Clinical Nurse Specialist

Why Join Us?

Free staff parking

Flexible and compassionate workplace

Wellbeing and mental health support

This community‑based role involves travel across Exeter and the surrounding areas and participating in a seven‑day service provision.

Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Band: 6

Location: Community

Hours: As contracted, including on‑call

Team/Directorate: Community Cluster

Responsible To: Community Cluster Team Leader (CCTL)

Accountable To: Head of Community and Supportive Care Services

• Deliver an excellent standard of evidence‑based specialist palliative nursing care and clinical advice.
• Promote dignity and a person‑centred approach to positively enhance the lives of patients in the community with complex life‑limiting illnesses.
• Provide advanced specialist palliative care by contributing highly experienced clinical judgement and knowledge in complex palliative and end‑of‑life care.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills and professionalism in all interactions with patients, carers and other professionals.
• Contribute to the daily clinical leadership of junior staff within the community team to ensure team effectiveness, cover and cohesion.
• Deliver education and learning, both internally and externally, for all those involved in palliative/end‑of‑life care.
• Attend and contribute to multi‑disciplinary meetings, including the Gold Standard Framework (GSF) or End‑of‑Life meetings, to promote best practice.
• Contribute to Hospiscare’s clinical governance and audit process to support continuous quality improvement.
• Assess and identify complex bereavement needs and communicate effectively with the Supportive Care team to enable a seamless handover into Hospiscare’s Bereavement Care Services.
• Maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees, adhering to the Infection Prevention and Control Policy and reporting any identified risks.
• Ensure compliance with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced level check for Adults and Children Barred Lists.

• Detailed understanding of the complexities of working with individuals at times of distress and conflict.
• Understanding of key issues relating to End of Life Care, including policy developments.
• Detailed understanding of theoretical nursing models and their impact on the delivery of care.

• Developed ability to act as an expert practitioner.
• Developed ability to manage a caseload effectively, including discharge planning.
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills.
• Developed ability to demonstrate knowledge and expertise through formal or informal teaching.
• Developed ability to manage challenging circumstances effectively and disseminate multifaceted information.

• Ability to lead and work as part of a team, prioritise workload and manage time effectively.
• Ability to work autonomously, problem‑solve and act on own initiative.
• Flexible and adaptable with the ability to respond positively in a rapidly changing environment.
• Commitment to continuing professional development.
• Awareness of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in all aspects of work.

• Able and willing to contribute to the 7 days / week specialist palliative care service.
• Able to travel and work throughout the area covered by Hospiscare.
• Able to fulfil physical and manual handling aspects of the role.
• Car owner and driver.

• Registered Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council registration.
• Diploma in Palliative Care or a diploma‑level qualification in an associated field.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Advanced communication skills training.
• Teaching and mentorship/supervision qualification.

• Substantial experience working within a palliative care / end‑of‑life environment.
• Significant experience of effective clinical governance, audit and standard setting.
• Experience of policy and/or standards development.
• Experience of multi‑agency partnership working to deliver service improvements.
• Experience of coaching / mentoring and of facilitating clinical supervision.
• Experience of working in the community setting.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check to be made to check for any previous criminal convictions.