JOB DESCRIPTION Post: Band: Responsible to: Accountable to: Community Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist 7 (SAH adapted Agenda for Change) Team Leader Clinical Operational Manager Job Summary Work within the policy framework of the hospice in its provision of specialist palliative and supportive care by supporting the team in ensuring that the clinical aims and objectives of the organisation are met. The post holder will have a role in the co-ordination and day to day management of the service in order to ensure a consistently high standard of service provision. Foster good working relationships and communicate with members of the multi disciplinary team, other healthcare professionals and users of service to ensure the delivery of high standards of effective specialist palliative and supportive care. Actively participate in the assessment, planning and delivery of a consistently high standard of specialist palliative and supportive care. Act in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct. St Ann s Hospice delivers a service across three sites. Whilst your position is site-specific, there may be occasions where you are required to provide cross-site cover. Although this is a comprehensive job description, you may be required to undertake other duties assigned by your manager. Page 1 of 8
Communication Take leadership in ensuring a conducive environment is maintained in order to promote effective communications within the team. Promote and collaborate in good working relationships with all departments to ensure the patient journey is effective and efficient. Foster and maintain good working relationships communicating effectively with members of the multi disciplinary team, other healthcare professionals and users of service to ensure the delivery of high standards of effective healthcare. Ensure that patient documentation is accurate, disseminating all relevant changes in the patient s condition to the multi disciplinary team. Act in a way that upholds patient and staff confidentiality at all times. Represent and promote the organisation at external meetings and events as requested. Take responsibility for ensuring communication to the Team Leader, including reporting on any governance issues in a timely and effective manner. Ensure effective liaison between clinical and support services reporting on any key issues. Act sensitively and, where, appropriate be the patient s advocate to inform decision making. Work in accordance with hospice policies to ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times. Personal & People Maintain own professional development to facilitate the provision of evidence-based practice. Practice in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code and ensure that your professional registration with the NMC is maintained. Actively participate in the hospice s individual performance review process to identify own learning needs and take necessary steps in order to reach personal and professional objectives. Actively participate in the induction process for new staff in accordance with hospice policy. Act as mentor/preceptor for all nursing staff and as a resource person for support staff in your team. With the support of the MDT utilise specialist knowledge to enable colleagues to develop their competence in using different interventions in palliative, supportive, rehabilitative and end of life care. Take responsibility and actively support the Team Leader in the ongoing development of the team. Utilise staff support systems e.g. clinical supervision. Health, Safety & Security Work in accordance with hospice policies, procedures and guidelines. Attend organisational mandatory training as required relevant to your role. Advise the Community Specialist Palliative Care Team Leader of any staffing difficulties which may lead to a compromised service. Ensure staff are trained and competent to use equipment safely. Ensure all equipment used is in accordance with instructions and departmental procedures, reporting faults as necessary. Identify potential risks and actively participate in and enable others to carry out risk assessments within the working environment ensuring that the Community Specialist Palliative Care Team Leader is informed. Page 2 of 8
Ensure incident reporting is expedited promptly and appropriate action plans completed. In collaboration with the Infection Prevention and Control Nurse, ensure that the environment supports infection prevention and control policies and procedures. Service Improvement Be conversant with organisational, local and national strategic direction in relation to future issues pertaining to the provision of specialist palliative and supportive care. Promote patient and public involvement in activities designed to inform service improvement e.g. comments cards, user group, dying matters etc. Promote and take a lead role in the monitoring, evaluation and improvement of CSPCT services. Actively engage with the Community Specialist Palliative Care Team Leader in implementing agreed initiatives thus improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Community Specialist Palliative Care service. Quality Be aware of, and work in adherence to the national standards and requirements of the Care Quality Commission. Ensure own clinical practice is evidence-based, effective in terms of clinical outcome and is patient centred. Promote a culture that is conducive to the recognition of complex, physical, spiritual, social and psychological needs With your team, contribute to the identification of practices relevant to the Community Specialist Palliative Care service that could be improved through: - Audit - Research - Evaluation - Education/training - User involvement With the team leader co-ordinate Community Specialist Palliative Care Team referrals ensuring referrals are in line with referral criteria and agreed standards for actioning referrals are met. Be responsible for effective management of resources, ensuring that they are appropriate to service need and that any identified gaps are reported the Community Specialist Palliative Care Team Leader. Organise and manage workload to ensure high quality, effective clinical outcomes. Respond to informal and formal complaints in accordance with hospice policy and procedure. Equality & Diversity Promote and demonstrate awareness of anti discriminatory practice in accordance with the organisational policies and current legislation. Demonstrate enhanced knowledge and understanding of organisational objectives relating to equality and diversity. Support patients, visitors and staff who need assistance in exercising their rights. Have a sound understanding of local and national legislation, policies and procedures. Play a key role in fostering an environment and service which strives to reflect the diversity of individual needs. Page 3 of 8
Promote a culture which respects and values diversity. Ensure care within your practice is consistent with the 5 principles of the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice (2005). Recognise and report behaviour which undermines equality and diversity in accordance with organisational policies and current legislation. Assessment & care planning to meet health and wellbeing needs Assess complex holistic needs of patients, families and carers. Identify their specific goals in relation to supportive, rehabilitative and specialist palliative care needs. With patient /carer identify their specific goals in relation to specialist palliative and supportive care needs that may require input from the wider MDT and Community Health & Social Care Teams. In conjunction with the patient and the wider multi disciplinary team, develop and review care management plans to meet identified needs. To analyse and rigorously review all aspects of patient management interpreting information provided and using knowledge and judgement to provide specialist advice to recommend a new course of action where necessary. With the support of the MDT utilise specialist knowledge to enable colleagues to develop their competence in using different interventions in palliative, supportive and end of life care. Be a resource of specialised knowledge and clinical expertise to promote the delivery of care and respond timely to condition changes Discuss with patients the implications of their programme of care including end of life care where appropriate. Act as a resource of specialised knowledge and clinical expertise to promote the delivery of care that is appropriate and optimal, enabling recognition of condition changes. Enablement to address health and wellbeing needs Be conversant with processes that are in place to support patients and carers to make informed choices about their care and ensure they are utilised effectively. Ensure necessary steps are taken to enable patients to make their own decisions about treatment and care in order to maximise their potential. Act as an advocate to ensure that the patient s perspective is heard within the wider multi disciplinary and community and health and social care teams. Promotes a culture that is conducive to the recognition of complex physical, spiritual, social and psychological needs and utilises the existing referral systems in a timely and appropriate manner. Empower individuals to adjust to and manage large scale changes in their lives to maximise their potential within the constraints of their condition and circumstances. Provide an environment that encourages the patient to actively participate in their care enabling them to voice their wishes about current and future care, e.g. the use of advanced care planning tools. Page 4 of 8
Provide support, information and advice to patients, families and carers to enable them to make decisions about treatment and care options whilst acting as an advocate to ensure that the patient s perspective is heard within the multi disciplinary team. Interventions & Treatments Be fully conversant with organisational policies in relation to interventions, treatments and any associated risks. Be fully conversant with both hospice policy and NMC guidelines in relation to nurse independent prescribing Monitor and record effectiveness of interventions and treatments in line with relevant palliative care guidelines and algorithms. Provide expert clinical specialist knowledge to colleagues, patients, families and carers. Learning & Development Work collaboratively with the Practice Development Centre to ensure the clinical environment is conducive to learning for all staff and students. Ensure clinical placements are effectively facilitated and create a positive learning environment. Provide educational and supportive opportunities to pre-registration nursing students and students of other disciplines e.g. physiotherapy, occupational therapy to ensure placements satisfy all requirements of their learning outcomes. Contribute to the internal/external hospice education and conference programmes. Participate in the development of nursing staff as mentors in accordance with NMC requirements. Lead by example promoting the Hospice as a learning environment for staff and students. Support the team leader in ensuring actions and placement evaluations are identified and acted on accordingly. Take a pro-active role in the preparation of information for placement/audits. To work collaboratively with the Practice Development Centre to ensure that staff have the necessary skills to deliver specialist supportive and palliative care. Work collaboratively with the Practice Development Centre to develop training and staff competencies. People Management In the absence and in support of the team leader take operational responsibility for the overall planning and co-ordination CSPCT service activity in order to support the delivery of care that is responsive to changing circumstances and multiple needs. Ensure duty roster demonstrates sufficient skill mix to reflect service need. Act as mentor/preceptor and a resource person for nursing staff, Allied Health Professionals and other support staff, encouraging a high level of motivation with all involved. To apply organisational policies that may impact on the service e.g. capability, disciplinary, sickness and absence. Give clinical staff clear information in a way which promotes commitment, enthusiasm and provides opportunities to meet their personal development objectives. Offer support and encouragement to clinical members of the MDT meetings in enabling them to deliver their viewpoint. Page 5 of 8
Take responsibility for the allocation and provision of sufficient resources and support for delegated work. Review progress and outcomes with staff as agreed. In circumstances where this is not possible inform and work in collaboration with the team leader or in her absence the clinical operational manager. Be fully involved in the recruitment process. Page 6 of 8
KSF DIMENSIONS ST ANN S KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FRAMEWORK TITLE OF POST: Community Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Band 7 CORE DIMENSIONS relates to all posts KSF Foundation Gateway Indicators KSF Outline 2 nd Gateway 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Communication X all X Personal and People Development X all X Health, Safety and Security X all X Service Improvement X all X Quality X all X Equality and Diversity X all X SPECIFIC DIMENSIONS Assessment and care planning to meet health and wellbeing needs X all X Enablement to address health and wellbeing needs X a, d, e, f, g X Interventions & Treatments X a, b, c, d, e, f, g Learning & Development X a, b, c, f X People Management X X X You will be expected to achieve Foundation Gateway after 12 months in post and full KSF Outline by the time you reach your top gateway. This will be explained as part of your development review. Page 7 of 8
Person Specification Post: Community Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care (Macmillan) Band 7 Department: Responsible to: Accountable to: Community Services Team Leader Clinical Operational Manager Essential Desirable Identified By Education / Experience Intellectual Skills Specialist Skills Aptitudes Personal Attributes 1 st level registration. Evidence of recent study. Evidence of personal development. Relevant degree Teaching/assessors qualification Recordable Oncology/Palliative qualification 2 years experience at Band 6 or above. Demonstrates ability to set and establish priorities. Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across. a range of services. Ability to take on board new concepts. Able to problem solve. Strategic awareness. Demonstrate ability to teach multi-professional team. Demonstrate ability to work autonomously and as part of a team. Ability to evaluate research and ensure evidence based practice. Awareness of issues relating to clinical governance. Ability to establish good working relationships to promote best practice. Able to take responsibility for caseload of patients. Good presentation skills with teaching ability. Ability to manage and participate in change at clinical level. Aware of self responsibility and own professional development. Demonstrate experience and understanding of current issues in palliative care, Oncology/Palliative Care Patients. Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of community nursing issues. Ability to manage self and meet deadlines. Self awareness of own personal development needs and a commitment to undertake relevant educational activity to meet the full role. Friendly and caring manner. Car driver/owner. Audit Experience Application form Interview Application form Interview Application form Interview Interview Page 8 of 8