CNS Palliative Care

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

Clinical/Professional

Constantly practices autonomously by assessing and effectively prioritising referrals to the service in order to deliver patient focused appropriate care in the context of a whole service approach.

Provide a specialist and holistic palliative care assessment of patients and their carers needs following referral, which realistically minimises physical symptoms and the social, financial, emotional and spiritual implications of the disease process.

In negotiation with the patient, their carers, and the wider multidisciplinary team, formulate a plan of care using specialist knowledge and skills dependent on the level of specialist intervention required.

Provides highly specialist care and advice for patients and carers, and assists the multidisciplinary team in delivering and evaluating the interventions/ plan of care, reviewing and amending this care as appropriate.

Frequently acts as a primary resource for site-specific specialist nurses, nursing/medical teams and the multi disciplinary team.

Acts as a key-worker in co-ordinating care across different professionals and agencies. Facilitates and assists with complex discharge planning to home, hospice or other facility.

Regularly assesses patient for inpatient admissions to specialist palliative care level 2 bedded units. Has admission rights to palliative care inpatient unit in liaison with Consultant in Palliative Medicine.

Frequently elicit and analyse complex patient/carer/ family reaction, needs, dynamics occurring throughout the patient/carers journey. Instigate action to facilitate the development of a therapeutic relationship between the patient/carer and members of the MDT to enhance intra-family communication.

Frequently initiates and participates in highly sensitive and complex communication issues with patients, carers, nursing/medical teams; including pre-bereavement support, advice and imparting life changing news, e.g a terminal illness.

Regularly participates and contributes to relevant site-specific multidisciplinary team meetings.

Regularly reviews and develops appropriate patient documentation in line with Trust policy and Department of Health recommendations.

Participates and contributes to cancer network meetings to ensure the profile of palliative care is maintained.

An understanding of the National Cancer Agenda and its impact on cancer service delivery in practice.

Be involved in the consultation of a 24 hour palliative care advice service in line with Department of Health guidelines.

To offer a nurse prescribing service to palliative care patients in line with Department of Health and Acute Trust guidelines which will reduce patient and carers distress by being able to prescribe immediately and appropriately in response to patient needs.

Uses a palliative care database that includes patient registration, clinical details and interventions that are shared with the community palliative care team, the consultant in Palliative Medicine, the Primrose Hospice and the inpatient palliative care unit.

To participate in a 7 day palliative care visiting service that includes weekends and bank holidays.

Education

Constantly acts as a resource for information on specialist palliative care within the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, disseminating evidence based knowledge and skills to clinical staff at levels.

Effectively utilises informal education opportunities with patients, carers and professionals.

Educates patients and their carers in the understanding of their illness, treatments and provides other sources of information, help and support.

Plan and coordinate formal and informal educational programmes to involve all aspects of generic and specialist palliative care within the acute and community trust, and for other agencies e.g The Primrose Hospice, St Richards Hospice.

Specifically identifies the educational needs of multi-professionals and delivers programmes to meet these needs, locally and as part of a county wide network.

Participates in county wide palliative education initiatives and development, e.g the Palliative Education Strategy.

Works in conjunction with the Consultant in Palliative Medicine to provide education and training to rotational specialist registrars and the induction of medical and surgical house officers.

Provides placements/mentorship for professionals studying palliative care/oncology at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Develops and produces written information for patients, carers and professionals on palliative care services.

Research and Audit

Ensures clinical effectiveness by critically appraising current research and applying it to practice.

Develops and participates in appropriate nursing and medical research.

Undertakes research relevant to palliative care following Trust guidelines, disseminating findings to the multi-professional team.

Regular audit of issues relevant to current service provision, reviewing and amending practice as a result.

To be involved in clinical effectiveness issues, particularly the introduction of patient pathways e.g. working with the End of Life team

Co-ordinates the development, implementation and review of relevant nursing policies, procedures and documentation, ensuring a consistent evidence based approach to patient care.

Personal and Professional Responsibilities

Maintains a programme of personal and professional development by attending in-service training and utilising relevant educational opportunities. e.g, courses, conferences, seminars.

Functions effectively as a specialist practitioner in line with the recommendations of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Department of Health and operates as a member of the Palliative Care Team and wider multidisciplinary teams.

Uses clinical supervision to maintain and improve practice.

To be alert to ones own psychological health needs with reference to working in palliative care and the needs of others and to be able to receive and offer support when needed.

Work with the service manager in developing service policy and delivery, participating in projects, education and consultation as appropriate.

Maintain high professional standards of care and professional expertise.

Using a palliative care database, keep accurate records, submit statistical returns and compile reports as required

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years at Band 6
• Experience of working within the field of palliative care in a variety of settings.
• Able to work autonomously and part of a team.
• Teaching experience

Desirable

• Able to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Teaching experience
• Caseload management

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Expert clinical skills in speciality
• Able to manage own workload
• Able to perform assessment planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care.
• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationship with colleagues across health and social care setting.
• Good IT skills and email.
• Evidence of writing protocols/ Standards.
• Evidence of effective team working across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Able to present information to professional groups.
• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues, and policy relating to cancer care and end of life care
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Good understanding of Research

Desirable

• Participation in primary research
• IT skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Demonstrates flexibility
• Able to perform a wide range of duties

Other job requirements

Essential

• Able to participate in a 7 day service to include Weekends and bank holidays

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse Part 1 Recognised NMC teaching and assessing qualification
• 1st Level Degree qualification
• Post registration qualification in relevant speciality.
• Advanced Communication Skills

Desirable

• Participating or working towards masters level study in a relevant area
• Non medical Prescribing qualification.
• Adult Health Assessment Qualification

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).