Specialist Palliative Care Nurse
Praising NCH&C’s “compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels”, the CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations.
Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is committed to continuing to create a modern and inclusive work environment. As part of this commitment we actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible, to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce to maintain and improve their wellbeing.The trust offers a range of flexibility, including flexible working patterns, and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Nurse with the relevant skills and experience to work as a Specialist Palliative Care Nurse Band 7), based in our friendly, supportive team covering South PLACE.
The Community Specialist Palliative Care Nursing PLACE teams are based at locations across Norwich, North, South and West Norfolk providing expert clinical palliative and end of life care for patients in their own homes and care facilities.
The service also provides a 24/7 palliative care advice line which operates from the coordination centre at the new purpose-built Priscilla Bacon Lodge, in Colney.
The teams work as part of the wider Specialist Palliative Care Service which includes a consultant-led specialist inpatient unit, a Psychological Therapies team and a Day Therapies service.
This role will be covering South Norfolk, and the Primary Care Network the successful candidate will be working in will be confirmed on appointment.
Main duties of the job
You will have your own caseload of patients within South PLACE and will work closely with colleagues in community nursing and therapies teams, Norwich Supported Care and GPs/Primary Care, to clinically manage palliative and end of life care patients safely in their own homes.
As a part of your role you will provide clinical leadership and support to our Associate Palliative Care Nurses and expert advice and psychological support to patients, carers and other healthcare professionals as part of a daily clinical team working on our 24/7 advice line.
Our Band 7 Specialist Nurses are also expected to act as Non-Medical Prescribers and you will be supported to undertake a relevant post-registration training course if required.
Working for our organisation
The service offers a commitment to ongoing personal development and offers a supportive, friendly network of colleagues.
Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- The post-holder is expected to operate autonomously at an advanced level of clinical practice providing evidence based expert palliative care and advice to all colleagues.
- To provide holistic specialist palliative care nursing assessment of patients and carers with highly complex needs, identifying priorities of care, implementing strategies in order to give this care and evaluation to ensure the maintenance of clinical excellence.
- To utilise clinical assessment skills and non-medical prescribing as required.
- To provide education, information and advice to patients, their relatives and carers acting as the patient’s advocate where appropriate.
- To provide psychosocial support utilising advanced communication skills, particularly at times of high distress or heightened emotional response, e.g. at times of diagnosis, at a time of recurrence and managing last few days of life.
- Influencing clinical practice, indirectly with the provision of education, information and advice, to providers of generalist palliative care.
- To participate in MDT, GSF and SPCN meetings as a core member of the specialist palliative care team contributing to the MDT discussion/patient assessment/care planning.
- Identify those adults and children at risk of complicated grief and plan care as appropriate.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Registered Nurse on the appropriate part of the NMC register
- Relevant diploma in nursing or other health related subject
- Relevant Degree in nursing or other health related subject or be working towards
- Relevant post-registration qualification in palliative care/oncology
- Relevant teaching qualification
- Relevant MSc in nursing or other health related subject or willingness to work towards
- Post-registration qualification in palliative care/oncology
Experience
Essential criteria- Community/palliative care/oncology experience or experience in a related area at relevant level
- Knowledge of the clinical nurse specialist’s role in palliative care
- Understands the wider issues impacting on the provision of palliative care, e.g. The End of Life Care Strategy, NICE Guidance, NHS Cancer Plan previous experience in research e.g. clinical trials, own research projects
- Community experience
- Knowledge and experience of audit
- Previous experience in research e.g. clinical trials, own research projects
- Able to demonstrate evidence-based knowledge of symptom control
Skills, Ability & Knowledge
Essential criteria- Knowledge of the clinical nurse specialist’s role in palliative care
- Understands the wider issues impacting on the provision of palliative care e.g. The End of Life Care Strategy, NICE Guidance, NHS Cancer Plan
- Advanced communication skills
- Ability to reflect on own practice
- Able to work as an autonomous practitioner
- Prioritise workload
- Innovative, adaptable to change
- Calm, able to work under pressure
- Motivated and enthusiastic
- Advanced assessment skills
- Clinical decision-making skills
- Ability to work within a team
- Effective leadership skills
- Teaching skills
- Demonstrates a commitment to providing and receiving clinical supervision
- IT literate
- Ability to deliver psychological assessment and support to a minimum of Level 2 as outlined in NICE Supportive and Palliative Care Guidelines
- Effective Leadership Skills
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria- Able to identify with the Trust’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
- Honest and trustworthy
- Innovative, adaptable to change
- Calm, able to work under Pressure
- Motivated and enthusiastic
- Commitment to providing quality services
Other
Essential criteria- Must hold a full and valid UK Driving licence and have access to a vehicle
- Able to communicate effectively using the English Language in both written and verbal forms
All sites are Smoke Free.
Immigration Status - Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is a diverse employer and welcomes all job applications. However, potential applicants should note that although the Trust is registered with the Home Office as a sponsor organisation for migrant workers, sponsorship can only be offered against Skilled Worker visas.If you are an applicant from outside the UK and do not already hold a self-gained right to work, we recommend you check the Home Office eligibility requirements before making an application.
Please note: Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for some job roles, and this will be identified through filtering questions at the start of any job application on the Trac recruitment system.
Redeployment - Please note that in the first instance priority for this vacancy will be given to NCH&C staff who are on the Trusts Redeployment Register.
DBS - If this post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and you are not a current employee of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust or being recruited as an Apprentice then the cost of the DBS check will be automatically removed from your first month’s salary.However if you are registered with the update service this may not be required.
Closing and Interview Dates -This vacancy may close early if sufficient applicants are received.
Data Protection - A privacy notice detailing how we will handle your data is attached to this advert as a document. Your application will be transferred to our recruitment management system (Trac) once the advert has closed and you will receive notification then detailing how Trac will handle your data.
On April 1st 2025, the Boards of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust and Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust will come together to deliver services as a group, with a singular board operating across both organisations. Both trusts are high performing specialist community health and care providers working in the East of England.Both have a strong track record, with the highest ratings from the Care Quality Commission, best in class NHS staff survey outcomes, and a decade of experience in innovation and clinical development.
The group model provides health and care services to a population of 3.2 million in their homes and neighbourhoods. We provide care that supports people from the very beginning to the very end of their lives.
We will remain two separate employers until further notice, and this role being advertised will be employed by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust.