Job summary
We recognise the specialist skills and experience required for this role. As a result, we are offering a £5,000 welcome bonus for the successful candidate. The terms of the bonus will be discussed at interview.

At Southern Hospice Group and Chestnut Tree House, we believe every child with a life-limiting condition deserves outstanding, compassionate care, wherever they are.

Following the successful contract award for 24/7 Consultant led childrens palliative and end of life care services for Sussex, Southern Hospice Group is recruiting for an exceptional Nurse Consultant in Specialist Paediatric Palliative Care to lead the mobilisation and delivery of COAST (Childrens Outreach & Symptom Team).

Working with our Director of Nursing and Care, this is a rare opportunity to shape and deliver a fully integrated 24/7 paediatric palliative care service across Sussex, working across home, hospice, community and hospital settings to improve continuity of care, reduce avoidable hospital admissions, and ensure families can access expert support whenever they need it.

Main duties of the job
As the senior nursing expert for paediatric palliative care within COAST, you will combine advanced clinical practice, strategic leadership, education, research and service development to influence care across the wider system.

You will play a pivotal role in mobilising COAST, following the successful proof-of-concept service that has run for the past two years, into a sustainable, fully operational 24/7 model in line with NICE guidance.

Approximately 60% of your role will remain clinically focused, delivering expert care for children and young people with highly complex needs, including symptom management and end-of-life care. The remaining 40% will focus on organisational leadership, workforce development, governance, partnership working and innovation.

You will also directly lead and support the newly established multidisciplinary COAST team, including Clinical Nurse Specialists, pharmacy and administrative colleagues.

About us
Southern Hospice Group is the largest group of hospices in Sussex and one of the largest in the UK. We are committed to providing exceptional and compassionate care to adults, children and their families across Sussex. Bringing our teams and resources together as one organisation means we can focus on new and exciting visions and plans for our people and patients and provide even greater opportunities for our workforce.

Chestnut Tree House is the childrens hospice for East and West Sussex and South East Hampshire, providing specialist palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

Details
Date posted: 11 September 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £65,724 to £74,828 a year
£5000 welcome bonus
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: B0265-26-0034
Job locations: Chestnut Tree House, Dover Lane, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9PX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Providing advanced specialist paediatric palliative and end-of-life care across hospice, home, hospital and community settings
• Leading complex symptom management, clinical decision-making and non-medical prescribing
• Supporting children and families through sensitive conversations, advance care planning and ReSPECT discussions
• Driving the phased mobilisation of a 24/7 specialist paediatric palliative care service
• Influencing regional strategy, working with our system partners, helping to shape COAST into a 24/7 sustainable, specialist service.
• Building and strengthening wider care pathways across Sussex
• Developing advanced nursing practice and contributing to workforce development, education and capability building
• Leading quality improvement, audit, governance and research initiatives
• Representing SHG at local, regional and national forums

Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Advanced paediatric palliative/end-of-life care knowledge and skills, including complex symptom management
• Advanced assessment and clinical decision-making, including managing uncertainty and risk
• Prescribing competence in paediatric palliative care
• Excellent communication skills, including leading sensitive discussions (advance care planning and ReSPECT)
• Leadership skills: motivating others, facilitating change, and supporting supervision (group and or individual)

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse (Child)
• Relevant degree (e.g., palliative care, oncology)
• Masters degree (completed or within 3 months of completion)
• Non-medical prescriber (V300)
• Evidence of advanced clinical assessment training
• Evidence of advanced communication skills training

Desirable

• Current PhD holder, working towards a PhD, or an interest in undertaking a PhD

Experience
Essential

• Senior leadership/management experience
• Demonstrable service development and quality improvement
• Proven people and team leadership and management
• Experience working across organisational boundaries
• Leadership experience in palliative care
• Experience practising at advanced level in paediatric palliative care

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).

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.