Job summary
Our new role of Pre-admissions Nurse at Chestnut Tree House will provide a person-centred and family-focused nursing assessment for babies, children and young people referred to or accessing the childrens hospice. The role will help ensure that admissions are safe, appropriate, well planned and responsive to the needs and wishes of children, young people and families.

Main duties of the job
Responsible for coordinating and completing holistic pre-admission assessments to ensure that each childs clinical, emotional, social, safeguarding, practical and family needs are understood before admission or use of hospice services.

An experienced Registered Nurse with expereince of working with Children and Young People with complex needs or lif-limiting conditions.

Have the skills to undertake assessments and make strong clinical decisions and have great communication skills to be able to have sensitive conversations.

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.

St Barnabas House provides specialist palliative care to adults in the Worthing, Adur, Arun and Henfield areas through a range of services, including in-patient care and community living well services.

Martlets provides essential care to people affected by terminal illness in Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas. Our expert teams provide the very best care and support, helping patients and their loved ones to live life to the full during the precious time they have together.

Job responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive pre-admission assessments for babies, children and young people with life-limiting, life-threatening or complex health conditions.
• Gather and review relevant clinical information, including diagnoses, current treatment, medication, symptom management, ventilation or respiratory support, nutrition, moving and handling, epilepsy plans, emergency care plans and advance care planning where appropriate.
• Assess whether the hospice can safely meet the child or young persons needs, escalating concerns or gaps in provision to the appropriate clinical lead.
• Work with families to understand routines, preferences, communication needs, cultural and spiritual considerations, play interests and what matters most to the child or young person.
• Prepare clear admission summaries and contribute to individualised care plans, risk assessments and handover information for hospice teams.
• Maintain awareness of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), ensuring concerns are identified, escalated and recorded appropriately in line with organisational policy.
• Use professional judgement and nursing knowledge to identify clinical risk, complexity and suitability for admission.
• Support safe medicines management through accurate reconciliation of medications and transcription of Medication Administration Record charts.
• Contribute to safe staffing and admission decisions by advising on the level of nursing support required.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential records in line with organisational policy, professional standards and data protection requirements.
• Engage in clinical supervision to support own personal and professional development.
• Build trusting, compassionate relationships with children, young people, parents, carers and siblings.
• Provide clear information about hospice services, admission processes and what families can expect before, during and after a stay.
• Use sensitive communication skills when discussing complex care, palliative care, end of life care, uncertainty, family concerns and preferences.
• Promote choice, dignity, inclusion and respect for each child, young person and family.
• Identify family support needs and refer appropriately to family support, psychosocial, therapy, spiritual care, bereavement or practical support services.
• Liaise effectively with hospitals, community childrens nursing teams, GPs, consultants, clinical nurse specialists, therapists, social care, education providers and commissioners as required.
• Coordinate information sharing to support safe, seamless transitions into hospice care.
• Advocate for the child, young person and family, ensuring their voice and preferences are reflected in care planning.
• Ensure exemplary communication skills and participate in the MDT planning of childrens care.
• Recognise, respond to and escalate safeguarding concerns in accordance with hospice policy, local procedures and statutory requirements.
• Contribute to clinical governance by reporting incidents, near misses, risks and concerns appropriately.
• Participate in audits, quality improvement activity, service evaluation and learning from feedback.
• Maintain professional registration, comply with the NMC Code and undertake required mandatory and role-specific training.
• Promote safe, inclusive, evidence-informed and person-centred practice across the hospice service.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with CYP with complex needs or life-limiting conditions. Experience in clinical skills such as paediatric palliative care, long-term ventilation, tracheostomy care, epilepsy management and medicines management including IV administration.

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration. 1 year post qualification experience.

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Southern Hospice Group
Address: Chestnut Tree House, Dover Lane, Arundel, Worthing, West Sussex, BN18 9BX, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.stbarnabas-hospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Sam Geddes
hroperations@shg.org.uk
01903706317

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.