About this role
Job summary
To provide specialist palliative care, advice and resources to patients with cancer and other life-limiting illness in the hospital. To work as an effective team member within the Specialist Palliative Care Team, collaborating with other clinicians within the acute setting. To work with and signpost to other agencies and providers in the Community. To provide education, specialist advice, and support to professionals, patients and carers, working with others within the acute setting to provide strategic direction for end of life care.
Main duties of the job
The Palliative Nurse Specialist will:
Share responsibility for the day to day management & delivery of the specialist palliative care service within the acute setting. Lead, develop and supervise the practice of those working with palliative care patients within the acute setting.
Support Band 6 palliative care nurses by triaging referrals to the service and identifying patients appropriate for their caseload. Holistically assess patients with a variety of complex physical and emotional needs throughout the duration of their admission.
Team-work: Working directly with all members of the hospital palliative care team; liaison with hospices, community palliative care teams, Marie Curie End of Life Discharge Service. Demonstrate autonomous working by taking responsibility for a patient caseload and utilising advanced health assessment and decision-making skills, in the care of these patients.
Act as a specialist resource offering expertise in palliative care, symptom control and psychological support of patients and families with life-limiting illness.
Develop plans to meet the complex needs of palliative care patients in every acute clinical area. Implement and evaluate evidence-based practice within the field of specialist palliative care nursing to improve standards of care. Participate in the development and monitor the implementation of policies, standards and guidelines.
About us
Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.
We recognise that AI tools can be helpful when drafting job applications; however, we ask candidates to keep their use to a minimum. Your responses should reflect your own experiences, skills and knowledge. Over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in responses that are generic or do not accurately represent your abilities.
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) was formed through the grouping of Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As one group, we are on a journey to improve services for our communities by working collaboratively, modernising the way we deliver care and continually striving for excellence.
Working together allows us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities . There may be a requirement to work across our hospital sites depending on service needs.
Our Excellence Values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage.
UHN welcomes applications from people from all protected groups and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and have achieved the Gold Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme. Our active staff networks support colleagues from all backgrounds and help ensure everyone feels valued here at UHN.
Job description Job responsibilities
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the Shortlisting Criteria section of the document.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications Essential
Educated to degree level in nursing related subject Registered Nurse Current NMC Registration Able to demonstrate specialist palliative care knowledge and skills in an acute setting Evidence of Continuous Professional Development A recognised teaching qualification (or able to demonstrate teaching experience / ability) Experience of, or currently working at Band 6 or above
Desirable
MSc / MA in nursing or related subject Extended and Supplementary Non-Medical Prescriber qualification
Knowledge & Experience Essential
Demonstrates up to date clinical knowledge in palliative care Extensive post registration experience Experience of working within palliative care speciality (or can demonstrate experience of working with patients with palliative care needs in the acute setting) Demonstrates current knowledge of national policies relevant to the specialty, and an understanding of national initiatives Experience of managing a case load Experience of multi-agency working Experience of implementing evidence based practice To have developed, facilitated and taught on education programmes at all levels Demonstrates up to date clinical knowledge in palliative care To have initiated and actively participated in research or audit
Skills Essential
Ability to work independently as well as part of a multi-disciplinary team Ability to make autonomous decisions Ability to manage own caseload and demonstrate time management skills Ability to exercise initiative Ability to implement change / innovation Able to collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team and successfully negotiate with, and influence others. Ability to work under pressurised circumstances Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, with an ability to demonstrate a high standard of written, verbal and networking skills Ability to demonstrate research awareness Ability to demonstrate computer skills Ability to demonstrate flexible working patterns and be able to positively respond to the changing needs of the service
Desirable
Has successfully supervised / mentored other clinical staff Accredited communication / counselling course
Key Competencies/ Personal Qualities & Attributes Essential
Demonstrates a positive, confident attitude and has an empathetic approach to both staff and patients/ families Is reliable, honest and trustworthy Has a mature out-look, and is able to deal with contentious and challenging situations in creative and non-judgemental ways
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address University Hospitals of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Kettering
NN16 8UZ
Employer's website https://www.kgh.nhs.uk/working-for-us (Opens in a new tab)
