Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to work within the Palliative care team at The Cicely Saunders Institute, Kings College hospital. We are seeking an experienced, dynamic, innovative and a highly motivated band 7 specialist palliative care nurse.

The palliative care team offers an advisory service to patients with palliative care needs and promotes excellence in end of life care across the Trust. The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic individual who will contribute to the development of this dynamic multi-professional team and build on partnerships across the locality. The post will sit within a collaborative network across our Clinical Academic Group within King’s Health Partners. Opportunities exist to be involved in research via established links with the Cicely Saunders Institute.

Main duties of the job

• To work as a clinical nurse specialist and effectively deliver an expert nursing service within the multi-professional palliative care team on the Denmark Hill site, based within the Cicely Saunders Institute.
• To manage a caseload of patients with specialist palliative care needs.
• Participate in providing a seven day face to face service.
• To assist in the development of evidence based clinical nursing practice in line with current research and guidelines.
• To establish and maintain clear lines of communication within palliative care to ensure cohesive multidisciplinary management of patients.
• To link with other palliative care and primary care providers to facilitate the care in the community and minimize the challenges of care transition.
• To act as a role model to other nurses and support the delivery of palliative care education within the Trust.
• To engage in the team’s governance and service development program.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• To provide specialist nursing services for people with specialist palliative care needs, including their families and significant others.
• To accept responsibility for own patient caseload, ensuring all patients have an accurate plan of care, which reflects the assessment undertaken and incorporates the issues and recommendations made and where appropriate prescribe needed medications under a clear scope of practice
• Take responsibility for a patient caseload and ensure clear communication and
  documentation.
• To support Multidisciplinary team (MDT) processes and communication to ensure
  seamless patient care.
• To consider the appropriateness of patients for more detailed multidisciplinary review and discussion at MDT/case review meetings.
• To liaise with local community, social services, paramedics and voluntary organisations in order to develop existing services for clients, carers and health professionals.
• Ensure all patients receive appropriate follow-up and relevant information to enable an informed choice about treatment and future care.
• Attend to patients within the hospital where there is an identified specialist palliative care need.
• To spread knowledge and support the implementation of the 5 priorities for the care of the dying person across the hospital with the support of the practice development nurse.
• To be responsible for identifying and developing clinical protocols and strategies to
  enhance both the continuity and standard of specialist care whilst ensuring equity of access to the service.
• To actively involve service users in providing feedback of their experience of the current service and suggestions for improvements.
• To liaise with discharge coordinators and ward staff to ensure appropriate and timely discharge/follow-up arrangement in place for patients
• To participate in relevant forums at Care Group, Trust, ICB, Cancer Network or
  National/International Level to represent the service perspective.
• To ensure all care is given in accordance with agreed protocols and guidelines
• To produce and provide all patients and relatives / carers with relevant and accessible written information regarding palliative care in accordance with Trust standard.
  Education, Audit and Research
• To supervise and participate in the delivery of programmes of education and training according to the identified needs of clients, carers and other involved in their care.
• To work with other clinical staff to identify knowledge gaps in relation to specialist patients and ensure staff are appropriately educated.
• To contribute to the development of nursing practice within the team. Additionally,
  where appropriate, to act as a practice supervisor to Trust and honorary contract
  employees.
• To actively participate in education and other events provided by the team and Trust.
• Participate & undertake research & audit to enhance & demonstrate evidence based practice including the national audit of care at the end of life.
• To attend meetings and conferences as appropriate ensuring that you are fully
  conversant with current issues both within the Trust and within the specialist services locally and nationally.
• To promote and facilitate evidence based practice and clinical audit within the Trust, raising the profile and enhancing the contribution of nursing to patient care and informing business and service development plans.
• To participate in and assist with any appropriate/relevant Trust approved research projects conducted within Palliative Care including the regular recruitment of patients and families into ongoing studies run through the Cicely Saunders Institute.
• To promote nursing research and evidenced based practice relevant to the speciality.
  Management
• To actively contribute to any relevant initiatives within the trust and provide support to colleagues, the Matron, Consultant Nurse and Head of Nursing.
• To contribute positively to the leadership of nursing within the trust acting as a role model.
• To comply with measures to actively manage and reduce risk to patients. Ensuring
  the formal reporting and recording of adverse incidents in line with Trust policy
• Network with the team of clinical nurse specialists within the Trust to evaluate,
  develop and promote the specialist-nursing role
• To utilise and maintain information systems to aid audit and to provide regular activity analysis reports
• Maintain contemporaneous and accurate treatment records, submitting relevant
  statistics, reports and activity data as requested. To participate in the evaluation of
  the service in terms of clinical effectiveness, clinical excellence and value for money
• To ensure the best use of available resources is used within agreed budget to
  provide a cost effective service
• Ensure compliance with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy, supporting the
  delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to positively
  promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring
  services are responsive to the needs of equality groups.
• Comply with national palliative care guidance and other appropriate professional
  standards of care, ensuring transparent delivery of services.
• To participate with the Peer Review process, liaising with Trust management team
  and clinical lead.
• To work with the rest of the multi-disciplinary team on the implementation of recommendations from peer review.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• NMC Registered Nurse with BSc in a health-related/ relevant subject or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• Post registration qualification in Palliative care or relevant subject
• Non-medical prescriber with V300 registration

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant post-registration experience, working autonomously in a palliative care environment
• Ability to make complex assessments of palliative care patients and their families, providing appropriate advice for symptom management and suitable holistic support resulting in a comprehensive management plan
• Demonstrate commitment to high standards of patient care and service delivery

Desirable criteria

• Experience of participation in research and audit programmes

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Evidence of leadership development skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to impart complex information to patient’s relatives and carers at a suitable level

Desirable criteria

• Advanced assessment skills or willingness to develop these skills

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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