
- Design and deliver education, giving inspirational and aspirational guidance to nursing staff
- To identify internal training needs and lead in the development of continued education programmes for the nursing teams
- To lead in developing and maintaining specialist palliative care skills in the clinical staff, including nursing staff, therapists, trainee GP’s, visiting professionals
- To link regionally in developing and disseminating good practice in palliative care
- To pursue personal and professional development
- To establish a working relationship with an academic centre, providing education pertinent to palliative care nursing at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
- To lead on new initiatives designed to build new skills and learning in key groups of clinical staff
6. MANAGEMENT - To work with the Director of Care Services to oversee and provide leadership for the management and strategic direction of clinical services at the Hospice
- To review and monitor standards for best practice, contributing towards preparation for performance evaluations
- To contribute to the delivery of clinical governance within the organisation
- To advise the Strategic Management Team as a consultant advisor on issues relating to palliative and end of life care nursing, and in the development of policies and procedures
- To line manage St T’s Clinical Nurse Specialist(s), where in post
7. MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB
Dealing with the multiple priorities of excellent clinical practice and contribution to clinical governance, whilst acting as a consultant to the Strategic Management Team for all matters relating to palliative and end of life care service provision.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Post-registration experience in palliative care at a senior level (NHS Agenda for Change Band 7 or higher, or equivalent)
- Experience of improving quality of care at both strategic and service level
- Experience of working in primary and secondary care
- Experience of working collaboratively with the cancer network
- Experience of innovation in practice
- Experience of modernisation initiatives
- Experience of cross-boundary and interagency working
- Experience of working with educational agencies and organisations
- Experience of education Delivery
- Experience of working in a leadership role involving service and practice development
Desirable
- Experience of promoting service user and carer involvement
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse with MSc in Clinical Nursing or related subject
- Independent Nurse Prescribing qualification with registration on NMC register
- Formal leadership training/teaching certificate
Desirable
- Achieved or working towards PhD
- Counselling qualification
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Excellent knowledge of pain and symptom control including therapies available to patients
- Excellent clinical skills, including clinical assessment
- Knowledge of national guidelines and standards in cancer and palliative care
- Understanding of the health economy
- Good understanding of clinical governance
- Portfolio of publications in palliative care
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Post-registration experience in palliative care at a senior level (NHS Agenda for Change Band 7 or higher, or equivalent)
- Experience of improving quality of care at both strategic and service level
- Experience of working in primary and secondary care
- Experience of working collaboratively with the cancer network
- Experience of innovation in practice
- Experience of modernisation initiatives
- Experience of cross-boundary and interagency working
- Experience of working with educational agencies and organisations
- Experience of education Delivery
- Experience of working in a leadership role involving service and practice development
Desirable
- Experience of promoting service user and carer involvement
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse with MSc in Clinical Nursing or related subject
- Independent Nurse Prescribing qualification with registration on NMC register
- Formal leadership training/teaching certificate
Desirable
- Achieved or working towards PhD
- Counselling qualification
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Excellent knowledge of pain and symptom control including therapies available to patients
- Excellent clinical skills, including clinical assessment
- Knowledge of national guidelines and standards in cancer and palliative care
- Understanding of the health economy
- Good understanding of clinical governance
- Portfolio of publications in palliative care
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).
