Job Summary
The inpatient hospital team of the Supportive and Palliative Care Service at University Hospitals Plymouth are looking for a Band 6 CNS to join the team, on a substantive basis. The post will primarily support activity based in the main hospital, within the acute bed base, supporting the management and care of patients and families at end of life. You will bring an established skillset in palliation and symptom control, along with a passion to improve outcomes for those at, or nearing end of life within the acute setting. The role is based with the inpatient hospital team, however the post holder may be required to support the Emergency Department End of Life team, or community hospital End of Life beds.
Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS at Risk staff throughout Devon who is able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will advise and be the point of expert contact regarding palliation of symptoms in the last phase of life, working closely with clinical areas/wards across the Trust. Focussing on the provision of holistic care (delivering/co-delivering/facilitating others practice), the post holder will support 'better deaths' through enhanced communication with patients/families, and advice regarding symptom control; at times there may be the need to provide hands on care to support patients or when joint working with nursing colleagues/the MDT.
The post holder will work closely with internal teams (Wards, AGP, Virtual Ward, MRU, wider Supportive and Palliative Care Teams) in addition to external stakeholder organisations (e.g. St Lukes, Livewell Southwest, Marie Curie).
UHP is a busy acute Trust; the post holder will often be required to work 'at pace', independently prioritising and reprioritising allocated work throughout the day (and supporting others in the team to do so).
Whilst the role is based in the Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team, there would be an expectation for the post holder to work across all elements of the UHP Supportive and Palliative Care Service; this would include travel off-site (to community Trust bedded locations, as example) as requested.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities
1. Provide specialist advice and support to colleagues within the Trust (and to external agencies, if required) in relation to EoL care within the Trust
2. Contributes toward care planning, and where appropriate, leads care planning in relation to symptom control, holistic support and pathways relating to preferred place of care/death
3. Visits areas/departments within the Trust, including ED and hot floors, in order to proactively identify and support EoL patients
4. Capable of working at pace in often busy and challenged working environments, prioritising own workload/demands, based on patient priority and service needs; including the support of others in the team, with these aims in mind.
5. Proactively facilitates timely discharge of those in the last phase of life to alternative locations of care (where an acute bed is not wanted/needed)
6. Communicates sensitively with patients and carers/families viable options, taking into account overall healthcare picture in relation to system resources
7. Assists senior colleagues in service improvement and pathway design
8. Supervises internal and external partner team colleagues, where appropriate
9. Actively communicates, fostering a relationship of mutual respect and joint working, with external and internal agencies in pursuit of outstanding patient care and choice
Person Specification
Qualifications
Knowledge, experience & qualifications
Essential
* Demonstrable experience in the provision of specialist advice/support regarding palliation and symptom control relating to the last phase of life
* Specialist proven knowledge obtained through formal end of life education, underpinned by work based experience
* Registered Nurse (NMC/appropriate UK registration)
Desirable
* Proven evidence of Level 7 learning
* Demonstrable experience in a role where the post holder is a recognised, credible 'expert'
* Demonstrable experience of facilitating positive patient outcomes in pressured healthcare environment
Key to role
Essential
* The ability to work frequently over a 7 day rota
Desirable
* Advanced communication skills qualification
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.
Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Address: University Hospitals Plymouth, Plymouth, PL6 8DH
Employer's website: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/
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