Palliative Care Nurse Specialist – Advice & Triage (Band 6)

Integrated Care System; Bristol; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Bristol seeks a skilled Palliative Care Nurse Specialist to manage the clinical advice line and triage urgent cases. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in palliative care and the ability to provide holistic assessments. You will work closely with patients and families, offering support and specialist advice while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Competitive salary ranging from £38,633 to £45,861 per year, depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years post registration experience with palliative care.
• Experience of holding conversations around advance care planning.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage complex situations.

Responsibilities

• Manage clinical advice line and triage urgent referrals.
• Provide specialist palliative advice and support to patients and families.
• Conduct holistic assessments and develop care plans.

Skills

Palliative care knowledge

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Autonomy

Education

Current NMC / HCPC registration

Mentoring training

Non-medical prescribing training

Tools

EMIS database

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

Palliative Care Nurse Specialist – Advice & Triage (Band 6)

The Access CNS Team work between 07:45 and 20:00, 7 days a week to manage the clinical Advice Line, taking calls from external healthcare professionals, patients and their families.The team also triage urgent and self-referrals to the hospice and will be trialling a new, nurse led outpatient clinic from September, assessing patients who are well enough to attend an appointment in Brentry.As a specialist nurse working at the forefront of the hospice, you will be a key resource, providing evidence based, contemporary support and advice.You will need knowledge and experience of palliative care, excellent communication skills, the ability to confidently and dynamically prioritise an unpredictable workload and a passion to continuously improve and develop.Whilst working predominantly autonomously, you will have the support of the wider hospice team, regular clinical supervision and exposure to wider teaching and development of your skills/knowledge.Working as a Palliative Access Community Nurse Specialist requires a core skill setHolistic assessment via phone and face to face within our outpatient clinicsProblem solving, decision making, symptom control and prescribing adviceAdvance care planning and completion of Respect plusJoint working / signposting with internal and external MDT

Main duties of the job

The Access Community Nurse Specialist is an expert in ensuring high qualitypalliative care is delivered to patients and their families. They possess specialistknowledge and skills in physical symptom control, social, emotional and spiritualcare. They work both independently and as part of the wider healthcare team.The role includes:Skilled holistic assessment, both remote and during face-to-face outpatientclinics, to effectively identify the needs of patients and those close to them.Skilled, specialist palliative telephone advice and support to patients,relatives, carers and external professionals, escalating to the hospicemultidisciplinary team and external services as appropriate.Assessing urgent clinical referrals and self-referrals to St Peters Hospice,effectively identifying patient and family members needs including levels ofurgency

About us

Weve spent over 40 years helping people die in peace, and with dignity. Combining compassion with clinical expertise, we provide patients with the best possible care at the end of their lives.Were here for the people around our patients too those closest to them. Before, during and after a bereavement, we provide support thats remembered forever.We think its that unforgettable support that inspires people to give back to St Peters. To fundraise for us. Donate. Volunteer. Were not exaggerating when we say that we couldnt do what we do without our wonderful supporters. We really cant thank them enough.We want to help many more people to die well. And were doing this by teaching others. As a centre of educational excellence, we share our skills with other health professionals, helping the NHS and care homes to provide better end-of-life care.Were here for all, for free, forever.

Job responsibilities

Referrals and Urgent TriageWork collaboratively with clinical and administrative colleagues in managingurgent and self-referrals; providing a responsive and patient-centredservice.Support all aspects of the clinical referral process, ensuring they answeradvice line calls and act as the first line of support and adviceAssess the appropriateness and urgency of self and urgent referrals, seekingfurther information and advice as appropriateCore Clinical ResponsibilitiesTake and analyse a clinical history in a relevant, succinct and logicalmanner either remotely or face to faceIndependently assess the patients needs, identify their priorities and workwith the patient and those close to them towards achieving themDemonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the options for achieving control ofsymptoms and the ability to make safe clinical decisions and offer advice tothe primary health care teamProvide information to patients, taking account of their individual needs,taking advice from those who are close to them, colleagues and externalprofessionals where appropriateRefer to other members of the hospice multi-professional team.Refer/signpost patients and carers to other health and social careprofessionals where appropriateDemonstrate an ability to explore the personal resources of families/carers tofacilitate where possible that patients are cared for in the place of their choiceSupport and coach carers at home in managing a relative whose condition isdeterioratingRecognise and manage palliative care emergenciesBring closure to the nurse-patient relationship and provide for a safe transitionto another care provider as appropriateAct as a resource to other professionals, both internally and externally, onspecialist palliative care and end of life care issuesBe involved with and support MDT meetings when requiredDeputise for team leaderWork collaboratively with clinical and administrative colleagues to provide aresponsive and patient-centred serviceRecognise the impact of caring for dying patients on yourself, internal andexternal colleagues and offer / seek supportPotential Additional Clinical ResponsibilitiesThe post holder may undertake additional responsibilities when they havepassed the relevant module and using the skills in current practice, as below.In addition, to practice Non-Medical Prescribing, the post holder must beregistered as a Non-Medical Prescriber with the Nursing and MidwiferyCouncilUse physical assessment and clinical reasoning skills as part of patientassessment and to support clinical advice, professional communication anddocumentationPerform non-medical prescribing within area of competence and practiceaccording to local policyGovernance, Quality and Clinical Practice KSF 3Contribute to improving qualityPromote care that is effective, safe and provides as positive anexperience as possibleUnderstand own role, its scope and how this may change and develop overtime in a high-quality organisationWork to support the team and help and enable others to work as a teamPrioritise workload and manages own time in a manner that maintains andpromotes high quality and offers flexibility in response to changing situationsEvaluate the quality of own and others work in own area and raises qualityissues and related risks with the appropriate peopleSuggest and support changes in own area that improves the quality ofsystems and processesTake appropriate action when there is a persistent problem with qualityCommunication KSF 3Can develop and maintain communication with people about difficultmatters and/or in difficult situationsMaintain high standards of integrity when communicating with patients andthe wider publicManage complex communication issues with patients and familiesStructure an assessment using appropriate questioning, avoid jargon, usingfamiliar language, at patients own paceRecord concisely, accurately, confidentially, legibly and contemporaneouslythe appropriate elements of the history, results of investigations, problemsidentified and management planBreak bad news in steps appropriate to the understanding of the individualand be able to support distress and have discussions around prognosis andfuture care optionsDemonstrate an understanding of the need to involve patients and carers indecision making, offering them informed choices, respecting their viewsUse the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and TreatmentPlus (ReSPECT+) process to support the documentation and communicationof the patients preferences and clinical recommendations for emergencycare and treatmentDemonstrate skill in working with families facing lossManage dissatisfied patients/relatives, anticipating potential problems andmanaging expectationsCommunicate with patients whose first language may not be English in amanner that they understand, using interpreters appropriatelyPresent cases clearly, consistently and professionally to the multidisciplinaryteam (MDT) meeting, contributing effectively towards patient managementProvide feedback to others on their communication where appropriateCommunicate effectively with the wider multidisciplinary teamDemonstrate negotiation and diplomacy skills and partnership working withexternal agenciesDemonstrate competent use of Electronic Patient Records and IT systemsWrite and maintain accurate notes/documentation and input computeriseddata, keeping all information up to datePersonal & people development KSF3Develop oneself and contribute to the development of othersTake responsibility for identifying and meeting own development needsGenerate and use appropriate learning opportunities and apply own learningto development of practiceAssess how well last years personal objectives were met and helps set newones for the year aheadEnable opportunities for others to apply their developing knowledge andskillsActively provides learning and development opportunities to others includingmentoring new staff and clinical placementsApply evidence to patient careUse strategies to develop own resiliencePractice effectively by reflecting to support practice improvement, this may bewith colleagues and/or be engaging with clinical supervision.Health Safety and Security KSF 2Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and othersLook for potential risks to self and others in work activities, environments andprocessesUnderstand specific risks associated with lone working and follow loneworking policyManage identified risks in the best way possibleWork in a way that complies with legislation and hospice policies andprocedures on health, safety and risk managementDemonstrate safe moving and handling techniques as appropriate; havea knowledge of who provides appropriate equipment and how to referTake action to manage an emergency, calling for help immediately whenappropriateReport actual or potential problems that may put health, safety or security atrisk and suggests solutionsSupport and challenge others in maintaining health, safety and security atworkWork within the guidance policy for the protection of vulnerable adultsService Improvement KSF 2Contribute to the improvement of servicesDiscuss with the team the likely impact of changing policies, strategies andprocedures on practice and changes the team can make and how to makethem effectiveTake on new work and make changes to own work when agreed with linemanager, requesting relevant help if neededSupport colleagues in understanding and making agreed changes to theirworkEvaluate own and others work when needed including engaging in auditMake suggestions to improve the serviceConstructively identifies where new ways of working, polices or strategiesare having a negative impact on the service given to users or the public.Equality and Diversity KSF 2Support equality and value diversityChallenge bias, prejudice and intolerance if appropriate or bring it to theattention of a managerAware of the impact of own behaviour on othersDemonstrate sensitivity and respect for people from different religious andcultural background and sexual orientation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Current NMC / HCPC registration
• Communication skills training, or willingness to undertake
• Valid UK driving licence
• Mentoring training
• Experience of teaching
• Non-medical prescribing, or willingness to undertake
• Physical assessment and clinical reasoning, or willingness to undertake

Experience

• Minimum 3 years post registration
• Recent significant palliative care experience
• Possess a working knowledge of clinical governance and evidence-based practice
• Possess a working knowledge of safeguarding individuals who are at risk
• Possess a sound knowledge of issues related to the provision of palliative care in the community
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of relevant statutory and voluntary agencies and organisational structure
• Experience of holding conversations around advance care planning
• Experience of audit processes
• Experience of using EMIS database
• Knowledge and experience in symptom management for people with malignant and non-malignant disease

Additional Criteria

• Possess an ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
• Problem solving skills and ability to work methodically and flexibly
• Ability to work to tight and often changing timescales
• Ability to work autonomously
• Own and take responsibility for constructive feedback to improve patient care and/or team working
• Ability to think laterally and be able to cope with uncertainty and change when required
• Possess an innovative approach and an ability to inspire others
• Robust emotional resilience to manage excessive exposure to dying people and family/carer distress
• Ability to maintain a professional, calm and efficient manner with strong self-management skills
• Computer literate to be able to use Word/Excel/Power Point

Additional Criteria

• Demonstrate ability to work flexibly to meet the challenges and opportunities of working within the hospice environment
• Demonstrate a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities
• Be able to demonstrate and uphold the hospice values
• Access to a vehicle for work purposes

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.

£38,633 to £45,861 a yearFTE, dependent on experience