Job summary
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population of around 600,000 people. We are a high performing organisation with a track record of success and have been rated as Outstanding by the CQC for our Palliative and End of Life Care. This Band 6 post offers an exciting opportunity for a suitably qualified and experienced nurse to work within the Specialist Palliative Care Team in the Community North area of the County.

The post covers core hours of 09:00-17:00 and works across a seven day period, weekends and bank holidays are rostered across the team as per CDDFT policy. Core hours are 09:00-17:00.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will provide a consistent high quality specialist palliative care service for patients and families. With significant post registration experience including recent experience in palliative care.

As a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist the post holder will:

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients and carers.
• Provide specialist advice.
• Provides day to day supervision and/or clinical supervision to others.

About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Details
Date posted 02 July 2026
Pay scheme Agenda for change
Band Band 6
Salary £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Full-time
Reference number C9439-2627-977
Job locations Chester Le Street Community Hospital, Front Street, CHESTER LE STREET, County Durham, DH3 3AT, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will provide a consistent high quality specialist palliative care service for patients and families

Be able to have a positive impact on care and confidently deal with difficult situations with sensitivity and compassion.

Will need to be committed to developing themselves and their practice.

Work collaboratively as part of a team and building effective relationships within the role.

Person Specification
Special Requirements
Essential

• Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post.
• Ability to work hours flexibly when service needs require.
• Driving posts musty have valid Full UK driving licence.

Experience
Essential

• Experience working as a Nurse

Desirable

• Demonstrates proactive approach to palliative and end of life care

Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential

• Communicates complex sensitive, confidential information concerning patients/clients displaying empathy persuasion and reassurance (Some may have special needs; patients/clients may be hostile, antagonistic)
• Demonstrates skills for assessing and interpreting complex needs of patients/clients
• Plans provision of care for patients/clients, e.g. clinics, health education.
• Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates clinical care of patients/clients;
• Provides specialist advice to patients/clients/carers
• Develops and implements specialist programmes of care
• Imparts unwelcome news, care of palliative and end of life/safeguarding issues
• Follows policies, makes comments on proposals for change
• Implements policies and proposes changes to working practices or procedures in own work area
• Supervises work of others; clinical supervision of staff, students; provides training to others
• Works within codes of practice and professional guidelines
• Leads specialist, area or team; may manage a caseload in the community
• Occasional participation in R&D activity
• Physical Skills
• Driving, carries out immunisations/ Restraint of patients/clients using approved techniques; Dexterity and accuracy required for, e.g. intravenous injections, syringe pumps and infusion, insertion of catheters and removal of sutures

Desirable

• Demonstrates proactive approach to palliative and end of life care

Statutory Registration
Essential

• Registered Nurse (adult) on part 1 of the NMC register
• Valid UK NMC PIN

Qualifications
Essential

• Professional knowledge acquired through degree or equivalent level of demonstrable professional knowledge/experience
• Supplemented by diploma level specialist training, experience, short courses

Desirable

• Non Medical Prescribing

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address Chester Le Street Community Hospital, Front Street, CHESTER LE STREET, County Durham, DH3 3AT, United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Matron Suzanne Vickers
Email: suzannevickers@nhs.net
Phone: 07471143241

Supporting links (all open in new tabs)
Library knowledge and learning centre services, CDDFT, Credit union, Cycle to Work Link, Pension Scheme

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