About this role
Job summary
Are you an experienced and compassionate Clinical Nurse Specialist looking for a role where your expertise truly matters?
Join our Advice Line team, where you'll provide specialist telemedicine support to patients and families across Somerset.
This is an opportunity to use your clinical judgement, communication skills and holistic approach to care right at the moment people need it most.
Location: Can be based in Taunton or YeovilSalary: £23,952.16- £28,842.57 per annum (based on a full time salary of £39,920.27 - £48,070.94)Additional Payments: 30% Unsocial Hours on Saturday and 60% on Sunday & bank holidaysContract: PermanentWorking pattern: Part time, 22.5 hours per week
This role offers shift patterns of 8:00 16:00, 9:00 17:00, 8:00 18:00, or 14:00 22:00.
Main duties of the job
You will work within our advice line team focusing on our referral, triage process and advice line calls.
The role is predominantly telemedicine and will work closely with our central referral centre.
Your day-to-day work will include:
Working with a team to respond to advice line queries, referrals and take appropriate action.Triaging new referrals, signposting appropriately based on the individual needs, and liaising with other services, internal and external.Supporting and advising patients, using specialist knowledge and skills in physical symptom control, social, emotional and spiritual care.Assess the appropriateness and urgency of referrals seeking further information and advice as appropriate managing expectation and giving clarity to outcome.Conducting home visits as required and feeding back to the community CNS team.
About us
You won't just be joining a fantastic team you'll become part of a welcoming, community-minded charity making a real difference every day.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment alongside a range of benefits including:
Holiday entitlement
33 days including bank holidays, rising to 35 days after 1 year, and increasing with length of service (pro-rata if part-time)For Band 5 clinical roles, annual leave entitlement may include reckonable service from previous clinical roles at Band 5 or above, where joining us directly from the NHS or another hospice.Ability to buy and sell annual leave
Pension scheme
NHS pension continuation where applicable*6% employer / 5% employee contribution for non-NHS staff
Additional Benefits
Life assurance cover (2x salary)Health Cash PlansEmployee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access, counselling, wellbeing support, and legal/financial adviceBlue Light Discount CardEnhanced maternity leave*Excellent learning and development opportunitiesFree on-site parking in Yeovil and TauntonOpportunities to volunteer and support fundraising initiatives
*Eligibility criteria applies
Job description Job responsibilities
Practice and leadership:
Practice with autonomy and as a resilient team member to support the transition of new models of working and process developmentTake and analyse a clinical history in a relevant, succinct and logical manner either remotely or face to face.Triage, assess and plan using specialist skills in palliative/EOL care. Complete thorough documentation on SMH health system i.e. SystemOne. Understand resources available to care and support in the community across the system health and social care model.Independently assess the patients needs, identify their priorities and work with the patient and those close to them towards achieving them.Use physical assessment and clinical reasoning skills as part of patient assessment and to support clinical advice, professional communication and documentation.Perform non-medical prescribing (if holding qualification) within area of competence and practice according to local policyDemonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the options for achieving control of symptoms and the ability to make safe clinical decisions and offer advice to the primary health care team.Provide information to patients, taking account of their individual needs, taking advice from those who are close to them, colleagues and external professionals where appropriate.Based on the triaging, assessing, planning and implementation of needs, refer to other members of the hospice multi-professional team. Refer/signpost patients and carers to other health and social care professionals where appropriate.Demonstrate an ability to explore the personal resources of families/carers to facilitate where possible that patients are cared for in the place of their choice.Support and coach carers at home in managing a relative whose condition is deteriorating.Understand community medication administration processes and safely administer just in case subcutaneous injections when needed during a visit.Discuss wishes of the person and complete treatment escalation plans (TEP) and advance care planning (ACP). Share information via relevant IT platforms Recognise and manage palliative care emergencies appropriately following the pathways of escalation.Act as a resource to other professionals, both internally and externally, on specialist palliative care and end of life care issues.As part of triage process, utilise information from various health care systems to gather current, relevant data i.e. Sider, RIO, EPRO, SystemOne.Communication:Work to support St Margarets in the delivery of a digital strategy that will enhance clinical services and working processes. Contribute/arrange/lead Multidisciplinary meetings as necessary i.e. Primary care network meetings, Gold standard framework. Work collaboratively with clinical and administrative colleagues to provide a responsive and patient-centred service.Regular meetings with community services to ensure collaboration i.e. rapid response service, district nursing service, village agents, living better teams, hospital @ home. Recognise the impact of caring for dying patients on yourself, internal and external colleagues. Being skilled in the delivery of Clinical Supervision, being actively responsible for ensuring you maintain a robust framework of supervision to meet your own needs. Record contemporaneous and accurate patient electronic records according to NMC guidance. Complete professional letters to other healthcare professionals for continuity of care and updating of information. Work within The NMC Code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics. Contribute to the aims and objectives of improving health and wellbeing outcomes, including health promotion, widening access to services and reducing health inequalities by maintaining awareness of current trends, developments and gaps in service.Ensure referrals to other services are completed and ensure continuity of care through excellent communication skills. Manage complex communication issues with patient and families using advanced level of knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills.Anticipate potential problems, or barriers to communication, and take action to improve the communication skills and strategies of the team. To discuss sensitive and emotional information with patients and their families/carers Involve patients and carers in decision making, offering them informed choices and respecting their views.Look for potential risks to self and others in work activities, environments and processes. Understand specific risks associated with lone working and follow lone working policy when conducting home visits. Manage identified risks in the best way possible and keep team informed and engaged. Work in a way that complies with legislation and hospice policies and procedures on health, safety and risk managementReport actual or potential problems that may put health, safety or security at risk and suggests solutionsSupport and challenge others in maintaining health, safety and security at work.Work within the safeguarding framework for the protection of vulnerable adults and children. Education and training:
Maintain expert clinical knowledge and skills, using evidence-based practice. Develop and provide relevant education programs internally and externally. Continually provide informal education in the clinical setting to meet these needs and ensure continuing promotion of excellence in palliative care. Maintain own continuing professional development, including a reflective portfolio of evidence, as required by the NMC for revalidation. Participate in the induction, training and mentorship of new staff, and the teaching of all staff up to and including post-graduate level.Provide support, assessment and mentorship of students visiting and on placement with St Margarets on pre-registration nursing programs, and other specialist areas.Provide learning opportunities for other health and social care workers via mentorship and supervision, debriefs and mortality investigations. This includes providing inter-professional support for staff of all disciplines and clinical placements. Undertake any necessary skills, training and mandatory training as appropriate to the post. Maintain revalidation requirementsReporting & data
Work to ensure data reporting and analysis are central to articulating service demand, delivery and quality. Together with the Head of Service ensure your role and that of the team constantly works to support strategy direction to improving the lives of patients and carers across Somerset.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse (NMC register) RN1 Degree level or equivalent study in related subject, such as acute oncology, palliative care, chronic conditions management (or willing to work towards). Recognised teaching qualification or prepared to work towards. Experience in telemedicine/triage Commitment to continuing education and professional development Post qualification to degree level with a willingness to work to master's level Independent prescriber or willingness to undertake & practice Experience in working to a high standard of Palliative & EOL care supported by post registration certificate (or willingness to work towards) Hold current drivers licence as may make home visits, if appropriate.
Desirable
Non-medical prescribing qualification Advanced Communication skills including negotiation and diplomacy skills Physical assessment and clinical reasoning (PACR) Managing Qualification Post grad Community Specialist qualification Project management and quality initiative experience
Self Awareness Essential
Recognises own limitations. Ability to work flexibly and respond to changing or conflicting priorities. Effectively manages multiple tasks and priorities Ability to meet deadlines Work within a framework of resilience
Working with others Essential
Calm and objective. Is assertive not aggressive Treats confidential information sensitively and in line with policy Positive role model to the team and service. Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills, the ability to relate to a diverse range of people.
Outcome and Results Essential
Ability to work autonomously Managing time, work commitments and priorities. Recognises and understands own roles and responsibilities Able to prioritise and respond appropriately. Shares and communicates information
Leading in your area Essential
Relevant post-registration experience in cancer, palliative care or relevant speciality. In-depth specialist experience in care of patients with complex needs. Experience of mentorship and teaching Computer literate, able to use word documents, database and e-mail communication.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name St Margaret's Somerset Hospice
Address Heron Drive
Bishops Hull
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5HA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/home-page (Opens in a new tab)