Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
CLINICAL EXPERTISE, LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORKING
Work within community services to respond to referrals and individuals and carers the telephone and visiting caseloads within allocated geographical areas as the need dictates in line with community service standards, to offer skills of a clinical nurse specialist.
Provide specialist holistic telephone assessment and support ongoing for healthcare professionals, in line individuals, carers and loved ones with service standards.
To work within an allocated Clinical Nurse Specialist role daily to ensure smooth service provision and allow for flexibility of service demand
Provide face-to-face holistic assessment and monitoring either at home, hospice onsite session or within a specialist outreach environment.
Responsible for initial contact to all new referrals and re-referrals to community services to:
Provide expertise in complex symptom control and advise any health care professionals associated with palliative care, helping them to evaluate the effects of prescribed interventions and recognise and appropriately manage palliative care emergencies.
Offer skilled psycho/social support for individuals with palliative care or end of life needs as well as loved ones, providing them with appropriate information about their condition, its management and the services available to support them both pre and post bereavement.
Liaise with other hospice services regarding their waiting list and any other matters.
Take responsibility for assessment and clinical judgement of those persons at home known to the service, referred for admission to the hospice ward.
Administer subcutaneous injectable medication as prescribed, in the persons place of residence as authorised in the event of an urgent need, being competent to do so; and following assessment and clinical judgement and with appropriate equipment.
Provide ongoing telephone support to individuals under hospice care/ loved ones/carers whilst the person is waiting to be seen by other hospice services.
Gather, document and co-ordinate information from other professionals and the specialist care teams relating to individuals referred to community services
Promote and facilitate communication within the multi-disciplinary team and in all other settings utilising advanced communication skills.
Lead on a specialist area of non-malignant interest and participate in any related meetings, audits and network opportunities using allocated sessions as part of the Saint Francis Hospice Widening Access programme.
Participate in weekly multidisciplinary meetings internally and as allocated at external acute hospital MDT and ensure that the palliative care service has a high profile with other disciplines and professionals
Responsibility for attendance and contribution at monthly team meeting when on duty.
Embrace the importance of multi-professional team working and the ability to champion it within the organisation.
Be aware of behaviours and interpersonal skills that are vital to effective team working and always practicing them with ongoing commitment to service and organisation values.
Possess a proactive and supportive leadership style that encourages team participation in decision-making processes.
Be able to show a high level of empathy, understanding and appreciation of others with ability to respect different values and beliefs. To be mindful of the wellbeing of self and others. To be able to work effectively across teams, with a positive can -do approach
Accurately, document and report incidents relating to GDPR, medications, accidents or other event, ensuring learning opportunities explored and prevent reoccurrences.
Maintain accurate, up to date documentation in accordance with Saint Francis Hospice policies and within guidelines laid down by your professional body e.g NMC
Input, record and maintain all form of records (written and electronic), data and statistics onto icare and any other data collection systems in place in accordance with hospice policies
Participate and maintain service standards, and prepare written reports regarding services provided, as requested
Contribute to the audit, monitoring and development of the community services
Have a flexible approach to supporting the community services with face to face home assessments & regular on-calls as per rota
Participate in the community team on-call rota as allocated- this will include overnight (5pm-9am), (NB: calls are triaged by the hospice ward 23.00-07.00am,) and all weekend/Bank Holiday cover 7 days a week for all persons known to Saint Francis Hospice services and external professionals .The Clinical Nurse Specialist will:-
o Use the provided mobile phone and respond to calls urgently, as safe to do so.
o Be responsible for the laptop, equipment bag when used and any additional items.
o Be responsible and manage own personal safety as laid down in the Lone Working Policy
o Ensure working from home, environment appropriate for telephone calls and use of laptop
o Ensuring confidentiality with remote access working
o Take responsibility to discuss any exceptional demand on call that occurs with Community Team Lead to ensure support post event.
EDUCATION AND QUALITY
Participate in the development and delivery of an education strategy for nursing and other disciplines relating to all aspects of palliative care in both formal and informal settings.
Attend mandatory training as specified by the hospice
Responsible for development and delivery of individual educational sessions within organisational teaching programme and responsive to external requests as appropriate
Take responsibility for own professional development, in accordance with appraisal and performance review.
Attend study courses in agreement with line manager and maintain current registration of the required qualifications for the post with professional body e.g NMC. Ensure practice in the field of palliative care remains evidence based and ensure up to date.
dissemination of relevant findings.
Be involved and support the Gold Standard Framework Training Programme with GPs, in Care Homes and in any other settings as appropriate and availability allows.
Review, initiate and participate in research programmes as appropriate using the findings to enhance clinical standards, clinical effectiveness and outcomes.
Ensure that post registration-training meets the requirements necessary to be considered a clinical specialist within the field of palliative care as a clinician.
Commitment to educational opportunities provided, ensuring development use of clinical diagnostics and nurse prescribing skills during face-to-face assessments either onsite or in persons home in accordance with organisational guidelines.
Generate and utilise appropriate learning opportunities, applying own learning to future development of practice-attendance at organisational or external updates.
Articulate and reflect palliative care skills, enabling others to learn and be responsible for acting as a resource and sharing of knowledge to help others develop increased skills across the organisation.
Be responsible in the role of mentor for new and more junior staff within the team and organisation.
Implement and evaluate planned teaching programmes.
MANAGEMENT
Be responsible for and manage service (individual & corporate combined) case-load, whilst ensuring that the palliative care service remains responsive to crisis support, all new referrals and those seeking advice.
Establish and maintain effective lines of communication with hospital, multi services in the community and other organisations to ensure continuity of care.
Initiate and develop policies, protocols, standards and relevant care pathways within the team and ensure that there is a systematic programme of audit in place, planned and reviewed annually.
Participate in forums for discussion on research and audit programmes, and in clinical governance initiatives e.g. clinical review
Undertake and lead audits relevant to the service and ensure that audit results presented at local and national forums as appropriate to influence practice and demonstrate strong effective clinical leadership as change agents.
Embrace new concepts and ways of working, generating improvement for team and individuals/loved one's experience.
Participate & engage in group clinical supervision/reflective practice and self-evaluation and use this to improve care and practice.
Maintain yearly appraisals and monthly supervision with line manager
Support to Team Lead with learning opportunities for cross cover of operational internal/ external meetings as appropriate. Responsible for
management and organisation of own workload and prioritisation of work within core hours on duty as part of organisational service provision.
