Palliative Care Practitioner

NHS; Poole; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-based hospice care organization in Poole seeks an experienced clinician to provide support for patients with life-limiting illnesses. The role involves running a Health and Well-being Programme and offering community palliative care. The ideal candidate should have a background in nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or paramedic science, with a focus on compassionate, person-centered care. The position offers competitive pay and a supportive environment for professional development.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience.
• Experience of caring for patients following terminal illness diagnosis.
• Basic knowledge of palliative care and symptom control.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive patient assessments to create care plans.
• Work autonomously and manage clinical emergencies.
• Lead multidisciplinary team meetings for optimal patient outcomes.

Skills

Compassion

Excellent self-management skills

Advanced communication skills

Leadership

Education

Diploma of Higher Education or Degree in Nursing/Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy/Paramedic Science

Post graduate study in palliative/end of life care

Tools

SystmOne

Job description

Overview

Are you an experienced, compassionate clinician who wishes to support and enable those with life limiting diseases? Do you feel you want to spend more time with your patients to understand their stories and actualise person centred care?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity to join our expanding community palliative care team.

We are looking for a trained Nurse, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist or Paramedic to join our team.

The post holder will hold a dual role, facilitating a patient Health and Well-being 12-week Programme one day each week, and providing community based palliative care and patient assessment across the Purbeck area.

Experience

We recognise this is an opportunity for the right person, regardless of AHP profession, to bring their skills and expertise to the role. We are looking for a clinician with varied experience across the health system to provide greater insight into the patient journey and opportunities for innovation and development. Professional interest in palliative care, public health and frailty is fundamental; experience desirable. (This role sits equivalent to Band 6 in the NHS).

We are looking for someone who is adaptable, compassionate and committed to providing excellent person-centred care.

Main duties of the job

This role requires the candidate to provide education and guidance on symptom management, self-care strategies and create patient led care plans, with reference to national guidelines and evidence-based practice.

You will at times be working autonomously and will need excellent self-management skills and will understand the importance of holistic assessments and active listening. You will have the ability to formulate management plans and have a high level of written and verbal skills together with excellent organisational skills.

About us

Who are we and what do we do?

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is a community-based Hospice dedicated to empowering people to live well with life limiting illnesses. We provide proactive clinical care, health education and psychological support. Enabling individuals and families to adapt, remain in control, and make informed choices about their health and future.

We are committed to promoting Public Health in palliative care and advocating for patient choice, ensuring that care is aligned with everyone's wishes and values.

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care provides palliative care services across the East of Dorset and Purbecks. This post is for a clinician to be predominately based in Purbecks, however the candidate will provide cross cover at other sites when required to meet the needs of the organisation.

Job responsibilities

Main Duties:

Champion proactive palliative care to the local community of Purbecks as an option to retain control and live well with a life limiting illness.

Conduct comprehensive patient assessments to identify individual symptom burden and total pain. Working alongside patients to develop care plans and interventions that advocate patient goals/ wishes and choice.

To work as a senior clinician and lead within a multidisciplinary team (MDT). Attending the monthly MDT for caseload review and shared care with fellow clinicians to achieve the best outcomes for patients and families.

Introduce, explain and guide Advanced Care Planning with patients and families.

As a senior member of the clinical team, you will rotate with other senior staff to take the role of duty clinician, triaging referrals, coordinating the running of the day and managing calls from patients, GPs, carers and outside agencies.

To facilitate a Health and Well-being Programme in the Purbecks, which entails:

o To lead on health and death education for patients and families to support greater engagement and informed decisions (all content is created with input from wider team and the patient group)

o Weekly patient assessment to identify symptom burden, create patient led management plan and goals to assess/ evaluate outcomes of interventions.

o Allocate time with families and loved ones to offer informal carers support they require.

o To be responsible for maintaining a personal awareness of professional developments in your discipline of clinical practice in general, but particularly in palliative care and to undertake relevant further education.

Understand and analyse patient clinical observations and records, taking or instigating appropriate action as necessary

To manage and respond appropriately to any clinical emergencies based on knowledge of each patient’s/ families wishes and escalation plan.

To take responsibility in overseeing medicines management. Facilitate and assist patients in the management of their own medicines. Liaise with patients own GP to confirm accurate medication list is being adhered to.

Be responsible for ensuring adequate and accurate patient documentation and records are maintained in accordance with professional guidelines and LMHC policy

Facilitate effective discharge planning in conjunction with the inter-professional team and outside agencies.

Promote good working relationships and collaborative working with the inter-professional team within the whole of the Organisation

Use research/evidence-based practice to ensure high quality, cost-effective care, contributing to service improvement and development.

Be familiar with the LMHC clinical policies and procedures and work within these

To abide by LMHC policies on uniform code and infection control policies in general, including hand hygiene.

To support Clinical Lead with frontline people management. Supervise and mentor all junior staff working alongside you including students, bank staff, junior registered and unqualified staff.

To performance review 3 staff members by holding monthly 1:1 interview and conducting yearly appraisal.

Ensure a safe environment for patients and staff and be actively involved in clinical audit.

Liaise and support the charity fund-raising team/activities to raise the profile and encourage community partnership and engagement.

Our Values:

• We listen to what matters
• We are kind
• We are accountable

This is an outline job description and may be subject to change, according to the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder. It should be taken as the current representation and consequently a job description review will automatically take place as part of the annual appraisal.

This organisation is committed a policy of equal opportunities and is a smoke free working environment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Diploma of Higher Education or Degree in Nursing/ physiotherapy/ Occupational Therapy/ paramedic science.
• Minimum of 3 years post qualification experience.
• Post graduate study completed in palliative/ end of life care or frailty.

Attitudes and Values

• Flexible and adaptable
• Self-motivated
• Compassionate with an enabling and empowering approach
• Committed to confidentiality and equal opportunities
• Understand the importance of What Matters
• Committed to self-development and learning
• Commitment to excellent person-centred care

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to work autonomously with excellent self-management skills
• Leadership and management.
• Clinical assessment and problem solving
• Group facilitation.
• Ability to travel.
• Advanced Communication Skills Training course or similar.
• IT literacy and Experience with SystmOne.

Experience

• Experience of caring for patients and families following the diagnosis of a terminal illness.
• Basic knowledge of palliative care & symptom control.
• Primary/ community based clinical practice.
• Clinical audit.
• Knowledge of palliative care framework and guidelines.
• Knowledge of public health initiatives.
• Enhanced/ advanced clinical assessment skills.
• Previous engagement in clinical research.
• Student Supervisors and assessor qualification.

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.

Depending on experienceFrom £37,500 Depending on Experience