Team Leader Palliative Care CNS

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Isleworth; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in the UK seeks a Team Leader Palliative Care CNS to manage the palliative care team and provide expert care for patients with complex needs. This role requires a Registered Nurse with at least three to four years of experience in palliative care and strong leadership skills. Candidates will work collaboratively with various healthcare teams and play a vital role in improving patient care. The successful applicant will be an integral part of a dynamic team dedicated to end-of-life care.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three to four years' experience as a Band 7 Palliative Care CNS.
• Experience in an acute hospital setting.
• Experience and evidence of formal or informal teaching.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert evidence-based care and management of patients with complex palliative care needs.
• Work collaboratively with Primary Care colleagues and community palliative care teams.
• Manage staffing for a seven-day face-to-face service.

Skills

Advanced Communication skills

Leadership and management

Teaching experience

Education

Registered Nurse educated to degree level

Relevant masters or working towards

Relevant Specialist Palliative Care/EOL care Modules

Job description

Team Leader Palliative Care CNS

The closing date is 05 January 2026

The Team Lead Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) post will be responsible for the daily management and leadership of the palliative care CNS team at the West Middlesex University Hospital site. They will form part of the wider cross site senior palliative care service.

A prerequisite for this post is a minimum of three to four years' experience as a Band 7 Palliative Care CNS (two of these years must have been in an acute hospital setting).

The team lead will be expected to role model the knowledge, skills, behaviours and nursing proficiencies required to work effectively as a team, and lead in a manner appropriate to their level. The Team Lead will be an exemplar of professionalism. They will inspire and influence others, motivating them to improve and achieve their potential by demonstrating qualities of integrity, kindness and determination.

The successful candidate will enjoy working within a small but dynamic team who are proactive in developing their service to continue and improve the care provided to our End of life care patients and those important to them. The specialist palliative care team is well respected within the organisation. We strive to provide a seven day service in recognition that it is required and valued by our patients, their families and colleagues alike.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for providing expert evidence based care and management of patients with complex specialist palliative care needs, and provide specialist advice and support to their immediate CNS team and all members of the wider multi-professional team in the care of patients with a life limiting disease who are experiencing symptoms that require specialist palliative care.

They will work collaboratively with our Primary Care colleagues, hospices, community palliative care teams, social services, care homes, Community Matrons, district nursing teams and other agencies such as voluntary organisations to provide a seamless integrated pathway for this patient group and those important to them.

The post holder will participate in the seven-day face-to-face service and manage staffing to facilitate this.

Together with the Lead Nurse for Palliative and End of Life Care recognise competing priorities of both sites and allocate staff accordingly if required.

Together with the Lead Nurse and the wider CNS team, recognise the Trusts EOL care educational priorities and assist and oversee its organization.

Whilst this post will be 60%- 70% clinical, together with the Lead Nurse the post holder will demonstrate and allocate time for team management duties, service improvement, research, and audit within their weekly timetable. They will encourage and facilitate their team to participate in the above elements of their role to support development of others and service.

About us

Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.

We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.

If you haven't heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation. Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Job responsibilities Job description for full details of roles and responsibilities and key working relationships The job description and personal specification will facilitate each perspective candidate when considering applying for this post.

Person Specification

Application form and interview +/- Presentation

• Registered Nurse educated to degree level
• Relevant masters or working towards
• Relevant Specialist Palliative Care/EOL care Modules
• Advanced Communication skills course
• Three to four years' minimum experience as a Band 7 Palliative care CNS (two years of which must be in an acute hospital setting)
• Experience and evidence of formal or informal teaching
• Non-medical prescribing or working towards
• Advanced clinical practice or working towards
• Advanced clinical practice or working towardsProven leadership and management experience/ Personal development reviews

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.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust