The post holder is an experienced nurse, with experience in specialist palliative care who acting within their professional boundaries, will direct specialist holistic care and support for patients with Specialist Palliative Care (SPC) needs be they at diagnosis, during treatment or at end of life, within the hospital SPC team.
They will direct safe, clinical decision-making and expert care for patients within defined guidelines and parameters. They will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures, and providing nurse leadership as required.
They will lead, develop and manage the SPC nursing team.
The post holder will work flexibly across Acute Hospital and Community settings, supporting the service according to service demand.
The post holder will be an experienced nurse, with specialist palliative care knowledge, expertise and clinical skills who acting within their professional boundaries, will direct specialist holistic care and support for patients with specialist palliative care needs whether they be at diagnosis, during treatment or at end of life.
They will direct safe, clinical decision-making and expert care for patients within defined guidelines and parameters. They will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures, and providing nurse leadership as required. They will lead, develop and manage the Specialist Palliative Care nursing team. The post holder will work flexibly across Acute Hospital and Community settings, supporting the service according to service demand.
We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients’ homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.
We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children’s and young people’s services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.
We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.
We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation. Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS – yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boards listen to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members – patients, staff and the local community.
Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in the changes to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.
The postholder will:
• Support the team to obtain a detailed and comprehensive patient assessment and undertake relevant clinical examination and investigations and management for agreed caseload.
• Lead the team to enable them to make clinical assessments and treatment decisions within clinical guidelines, providing safe, evidence-based, cost- effective, individualized patient care.
• Support the hospital SPC team to assess patients ensuring safe discharge and communication with Primary Health Care Team or appropriate admission with clear plan for palliative care needs to be met.
• Lead the team to enable them to support patients and their families communicating very sensitive, complex condition related information, ensuring they receive required information to enable them to participate in care delivery.
• Support the team to act as a source of specialist nursing advice and support to SPC patients and their families.
• Lead the team to develop, implement and monitor agreed management plans for each patient.
• Lead the team to enable them to refer patients directly to other services/agencies as appropriate.
• Support the team to maintain accurate clinical records in accordance with NMC, Trust and medico-legal requirements.
• Ensure that these standards are met and maintained within the nursing team.
• Support the team to act as a patient advocate when appropriate, ensuring respect for patient confidentiality, privacy and cultural/ethnic background.
Professional Duties
• Lead the team and enable them to participate in or undertake research projects as identified and disseminate research findings appropriately, maximising opportunities to promote research in practice.
• Conduct and participate in audit to evaluate identified aspects of the SPC Service, using techniques that monitor and improve existing practice.
• Maintain close links with the Trust Research and Development Department.
• Lead the team and support national, local and network patient experience exercises and ensure any recommendations or needs highlighted are incorporated.
Managerial Duties
• Work closely with key partners including the Trust’s Cancer Management Team and other appropriate health and social professionals i.e., Macmillan Cancer Support to co-ordinate, influence and develop specialist palliative care services within and across the primary, secondary and tertiary care settings, in line with local, network and national guidance and standards.
• Work closely with the Lead Cancer Nurse to support and develop Cancer Nursing and Supportive Care for Cancer patients in Calderdale and Huddersfield.
• Collaborate with the appropriate Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses and Matrons (Community and Hospital) to influence and promote the nursing service and care provision for patients with specialist palliative / end of life needs.
• Develop close working relationships with team leaders across Calderdale community and the wider locality to enhance and inform the patients journey across settings.
• Lead the team to support them in conjunction with other members of the Multi- Disciplinary Team, review existing protocols and policies and develop new ones where appropriate.
• Support the team and enable them to carry out an annual review of all patient/carer information and the production of appropriate new information as identified, ensuring these are offered and are accessible at all points of the pathway of care in line with local, network and national guidelines and initiatives.
• In liaison with all members of the Service Development Teams and the Multi- Disciplinary Team, initiate and develop new ideas for the improvement of specialist palliative care Services for patients.
• Working within the Trust patient and public involvement strategy, ensure there are robust systems in place to ensure users are involved in service developments and that there is an effective communication strategy for these views to be fed back into clinical practice where appropriate.
• To lead on an annual review of all patient/care information and the production of appropriate new information as identified, ensuring these are offered and are accessible at all points of the pathway of care in line with local, network and national guidelines and initiatives.
• Maintain and provide relevant statistics about activities as required by the Trust, network and national organisations.
• Attend regular relevant meetings (internal and external) and provide effective channels of communication within the team.
• Work alongside the Division to support the Division’s/Trust’s annual plan and strategic vision.
Financial Duties
• To be aware of the financial implications of the service needs and specific budgetary requirements related to specialist palliative care.
• Manage the department budget and to work to contribute to the Trust’s financial commitment to the development of the service.
Managing Self
• Participate in regular supervision.
• Attend all mandatory training.
• Participate annually identifying, developing and agreeing your own development plan with your Line Manager using the Trust Appraisal. Comply with all Trust policies, procedures and protocols.
• Carry out duties with due regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunity Policy. advice and support from Line Manager whenever necessary.
• Maintain professional conduct, including appearance at all times.
• Ensure maintenance of Professional Registration.
This job description is an outline only and is not definitive or restrictive in any way. It will be regularly reviewed and may be amended in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder.
This advert closes on Sunday 16 Feb 2025
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