Bank Staff Nurse in Colchester

St Helena Hospice are looking for Staff Nurses to join our In-patient Unit.

This is an opportunity to further develop knowledge and skills to benefit your practice and the lives of patients and their loved ones through advanced communication skills, symptom control management and end of life care. Previous experience in palliative care is not essential. We would like to welcome applications from enthusiastic Registered Nurses who have the desire to provide gold standard palliative care and make a difference to those in their care.

This post works on internal rotation which is a mixture of long days and nights, and shorter shifts are also available. St Helena may elect to bring forward the closing date for this vacancy in the event we receive the desired volume of applications. You are therefore encouraged to submit your application early if you wish to express an interest in this opportunity. Please note that this post requires an enhanced DBS check.

About us: St Helena Hospice's core values and behaviours will be embedded in our recruitment, our training and development review and our decision making process. Training and competencies within the specialities, as well as ongoing support and professional development, will be tailored to meet your individual needs.

In return we offer:

• A competitive and progressive salary, in line with NHS agenda for change.
• Enhanced hourly rates for working unsocial hours.
• NHS Pension (for active members who wish to transfer and continue their membership).
• Group Pension Plan for non NHS Pension Staff.
• Clinical Supervision.
• Schwartz Rounds.
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing support.
• We cover the cost of your DBS Check and the periodic renewal.
• Uniform provided.
• Free on site parking.
• Subsidised dining and complimentary drinks.

Job responsibilities:

• Participate as a member of the inter-disciplinary team in assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating care and meeting the needs of patients: hygiene, elimination, nutritional, mobilising, pain, maintaining independence.
• Work as part of a team to provide psychological, emotional, spiritual and social support to patients and families whose lives are affected by illness, loss and grief.
• Perform Last Offices to deceased patients including safe custody of valuables and belongings.
• Assist at times with the post-bereavement family visit to collect certificate and view deceased.
• Ensure that all procedures are carried out in accordance with agreed standards of care, and assist in identifying where existing standards should be updated.
• Ensure Infection Control Policies and Procedures are strictly adhered to.
• Ensure that all information recorded is in accordance with St Helena policy (i.e. patient records, incident/accident reports, computer records).
• Ensure that all medication is administered in accordance with St Helena policy and NMC regulation.
• Check and ensure that equipment is clean and in working order ready for use.
• Effectively manage time to meet the needs of patients.
• Participate positively in Clinical Supervision in order to develop standards of clinical practice and for support.
• Develop awareness of emotional needs of patients and families and the sensitivity and communication skills to meet these needs.
• Act as co-worker for patients providing effective communication with key-workers in order to ensure continuity of care for patients across St Helena services.

Person Specification:

• Essential: RGN / RMN
• Desirable: Willingness to improve knowledge and skills within palliative care.

• Essential: Proven awareness of the possible needs of patients, families under the care of St Helena.
• Ability to recognise and respond to potential distress in individuals and to manage crisis situations.
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Desirable: Knowledge of illness as a carer and the ability to recognise when a person has physical, social, psychological or spiritual care needs.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Hospice philosophy and the work of St. Helena.

• Essential: Proven written and verbal communication skills.
• Clear verbal communication skills demonstrable with a range of people.
• Ability to accurately record any information required i.e. patient records, telephone messages or information as requested by patients.

• Essential: Proven experience as a registered nurse.
• Experience of handling difficult situations.
• Desirable: Experience of working with people with mental health needs.
• Experience of working with people with sensory and learning disabilities.
• Experience of working in the community.

• Essential: Proven ability to work off own initiative and as part of a team.
• Flexible to meet needs of service.
• Physically able to undertake the job.
• Proven coping strategies when under emotional pressure.
• Proven ability to manage time effectively.
• Proven ability to problem solve.
• Desirable: Innovative and creative.

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.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration.