Community Specialist Palliative Care Cns

Walsall Healthcare Nhs Trust; Walsall; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a Palliative Care CNS (Band 7) to join the community-based specialist palliative care nursing team. The role provides expert care for patients across the borough and works with hospital and hospice services in a multidisciplinary setting.

The post requires degree-educated, experienced nurses with a focus on palliative/cancer care, strong leadership, and the ability to work autonomously within a seven-day service. UK registration is essential.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level with demonstrable experience in palliative/cancer care.
• Significant post-registration experience in relevant settings.
• Willingness to travel across the Borough and work flexibly as required.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of a team to provide information, advice and support to predominantly staff in community palliative and end-of-life care.
• Promote a seamless package of care to support patients through differing phases of illness.
• Receive and manage referrals and discharge patients according to service criteria and palliative care assessments.
• Undertake specialist assessments of patients with moderate/complex needs and educate patients, relatives and carers.
• Communicate effectively with patients, relatives and carers using advanced communication skills as needed.
• Attend and contribute to regular palliative care MDT meetings and liaise with other disciplines.
• Participate in extended hours service following competency completion.
• Support governance agendas and drive quality improvement in practice.

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Teamwork

Phlebotomy

Education

First level Registered Nurse Level 1

Recognised Teaching Qualification

Degree in Palliative Care (or other relevant)

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Palliative Care CNS to work within the community setting. We are looking for an experienced, autonomous and innovative nurse to join the integrated specialist palliative care nursing team within Walsall. This is a Band 7 community based palliative care CNS post, working alongside our existing community and hospital based specialist palliative care nurses and consultants providing expertise for patients with palliative care needs across the borough. You will be part of the overall Palliative and End of Life Care Group which also delivers care into the local hospice - Goscote Hospice.

PLEASE NOTE, WE MAY CLOSE THIS VACANCY EARLY IF WE RECEIVE HIGH NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS.

Main duties of the job

Enthusiasm, motivation, compassion and leadership are qualities and skills considered essential for this specialist nurse role to work in a very challenging environment; you will be expected to have a commitment to and progressive work within the field of palliative care. Additionally you must be able to demonstrate excellence in clinical practice, acting as a resource for information and education, while working alongside the other specialist services. The CNS team provide 7 day service including participation in evening on call rota.

You should be educated to degree level and have demonstrable experience within the field of Specialist Palliative/ Cancer Care.

Job responsibilities

• 1.1 Working as part of a team to provide a resource of information, advice and support to predominantly staff within the community setting in the delivery of effective palliative and end of life care.
• 1.2 Promote a seamless package of care to support patients through differing phases of illness.
• 1.3 Receive and manage referrals to the service and discharge patients appropriately, in line with agreed service criteria and utilising palliative care phase assessments.
• 1.4 Undertake specialist assessments of patients with moderate/complex palliative care needs and work with primary care givers/key workers to improve the quality of life of patients relatives and carers living with a life limiting or terminal illness; providing education for patients, relatives and carers.
• 1.5 Communicate effectively with patients, relatives and carers using specialist skills e.g. advanced communication skills as necessary.
• 1.6 Participate in case conferences liaise and communicate effectively with members of other professional disciplines and service providers.
• 1.7 To attend and actively contribute to regular palliative care and site specific multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDT).
• 1.8 To participate in the extended hours service for specialist palliative care following completion of competencies for the role.

Person Specification

Essential qualifications

• First level Registered Nurse Level 1
• Recognised Teaching Qualification

Desirable qualifications

• Degree in Palliative Care (or other relevant)

Essential knowledge and experience

• Significant previous post registration experience
• Demonstrable experience in the acute or community setting
• Working in care of patients with cancer/long term conditions at a senior level
• Demonstrable experience within Palliative / Oncology care
• Evidence of Continual Professional Development

Desirable knowledge and experience

• Previous experience of managing a caseload
• Knowledge of Quality Improvement Principles
• Evidence of symptom control management
• Evidence of change management

Essential key competencies

• Demonstrate a willingness to work towards an increased knowledge base with regard to Palliative Care
• Information Technology skills

Desirable key competencies

• Preparation and delivery of local, regional and national presentations
• Ability to undertake phlebotomy skills

Essential skills and aptitudes

• To demonstrate the ability to work alone and within a team
• Ability to deliver Palliative and End of Life Care to a caseload of patients
• Ability to communicate effectively with multi-disciplinary team and service users
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal and interprofessional skills

Essential flexibility

• Ability to travel throughout the Borough during working day
• Ability to work flexibly in order to meet the needs of service

Essential other

• Ability to support Clinical Governance agenda

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Address: Walsall Palliative Care Centre, Goscote Lane, Walsall, WS3 1SJ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk

Contact for questions about the job

Deputy Professional Lead for Palliative and EOL care: Katy Menear, [e-mail], 01922602620

Closing date

29 October 2026

Reference number

407-COMMUNITY-8224487

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