Job summary

The UHL Specialist Palliative Care team are an established team of both senior nurses and medical team who work across the 3 hospital sites , providing specialist palliative and end of life care and advice to adult patients.

We are offering an exciting opportunity for you to join the established and dynamic Hospital Palliative Care Team as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. You will be working within a large acute teaching trust carrying out holistic assessments and reviews of patients with palliative care needs.

**Within the Band 6 role there will be the opportunity to complete a competency framework which will allow progression to a Band 7

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic nurse with a passion for palliative care; with associated experience and a degree or willingness to undertake a degree in a subject relevant to palliative care. Education to health and allied care professionals is an integral part of the role and you will participate in delivering a regular education programme to staff.

If successful, you will be involved in implementing and embedding a number of key initiatives to enhance end of life care across the Trust. In return we will offer you a supportive environment whereby you can develop your skills to become an autonomous practitioner and develop in-depth specialist knowledge within the field of palliative and end of life care.

The role requires the flexibility to work over 7 days from 9-5.

Main duties of the job

As the post holder, you will work within the nurse specialist team, delivering specialist palliative care interventions to patients, including symptom management and psychological support, alongside providing advice and support to families and staff throughout our hospitals.

You will be expected to provide complex symptom management advice to patients with both malignant and non malignant life limiting disease across the 3 hospital sites.

About us

We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals. We have our very own Children's Hospital and run one of the country's leading heart centres.

Our team is made up of more than 17,000 staff providing a range of services primarily for the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

We work with partners at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University providing world-class teaching to nurture and develop the next generation of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, many of whom go on to spend their working lives with us.

Our purpose is to provide 'Caring at its best' and our staff have helped us create a set of values that embody who we are and what we're here to do. They are:

• We focus on what matters most
• We treat others how we would like to be treated
• We are passionate and creative in our work
• We do what we say we are going to do
• We are one team and we are best when we work together

Our patients are at the heart of all we do and we believe that 'Caring at its best' is not just about the treatments and services we provide, but about giving our patients the best possible experience.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: (leicestershospitals.nhs.uk)

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

To manage a caseload of patients within specialist palliative care, carrying out holistic assessments and providing individualised patient care. To provide clinical expertise and specialist advice within palliative and end of life care. To act as a resource and offer ongoing support to ward areas, working alongside staff to ensure the implementation and development of high quality end of life care. To participate in the promotion of patient-centred care, establishing and maintaining a supportive relationship with the patient and their family. To support and enable patients and carers to make informed decisions about their treatment and care options. To actively participate in the development of the specialist palliative and end of life care service, by ensuring the use of evidence-based practice and clinical standards within the speciality. To contribute to the development of policies and clinical guidelines for the specialist palliative and end of life care service. To assist in developing a framework to provide specialist knowledge, education and training across the wider health community as required, to all members of the multidisciplinary team. To provide professional support and clinical guidance to nursing staff within the speciality as required. To participate in the implementation, maintenance and evaluation of new methods and practices in relation to specialist palliative and end of life care. To contribute to audit and research activities within the speciality, and in collaboration with colleagues To participate in the promotion of specialist palliative and end of life care by publishing and presenting innovations and research findings locally and nationally.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Head of Service for Palliative Care Head of Nursing Macmillan Palliative / End of Life Care Lead Nurse Macmillan Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists Palliative Care Consultants and Registrars Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Care Professional colleagues across UHL Chaplaincy & Bereavement Services LOROS Hospice Community Palliative Care Nurse Specialists Discharge Team

KEY RESULT AREAS

To provide specialist knowledge and expertise in the delivery of high standards of patient care. To demonstrate appropriate expert practice and specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care. To promote and deliver high standards of care at all times which utilises research based evidence, and is audited and improved accordingly. To work autonomously delivering ward-based educational sessions to all clinical staff groups, including the provision of educational material. To plan and deliver education and training for the multidisciplinary team, about palliative and end of life care. To demonstrate continuous evaluation of the service and own practice and make changes where appropriate, within the defined speciality. To lead and participate in key developments and initiatives relating to specialist palliative and end of life care. To establish and maintain effective working relationships at both ward and operational levels, in order to influence change of practice and commitment. To act as an educational resource, mentor and role model, demonstrating high standards of care, and providing clinical leadership in specialist palliative and end of life care. To work closely with the Palliative / End of Life Care Lead Nurse to effectively implement end of life care initiatives across UHL. Where appropriate, contribute to clinical guidelines and protocols, and lead the implementation process. Facilitate an environment in which ethical issues are recognised, debated and acted upon. Facilitate good reflective practice to enable the development of others.

MAIN CHALLENGES

Act as a clinical expert and role model for specialist palliative and end of life care. Maintain own level of expert knowledge and participate in education and development of all levels of staff. Support staff in implementing key enablers of the Route to Success initiative, identify and constructively challenge areas of poor practice.

PROFESSIONAL

At all times ensure that own actions support and promote equality, diversity and the rights of patients, the public and colleagues within the health care environment. At all times display exemplary standards of behaviour and ensure own work practices, and attitudes provide an example of professionalism for all staff. Support the health care team to provide a suitable learning environment that is conducive to the acquisition of further skills and knowledge, for formal and informal personal and professional development. Convey and present specialist information, written or verbal, formal or informally as appropriate, provide written reports as required. Supports patient and public involvement within the sphere of practice.

MANAGERIAL

Support the implementation of change and the development of the service within the specialist area of practice, leading staff and facilitating the change process whilst encouraging others to be innovative and adaptable in their approach to change. Make use of all available methods of communication to build and develop effective communication networks and processes both within and external to the specialist area and Trust. To influence implementation of end of life care initiatives through participation in meetings. To enhance the post-holders own professional development through appraisal, in collaboration with the Palliative / End of Life Care Lead Nurse. To initiate and implement change effectively in response to clinical demands. To contribute to audit and research activities within the speciality and in collaboration with colleagues.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Assist the Palliative Care Team with the collation of accurate education and training records in line with best practice and adhering to Trust guidelines. To actively participate in education meetings/events and networks within the Trust and University as required.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

To work closely with the Palliative / End of Life Care Lead Nurse and identified medical lead to ensure a robust multidisciplinary approach. To develop effective working relationships with ward managers, medical, nursing and allied health professionals across UHL. To actively participate in local networking to maintain an expert level of practice.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND PATIENT SAFETY

Encourage and foster a culture that supports lessons learned from adverse events and to provide relevant education and training to assist with closing the loop. Ensure patient safety through programmes of effective and relevant education and staff compliance with policies and practices Facilitate the implementation of new ways of working that benefits patient safety and the patient user experience. Ensure as far as possible under their sphere of influence that all staff are fit for purpose and practice.

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND EXPERIENCE

Assist the Sister / Charge Nurses and their staff to increase and raise the profile of patient and public feedback. Provide support to the nursing team by evaluating and taking action on patient feedback. Promote patient and public involvement by developing new initiatives that support patient-centred care.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse
• Degree/ willingness to work towards in subject relevant to nursing / palliative care
• Teaching Qualification

Desirable

• Advanced Communication Skills Training

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Evidence of Palliative Care Experience & Knowledge
• Evidence of continued professional development in relation to Nursing/ Palliative Care

Desirable

• Experience at Band 6 level or above

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Evidence teaching in clinical and classroom settings
• Evidence of Leadership skills
• Demonstrates personal and professsional maturity

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

358-5294972-COR