Lead Staff Nurse Day Hospice

Primrose Hospice is looking to recruit a professional and motivated Lead Staff Nurse for our Day Hospice. This is an integral post within our Clinical Services Team and we are looking for someone who wants to make a real difference to our community. Based in Bromsgrove and serving North-East Worcestershire, Primrose Hospice provides compassionate care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families. This is a really exciting time to join the Primrose Team. We are currently growing our care to help us reach and support more people. This post will be instrumental in helping us deliver our vision for the future of Primrose Hospice.

Current services include: Day Hospice, nurse led clinics and physiotherapy led by the Clinical Team; family support, living well and complementary therapies are led by our Family Support Team.

As well as offering a competitive salary, we support continuing contributions to the NHS pension scheme (for existing members) and NEST pension scheme for others, offer a package of employee support and development, employee assistance programme, flexible working opportunities, free onsite parking and free refreshments. No weekend work is required although staff are encouraged to support our wonderful fundraising events where possible.

We are looking for an exceptional registered nurse with the appropriate skills and experience to provide high quality palliative care and support to our community.

Main duties of the job

• Be responsible for clinical assessment of patients and development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care without direct supervision.
• Promote the use of evidence-based practice in an environment conducive to training and supporting the needs of all staff and volunteers.
• Monitor standards of care by the giving and receiving of nursing reports and through communication with patients, relatives, visitors and staff.
• Make a broad assessment of a patient's needs and make appropriate judgements on problems requiring analysis or investigation, seeking advice from senior staff where necessary.
• Prepare and deliver educational sessions to patients and lead the Day Hospice sessions.
• Develop and maintain effective communication with all members of the multi-professional team, community services, statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Demonstrate clinical skills including venepuncture and recording of basic observations, use of equipment such as suction machine, oxygen concentrator and hoists.
• Maintain accurate patient records using electronic notes system following Hospice procedures and NMC guidelines.
• Enable patients to develop their knowledge and skills to empower them to manage their illness and social circumstances.
• Liaise with referrer / other health care professionals.

About us

Based in Bromsgrove and serving North-East Worcestershire, Primrose Hospice provides compassionate care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support for families.

We offer:

• An opportunity to join a highly regarded local charity and participate in all its activities.
• A chance to be part of a committed and supportive team who are providing caring and compassionate clinical services in an organisation rated Good by the CQC.
• Access to training, development and clinical supervision.
• Free onsite parking and refreshments.
• Enrolment into either the NHS or NEST Pension Scheme (we will honour NHS pension scheme for existing members).
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Encouraged to support our wonderful fundraising and volunteering events where possible.

Job responsibilities

To be responsible for the clinical assessment of patients and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care without direct supervision. To promote the use of evidence-based practice in an environment conducive to training and supporting the needs of all staff and volunteers.

Clinical:

• To develop and maintain a problem-solving approach to the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care in line with a holistic philosophy of individualised care.
• To encourage an open and co-operative approach towards patients and their families/carers which fosters their independence and which recognises and respects their involvement in the planning and delivery of care.
• To monitor standards of care by the giving and receiving of nursing reports and through communication with patients, relatives, visitors and staff bringing any deficiencies to the attention of the Clinical Nurse Specialist or Head of Clinical Services.
• To deal with sensitive information concerning patients' medical condition, and demonstrate skills of persuasion and reassurance. Able to deal with psychological, emotional and spiritual needs of patients.
• To make a broad assessment of a patient's needs and make appropriate judgements on problems requiring analysis or investigation, seeking advice from senior staff where necessary.
• To prepare and deliver educational sessions to patients and lead the Day Hospice sessions.
• To develop and maintain effective communication with all members of the multi-professional team, community services, statutory and voluntary agencies.
• To demonstrate clinical skills including venepuncture and recording of basic observations, use of equipment such as suction machine, oxygen concentrator and hoists.
• To be aware of and respect the patients' right to confidentiality.
• To demonstrate a non-judgemental approach to patients and relatives/carers, irrespective of their ethnic origin, religious beliefs, personal attributes or any other factor.
• To be aware of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Code of Professional Conduct in the performance of nursing duties and to be professionally accountable for all actions whilst on duty.
• To ensure all activities are consistent with Primrose Hospice policies and procedures.
• To maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records using electronic notes system following Hospice procedures and NMC guidelines.
• To provide nursing and personal care as required, including assisting dependent patients with showering and toileting.
• Enable patients to develop their knowledge and skills to empower them to manage their illness and social circumstances.
• To liaise with referrer and other health care professionals as necessary and appropriate, gathering as much clinical information as possible.
• To ensure that equipment is used and maintained in a safe and serviceable condition and that faults are reported promptly.
• Undertake clinical audits when required.

Educational:

• To assist the Head of Clinical Services and Clinical Nurse Specialist in promoting an environment conducive to the training of all staff, volunteers and visiting students.
• To keep up-to-date with current issues in nursing and changes in practice.
• To promote the use of evidence-based practice.
• To be aware of the need for ongoing professional and personal development.

Managerial:

• To foster a sensitive and caring atmosphere for patients, relatives and staff.
• To support the Head of Clinical Services and to work as a member of the Day Hospice team, promoting good patient relations.
• To provide continuity and consistency of leadership in line with policies agreed with Primrose Hospice.
• To contribute new ideas and to co-operate with changes in policy as they occur.
• To take appropriate action on any accident or untoward incident and to report and record details of such events as soon as possible to the Clinical Nurse Specialist or Head of Clinical Services.
• To maintain effective communication between all staff including volunteers within the Hospice.
• To maintain appropriate levels of stocks and supplies within Day Hospice, ensuring that the unit is always adequately stocked, with due regard to economy and efficiency.
• To act as an ambassador for the charity at all times.

Continuing Professional Development

• To maintain and develop specialist knowledge, skills and competence through networking with other specialists and professional organisations.
• To maintain a programme of professional development by attending internal and external training, education, conferences and seminars.
• To participate in team clinical supervision.

Professional Responsibility

• To maintain registration with the NMC, maintaining personal professional portfolio.
• To take personal responsibility for attendance at annual mandatory training sessions.
• To take personal responsibility for continuous professional development.

This is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, and the post holder will be expected to undertake other duties within the remit of the job and appropriate to their level of seniority as requested by the relevant line management.

Person Specification

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Minimum 1 year post registration experience.
• Counselling qualification.
• Post basic qualification in palliative care or related subject.

Experience

• Experience of working within the field of palliative care / caring for palliative care patients.
• Working with a team.
• Clinical audit.
• Community experience.
• Palliative Care / Oncology experience.

Skills for the role

• Advanced communication skills and able to communicate effectively.
• Able to work effectively as an autonomous practitioner.
• Able to assess, plan and deliver individual care in partnership with patients / carers / other professionals.
• Able to undertake group health education sessions.
• Able to handle distressing situations with sensitivity and empathy.
• Motivation of self and others.
• Up-to-date clinical skills.
• Strong IT skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong time management skills.
• Understanding and support of the benefits of clinical supervision and reflective practice.
• Able to work across the multidisciplinary health and social care team.
• Interest in working with volunteers.
• Venepuncture and/or cannulation skills (training will be given).
• Up to date knowledge of current palliative care issues.

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.