Collaborative Clinical Nurse Specialist Post

Hospice in the Weald; Tunbridge Wells; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospice service in Tunbridge Wells seeks a Clinical Nurse Specialist to enhance patient care through strong collaboration and effective palliative services. The ideal candidate will demonstrate palliative care expertise and possess a proven ability to work within multidisciplinary teams while managing assessments and patient communications. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant difference in patient lives.

Qualifications

• 3 years post-registration experience required.
• Experience in Palliative and End of Life Care in a community setting.
• Prepared and delivered education programmes to healthcare professionals.

Responsibilities

• Work within multi-disciplinary teams to identify suitable patients.
• Undertake holistic assessments reflecting patient values.
• Communicate effectively with patients and families regarding care.

Skills

Palliative care expertise

Leadership and initiative

Effective communication

High computer literacy

Education

Registered Nurse (Level 1)

Evidence of ongoing Professional Development

Masters module in End of Life Care

Job description

Collaborative Clinical Nurse Specialist Post

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Nurse Specialist to join the team at Hospice in the Weald and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. This collaborative role is primarily based in the acute setting and supports closer links between hospital and hospice care.

Main duties of the job

Job overview

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to identify patients who could benefit from hospice services earlier in their illness.
• Build effective relationships with colleagues across both organisations.
• Attend GSF meetings and promote early identification of patients in the last year of life.
• Undertake and champion holistic assessments aligned with patients values and preferences.
• Carry responsibility for the assessment and management of frail older patients, including use of Rockwood Frailty Score and completion of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment.
• Have robust knowledge on community services and be able to discuss and refer to appropriate teams with the patients, relatives and carers.

About us

At the Hospice, our team strive to work alongside other community teams and specialists to optimise patient experience and improve our team knowledge and development.

Job responsibilities

Deliverables and Outcomes

Be competent in recognising those patients that wouldbenefit from hospice services at an earlier stage Living Well, Psychologicalsupport, clinical and advance care planning support (ReSPECT). The post holder will be competent in the recognition of incremental change in a persons illness trajectory. Liaise and buildrelationships with relevant colleagues and clinical experts outside of Hospicein the Weald. Work as part of a team to meet joint strategic aims andobjectives always thinking about how we can extend our reach to those who needit. Competent in palliative care symptom control.

Attendance at frailty MDTs/board rounds, using this forum to highlight the need for early identification of those approaching the last yearof life.

Engage in and promote the use of all assessment methodsavailable, using the right method for the patient at the right time.

Communicate effectively with patients and their loved ones. Providehigh-quality information to patients and those important to them regardingtheir disease, treatment and services available as appropriate.

Undertake holistic assessments focussing on what mattersmost to the patient and those important to them.

Ensure End of Life Care is planned, delivered, documented,and reviewed to the highest standard. Refer any symptom control issues to thehospital palliative care team for management. Ensure seamless referral processesto local palliative care services.

Management and Leadership

Liaise closely with your HitW line manager and MTW linemanager. Meet both jointly for support. Be cognizant of the Hospice in theWealds Three-Year Strategy and work towards our aims and objectives and thosefor frailty andspalliative care in the trust.

Be a resource for both the hospital palliative care team andthe Outreach HitW.

Assist in the development of policies, procedures, andguidelines to continuously improve ways of working. Support, empower and act asa role to model volunteers and more junior members of the workforce.

Participate in education programs to educate the workforceregarding Hospice services.

Communications and Teamwork

Support the multi-disciplinary team to enable them toprovide high quality care, giving advice on pain and symptom control, advancedcare planning, social and psychological care, communication, and use ofresources.

Provide a high standard of sensitive communication withpatients and those important to them, which maintains an individuals privacyand dignity. Maintain confidentiality at all times.

Audit and Research

In consultation with managers, ensure all work is evidencebased.

Develop, in conjunction with line management, mechanismsforauditing care within the service and implement changing practice as aresult.

Participate in or support, where appropriate, nursing and/orcollaborative clinical research in palliative care

Training and Development

Actively plan and participate in the provision ofsupervision/reflective practice to colleagues to support engaging developmentopportunities.

Undertake Hospice and hospital mandatory training andparticipate in wider training and development opportunities.

Act as a role model and an expert professional to colleaguesand to be an ambassador to neighbouring health and social care partners,providing informal education and support to staff in their provision ofpalliative care.

Undertake external training to enhance the CNS/ CPS role asappropriate.

Keep up to date with revalidation and professionalregistration requirements

General

Maintain professionalism through adherence to recognizedCodes (e.g. NMC, HPC, HCPC) and work within the boundaries of Hospice in theWeald policies. Strive for excellence always.

Maintain professional development though the Hospice AnnualReview process to continuously update and improve knowledge and competencies.

Engage in the use of information and communicationtechnology (ICT) in the area you are working and achieve the required level ofcompetence.

Any other duties that may be reasonably

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POST HOLDER AND ACCORDING TO FUTURE CHANGES/DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SERVICE.

Person Specification

Experience

• Ability to motivate and inspire others to achieve in a fast paced and challenging environment.
• Takes the initiative and responds flexibly to change.
• Delegates tasks appropriately.
• Ability to develop rapport with a wide range of people and to act with credibility, tact and diplomacy.
• High level of computer literacy skills including the use of mobile technology.
• Proven track record of contemporaneous clinical practice.
• Experience in Palliative and End of Life Care and Bereavement Support in a community setting
• Prepared and delivered education programmes to other healthcare professionals.
• Ability to interpret situations from different angles and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Forward thinking and proactive in decision making and in assessing risks and its mitigation.
• Applies personal organisation strategies to prioritise and effectively manage workload within a team environment.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (Level 1) or Registered Paramedic (HCPC)
• with 3 years post registration experience.
• Evidence of ongoing Professional Development.
• Principles of End of Life Care masters module.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about providing individualised care
• Dedicated to making a difference and changing peoples lives
• High levels of enterprise, innovation and dedication.
• Maintains a calm disposition and positive outlook.
• Proactive team player
• Ability to work well within and adapt to a changing environment.
• Willingness to travel to varying work locations.
• Sense of humour.
• Forward thinking.

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.