Clinical Nurse Specialist with assessment, consultation & prescribing

NHS; Colchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Colchester is seeking a qualified Clinical Nurse Specialist to provide expert palliative care and management of patients with life-limiting illnesses. Responsibilities include direct patient assessments, developing management plans, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate has extensive palliative care knowledge and holds a Registered Nurse Level 1 qualification. This role includes mentoring junior staff and engaging in community healthcare initiatives.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experienced in leading and implementing change projects.
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritize workload.
• Understanding of legal aspects related to safeguarding.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments for palliative care patients.
• Develop and implement patient management plans.
• Cooperate with healthcare teams for comprehensive care.

Skills

Palliative care knowledge

Advanced communication skills

Clinical governance

Symptom management

Community care experience

Education

Registered Nurse Level 1

Diploma in palliative care

Degree in palliative care or commitment to study

Teaching qualification

Tools

NHS end-of-life care tools

Job description

Clinical Nurse Specialist with assessment, consultation & prescribing

We are looking for a qualified Clinical Nurse Specialist with assessment, consultation and prescribingThe Singlepoint CNS will undertake direct assessment of patients who require rapid assessment for end-of-life care, urgent symptom control and holistic assessment for patients who cannot be managed by generalist services. This will include history taking, examination and management, including prescribing within their scope of practice.

The SinglePoint CNS will play an active role in the multidisciplinary team. They will provide specialist palliative advice and education/training to other healthcare professionals within and outside St Helena and promote evidence- based practice

They will assist the Matron in the management of the nursing team. They will actively engage in education, audit and research.

They will recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC.

Main duties of the job

Clinical Practice

Undertake direct assessment of patients with life limiting illness who require rapid assessment for end-of-life care, urgent symptom control and holistic assessment for patients whose needs cannot be met by generalist services.

Formulate and implement a management plan of skilled and expert palliative nursing interventions, ensuring this is communicated to the patient and/or family including plans for follow up.

Appropriately assess for possible reversible causes where admission or treatment could improve patients' quality of life. If cause is not considered reversible to actively prevent unnecessary hospital admission by co-ordinating care within the community setting.

About us

Here at St Helena, we believe that everyone living with an incurable illness has the right to live and die with choice, compassion and dignity. Families deserve to be cared for and anyone coping with loss should be supported through their grief.

Our vision is to create a community where everyone knows that as the end of their story draws near, they will be cared for and die where they choose to be; where loved ones have the opportunity to make the most of life together, surrounded by people who care and support one another.

Since we opened in 1985, this belief drives us to provide the best end of life care and bereavement support to everyone in north east Essex, not just today but for years to come.

Job responsibilities

Appropriately assess for possible reversible causes where admission or treatment could improve patients' quality of life. If cause is not considered reversible to actively prevent unnecessary hospital admission by co-ordinating care within the community setting.

Escalate or refer to other internal or external services where clinically indicated

Consider Advance Care Planning as part of all assessments and, with patient consent, add or update the My Care Choices Record as choice is expressed or changes. To consider patients expressed wishes when formulating a management plan.

Consider Emergency care planning as part of all assessments and review, complete or update ReSPECT forms as appropriate.

Use advanced communication skills in delivering highly emotive information clearly, sensitively and unambiguously with staff, patients, families and professionals by face to face, telephone and/or electronic means.

To identify and overcome potential barriers to care including, but not limited to, language, culture, disability or neurodiversity.

To act as an advocate safeguarding the patients and family’s rights and interests, abilities and aptitudes, encouraging empowerment and informed choice

To provide an expert resource to St Helena staff for the clinical and supportive care of patients who require advice relating to palliative or end of life care.

To provide an expert resource to external health care professionals for the clinical and supportive care of patients who require advice relating to palliative or end of life care.

To be an active member of the Specialist Palliative Care Multidisciplinary Meeting both providing advice and seeking expertise from others including presenting complex patients or patients whose presentation may benefit the education of others

Liaise with colleagues across health and social care, including homeward. Continuing health care and social care to access care packages, making onward referrals when applicable.

Ensure you follow all St Helena policies and procedures

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.

Ensure that all professionals involved in a patient's care are kept updated with any assessment, treatment or advice undertaken.

Maintain and develop working relationships with community and hospital colleagues ensuring effective communication so enhancing patient care

Leadership

Model professional behaviour at all times

Organise own workload ensuring all four pillars of practice are prioritised appropriately. Encourage this behaviour in others.

Help to coordinate the day-to-day activity of the Singlepoint service including coordinating visiting across all grades of staff and managing unexpected absence.

Provide management support within the Patients and family services team including direct and indirect management of individuals and resources.

Participate in Clinical Supervision both as a recipient and a provider

Act as a supervisor or mentor for staff in developmental roles

Motivate and encourage junior staff and students to provide the highest standards of holistic patient care, providing education and training opportunities within the service including, but not limited to, shadowing opportunities.

Encourage open and honest communication within the team and with managers.

Work with senior colleagues to oversee the implementation of relevant National and Local guidance and strategies

Work with senior colleagues to meet the KPIs set for the service

Participate in service planning in conjunction PFS leadership team

Participate in the development of policies and procedures required for service delivery

Ensure the service complies with external regulators.

Assist in the appointment of new staff

Investigate incidents and complaints and implement an action plan as a result.

Help to maintain an awareness of health, safety and welfare at work issues (including infection control and risk assessment and management) within the service area.

Education

To identify own professional development needs and identify effective ways to meet these.

To ensure knowledge of palliative and end of life care is up to date.

To meet the requirements of annual appraisal and NMC revalidation including attendance at NMP updates and reflections.

To role model educational opportunities as an important part of practice.

To identify opportunities and facilitate ad hoc learning events during day-to-day practice. This may be with internal staff, external staff, patients or their families.

Identify training needs and provide training to the team in order to meet these

To facilitate and develop training for internal and external staff engaged in palliative and end of life care delivery alongside Hospice Education.

To facilitate and develop training resources for patients and their families.

To mentor and supervise colleagues completing MSc level modules

Research

To source and use high quality evidence to inform evidence-based practice.

To disseminate knowledge of high-quality evidence to inform the practice of others.

To identify areas of the service which would benefit from audit or a quality improvement project and see this process through to completion.

To involve others in audit and QIP through participation and dissemination of results.

To take an active role in research projects in which St Helena is involved, including where this is conducted in external settings.

To help develop research projects relating to palliative and end of life care.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse Level 1
• Diploma of credit in palliative care.
• Degree in palliative care or commitment to study at this level
• Evidence of continuous professional and post qualification development
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Teaching qualification
• Advanced communication skills training

Experience

• Proven experience in any setting, working with palliative care patients
• Proven record of planning, leading and implementing successful change projects and able to demonstrate.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines and prioritise workload in a challenging and demanding environment
• Experience of working in the community
• Experience of clinical governance with a track record of delivering on clinical quality

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of symptom management.
• Sound community knowledge to ensure patients and families receive the appropriate support
• Proven knowledge and understanding of issues affecting vulnerable people and child protection
• Proven ability to recognise and respond to potential distress in individuals.
• Understanding of working within set budgets
• Working knowledge of End of Life care tools
• Full Driving Licence (and access to a vehicle)
• An excellent understanding of current NHS national, regional and local priorities around end of life care
• Ability to work in a dynamic and diverse environment so that SHH values, standards and objectives are met

Communication and Qualities

• Skills in :
• Empathy
• Exploration
• Non-judgemental
• Summarising
• Diplomacy
• Proven ability to deal with situations of conflict.
• Proven written and oral communication skills.
• Basic IT skills
• Understanding of the effects of life limiting illness on an individual & family.
• Able to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Ability to use own initiative
• Flexible approach to work and shift system.
• Role model who can influence, motivate and encourage others
• Positive, self-motivated and committed to achieving results and solving problems
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently using own initiative

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.