The closing date is 19 July 2026

Job Summary
SISTER: (2 positions) Full or Part time e.g. 22.5, 30 or 37.5 hrs/wk
Salary: £45,020 per annum WTE (Hrly rate £23.02)(including shift allowance)

Thank you for your interest in the position of Sister within the Hospice at Home Team at Pendleside Hospice.

Due to development within the team we are seeking a dedicated and forwardthinking Registered Nurse (NMC registered) to join our Hospice at Home Team. This team plays a vital role in ensuring Pendleside continues to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care for people living with palliative or end of life needs in their own homes.

As a Registered Nurse within this service, you will demonstrate strong clinical leadership and the ability to support change, while maintaining the highest standards of individualised care, compassion and bereavement support. As this is a community based role, it is essential that you are a car driver with access to your own vehicle and business insurance.

Pendleside offers a supportive, values driven working environment where staff wellbeing, learning and professional development are actively encouraged and prioritised.

By joining #TeamPendleside, you will become part of a caring, collaborative and committed team focused on delivering exceptional experiences for the patients, families and communities we serve.

If you wish to know more about the role, weencourage you to attend one of the informal visits to the Hospice. You can do that by emailing: Rebecca.smith@pendleside.org.uk

Main Duties of the Job
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide a high standard of holistic, skilled, patient-centred, palliative care to all inpatients.
• Support the Inpatient and Hospice at Home (IPU/HH) Manager to lead and manage staff
• Support the IPU/HH Manager with service developments
• Assist the IPU/HH Manager in supervision, training and of junior staff
• Take regular charge of Hospice at Home in the absence of the IPU/HH Manager
• To be a link nurse for specific specialist clinical topic areas

About Us
Pendleside Hospice was founded as a charity in 1988 and is one of the principal providers of palliative and end of life care services to adults in Burnley and Pendle. Pendleside is widely known throughout the area of Burnley and Pendle and is held in deep affection by the local community. It is truly a privilege to work here.

All our care is free of charge to the patients and their families/carers but, of course, it isnt free to provide and most of it is funded through the generosity of the local community in which we serve. It costs over £6.5 million to run Pendleside Hospice of which over £5 million needs to be raised through voluntary donations.

Job Responsibilities
CORE TASKS
Clinical

• To have in-depth knowledge in specialist palliative care and act as a knowledge base / resource for others including staff and patients
• Ensure uniformity of the quality of nursing care across the service
• Participate in the daily handover and admission meetings and the units weekly Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting
• To lead the process of assessment planning and admission to Hospice at Home, and review and discharge process, ensuring that all staff understand and are able to carry out the process
• Along with other staff to identify and assess physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients and their families/carers
• To plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based nursing care strategies for patients and their family/friends in an open and co-operative manner respecting the rights of the individual; identify and implement nurse driven service development
• To provide help and direction in a timely and supportive manner to volunteers and others in Hospice at Home
• To participate, oversee and support the bereavement process; supporting staff in managing the process after an Extended service shift
• To ensure that all the hospice clinical and administrative policies and procedures are followed
• In collaboration with the other Sisters and IPU/HH Manager, coordinate and ensure smooth running of the Day and Night teams, ensuring good communication between patients, staff members and other healthcare professional involved
• Ensure medicines are managed in accordance with all internal policies, procedures and standard operating procedures and the misuse of drugs act 1971 and the controlled drugs (supervision and management and use) regulations 2013
• To ensure that patient electronic records and documentation is completed accurately and fully in line with the NMC guidance on documentation
• To be a proactive link nurse to share best practice about specific specialist clinical topic areas e.g. oncological emergencies, just in case medication administration

Management and Leadership

• To support the other Sisters and IPU/HH Manager with day-to-day management responsibilities
• To manage the Hospice at Home service in the absence of the IPU/HH Manager; ensuring that staff and skill mix are maintained, and complaints/adverse incidents are handled effectively
• To promote a harmonious environment conducive to the work of the hospice by actively managing performance
• Provide clear leadership to the team, delegating tasks efficiently and ensuring that expectations are explicitly known
• To act as a clinical role model for junior staff; ensuring evidence based practice
• To provide effective line management to a team of Registered Nurses and Healthcare Assistants including conducting regular appraisals, one-to-ones, undertaking competency assessments and ensuring that there are effective teaching, educational and development opportunities for Hospice at Home staff
• To provide constructive feedback at all levels, challenging poor performance when required
• Implement performance management strategies; identify performance improvement needs and help others to develop strategies
• To ensure effective implementation of HR procedures including participating in staff recruitment and selection, management of sickness/absence and performance management in accordance with Hospice policies, procedures and employee guide
• To participate in the development of organisational objectives as part of the Senior Nursing Team
• In the absence of the IPU/HH Manager attend organisational meetings and contribute positively and constructively to the team
• To lead the process of change and ensure Hospice at Home team are supported throughout

Communication Skills

• Foster good working relationships and effectively communicate with members of the multidisciplinary team, users of the service and other healthcare professionals working externally
• Act as a resource of clinical knowledge for Hospice staff and external agencies
• Give clear, concise reports on patients progress and concerns to the multidisciplinary team and facilitate others to do so
• Communicate information to distressed and/or bereaved people in a sensitive manner
• Manage situations where people are distressed or angry in an effective, safe manner
• Be able to communicate effectively with people exhibiting challenging behaviours, ensuring they are respected but expectations are made as clear as possible
• Have excellent telephone communication skills, taking calls from patients, carers and professionals managing their concerns effectively and sensitively
• Manage complaints in a sensitive manner ensuring that the Hospice policy and procedure is adhered to
• Ensure accurate and contemporaneous documentation of patient care both personally and by others using electronic systems
• Identify problems in communication both within the Hospice and in dealings with external agencies, reporting these promptly
• Advocate for patients and other service users ensuring their views are known to the team including in the case of advance care planning and occasions where offered care is declined
• Work in accordance with Hospice policies to ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times.

Personal and People Development

• To continue own personal and professional development
• Attend organisational mandatory training as required
• Create a learning environment for all staff and support the development of a clinical supervision process
• To participate in the support and educational development of student nurses and less experienced clinical staff
• To mentor students and professionals from other agencies, as well as volunteers, students / agency or bank staff.
• To identify and participate in the development of teaching and educational programmes as agreed with line manager
• As part of the line management and appraisal process identify and ensure all relevant professional skills are maintained
• To participate in 1-1 supervision with own line manager
• To provide 1-1 supervision to specific team members
• Ensure that NMC requirements for nurse revalidation are fulfilled both personally and by Registered Nurses within the Hospice at Home team

Quality and Service Improvement

• Collaborate with other members of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of high standards of effective healthcare within best-practice guidelines
• Act consistently within legislation, policies and procedures
• Maintain accurate and legible records
• Use and maintain resources efficiently and effectively and encourage others to do so
• Prioritise own workload, organise and carry out own work in a manner that maintains and promotes quality
• Monitor and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of clinical services, highlighting where and how improvements can be made, taking appropriate, immediate action and implementing agreed, planned changes
• In support of the IPU/HH manger and identified others contribute to the identification of practices that could improve service delivery outcomes through:
  • audit
  • research
  • evaluation
  • education/training
  • user involvement
  • project management
• Ensure that resulting action plans are kept up to date and any deviances or issues are highlighted to the IPU/HH Manager or in their absence the clinical services manager
• Encourage others to submit their ideas for service improvement and raise concerns regarding quality and risk
• Take an active role in team meetings, highlighting areas requiring quality improvement
• Be aware of organisational strategic direction and future issues pertaining to the provision of specialist palliative and supportive care, and contribute to and participate in organisational service development
• Have a knowledge of developments in specialist palliative care
• Be a positive influence in implementing change, ensuring team members are aware of the rationale for change and what their role is in achieving it
• Work with the Fundraising Department and Clinical Services Manager to identify individual patient stories that can be used in connection with publicity for the Hospice.

Health, Safety and Security

• Identify risks as they arise and carry out risk assessments, taking immediate remedial action as required and updating risk assessments regularly
• Be aware of the Hospice Risk Register and ensure self and others adhere promptly to the incident reporting policy and complete appropriate forms and action plans
• Encourage others to consider risk-reduction measures when completing incident reports
• Recognise risk as covering all aspects of the Hospice including patient welfare and care, facilities and estates and finances
• Be familiar with and support implementation of safeguarding policies, the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
• Promote an environment that supports infection prevention and control policies and procedures, ensuring staff practice in accordingly
• Ensure staff are trained and competent to use equipment safely and that equipment is issued in accordance with instructions and departmental procedures, reporting faults as necessary
• Advise the IPU/HH Manager or in their absence the clinical services manager of any staffing difficulties which may lead to compromised care.

Governance

• Ensure the effective utilisation of the Hospices electronic patient record system, promoting the use of information technology for recording patient information, communication and information sharing; implementing procedural change as necessary
• Ensure that Hospice policies, procedures and standards are adhered to at all times with particular regard to those concerning confidentiality, information governance, health and safety, prevention and control infection and medicines management
• Ensure that Hospice at Home is compliant with the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• RGN
• Palliative Care qualification (or willingness to complete within 12 months)
• Evidence of CPD

Practical and intellectual skills
Essential

• Understanding and sensitivity to the needs of patient with a life limiting illness/ their families and carers
• Liaison with other agencies and professionals
• Mentoring Skills
• Good communication, record keeping and organisational skills
• Full UK driving licence, access to own vehicle, Business Insurance
• Computer literacy (Outlook, Excel, Electronic clinical records)

Desirable

• Counselling skills/communication skills training
• EMIS experience

Health and physical
Essential

• Good attendance record
• Ability to move and handle people and equipment

Equal Opportunities
Essential

• To have an understanding of, and an ability to promote and implement equal opportunities

Disposition and attitude
Essential

• Evidence of an ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to relate positively to colleagues and members of the MDT
• Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality and information governance
• Positive attitude to change and flexible working practices

Experience
Essential

• Leading a team in a first-line management position
• Minimum of 4 years post registration
• Understanding of professional nursing issues
• Experience of working in an oncology/palliative care setting

Circumstances
Essential

• Work shifts over 7 days including weekends
• Work flexibly according to the needs of the service

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).