Registered Nurse

At Severn Hospice we provide compassionate and specialist care for people living with incurable illness and we are looking for a dedicated and empathetic Registered Nurse to join our Inpatient team. As part of a supportive multi-disciplinary clinical team, you will play a vital role in delivering the highest standards of nursing and holistic person-centred care. You will support patients with complex needs at a crucial time in their lives, providing care with dignity, respect and kindness, while also supporting those important to them.

With your clinical expertise and professional judgement, you will undertake comprehensive assessments, symptom management and care planning tailored to meet individual patient needs. You will deliver direct patient care ensuring safe, effective and compassionate care is consistently maintained. You will help to maintain a safe environment for patients, families, staff and volunteers, and will take an active role in supporting colleagues within the clinical area.

Here at Severn Hospice, you are given time to care and make a genuine difference to patients and those that are important to them. Our inpatient units benefit from a high staff-to-patient ratio allowing nurses the space to deliver the quality of care that inspired them to join the profession. We offer flexible shift patterns, covering both days and nights across seven days a week.

Main duties of the job

• To function as a competent clinical practitioner within their designated clinical area.
• To deliver direct patient care whilst co-ordinating and overseeing nursing practice.
• To assess patient needs and to implement and evaluate programmes of care to ensure the highest standards of care are maintained.
• To provide a safe environment for patients, visitors, staff and volunteers.
• To take charge of the department in the absence of the Sister/Team Leader on a regular basis.
• To work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
• To embed the practices and culture of rehabilitative palliative care to effectively support people with long term life-limiting conditions to live well.

About us

Caring is what we do best - and that includes caring for our staff. You will work in a friendly, fulfilling and supportive environment, with access to clinical supervision, strong peer support and a culture that values compassion, respect and excellence. We are also committed to your development, offering excellent professional and personal learning opportunities via our on-site Skills Lab and education team.

At Severn Hospice we offer

• Excellent professional and personal development opportunities with our on-site Skills Lab and Education team.
• High inpatient staff to patient ratio (1:4).
• Continuation of NHS pension scheme.
• Free on-site parking.
• Health and wellbeing support framework.
• Clinical supervision.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Death in service.
• Use of hospice canteens including designated outside spaces.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship.

Job responsibilities

• To support the Ward Manager and Ward Sisters in the delivery of patient care and developments within Hospice Services.
• To work flexibly across the organisation including rotation to all shifts and through all departments as required to support the delivery of nursing care within the Hospice.
• To organise the team in the absence of a more senior member of the team deploying staff appropriately according to their skills and experience.
• To work collaboratively alongside volunteers on a day-to-day basis giving guidance and instruction to the volunteer team members as required.
• Support the Ward Manager and Ward Sisters in implementing and reviewing clinical practices to ensure that they are cost effective.
• To contribute to and influence the total patient experience and journey through collaborative working and effective communications with all members of the multi-disciplinary team throughout the hospice.
• To ensure agreed policies within area of responsibility are adhered to.
• In the absence of the Ward Manager and Ward Sisters be a point of contact by ensuring that they are visible and accessible to patients, relatives for assistance, advice and support.
• To act as a role model for other staff.
• To ensure that high standards of cleanliness, tidiness and decor are maintained in their designated area.
• To work with external agencies and community services.
• To support the Ward Manager / Community Services Manager / Ward Sister/ Community Lead Nurses in the process of change demonstrating professionalism and integrity.
• Promote and incorporate equality and diversity in all aspects of the teams operations and in the public domain.

Communication and Relationships

• To report changes in patient progress effectively, both verbally and in written form.
• Ensure that accurate, legible and holistic nursing records according to NMC guidelines and unit guidance are maintained.
• Where appropriate interpret and present clinical information to patients and their relatives, demonstrating highest levels of interpersonal and communication skills ensure that patients and their carers have sufficient relevant verbal and written information during the patients stay.
• To demonstrate sensitivity in dealing with complex and confidential information from patients, families and colleagues, giving advice and support when necessary.
• Actively contribute to departmental meetings.
• Ensure good working relationships and effective communications between all members of the multidisciplinary team ensuring a high standard of co-ordinated patient care.

Education, Professional Development and Training

• To take every reasonable opportunity for maintaining, developing and acquiring competencies and skills for self-development.
• To participate in the supervision, training and effective mentorship of other staff.

Research and Audit

• To participate in, promote and disseminate relevant research findings to support clinical practice and education within the department.

Health and Safety

• Be aware of and follow policies and procedures around incident reporting and the identification of risks.
• To contribute to the departments implementation of a Health and Safety management monitoring structure and as far as is reasonably practical within the designated area of responsibility maintain a safe environment for patients, staff and relatives.
• The post holder will work in a safe and responsible manner by demonstrating a knowledge and understanding of all Health and Safety policies and the implementation of safety measures.
• The postholder will be fully conversant in the Hospice Infection Control policies and ensure that infection control policies, protocols and procedures are adhered to.
• Although the Hospice has a Zero Tolerance position in relation to violence and aggression the post holder may on occasions be exposed to verbal/physical abuse and should be fully conversant with the Hospice Policy for dealing with these situations.

Decisions, Judgement and freedom to act

• To work to ensure high standard of services are delivered.
• To work independently to ensure delivery of quality services within area of responsibility.
• Works within policies, protocols and professional standards.
• Seeks further advice and support for actions that affect areas outside their area of responsibility.
• To be accountable for decisions affecting their sphere of responsibility.

Professional Conduct

• To adhere at all times to uniform policy.
• To adhere to NMC guidelines and Hospice policies and procedures.
• To report appropriately any observed lapses in professional conduct to the Matron in line with Hospice policy and NMC guidelines.
• At all times to act as ambassador for Severn Hospice to patients, relatives, colleagues and members of the public.
• Promote and incorporate equality and diversity in all aspects of the teams operations and in the public domain.

Supplementary Information and Requirements

• All new Hospice employees are on a 6 month probationary period (excluding bank staff).
• A DBS Disclosure will be requested in the event of an individual being offered the post.

Person Specification

• Qualifications
• Registered Nurse
• Exposure to workshops/study days re palliative care
• Post registration module in palliative care
• Essential Elements in palliative care course

• Skills and Knowledge
• Ability to prioritise tasks according to changing needs and service capacity.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent nursing skills.
• Good understanding of palliative care philosophy.
• Team Player.
• Knowledge and understanding of the work of volunteers.
• Awareness of wider palliative care issues.
• Awareness of NICE guidelines.
• Awareness of issues around long-term conditions and co-morbidities.

• Aptitudes and Attributes
• Calm and reassuring.
• Able to take instruction and document events during shift.
• Sensitive.
• Emotionally strong.
• Able to solve problems.
• Able to work on own initiative.
• Good sense of humour.
• To be positive and enthusiastic.

• Experience
• Experience of working within an MDT.
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience in palliative care.
• Post-registration experience.
• Experience of mentoring and assessing junior staff as appropriate.

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.