Lead Clinical Nurse – Inpatient Palliative Care

Are you a compassionate and experienced nurse ready to lead with purpose? Butterwick Hospice is looking for dedicated Clinical Sisters to manage a team of Registered Nurses and Healthcare Assistants within our Adult In-Patient Unit working alongside our Clinical Team Leader to support our AIPU. You'll play a key role in delivering and coordinating high-quality, person-centred palliative care, while supporting the Clinical Leadership Team Nurse in fostering a positive and professional working environment.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of patients and families, while shaping the future of specialist palliative care.

• To provide clinical leadership and management of AIPU staff.
• Work as part of the team delivering and maintaining high quality care to patients.
• Promote and maintain an atmosphere which reflects the Hospice values and behaviours promoting a culture of learning, enquiry and continuous improvement.

At Butterwick Hospice we believe in making every moment count. Our team provides exceptional, specialist care and support to patients and their families during challenging times. People are at our core. We offer a supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and are always aiming for the highest standards and working environment. Our teams work positively together, collaborating to ensure our patients get the best care, and staff enjoy a fulfilling career knowing they make a real difference in people's lives.

Working here means being part of a community that focuses on empathy, respect and teamwork. We're there for everyone who needs us and are on a mission to change the way society and healthcare systems care for people.

As a visible clinical leader, you will support the provision of direct, holistic care for those requiring specialist palliative and end of life care on the unit. Utilising advanced specialist knowledge and skill in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating programmes of care for patients within AIPU from admission to discharge.

Ensure that clinical practices accurately reflect AIPU and hospice policies whilst respecting the patients' needs and dignity. Provide advice and support to patients and their families in complex and highly emotive situations whilst respecting their cultural and spiritual values. Plan a timely, organised discharge of patients ensuring good communication with patients and their families and/or professionals involved in their care.

Act in the patients' best interests working to protect values and rights of the patient with integrity and insight. Responsible for infection control and cleanliness standards on a shift-by-shift basis by ensuring that self and staff follow hospice policy. Adhere to the NMC Code of conduct and act as the patient advocate at all times.

Work as an effective member of the multidisciplinary team and participate in multidisciplinary team discussions which affect patient care directly. Ensure standards of documentation are maintained in accordance with NMC and hospice guidelines for records and record keeping. Lead and participate in audit and evidence-based practice. Demonstrate effective communication skills systems with patients, their relatives and friends and other visitors.

• Act as an effective role model and resource/adviser to colleagues in the delivery of nursing care.
• Provide visible clinical leadership, support and guidance to staff in monitoring the planning delivery and evaluation of individualised care.
• Deputise for the AIPU Clinical Team Leader as and when required.
• Responsible for monitoring the workload/patient complexity and dependency using an evidence base tool within the unit when on shift to ensure that nurse staffing is adequate to provide a safe standard of nursing care.
• Ensure the cost-effective and appropriate use of staffing and materials with consideration and due regard to budgetary control.
• Exercise leadership and professional role modelling to motivate members of staff, achieve high morale and promote effective communication within the unit.
• Investigate all accidents, incidents and complaints, reporting them to the appropriate personnel, along with the relevant documentation, in a timely manner.
• Inform Clinical Team Leader when changes in circumstances occur which may affect safe and competent practice.
• Encourage new ideas and facilitate their implementation following discussion with the wider senior team.
• Facilitate the process of continuous quality improvement.
• Lead service improvement initiatives on behalf of the AIPU and wider hospice.
• Undertake regular performance reviews and appraisals in the development of Professional Development Plans for staff within the team.
• Participate and lead in any grievance, disciplinary, performance or sickness issues as appropriate and in accordance with hospice procedures.
• Ensuring bank timesheets you sign are an accurate representation of the time worked.
• The post holder will need to maintain a personal duty of care when handling patient valuables/property.
• Develop as a member of the wider senior hospice team.
• Will be accountable for their actions and act in accordance with NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
• Will act in accordance with hospice and statutory guidelines & policies including health and safety initiatives.
• Be responsible for own education, professional development (PDP) and professional portfolio for revalidation.
• Establish a relationship with a Clinical Supervisor.
• Will act as supervisor, where appropriate to junior members of staff and unqualified members of staff.
• Will work in accordance with Corporate Objectives.
• Will adopt a service-orientated approach to work.
• Will practice in a cost effective and cost aware manner.

• Provides visible clinical and managerial leadership to nursing, support staff and volunteers.
• Participate in the orientation of new staff to their duties, ensuring that expectations of the roles are discussed and developed.
• Provide support for and give guidance to junior staff.
• Support the delivery of formal and informal teaching sessions for all staff internal and external to the organisation.
• Act as a mentor and preceptor and assist in the management of preceptorship and mentorship arrangements for staff new to the unit.
• Provides clinical supervision to other staff and students.
• Participate in educational audits and ensure that the unit provides an appropriate learning environment at all times.
• Provide support to non-nursing, clerical and administrative staff and volunteers.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff for the unit.
• Assist in the maintenance and review of information technology systems within the unit.

• Within the constraints of patient confidentiality, ensure pertinent information is accurately conveyed to relevant personnel in a timely manner i.e. the multi-disciplinary team and all other health professionals.
• Communicate extremely sensitive or emotive information to families or visitors.
• Assist, in conjunction with IPU Clinical Team leader in ensuring that agreed programmes and standards of care are implemented and evaluated, thus providing high standards of patient care at all times.
• Work as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team and individually.
• Ensure that nursing care and clinical practice is research and/or evidence based.

• To comply with Butterwick Hospice and Tees Local Safeguarding Boards Policies, Procedures and Practice.
• To follow Butterwick Hospice policy regarding the management of safeguarding concerns.
• To access mandatory safeguarding training and demonstrate competence at the required level.

• To carry out duties placed on employees by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
• To comply with Health and Safety Policy.
• To take reasonable care for the Health and Safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
• To co-operate with their employer as far as is necessary to meet the requirements of the legislation.
• To not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare in the pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions.
• To be aware of and adhere to current policies regarding infection control at all times.
• To maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and presentation.
• To act at all times in a professional manner, respecting the needs of colleagues and cooperating to maintain a harmonious working environment.

• Registered Nurse (Level 1) with Degree.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Post graduate qualification in Palliative, End of Life Care or relevant post registration qualification.
• Masters level qualification or working towards.
• Demonstrable clinical expertise, relevant to the area.
• Ward/unit skills and experience.
• Experience of leading multiprofessional teams.
• Understanding of clinical governance, quality and compliance programmes.
• Experience of teaching and assessing staff at all levels and learners in clinical practice.
• Experience of participating in audit, research, quality improvement initiatives and service development.
• Disclosure through DBS.
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet service needs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent IT Skills, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel.
• Excellent interpersonal & organisational skills.
• Able to facilitate and lead a team and to act as a positive role model.
• Ability to prioritise own workload and that of others.
• Able to inspire, lead and develop the nursing team.