Job summary
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in End-of-Life Care provides expert guidance and support to patients, families, and healthcare staff in managing the complex needs of patients nearing the end of life. Assessing patients' and family's needs holistically and providing support at end of life focussing on 'what matters most' to them & their support network. This role focuses on delivering high-quality, compassionate care that respects the dignity & wishes of the patient & their family. The CNS acts as a leader in end-of-life care, offering education, developing care plans & ensuring the integration of best practices in end-of-life care across the healthcare continuum.
The End-of-Life care team is part of the Palliative Care Department. The teams work closely with their medical colleagues whilst working autonomously managing their own clinical caseloads, participating in the delivery of education, and undertaking audits & service improvement projects. The clinical caseloads are varied which reflects the diversity of the patient population of the Trust and enables close working with the many specialties that make up our unique Trust. The End-of-Life Care team works in close partnership with several specialised teams, including the Butterfly Volunteers, the Bereavement Team, Mortuary Services, the Spiritual Healthcare Team & the Fast Track Team. Together they ensure that patients and their families receive holistic, compassionate & seamless care during the final stages of life.
Main duties of the job
Main responsibilities of the role include:
- Clinical Expertise: Provide advanced clinical care and consultation in managing symptoms, pain, and emotional distress for patients nearing the end of life.
- Patient and Family Support: Offer support and guidance to patients and families, helping them navigate the challenges of end-of-life care, including decision-making and advance care planning.
- Education and Training: Develop and deliver educational programs for nursing staff and other healthcare professionals on palliative and end-of-life care practices on the wards and in a classroom setting when required.
- Care Coordination: Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and outside charities and support services to create and implement individualised care plans that align with the patient's wishes and best practices in end-of-life care.
- Advocacy: Advocate for patient rights and ensure that care delivered respects the cultural, spiritual, and personal values of the patient and their family.
- Quality Improvement: Lead initiatives aimed at improving the quality of end-of-life care services, including the development and implementation of new protocols and care models
- To deliver education based on the 6 Ambitions for palliative and end of life care and the 5 Priorities of care
This post involves participating in weekend and bank holiday working. Hours of working are 9 - 5
About us
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To manage a specified case load of patients, providing information and support, to enable patients to make informed choices about their care and understand the rational of investigations and treatments.
- To work closely with the Consultants, medical and nursing staff, multi-disciplinary team and Heads of Department within the Directorate.
- To ensure that patients are seen within recommended time scales and targets where these are in place.
- To visit inpatients as appropriate to ensure continuity of care and to give advice/ support.
- To accept referrals from medical/nursing staff both within and outside the Trust, of newly diagnosed and existing patients
- To periodically review caseload and to discharge patients appropriately within divisional guidelines
- To respond to telephone enquiries and co-ordinate admission or changes in appointment dates as warranted by the patients clinical condition, including operation of a telephone helpline for the relevant speciality if required.
- To undertake a comprehensive assessment of the patients symptoms and in liaison with the Medical team organise investigations as required.
- To supply and/or administer medication according to Patient Group Directions or in accordance with the Trusts Prescribing Policy for registered nurse prescribers.
- To communicate sensitive condition related information effectively with patients and carers in a timely and understandable manner, using different communication methods to clarify understanding.
- To liaise with other Specialists Nurses, Consultants, GPs, Dieticians, other members of the MDT, voluntary agencies, National charities, other agencies within and outside the Trust.
- To work as an autonomous practitioner responsible for managing and prioritising own workload against the needs of patients and service requirements
- To assist the Line Manager in the provision of clinical and managerial leadership and support of all nursing and clerical staff
- To deputise for senior colleagues in their absence as required
Please see the attached job description for full details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To manage a specified case load of patients, providing information and support, to enable patients to make informed choices about their care and understand the rational of investigations and treatments.
- To work closely with the Consultants, medical and nursing staff, multi-disciplinary team and Heads of Department within the Directorate.
- To ensure that patients are seen within recommended time scales and targets where these are in place.
- To visit inpatients as appropriate to ensure continuity of care and to give advice/ support.
- To accept referrals from medical/nursing staff both within and outside the Trust, of newly diagnosed and existing patients
- To periodically review caseload and to discharge patients appropriately within divisional guidelines
- To respond to telephone enquiries and co-ordinate admission or changes in appointment dates as warranted by the patients clinical condition, including operation of a telephone helpline for the relevant speciality if required.
- To undertake a comprehensive assessment of the patients symptoms and in liaison with the Medical team organise investigations as required.
- To supply and/or administer medication according to Patient Group Directions or in accordance with the Trusts Prescribing Policy for registered nurse prescribers.
- To communicate sensitive condition related information effectively with patients and carers in a timely and understandable manner, using different communication methods to clarify understanding.
- To liaise with other Specialists Nurses, Consultants, GPs, Dieticians, other members of the MDT, voluntary agencies, National charities, other agencies within and outside the Trust.
- To work as an autonomous practitioner responsible for managing and prioritising own workload against the needs of patients and service requirements
- To assist the Line Manager in the provision of clinical and managerial leadership and support of all nursing and clerical staff
- To deputise for senior colleagues in their absence as required
Please see the attached job description for full details.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse on the appropriate part of the NMC Register
- Have, or be working towards a relevant Degree qualification
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration experience including some in a position relevant to the speciality in the last 24 months
- Proven experience in teaching
Skills
Essential
- Ability to lead, motivate and to encourage others in a team
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse on the appropriate part of the NMC Register
- Have, or be working towards a relevant Degree qualification
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration experience including some in a position relevant to the speciality in the last 24 months
- Proven experience in teaching
Skills
Essential
- Ability to lead, motivate and to encourage others in a team
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
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).
