Practice Development Nurse

Are you passionate about developing people, improving practice and making a lasting difference to patient care? We are looking for an experienced and motivated Registered Nurse to join St Clare Hospice as our Practice Development Nurse. This newly created role offers an exciting opportunity to help shape education, professional development and clinical practice across the hospice. Working closely with clinical leaders and teams, you will support the development of a skilled, confident and compassionate workforce delivering outstanding palliative and end of life care.

You will:

• Facilitate education, training and competency development across the organisation.
• Support induction, preceptorship and clinical skills development.
• Design and deliver engaging learning opportunities for nurses, nursing associates, healthcare assistants and other staff groups.
• Work alongside clinical teams to embed evidence-based practice and support continuous improvement.
• Support students, apprentices and learners in practice.
• Help identify learning needs and develop innovative approaches to workforce development.

The Practice Development Nurse is responsible for coordinating, delivering and supporting education, competency development and workforce development initiatives. The post holder will ensure that St Clare Hospice staff maintain clinical competence, statutory and mandatory training requirements are met, and that specialist palliative and end-of-life care education is available both within the hospice and across the wider health and social care system. The role will support the development of a confident and capable workforce able to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care to patients and families.

St Clare Hospice is a charity providing specialist palliative care to improve the lives of people affected by a life-limiting illness in West Essex and the borders of eastern Hertfordshire. Our care helps patients, their families, and carers, to make the most of every moment together, no matter how long they have left to live. We support them both at home and in the Hospice.

The Practice Development Nurse plays a key role in supporting the delivery of high-quality palliative and end of life care through education, workforce development and clinical practice improvement. Working across hospice services and with external partners, the post holder supports the development of a skilled, competent and confident workforce, ensuring staff have access to the knowledge, training and professional development opportunities required to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care. The role promotes a culture of continuous learning, evidence-based practice and professional development in support of the Hospice's strategic objectives and commitment to excellence in patient care.

Job responsibilities include:

• Facilitating competency assessments and clinical skills sign-off.
• Developing, implementing and maintaining competency frameworks and clinical skills passports for Registered Nurses, Nursing Associates and Healthcare Assistants.
• Supporting team leaders and managers to ensure staff achieve and maintain required competencies.
• Monitoring competency achievement and identifying areas of non-compliance or concern, escalating these appropriately.
• Identifying competency gaps and developing learning interventions to address identified needs.
• Promoting evidence-based practice across hospice services.
• Supporting the implementation of new clinical guidelines, policies and procedures.
• Assisting staff in translating learning into clinical practice.
• Promoting reflective practice and lifelong learning.
• Acting as an accessible source of clinical advice and support within own sphere of competence.
• Supporting the introduction and development of advanced and specialist nursing roles as directed by the Lead Nurse Practitioner.

Education and Training responsibilities include:

• Delivering education and training programmes for registered nurses, nursing associates, healthcare assistants and volunteers.
• Supporting the implementation of the hospice's education and workforce development strategy.
• Delivering education programmes in line with organisational priorities identified by the Lead Nurse Practitioner and Director of Patient Care and Quality.
• Supporting the development of palliative and end-of-life care knowledge and skills relating to progressive neurological conditions across hospice services and external partner organisations.
• Leading the planning and coordination of statutory and mandatory training programmes.
• Working collaboratively with Clinical Nurse Specialists, medical staff, therapists and other subject matter experts to develop and deliver education programmes.
• Coordinating educational contributions from specialist clinical staff to ensure training reflects current evidence, best practice and organisational priorities.
• Developing and maintaining teaching materials, educational resources and competency based learning packages.
• Evaluating learning activities and contributing to the continuous improvement of education programmes.
• Overseeing the maintenance of accurate training records.
• Reviewing mandatory training compliance reports and working with managers to address areas of non-compliance.
• Developing training plans that support staff to maintain essential clinical and nonclinical skills required for safe practice.
• Contributing to the growth and sustainability of the hospice education offer.
• Line managing the Education Administrator, providing direction, supervision and support.

Induction, Preceptorship and Professional Development responsibilities include:

• Coordinating and supporting induction programmes for new clinical staff.
• Supporting the delivery of the hospice preceptorship programme.
• Assisting in identifying learning and development needs across nursing and clinical teams.
• Supporting systems for nursing revalidation, clinical supervision and continuing professional development.
• Contributing to workforce development plans and succession planning initiatives.
• Supporting the development of future clinical leaders through mentorship, coaching and role development opportunities.

Student and Learner Support responsibilities include:

• Supporting nursing students and other learners undertaking placements within the hospice.
• Working collaboratively with Practice Assessors and Practice Supervisors.
• Helping ensure learners receive a positive, high-quality learning experience.
• Contributing to learner assessment, feedback and development.
• Promoting St Clare Hospice as a positive learning environment for students and trainees.

External Education and Partnership Working responsibilities include:

• Designing, coordinating, delivering and evaluating education programmes for external health and social care professionals.
• Developing productive relationships with care homes, community providers, primary care teams, acute trusts and other partner organisations.
• Supporting collaborative working with Integrated Care System partners and external stakeholders.
• Promoting the hospice as a centre of excellence for palliative and end-of-life care.
• Representing St Clare Hospice at relevant education, workforce and practice development meetings.

Quality Improvement and Clinical Governance responsibilities include:

• Participating in clinical audits, service evaluations and quality improvement projects.
• Contributing to action plans designed to improve patient care, staff development and service quality.
• Assisting with monitoring compliance with competency, training and professional standards.
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of safe, effective clinical practice across hospice services.
• Supporting educational audits, quality assurance activities and service evaluations.

Clinical Role responsibilities include:

• Undertaking clinical practice sufficient to maintain professional credibility, competence and current knowledge in palliative and end-of-life care.
• Acting as a professional role model, demonstrating high standards of nursing care.
• Promoting compassionate, person-centred and evidence-based care.
• Maintaining professional registration and practising in accordance with the NMC Code.

Professional Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Practising in accordance with the NMC Code.
• Maintaining their own professional development and competency.
• Participating in appraisal, clinical supervision and mandatory training.
• Adhering to all hospice policies and procedures.
• Maintaining confidentiality and information governance standards.
• Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of practice.

Qualifications required:

• Essential: Registered Nurse (Adult) with current NMC registration. Recognised teaching, assessing, mentorship or Practice Assessor qualification.
• Desirable: Postgraduate qualification or accredited study in palliative and end-of-life care. Teaching and learning qualification. Qualification or accredited training in education, workforce development, practice development or clinical supervision.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.