Job Description 1. JOB DETAILS: Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist (Palliative care) Development Post Grade: Hospiscare Band 5 Location: Responsible To: Accountable To: Community Cluster Community Cluster Team Leader (CCTL) Director of Care 2. JOB PURPOSE To develop the knowledge and skills required to competently perform the role of Community Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). To develop through mentoring and guidance to be a specialist palliative care expert nurse resource in relation to the control of symptoms and the provision of social, emotional and spiritual care for the patient and family in the community setting. To develop the skills and competence to provide advice, support and education to the primary health care team where appropriate, as part of a multi-professional team. For the post holder to follow an individualised programme of development tailored to their specific learning needs with the aim of attaining levels of knowledge and competence to prepare the individual for the opportunity to apply for a band 6 CNS role when it arises. To work towards demonstrating expert skills in specialist palliative care and End of Life Care in the community setting under the supervision of a mentor, the CCTL and the other CNSs in the team. The level of support will be gradually withdrawn over a period of time as the post holder demonstrates an ability to practice autonomously as a fully competent CNS. To work in partnership with Hospiscare colleagues and other health and social care providers in order to provide a responsive, flexible, palliative care expertise based service for patients and their families wanting to be cared for in the community. To actively contribute to patient focused assessment of specialist palliative / end of life care treatment and care needs.
To deliver this service as part of a Community Cluster and the larger community palliative care service. Act as expert resource/educator of others 3. DIMENSIONS The CNS development post holder will work as a member of a cluster team to provide the highest standard of specialist palliative/end of life care services. The post holder will liaise with other cluster team members and hospiscare staff as required to meet the needs of the organisation. The post holder may also be required to work in other areas of Hospiscare as service needs require. 4. ORGANISATIONAL CHART Trustees Chief Executive Director of Care Assistant Director of Care (Community) Community Team Cluster s each made up of: Community Cluster Team Leader (CCTL) or Lead Nurse Advanced Nurse Practitioner (palliative care) Clinical Nurse Specialist (palliative care) Clinical Nurse Specialist (palliative care) Development post Support Workers / Assistant Practitioners Other members of the organisation include: Bank Nurses, Care navigators, and Hospiscare community volunteers, to name a few.
5. KEY RESULT AREAS The following will be under the supervision of the CCTL or Band 7 CNS Mentor (or delegated others): Clinical Responsibilities Provide direct and indirect patient and family care through contributing expert clinical judgement, specialised knowledge and diverse strategies for nursing delivery in complex palliative and end of life care clinical situations. To synthesize complex information and consider a range of options based on the best available evidence/best practice to enable patients to access a range of appropriate therapies. Consult and liaise with the multi-disciplinary team, health and social care colleagues, service users, family/carers over their care, and provide specialist palliative care knowledge and advice to all relevant staff. Regularly contribute to the assessment and review of new / current patients in terms of appropriateness and priority of need, and work as a member of the Cluster Team to ensure that effective communication systems are in place for supporting their care and accessing Hospiscare services. To be a specialist resource supporting and facilitating other Community Cluster Team members. To be a specialist resource to local community health and social care teams in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised care using evidence based guidelines. Attend and actively contribute to multi-disciplinary; complex care; Gold Standards Framework or End of Life Care meetings. Assess and identify complex or potentially complicated bereavement and work with the Bereavement Co-coordinator and existing appropriate support services to facilitate joint working, and / or pre-bereavement work as appropriate and where desired by the patient and / or family. Work effectively and in partnership with the Bereavement Co-coordinator and Volunteers to facilitate a seamless handover into Hospiscare s after death Bereavement Care Service. Contribute to appropriate service audits.
Management responsibilities As part of their development the post holder will aim to: Work with other Cluster Team members to provide 7 day, 24 hour palliative / end of life care services. Contribute to junior Team members professional development and competency assessments as required by the CCTL. Contribute effectively to regular Community Cluster Team meetings in order to formulate strategies for positive change; Team development; fostering good relationships and identification of clear Team aims and objectives. Suggest innovative ideas to improve the service provision and take the service forward in line with Hospiscare, NHS Devon and government initiatives. Promote evidence-based practice, and contribute to the development of relevant Hospiscare clinical guidelines, policies, standards and audit in order to measure their effectiveness and impact on care outcomes. Contribute constructively to effective working relationships within the Community Cluster Team; other Community Cluster Teams and external agencies and attend MDT meetings as required. Represent Hospiscare locally and regionally as required Ensure that any clinical incidents, near misses and complaints are dealt with promptly and reported to the CCTL and dealt with in accordance with Hospiscare Policy and procedure. Ensure that compliments; thanks; constructive feed-back and examples of good practice are recognised; recorded and shared appropriately in order to improve care quality and efficiency, and contribute to service development. Work effectively with Hospiscare volunteers and offer them appropriate support in their work with the Community Cluster Team and Hospiscare clients. Educational responsibilities With the support of the CCTL and their Mentor be responsible for maintaining own professional development, seeking opportunities for development of specialist nursing practice. Contribute to Hospiscare in-house and mandatory training as required.
Develop knowledge and skills to be able to contribute to palliative / end of life care training needs and development of appropriate educational programmes. Share knowledge and expertise with other staff through formal and informal teaching. Professional and personal responsibilities Act at all times in accordance with NMC code of professional conduct and hospiscare values. Maintain live registration with the NMC and comply with all relevant standards and guidelines including revalidation. Reflect on own performance, pursue and demonstrate a commitment to professional lifelong learning through clinical supervision; critical incident; debrief and peer support, and demonstrate the ability to be a thoughtful practitioner Contribute to Hospiscare s clinical governance and audit process. Keep professional practice and expert knowledge up to date and apply research / evidence based practice in service development. Attend/complete statutory and mandatory training. Communication and working relationships Uphold Hospiscare values and be a Hospiscare ambassador at all times. Demonstrate advanced communication ability in all circumstances. Communicate effectively and professionally with the CCTL; the Cluster Team and members of other Community Cluster Teams in order to support and foster the best possible working relationships. Communicate professionally with all Hospiscare staff and volunteers. Contribute to maintaining and developing good working relationships in your locality with: Members of NHS Devon Providers of out-of-hours services. Social and domiciliary care workers. Care Homes. Community Hospitals. Acute Hospitals. Informal carers.
Other local relevant providers. This job description is not exhaustive and should be read alongside the band 5 competency framework. The job description will be subject to review.