Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care

Job Summary

Primary Integrated Community Services are supporting Bassetlaw Hospice with the recruitment for the following vacancy.

• To lead the team of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) at Bassetlaw Hospice, taking on a leadership role including roster management, managing team dynamics and culture, and driving change.
• To provide specialist clinical advice and support in the care of patients requiring palliative care in the Bassetlaw area.
• To build and maintain a continuing care relationship with the patient and family throughout a negotiated period or episode of care, including bereavement support as required.
• To liaise with other health and social care professionals involved in their care and work within an MDT.
• To make a specialist contribution to the teaching of nurses, health and social care professionals and other members of the palliative care team.
• To contribute to the delivery of evidence-based practice through research, service standards and audit, as a member of the Specialist Palliative Care team.
• To provide advice and support to patients throughout the Bassetlaw area.

• Accept referrals as agreed through current referral processes and pathways.
• Undertake a holistic assessment of the Specialist Palliative Care needs of patients/carers and plan appropriate care.
• Be responsible for the provision of Specialist Palliative Care advice and support to patients, health care professionals, and other carers to meet the needs identified in the assessment.
• Plan and undertake follow‑up and support visits when required, providing continuous specialist input to patients and their families.
• Provide accurate information to patients/carers/professionals as appropriate.
• Provide bereavement support to carers and families.
• Act as a resource for integrated care teams, primary and secondary care professionals, and social care and tertiary providers involved in the care of patients with palliative care needs.
• Act as a mentor for staff by supporting individual coping strategies.
• Contribute to the weekly Specialist Palliative Care multidisciplinary team meeting and attend other MDT meetings as requested, including GP Palliative Care (GSF) meetings.
• Liaise with and refer to other services where appropriate to ensure the needs of patients and carers are met.
• Utilise a wide range of communication skills to facilitate the development of a therapeutic relationship with patients and carers.
• Provide psychological and emotional support and communicate effectively with other professionals involved in the care of patients on the caseload.
• Recognise and respond to complex relationship dynamics between patients, families and carers.
• Use formal and informal opportunities for education to guide and support those involved in the patients’ care to improve communication skills.
• Contribute to the development and educational needs of other health care professionals, including staff within the hospice and outsourcing teaching sessions.
• Participate in the delivery of palliative care related courses and study days.
• Maintain accurate records, including Systmone, and participate in regular team business/operational meetings to shape strategic planning of the service.
• Manage own workload, caseload and capacity through effective caseload management and teamwork.
• Participate in regular specialist palliative care meetings with national and clinical network organisations to facilitate and plan local services.
• Recognise risk, utilise risk management systems to document risk and implement control measures to mitigate risk within the team and service.
• Manage compliments, complaints, concerns and grievances within the team and service.
• Engage in senior leadership meetings and provide input to the Director of clinical services.
• Maintain team compliance and key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensure the CNS team is working to a CQC‑ready standard with gold‑standard service in line with current policies, processes, legislation and contracts.
• Use audit to evaluate standards of care delivered, documentation, workload and education provision, and contribute to the development of policies, procedures and guidelines in relation to palliative…