Community Palliative Care Staff Nurse

Job Summary

We are proud to support and care for patients and their families at their most vulnerable time. Our Community Service brings clinical nurse specialists, registered nurses, and multi‑skilled healthcare assistants together to deliver expert end‑of‑life and specialist palliative care in the patients’ own homes.

Main Duties

We are looking for a dynamic, highly motivated, forward‑thinking registered nurse to join our community service as a Community Palliative Care Staff Nurse. Working alongside clinical nurse specialists and multi‑skilled healthcare assistants (MSHCA), you will take responsibility for a caseload of patients who require follow‑up care and rapid interventions at home. You will also oversee planned packages of care delivered by our team of MSHCA, supporting them to safely deliver personal care throughout our 7‑day service and responding to urgent assistance calls. You will work across the full week and weekends, supporting the MSHCAs.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of the Hospice to Home team to deliver planned care and rapid interventions at home.
• Support the Clinical Nurse Specialist team with calls and visits for H2H responsibilities.
• Provide skilled nursing care to patients receiving palliative and end‑of‑life care in the community throughout the week.
• Contribute to the supervision and oversight of packages of care delivered by MSHCAs.
• Assist with administration tasks and funding for patient care (LWAH and CHC).
• Take responsibility for elements of risk assessment and care planning for patients at home and lead on care coordination on weekends, working closely with District Nursing and other community teams.
• Provide skilled, evidence‑based, person‑centred nursing care within own levels of competence and scope of practice without direct supervision, in accordance with hospice policies.
• Ensure all nursing procedures align with hospice policies, acting as a role model for good practice from admission through to discharge planning.
• Assess patient needs and develop care plans that reflect the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.
• Oversee the work of MSHCAs to ensure they respond appropriately and provide clinically effective care.
• Coordinate rapid response visits with all community teams involved.
• Establish and maintain sensitive, caring therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and carers to ensure understanding and agreement with the programme of care.
• Support families/carers to deliver end‑of‑life care at home using the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) and the Carers Opinion Tool for feedback.
• Provide information and advice to patients, families, carers, and professional colleagues as appropriate.
• Act as a weekend registered practitioner, escalating concerns appropriately.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive records of patient care, ensuring patient confidentiality at all times and guiding families on safe medication storage.
• Safely administer controlled drugs in line with hospice policies and procedures.
• Work within professional NMC Guidelines and legal requirements, taking charge of the shift when a senior member is absent and escalating as necessary.
• Identify risk areas, report incidents, and take immediate action using hospice policies.
• Use reflection and observation to support a culture of continuous improvement.
• Participate in standard setting, quality monitoring, reviews, projects, and audit activity.
• Demonstrate commitment to professional and personal development, maintaining and enhancing competencies.
• Utilise educational opportunities, facilitation, and delivery of training, and contribute to the induction and education of new staff, pre‑registration nurses, trainee nursing associates, and healthcare assistants.
• Undertake other duties consistent with the responsibilities of the post and directed by the Clinical Team Lead or nurse in charge.
• Follow good infection control practices, familiar with infection control policies, procedures, and guidance relevant to the area of work.
• Identify safeguarding risks for adults and children, recognise signs of harm, abuse or neglect, and report concerns to protect those at risk.

Qualifications

• Current NMC registration as a Registered Nurse.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

Essential Experience

• Post‑registration experience in end‑of‑life care, palliative care, or a related field.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A Disclosure and Barring Service check is required to confirm no previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must hold current UK professional registration. For further information, see the NHS Careers website.