Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service

Clinical Nurse Specialist

The closing date is 09 June 2025

Job summary

Alexander Devine Childrens Hospice Service

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Band 7 (Equivalent)

£46,292 to £53,407 per annum

Full time (part time may be considered, minimum 22.5 hours per week)

We are looking for an experienced and caring individual to join our CNS Team to support children and young people with palliative and complex care needs. Forward thinking and with excellent clinical skills you will have the knowledge to provide advanced assessment and symptom management within a specialist childrens palliative care service caring for children, young people and their families.

Working with the Alexanders Care Team you will act as an expert resource to provide care to children and their families one to one in their own home and in our hospice in Maidenhead. You will have the chance to be part of a dynamic team and to work across different settings.

Main duties of the job

This is an outstanding opportunity to work with our growing team, where you will benefit from extensive training and development opportunities, clinical supervision, and a full induction period within a supportive and rewarding environment.

Working as part of the Alexanders Care Team, this post is to provide holistic care and support to children with a life threatening and life limiting condition and their families across the geographical area supported by Alexander Devine Childrens Hospice Service.

The post will involve a flexible, needs led approach to care delivery, supported by the Alexanders Care Team and under the leadership of the Director of Care.

For an informal discussion call please email Julie Hughes julieh@alexanderdevine.org.

For an application pack, please email fayd@alexanderdevine.org

About us

Alexander Devine Childrens Hospice Service (Alexander Devine) is a local charity that provides specialist care and vital support to babies, children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Berkshire and into surrounding counties.

We individualise our approach to meet the unique clinical, emotional and practical needs of each child and their family, ensuring they receive the best possible care and support. Our comprehensive range of care services include Respite care, Specialist play, Symptom management, Family support, End of life care and Bereavement support. We provide care from our childrens hospice in Maidenhead as well as in the family home and across the community, including hospitals and schools.

Our hospice facilities offer opportunities for children and their siblings to experience fun, joy and adventures, and help families make precious memories for as long as they have. These include a hydrotherapy pool, sensory room, music room, games room, outdoor playground and sensory garden, six childrens bedrooms and two self-contained family flats. We also have a dedicated bereavement suite with its own garden.

Details

Date posted

14 May 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£46,292 to £53,407 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

B0614-25-0003

Job locations

Snowball Hill

Maidenhead

Berkshire

SL6 3LU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Core Responsibilities

Professional/Clinical

1. Provide holistic and evidence based advanced nursing care to children and young people with complex palliative care, pain and symptom management needs

2. Act as a point of contact for specialist symptom management advice and non medical prescribing (NMP) for all children and young people within Berkshire and into surrounding counties

3. Participate and contribute towards weekly symptom management team caseload review meetings

4. As part of the 24/7 on call service, provide telephone advice and where necessary, hands on clinical assessment, advice and symptom management review

5. Support existing services to provide a co-ordinated multidisciplinary approach to the provision of palliative and end of life care for children

6. Work collaboratively with medical practitioners to provide symptom management advice and support

7. Ensure all children have appropriate symptom management and advance care plans and be able to write, review and update these as appropriate

8. Provide support as a keyworker for children, young people and their families

9. Contribute to ADCHS involvement in the Childrens Palliative Care Networks

10. Participate in research, audit and evaluation

11. Identify clinical risk and ensure all risk assessments are undertaken

Job description

Job responsibilities

Core Responsibilities

Professional/Clinical

1. Provide holistic and evidence based advanced nursing care to children and young people with complex palliative care, pain and symptom management needs

2. Act as a point of contact for specialist symptom management advice and non medical prescribing (NMP) for all children and young people within Berkshire and into surrounding counties

3. Participate and contribute towards weekly symptom management team caseload review meetings

4. As part of the 24/7 on call service, provide telephone advice and where necessary, hands on clinical assessment, advice and symptom management review

5. Support existing services to provide a co-ordinated multidisciplinary approach to the provision of palliative and end of life care for children

6. Work collaboratively with medical practitioners to provide symptom management advice and support

7. Ensure all children have appropriate symptom management and advance care plans and be able to write, review and update these as appropriate

8. Provide support as a keyworker for children, young people and their families

9. Contribute to ADCHS involvement in the Childrens Palliative Care Networks

10. Participate in research, audit and evaluation

11. Identify clinical risk and ensure all risk assessments are undertaken

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Detailed knowledge and understanding of Childrens palliative care and symptom management.
  • Ability to work effectively in an emotionally demanding environment.
  • Sound knowledge of symptom management.
  • Strong clinical leadership and people management skills.
  • Ability to coach and supervise.
  • Knowledge of current issues and recent initiatives in childrens health and social care.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of end-of-life care.
  • Knowledge of grief and bereavement.

Experience

Essential

  • Proven palliative care experience with relevant qualifications and experience of working at Bands 6/7 or equivalent.
  • Proven experience of working effectively in a team.
  • Experience of implementing change.
  • Proven experience of managing people/teams.
  • Ability to make high level clinical decisions and leadership decisions.
  • Community experience.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children and young people with complex needs and those who are non-verbal.

Other

Essential

  • Commitment to the values and ethos of ADCHS.
  • Flexible working hours on a 24 on-call basis.
  • Car Driver.
  • Ability to work alone and as part of a team.
  • Good IT skills.
  • Good knowledge of Health and Safety, Safeguarding and infection Control.
  • Able to assess risk to maintain personal safety in a variety of settings.
  • Passed fit for the post by Occupational Health.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Previous experience in a CNS role (or equivalent)
  • First Level Registered Nurse RSCN on RN Child Branch
  • Evidence of continuous personal and academic development

Desirable

  • Degree in Paediatric Palliative Care
  • Masters level
  • Advanced level Communication Skills
  • Community qualification
  • Extended paediatric assessment skills (or willingness to work towards)
  • Nurse Prescribing or NMP qualification or willingness to work towards
  • Teaching/mentorship qualification

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Good organisational skills.
  • Good influencing skills.
  • Proven teaching skills.
  • Advanced assessment skills.
  • Drive and enthusiasm with a positive approach.
  • Good team member with the ability to work autonomously.
  • Supportive in change management.
  • Caring and empathetic approach.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Flexible and adaptable to a variety of tasks.
  • Ability to prioritise effectively and work under pressure.
  • Uses initiative.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Detailed knowledge and understanding of Childrens palliative care and symptom management.
  • Ability to work effectively in an emotionally demanding environment.
  • Sound knowledge of symptom management.
  • Strong clinical leadership and people management skills.
  • Ability to coach and supervise.
  • Knowledge of current issues and recent initiatives in childrens health and social care.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of end-of-life care.
  • Knowledge of grief and bereavement.

Experience

Essential

  • Proven palliative care experience with relevant qualifications and experience of working at Bands 6/7 or equivalent.
  • Proven experience of working effectively in a team.
  • Experience of implementing change.
  • Proven experience of managing people/teams.
  • Ability to make high level clinical decisions and leadership decisions.
  • Community experience.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children and young people with complex needs and those who are non-verbal.

Other

Essential

  • Commitment to the values and ethos of ADCHS.
  • Flexible working hours on a 24 on-call basis.
  • Car Driver.
  • Ability to work alone and as part of a team.
  • Good IT skills.
  • Good knowledge of Health and Safety, Safeguarding and infection Control.
  • Able to assess risk to maintain personal safety in a variety of settings.
  • Passed fit for the post by Occupational Health.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Previous experience in a CNS role (or equivalent)
  • First Level Registered Nurse RSCN on RN Child Branch
  • Evidence of continuous personal and academic development

Desirable

  • Degree in Paediatric Palliative Care
  • Masters level
  • Advanced level Communication Skills
  • Community qualification
  • Extended paediatric assessment skills (or willingness to work towards)
  • Nurse Prescribing or NMP qualification or willingness to work towards
  • Teaching/mentorship qualification

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Good organisational skills.
  • Good influencing skills.
  • Proven teaching skills.
  • Advanced assessment skills.
  • Drive and enthusiasm with a positive approach.
  • Good team member with the ability to work autonomously.
  • Supportive in change management.
  • Caring and empathetic approach.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Flexible and adaptable to a variety of tasks.
  • Ability to prioritise effectively and work under pressure.
  • Uses initiative.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service

Address

Snowball Hill

Maidenhead

Berkshire

SL6 3LU


Employer's website

https://alexanderdevine.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service

Address

Snowball Hill

Maidenhead

Berkshire

SL6 3LU


Employer's website

https://alexanderdevine.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Details

Date posted

14 May 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£46,292 to £53,407 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

B0614-25-0003

Job locations

Snowball Hill

Maidenhead

Berkshire

SL6 3LU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)