South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Nurse for Specialist Palliative Care - South

The closing date is 27 May 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and experienced nurse leader to join South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust as the Lead Nurse for Specialist Palliative Care, South Community Team. This is a key role, responsible for the strategic and operational delivery of specialist palliative care services with a strong focus on integration, innovation and quality improvement.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be managerially accountable for the specialist palliative care team.

In conjunction with the ACNO for the Division, provide effective clinical leadership to the specialist palliative care team, enabling the service to deliver to the highest possible care standards in line with evidence based practice.

To promote the key values of palliative care within community, primary and secondary care settings throughout Warwickshire.

To build a single cohesive team across the county, linking community and hospital staff and interfacing with the independent and voluntary sectors.

Act as an excellent role model, providing clear visible leadership reflecting the organisational leadership charter in service development and management.

To be accountable and responsible for standards of care and to monitor and evaluate service and patient care outcomes using this information to continually improve the service.

Interpret national policy and ensure compliance to quality and performance standards.

To provide clear direction and leadership for all staff members with regard to legal, ethical and moral dimensions of nursing and care.

To be accountable for the achievement of aligned quality performance indicators for the services.

This role is anticipated to be 20% clinical caseload and 80% managerial duties for Specialist Palliative Care Teams in Community Settings in Warwickshire South.

About us

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Details

Date posted

13 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

203-CS895

Job locations

South Warwickshire Hospital

Warwick

CV34 5BW


Job description

Job responsibilities

Main duties

To be responsible for the operational and strategic planning of an integrated service for specialist palliative care at a county-wide level together with other providers, the General Manager and the Clinical Director for End of Life Care.

Lead workforce planning for the specialist palliative care team and ensure this aligns to Out of Hospital and corporate workforce planning processes.

Develop and integrate new roles within a care pathway context with appropriate underpinning systems

Lead in the development and provision of specialist palliative care education and training both within the Specialist Palliative Care Teams as well as participating in education planning across providers within the locality.

Develop and implement outcome framework for specialist palliative care team using validated outcome measures such as Outcome Assessment Complexity Collaborative (OACC).

Develop and support reflective practice and learning in all its forms with staff.

Represent palliative care in appropriate task or working groups and strategic forums.

Ensure service developments incorporate user views and involvement (in Partnerships). Take a proactive approach at listening to service user views and those of bereaved relatives and use this information to drive continual quality improvements.

Proactively benchmark the service with others regionally and nationally to ensure our service provides the best possible care and learns from others.

Co-ordinate and influence research and development agenda for specialist palliative care within the Trust.

In conjunction with the General Manager, support the development of Business plans for services and implement changes to meet the strategic objectives of the Trust business plans, national and local policies and public health needs of the local population, taking the designated lead where required.

In consultation with relevant others (staff, HR Team and Finance Department) lead and develop clear plans for the recruitment, deployment and management of people.

Liaise and inform both the General Manager and ACNO regarding implications of resource decisions for the service.

Participate within the disciplinary process where appropriate and in accordance with Trust policies.

Undertake investigations to deal with complaints and Serious Untoward Incidents as per Trust policies as they arise throughout the Out of Hospital Collaborative division.

Measurable Result Areas:

Ensure a consistent approach to the use and provision of financial, quality and statistical data to drive quality improvement.

Proactively manage the most efficient use of resources to ensure efficient budget management. Maintain robust links with the Finance and Performance departments to deliver key financial and business related targets.

Hold delegated budget responsibility for specialist palliative care budgets, liaising closely with the General Manager to develop appropriate strategies to achieve financial balance.

In conjunction with the General Manager, develop, implement and monitor quality, safety and performance outcomes.

In conjunction with the General Manager, play a key role in the continued development of the services in line with national policy, taking the designated lead where required.

Ensure Commissioning Quality and Innovation standards outcomes are met and reported on in a timely fashion.

Responsible for the implementation of good systems for corporate and clinical governance to ensure the service can demonstrate it meets all the CQC domains.

Use change management and development tools (such as process mapping and re-design methodologies) to support modernisation of the service.

Report progress against key performance targets on a weekly and monthly basis, proactively identifying problems and developing solutions in conjunction with the General Manager.

Participate in service performance ensuring that all KPIs are achieved.

Gather, analyse, interpret and present extensive and complex data and information to continually question and drive quality improvements.

Undertake clinical audits, patient questionnaires and collate and compile the results. This also requires interpretation and dissemination of the findings.

Identify appropriate and valid sources which can provide data and information of sufficient quality and quantity to ensure the service can demonstrate how it provides safe, effective, caring and responsive and well led care to the population of Warwickshire.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Translate the Out Of Hospital Vision and strategic direction of South Warwickshire Foundation Trust into the service objectives and plans.

Responsible for providing clear information on identified operational and quality performance targets (national & local), identifying problems and recognising solutions in conjunction with the General Manager.

Support the development of clear communication channels to support sound clinical practice and strong working relationships.

Ensure all staff are aware, understand and are performing against the key performance indicators targets and Trust objectives.

Keep abreast of system wide Health and Care innovations and developments and other internal and external influences. Use this to proactively inform service delivery and service development.

Lead on service evaluations, reviews and reconfiguration, this may impact on service delivery or employment

Present to the public and statutory bodies on issues such as reconfiguration of service delivery.

Ensure staff utilise the links to local neighbourhood schemes and initiatives, including the Voluntary and Independent Sector, and to other community services delivered on an area basis.

Provide leadership to support and inspire colleagues to develop innovative practice and continually improve the quality of care provision.

Develop positive and collaborative working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders and colleagues.

Assist all stakeholders in establishing clear lines of communication with all multi-disciplinary groups. Establish a forum to facilitate the cascade and exchange of evidence based practice.

Proactively engage with relevant stakeholders such as GP leads and practices, Warwickshire County Council, Age UK, Community teams and acute hospitals

Act as a professional and clinical role model.

Undertake clinical rounds as appropriate.

Ensure staff attends relevant development events to maintain and develop required skills to meet competencies.

Ensure staff are appropriately supervised and appraised in line with relevant policies and that the appropriate developmental opportunities are provided to staff.

Ensure robust performance management systems are implemented and underpin the performance of all teams, undertaking performance monitoring and reviews of staff where appropriate.

Ensure sickness absence targets are met and that sickness absence is monitored and managed according to SWFT policy.

Ensure individuals within teams are aware of and work within SWFT policies and procedures.

Take a lead role in developing and implementing local induction processes for all local staff, ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are in place for health & safety, fire training, manual handling and other statutory and/or clinical governance training.

Undertaking any projects that may be delegated by the General manager

Such other duties as are within the spirit of the job purpose, the title of the post and its grading.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main duties

To be responsible for the operational and strategic planning of an integrated service for specialist palliative care at a county-wide level together with other providers, the General Manager and the Clinical Director for End of Life Care.

Lead workforce planning for the specialist palliative care team and ensure this aligns to Out of Hospital and corporate workforce planning processes.

Develop and integrate new roles within a care pathway context with appropriate underpinning systems

Lead in the development and provision of specialist palliative care education and training both within the Specialist Palliative Care Teams as well as participating in education planning across providers within the locality.

Develop and implement outcome framework for specialist palliative care team using validated outcome measures such as Outcome Assessment Complexity Collaborative (OACC).

Develop and support reflective practice and learning in all its forms with staff.

Represent palliative care in appropriate task or working groups and strategic forums.

Ensure service developments incorporate user views and involvement (in Partnerships). Take a proactive approach at listening to service user views and those of bereaved relatives and use this information to drive continual quality improvements.

Proactively benchmark the service with others regionally and nationally to ensure our service provides the best possible care and learns from others.

Co-ordinate and influence research and development agenda for specialist palliative care within the Trust.

In conjunction with the General Manager, support the development of Business plans for services and implement changes to meet the strategic objectives of the Trust business plans, national and local policies and public health needs of the local population, taking the designated lead where required.

In consultation with relevant others (staff, HR Team and Finance Department) lead and develop clear plans for the recruitment, deployment and management of people.

Liaise and inform both the General Manager and ACNO regarding implications of resource decisions for the service.

Participate within the disciplinary process where appropriate and in accordance with Trust policies.

Undertake investigations to deal with complaints and Serious Untoward Incidents as per Trust policies as they arise throughout the Out of Hospital Collaborative division.

Measurable Result Areas:

Ensure a consistent approach to the use and provision of financial, quality and statistical data to drive quality improvement.

Proactively manage the most efficient use of resources to ensure efficient budget management. Maintain robust links with the Finance and Performance departments to deliver key financial and business related targets.

Hold delegated budget responsibility for specialist palliative care budgets, liaising closely with the General Manager to develop appropriate strategies to achieve financial balance.

In conjunction with the General Manager, develop, implement and monitor quality, safety and performance outcomes.

In conjunction with the General Manager, play a key role in the continued development of the services in line with national policy, taking the designated lead where required.

Ensure Commissioning Quality and Innovation standards outcomes are met and reported on in a timely fashion.

Responsible for the implementation of good systems for corporate and clinical governance to ensure the service can demonstrate it meets all the CQC domains.

Use change management and development tools (such as process mapping and re-design methodologies) to support modernisation of the service.

Report progress against key performance targets on a weekly and monthly basis, proactively identifying problems and developing solutions in conjunction with the General Manager.

Participate in service performance ensuring that all KPIs are achieved.

Gather, analyse, interpret and present extensive and complex data and information to continually question and drive quality improvements.

Undertake clinical audits, patient questionnaires and collate and compile the results. This also requires interpretation and dissemination of the findings.

Identify appropriate and valid sources which can provide data and information of sufficient quality and quantity to ensure the service can demonstrate how it provides safe, effective, caring and responsive and well led care to the population of Warwickshire.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Translate the Out Of Hospital Vision and strategic direction of South Warwickshire Foundation Trust into the service objectives and plans.

Responsible for providing clear information on identified operational and quality performance targets (national & local), identifying problems and recognising solutions in conjunction with the General Manager.

Support the development of clear communication channels to support sound clinical practice and strong working relationships.

Ensure all staff are aware, understand and are performing against the key performance indicators targets and Trust objectives.

Keep abreast of system wide Health and Care innovations and developments and other internal and external influences. Use this to proactively inform service delivery and service development.

Lead on service evaluations, reviews and reconfiguration, this may impact on service delivery or employment

Present to the public and statutory bodies on issues such as reconfiguration of service delivery.

Ensure staff utilise the links to local neighbourhood schemes and initiatives, including the Voluntary and Independent Sector, and to other community services delivered on an area basis.

Provide leadership to support and inspire colleagues to develop innovative practice and continually improve the quality of care provision.

Develop positive and collaborative working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders and colleagues.

Assist all stakeholders in establishing clear lines of communication with all multi-disciplinary groups. Establish a forum to facilitate the cascade and exchange of evidence based practice.

Proactively engage with relevant stakeholders such as GP leads and practices, Warwickshire County Council, Age UK, Community teams and acute hospitals

Act as a professional and clinical role model.

Undertake clinical rounds as appropriate.

Ensure staff attends relevant development events to maintain and develop required skills to meet competencies.

Ensure staff are appropriately supervised and appraised in line with relevant policies and that the appropriate developmental opportunities are provided to staff.

Ensure robust performance management systems are implemented and underpin the performance of all teams, undertaking performance monitoring and reviews of staff where appropriate.

Ensure sickness absence targets are met and that sickness absence is monitored and managed according to SWFT policy.

Ensure individuals within teams are aware of and work within SWFT policies and procedures.

Take a lead role in developing and implementing local induction processes for all local staff, ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are in place for health & safety, fire training, manual handling and other statutory and/or clinical governance training.

Undertaking any projects that may be delegated by the General manager

Such other duties as are within the spirit of the job purpose, the title of the post and its grading.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered in Health or Social Care Professional Qualification
  • 1st level Degree or equivalent
  • Recent CPD
  • Management and/or leadership Qualification
  • Specialist training or equivalent experience to Master's

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum 2 years in a specialist palliative care setting at a senior level. Band 7 or above.
  • Demonstrate a leadership role in clinical Audit and Research.
  • Evidence of direct involvement in change management.
  • Experience in development and implementing clinical protocols and guidelines.
  • Evidence of leading teams and services with demonstrable abilities in successful personnel management.
  • Evidence of experience of standard setting, quality improvement and change management.

Desirable

  • Team building experience

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to use network IT skills to input and retrieve data.
  • Must be able to communicate using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills to encompass verbal, written and electronic formats.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with professionals, users and carers.
  • Commitment to work across professional boundaries.
  • Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the need for confidentiality in all aspects of the work of the department.
  • Knowledge of recent NHS policy and regulatory responsibilities.
  • Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of Equal Opportunities.
  • Committed to teaching and training incorporating audit, research and evidence based practice.
  • Understanding of the nature of hospital, community and voluntary sector working.
  • Excellent time management skills.
  • Demonstrable leadership capability and skills.
  • Ability to negotiate effectively
  • Ability to resolve conflicting priorities

Desirable

  • Counselling experience.

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Able to work autonomously and also as a member of the wider team.
  • Demonstrate interpersonal skills required to initiate and manage change.
  • Ability to motivate others.
  • Innovative and creative thinker.
  • Flexible in approach.

Other

Essential

  • Participate in Specialist Palliative Care Out of Hours telephone advice service.
  • Work flexibly across Warwickshire to meet service needs.
  • Must have independent means of transport.
  • Must be a non-smoker during working hours.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered in Health or Social Care Professional Qualification
  • 1st level Degree or equivalent
  • Recent CPD
  • Management and/or leadership Qualification
  • Specialist training or equivalent experience to Master's

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum 2 years in a specialist palliative care setting at a senior level. Band 7 or above.
  • Demonstrate a leadership role in clinical Audit and Research.
  • Evidence of direct involvement in change management.
  • Experience in development and implementing clinical protocols and guidelines.
  • Evidence of leading teams and services with demonstrable abilities in successful personnel management.
  • Evidence of experience of standard setting, quality improvement and change management.

Desirable

  • Team building experience

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to use network IT skills to input and retrieve data.
  • Must be able to communicate using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills to encompass verbal, written and electronic formats.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with professionals, users and carers.
  • Commitment to work across professional boundaries.
  • Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the need for confidentiality in all aspects of the work of the department.
  • Knowledge of recent NHS policy and regulatory responsibilities.
  • Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of Equal Opportunities.
  • Committed to teaching and training incorporating audit, research and evidence based practice.
  • Understanding of the nature of hospital, community and voluntary sector working.
  • Excellent time management skills.
  • Demonstrable leadership capability and skills.
  • Ability to negotiate effectively
  • Ability to resolve conflicting priorities

Desirable

  • Counselling experience.

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Able to work autonomously and also as a member of the wider team.
  • Demonstrate interpersonal skills required to initiate and manage change.
  • Ability to motivate others.
  • Innovative and creative thinker.
  • Flexible in approach.

Other

Essential

  • Participate in Specialist Palliative Care Out of Hours telephone advice service.
  • Work flexibly across Warwickshire to meet service needs.
  • Must have independent means of transport.
  • Must be a non-smoker during working hours.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Warwickshire Hospital

Warwick

CV34 5BW


Employer's website

https://www.swft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Warwickshire Hospital

Warwick

CV34 5BW


Employer's website

https://www.swft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

General Manager

Rachel Tompkins

rachel.tompkins@swft.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

13 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

203-CS895

Job locations

South Warwickshire Hospital

Warwick

CV34 5BW


Supporting documents

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