Palliative Care Nurse

The post of Palliative Care Nurse will be community based and will provide, as part of a team, specialist, intermediate and generalist palliative care specific to the needs of patients, their carers and families. They will be accountable clinically to a Consultant in Palliative Care Medicine, and managerially to the Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist Palliative Care

Pay Band: Band 5, NHS Agenda for Change pay scale

Hours of Work: Monday Friday 37.5 Hours

Base: Whitchurch Hospital Grounds

Duration: Permanent

Accountable to: Clinically to Consultant in Palliative Medicine

Managerially to Consultant in Palliative Medicine and Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist

The post of Palliative Nurse will be community based and will provide as part of a team, specialist, intermediate and generalist palliative care specific to the needs of patients, their carers and families.

To work as a member of a specialist palliative care team and with members of the primary health care team in the community.

To work closely with and to develop professional relationships with health care professionals and other palliative care teams within hospitals, the community and hospices.

To play an active role in the promotion of holistic day-care in the Hospice centre.

To demonstrate excellent clinical skills.

Provide assessment of physical and psychological needs of patient, their families and carers.

Advise and liaise with the primary health care team and secondary care team on treatment and care as appropriate

Maintain effective communication with the team within City Hospice, primary health care teams, hospital teams, hospices and other statutory and voluntary organisations

Maintain an effective partnership with members of the primary health care team within the community, encouraging development of clinical skills to improve patient care

Participate in formal and informal training/teaching programmes for students, other health care professionals and volunteers

Participate in continuing personal education and other activities to promote own professional development

Support the caseload of a Band 6 CNS

Maintain accurate records, assist in the submission of statistical returns and reports as required

Identify priorities and manage time accordingly.

Assist in implementing change effectively in response to clinical/organisational demand

Be aware of, and comply with all policies and procedures within the Charity

Receive appraisals to identify and agree development and training needs and areas of potential improvement in appropriate/adequate service provision.

Be responsible for identifying potential untoward incidents and act upon appropriately supported by effective documentation

Participate in the development of, revision and monitoring of clinical policies and guidelines

Ensure own professional and clinical supervision needs are identified and negotiated with the CNS Team Lead

To participate in clinical supervision in order to sustain and develop professional practice

5. Research Audit

Identify priorities and manage time accordingly Assist in implementing change effectively in response to clinical/organisational demands

To take the required care of your own Health & Safety and that of any other person affected by your acts or omissions in a professional context

To take the required steps to safeguard the welfare, health & safety of all staff, volunteers, patients and visitors according to CH policy.

7. City Hospice Development

Actively promote CH and its activities to patients, their families and carers and others Contribute to fundraising efforts.

Professional accountability to Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist and Consultant in Palliative Medicine

Work within the guidance of City Hospice policies and procedures

To work within the National Guidelines of NICE and relevant national government policies.

9. Physical Effort

Applies relevant manual handling skills/techniques.

10. Mental Effort

Ability to concentrate and complete tasks despite frequent interruptions.

Ability to respond to constant unpredictable events and interruptions, e.g. patients fluctuating conditions.

Ability to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances Imparting bad news

Helping patients and their families to understand the reality of the situation

Ability to deal with distressed and angry relatives

Use of reflection

12.Working Conditions

Working in the community throughout Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

City Hospice was established in as a charity in 1984, and we are currently looking forward to celebrating 40 years of caring for the residents of Cardiff.

Ours is a small team comprising Clinical, Counselling and Business Support staff working together to achieve our vision of providing palliative care and bereavement counselling services which are widely recognised as reflecting best practice in a centre of excellence.

We have created a family environment which incorporates staff, families and volunteers. We celebrate life and enjoy a relaxed working environment, but never lose sight of our duty to , and responsibility for our patients.

Qualifications

Essential: - FIRST LEVEL REGISTRATION.; - FIVE YEARS POST REGISTRATION.; - EXPERIENCE OF WORKING AUTONOMOUSLY, AS WELL AS PART OF A TEAM.; - CAR OWNER/DRIVER

Experience

Desirable: - PREVIOUS COMMUNITY OR PALLIATIVE CARE EXPERIENCE