Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurse

Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurse Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The West Cornwall Community Specialist Palliative Care team are a small team of specialist nurses who are based across the West Locality. We are a cohesive and dynamic team, who work closely with primary care colleagues (GPs and Community Nurses) to deliver a high standard of Specialist Palliative Care to our patients and their families as well as supporting our community nurse teams in delivering end of life care.

We are looking for a motivated and confident registered nurse to join our team working 37.5 hours a week.

Applicants will need to evidence relevant experience in the community of extensive end of life care and support to patients and their families who have palliative care needs.

Main duties of the job

Community specialist palliative care nurses work closely with the multidisciplinary team and with other specialist palliative care providers. The post holder will manage a geographically defined caseload and will ensure that all patients referred with complex palliative needs receive high quality symptom assessment, psychological support and specialist advice to meet their individual care needs.

The post holder will use recognised referral guidelines to undertake agreed levels of intervention.

The post holder will demonstrate high levels of clinical decision-making and will monitor and improve standards of care through supervision of practice, clinical audit, research and by teaching and providing support to professional colleagues.

The post holder will participate in a rota providing a seven-day service.

About us

We're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK. Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.

Job responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.

Person Specification Education/Qualifications and Relevant Experience

• Current professional registration - NMC
• Degree level study in relevant subject
• Evidence of own professional development and additional specialist training in relevant area to post-graduate diploma level
• Evidence of teaching experience
• Recordable teaching qualifications
• Independent nonmedical prescriber
• Counselling qualification

Skills and Aptitude

• A working knowledge of the priorities of care of the dying person and gold standard framework
• Proven palliative or oncology experience
• Experience of working in primary care

Knowledge and abilities

• Knowledge and skill to evaluate research and ensure evidence based practice
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance and ability to apply practice
• The ability to deal calmly with stress and distressing situations
• The ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within primary health care teams and as part of a multi professional team

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.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Community Specialist Palliative Care Team Lead