Central London Community Healthcare Trust are looking for an experienced Band 7 Heart Failure and /or Palliative care Nurse who is driven, enthusiastic and innovative, with experience and expertise in the care and management of patients with cardiac and palliative conditions. You will be joining our existing well established Heart Failure Team within the community setting, but also working closely with the Hospice of St Francis in a 50/50 joint capacity to develop this role to manage advanced heart failure patients with complex palliative care needs.

In addition to managing a caseload of heart failure patients in their own homes, and at the Hospice the post holder will take a lead role in the development and management of this innovative pathway to transform the way Heart Failure patients receive care across West Hertfordshire.

Main duties of the job

Heart Failure is a chronic illness and a leading cause of death despite the many advances in pharmacological, device based and surgical therapies. People living with long term conditions such as heart failure require an integrated approach to their care with a robust care pathway to meet their needs, from diagnosis through to end of life care. This post is building on the experience of both the heart failure and palliative care teams which suggest that people with advanced heart failure have considerable palliative care needs from both a high symptom burden and living with uncertainty.

• This new post will integrate the west herts community heart failure service with the Hospice of St Francis.
• The contract for the post will sit with CLCH community heart failure service with an honorary contract with the Hospice of St Francis. The service will operate both within the community and at the Hospice of St Francis

About us

Just as we care about our patients' wellbeing, we care about yours!

We can offer you:

• A comprehensive induction into the community service followed by a local induction to introduce you to the role
• Single occupancy accommodation in Central London - (we can help you find accommodation in London, support you with your deposit)
• Support with gaining your driving license *T& C's apply
• Car lease scheme *T& C's apply
• Flexible working options
• Annual travel card loan
• Training, support and development in your career

To have a full look at our benefits and what it's like working for us please go here: https://www.clch.nhs.uk/job/pay-and-benefits

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Working in conjunction with The Hospice Medical Director the Hospice Director of Care and the Clinical Lead for the heart failure service, to take the lead role in the project development and project management for the introduction and evaluation of the specialist pathway for palliative and end of life care recognised as meeting best practice standards
• Lead responsibility for actively engaging partners in the care at all stages of the project including patients, carers, GPs, Hospital, NHS Community, Hospice, voluntary and third sector colleagues through the facilitation of focus groups and open days.
• Establish and manage a project reference group to ensure the inclusion of the lived experience of patients and families, evidence based specialist practice and clinical standards, current published research to inform the project, agree milestones, evaluation, audit and reporting
• Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationships across a wide and varied stakeholder group
• Develop and evaluate assessment tools that will ensure an appropriate level of nursing intervention so that patients who present with the most complex needs receive the most appropriate specialist care
• Direct, support, encourage and advise clinical teams, by the provision of specialist knowledge and advice in the care of patients within the area.
• The post holder will be expected to develop and hold an appropriate caseload of heart failure/palliative care patients.
• Utilise specialist skills to assess clinical condition and interpret and analyse results of investigations
• Identify appropriate patients requiring support from the Heart Failure Virtual Hopsital/and/or Hospice team
• Identify appropriate patient requiring intravenous/subcutaneous diuretic support
• Provide expert advice, guidance and information to health and social care professionals and other non-professionals both within and external to the organisation.
• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and other appropriate statutory guidelines.
• Work within national & locally agreed evidence-based protocols, initiating / titrating and optimising therapeutic treatment within locally agreed guidelines when appropriate.
• Assess and manage clinical risk for the benefit of self, colleagues and patients in line with the Risk Management Policy.
• Assess and manage non-clinical risk for the benefit of self, colleagues and patients in relation to the Lone Worker policy.

Please refer to the attached Job Description for full list of responsibilities

Person Specification

Education/Qualification

Essential

• Nursing Degree qualification or equivalent
• Current NMC registration
• Independent Nurse Prescriber (or willingness to undertake)
• ENB 998 /mentorship qualification /equivalent
• Advanced Communications Skills training
• Specialist Heart Failure Course (or willingness to undertake)
• Specialist Palliative care course (or willingness to undertake)

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years post registration experience
• Able to demonstrate knowledge and possess competencies in the management of patients with heart failure
• Extensive experience as an autonomous practitioner managing a complex caseload
• Experience of working as a nurse in more than one clinical setting (acute/community/hospice)
• Up to date evidence of continued professional development and of reflective practice
• Excellent working knowledge of relevant NICE and other National guidelines for heart disease
• Understanding of clinical governance and its implications
• Experience of cross boundary working in partnership and collaboration with health, social and voluntary sectors
• Experience of teaching, and mentorship
• Experience of participation in research, audit and evaluation
• Post registration qualification relevant to area of practice
• Experience of receiving and delivering clinical supervision

Desirable

• Experience in managing cardiac conditions specifically heart failure
• Experience of working in a palliative care setting
• Evidence of experience in research

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent presentation and communication skills
• Able to demonstrate clinical problem solving skills
• Ability to utilise a range of communication methods appropriate to the subjects and the recipients with the ability to overcome barriers
• Ability to maintain accurate and legible documentation
• Good written/spoken English
• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Competent in the use of Information Technology- including electronic patient records and virtual meeting platforms
• Demonstrate advanced assessment and clinical skills
• Evidence of the ability to maintain and monitor high standards of care
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present data
• Effective time management and organisation

Personal qualities

Essential

• Shows care and consideration to both patients and Colleagues
• Highly motivated with the ability to work on own initiative and without on-site supervision
• Reliable, flexible and an excellent team player.
• Ability to work under pressure
• Able to deal with highly emotional or distressing situations
• Pursues on-going personal/ professional development Willingness to uphold the Trust's values

Other

Essential

• Willingness to uphold the Trust's values
• Eligible to live and work in the UK
• Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
• Willing to work across all sites in West Hertfordshire

Employer details

Employer name

Central London Community Health Trust

Address

Hemel One

Hemel Hempstead

HP2 7YU

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

824-HERTS-5065-A