Job responsibilities

Job Description

1. JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Senior Registered Nurse

Band: 6

Location: Searle House, Exeter EX2 5JJ

Hours: As on contract, shift work to include occasional nights

Team/Directorate: Inpatient Unit

Responsible To: Ward Manager

Responsible For: Registered Nurses, Health Care Assistants

Accountable to: Head of Inpatient Services and Clinical Quality

2. JOB PURPOSE

To work as part of the multidisciplinary specialist team to deliver an excellent standard of evidenced based palliative care.

To promote dignity, encompassing a person centred approach, to positively enhance the lives of patients with complex life limiting illnesses.

To support the Ward Manager with day to day management of the team.

3. KEY RESULT AREAS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Main Responsibilities

Provide advanced specialist palliative care by contributing highly experienced clinical judgement and knowledge in complex palliative and end of life care in order to promote best practice for adults with life limiting illnesses.

Contribute to the assessment and review of patients, prioritising needs and working as a member of the IPU team to ensure effective communication is in place to support patient care.

Demonstrate advanced communication skills and professionalism in all interactions with patients and those close to them, carers and other professionals in order to promote and maintain Hospiscare values.

Contribute to the daily clinical leadership of junior staff within the team to ensure team effectiveness, cover and cohesion.

Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary, complex care and Gold Standards Framework (GSF) or End of Life meetings to promote best practice.

Demonstrate knowledge and skills to be able to contribute in the delivery of education and learning of all those involved in palliative/end of life care in order to act as a resource to wider professional and care teams both internally and externally.

Contribute to Hospiscares clinical governance and audit process in order to support continuing quality improvement and learning.

Supervise junior colleagues and take responsibility for the team in the absence of the Ward Manager to ensure continuity of service and the welfare of patients.

Co-ordinate the planning and implementation of discharges to help patients achieve their preferred place of care.

Infection Prevention and Control

Maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees is everyones responsibility. All staff are required to adhere to Hospiscares Infection Prevention and Control Policy and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection prevention and control at all times. This includes ensuring personal and team compliance with all relevant policies and procedures, and acting upon or reporting any identified risks.

Disclosure and Barring Service

This role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced level check with Adults and Children Barred Lists.

3.2 Key Contacts

Internal:

Ward Manager and IPU team Community teams Medical team Supportive Care team

Reception and Front of House team

Clinical Governance

Clinical Administration

Learning and Development team

Catering/Estates team

People team (HR and Volunteering)

Student Nurses and Trainees

Volunteers

External:

Patients and those close to them

Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital

NHS Community Services

General Practitioners

Residential and Nursing Homes

Social and Domiciliary Care Workers

Providers of out-of-hours services

3.3 Health & Safety

Ensure that Health and Safety guidelines and fire regulations are strictly adhered to

Comply with safe working practices as defined by Hospiscare

Complete online training as and when required

Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by acts or omissions at work

Report any accidents, incidents or near misses as soon as reasonably practicable

Manage own work life balance and general wellbeing, including any relevant pressures in respect of lone working, travel, difficult environments and challenging situations

3.4 General

Be aware of and adhere to Hospiscare policies and procedures at all times

Take part in progress/performance reviews throughout the year

Cooperate with other Hospiscare departments

Attend training courses and complete online training modules as required to meet the requirements of the post

Take responsibility for own personal development, seeking out opportunities to learn new skills

Undertake any other duties as requested by management which are reasonably deemed to be within the scope of the role

3.5 Other

Apply the Hospiscare values and behaviours to every aspect of the role at all times

Promote and maintain the brand standards of Hospiscare

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council registration
• Diploma in Palliative Care or diploma level qualification in associated field.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

• Advanced Communication Skills training
• Teaching and mentorship/supervision qualification

Skills

Essential

• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills
• Developed ability to demonstrate knowledge and expertise through formal/informal teaching and educational programmes
• Developed ability to manage challenging circumstances effectively, to understand and disseminate multifaceted information
• Developed IT skills

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working within a palliative care setting
• Significant experience of assessing, planning and evaluating treatment and nursing care plans
• Significant experience of caring for patients with life-limiting conditions

Desirable

• Experience of working with learners e.g. Trainee Nursing Associates
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Experience of coaching/mentoring and of facilitating clinical supervision

Additional requirements

Essential

• Able and willing to contribute to the 7 days/week and rotation to nights as required by the post
• Able to fulfil the physical and manual handling requirements of the role

Personal attributes

Essential

• 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

Knowledge

Essential

• Detailed understanding of the complexities of working with individuals at times of distress and conflict
• Detailed understanding of theoretical nursing models and of their impact on delivery of care
• Understanding of management of staffing resource

Desirable

• Knowledge of key issues relating to End of Life care including policy developments

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).