Job summary
Due to a member retiring we have a 0.6 WTE (22.5hrs/wk) vacancy for a Band 7 Clinical nurse Specialist in palliative care. This is an exciting time to join our team, which is a small but highly regarded multidisciplinary team which has been based within Whittington Hospital since the inception of the integrated care organisation: Whittington Health. The team covers the in-hospital palliative care needs of our patients, working closely with Islington and Haringey palliative care teams to provide seamless care before, during and after hospital admissions. We have a strong presence in all areas of the hospital and lead on education in palliative and end of life care. We received a "good" rating from the CQC for End of Life Care in April 2016.
Main duties of the job
To provide an autonomous nursing service using advanced clinical judgment and knowledge of palliative care.
To take responsibility for own evidence-based practice and implement and add to the body of knowledge that supports nursing practice within palliative care.
To lead and innovate nursing practice in palliative care both within the Trust and through local networks.
To develop all staff within the multidisciplinary team, providing support, advice, formal and informal education.
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a nursing service within palliative care by receiving direct referrals and undertaking assessments based on specialist palliative care needs not diagnosis.
To use advanced clinical judgement to plan, implement and evaluate care for patients with complex physical and psychological problems.
To manage an agreed caseload, under the supervision of the Nurse Consultant, using in depth knowledge of the patient / client group and acting as the key worker where appropriate.
To provide essential advisory and psychological care to patients referred to
the palliative care team.
To document all care given using the Trust guidelines and guidelines relevant to community palliative care providers.
To act as an expert role model in nursing care to other nurses within the
extended team.
To contribute to the development of nursing guidelines/protocols at a local/
network level.
To foster communications between patients, families, carers and health
professionals and to provide relevant support, information, education and
counselling as required and within an advocacy role.
To work within a flexible approach that is responsive to patient/client need.
For full responsibilities see job description
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a nursing service within palliative care by receiving direct referrals and undertaking assessments based on specialist palliative care needs not diagnosis.
To use advanced clinical judgement to plan, implement and evaluate care for patients with complex physical and psychological problems.
To manage an agreed caseload, under the supervision of the Nurse Consultant, using in depth knowledge of the patient / client group and acting as the key worker where appropriate.
To provide essential advisory and psychological care to patients referred to
the palliative care team.
To document all care given using the Trust guidelines and guidelines relevant to community palliative care providers.
To act as an expert role model in nursing care to other nurses within the
extended team.
To contribute to the development of nursing guidelines/protocols at a local/
network level.
To foster communications between patients, families, carers and health
professionals and to provide relevant support, information, education and
counselling as required and within an advocacy role.
To work within a flexible approach that is responsive to patient/client need.
For full responsibilities see job description
Person Specification
Essential and desirable
Essential
- Able to work autonomously and manage time effectively
- Excellent communication skills
- Experience of caring for patients with advanced progressive disease
Desirable
- Physical assessment skills
- Independent prescribing
- Advanced Communication skills training
- Experience of audit and quality improvement
- Knowledge of recent strategic developments in palliative care
Experience
Essential
- RGN with minimum of 5 years post registration
- Working at band 6 level or above for at least 2 years
Desirable
- 1st or 2nd degree in relevant nursing subject
- Experience of teaching
- Mentorship experience
- Has used clinical reflection or reflective practice in nursing
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of symptom control assessments and commonly used medications and dosages
- Post registration qualification in palliative/cancer/other medical specialty at Level 6
Desirable
- Opioid conversions
- Knowledge of grief models
Person Specification
Essential and desirable
Essential
- Able to work autonomously and manage time effectively
- Excellent communication skills
- Experience of caring for patients with advanced progressive disease
Desirable
- Physical assessment skills
- Independent prescribing
- Advanced Communication skills training
- Experience of audit and quality improvement
- Knowledge of recent strategic developments in palliative care
Experience
Essential
- RGN with minimum of 5 years post registration
- Working at band 6 level or above for at least 2 years
Desirable
- 1st or 2nd degree in relevant nursing subject
- Experience of teaching
- Mentorship experience
- Has used clinical reflection or reflective practice in nursing
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of symptom control assessments and commonly used medications and dosages
- Post registration qualification in palliative/cancer/other medical specialty at Level 6
Desirable
- Opioid conversions
- Knowledge of grief models
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.
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.
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).
