Job summary
The post holder will facilitate the provision of high quality palliative care to patients with cancer and other progressive illnesses. The nurse will provide direct support and advice to patients and their families and act as a resource to other professionals in the community.

This post operates as part of an inter-professional team and the post holder will contribute to the development of an integrated approach to patient care.

Main duties of the job
To provide direct support and advice to patients with cancer and other life threatening illnesses.

To advise and support the multi-disciplinary team involved in the patients care particularly on symptom control issues and psychological, spiritual and bereavement care.

To take part in planning and delivering education programmes within the Community in conjunction with the Education Department. Research based practice and participation in research are important aspects of the role.

To work closely with Team members to ensure consistency of approach and intervention.

About us
St Davids Hospice is a charity providing high quality palliative care in and around Gwent. Our mission is to provide and continue to develop a free and comprehensive palliative care service of excellence throughout Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and within South and Mid Powys for people, their families and carers facing a progressive life-limiting illness which is no longer curable. This service recognises the need of the whole person and is given in co-operation with other agencies.

Working for St David's you will become part of a much wider team all working collaboratively to ensure the best care for our patients. Our mission is to provide and continue to develop a free and comprehensive palliative care service of excellence for people facing a progressive life-limiting illness which is no longer curable.

As part of the CNS team you will working in one of the four boroughs Caerphilly, Torfaen, Newport or Monmouthshire.

You will benefit from a salary in line with Agenda for Change pay scales and will enjoy a generous annual leave entitlement. We can offer the continuation of the NHS pension scheme if already a member as well as honouring any additional annual leave or sickness entitlements and you will have free on-site parking at any of our office locations.

Job responsibilities
Key Areas of Responsibility
Clinical

• In collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, assess the needs of patients, families and other carers and provide specific advice or support as appropriate.
• Advise and support the multi-disciplinary team to provide high quality care. This might include advice on pain and symptom control; care planning, social and psychological care, communication and resources.
• Collaborate with other health care professionals and relevant agencies to promote planned co-ordinated care.
• Maintain adequate records of all patients and ensure all relevant information is documented in the patients medical/nursing notes.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions and treatment protocols.
• Facilitate the provision of bereavement support to families and other carers.
• To participate in the provision of information to patients and their carers regarding their illness, treatment and services available.
• To work with the primary health care team in developing the use of the Care Decision tool
• To take part in an out-of-hours advice on call rota

Management

• Effectively utilise the resources required to meet service objectives.
• Participate in personal and organisational objective setting.
• Submit statistics and activity data as required.
• Assist in the development of policies, procedures and clinical protocols related to palliative care.
• Develop standards of practice against which quality of care may be measured.
• Contribute to clinical audit as required.
• To assume specific responsibilities in the absence of the Line Manager.

Education

• Identify the specific education needs of individual patients and carers and facilitate meeting those needs.
• Assist in the training and education of the multi-disciplinary team under the direction of the Education Department.
• Prepare and provide learning materials for those within the clinical areas, in collaboration with the Education Department.
• Act as a role model and mentor to staff. Provide informal education and support to staff in their provision of palliative care.

Audit and research

• In consultation with the Director of Nursing, and collaboration with other Specialist Nurses, identify and encourage research based practice in relation to palliative care in the community.
• In conjunction with the Director of Nursing, participate in multi-disciplinary audit.
• Participate in nursing and collaborative research in palliative care.
• Participate in the clinical governance strategy of SDHC.

Personal and Professional Development

• Keep up-to-date with relevant nursing issues.
• Read relevant journals, articles and papers available.
• Ensure personal development in accordance with the NMC's Revalidation requirements.
• Participate in clinical supervision as per St Davids Hospice policy.

Additional Duties
All job descriptions are subject to review. Job holders are expected to be flexible and be prepared to carry out any similar or related duties which do not fall within the work outlined. Any review will be undertaken by the line manager, in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• First Level Registered Nurse
• Palliative care experience
• Four years post registration experience at least two of which have been gained in Palliative Care and, or Oncology Nursing

Desirable

• Possession of or actively working towards a relevant first degree, or Masters
• Expert knowledge in pain and symptom management usually gained through clinical experience
• Palliative care and Oncology background

Experience
Essential

• Excellent communication including in verbal, written, presentation
• Versatile and flexible
• Empathetic

Desirable

• Computer Literate
• Clinical Audit
• Business planning/service review skills
• Advanced communications skills

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.