Band 5 Nurse

We are pleased to be able to offer an exciting band 5 nursing role, to join our outstanding inpatient unit team. You would be working a rotational pattern covering long days and nights. You will be joining an innovative and passionate nursing team, where patient choice and holistic care are our priority. You will have a passion and understanding of palliative care, bringing your enthusiasm for delivering high standards of quality care to our Hospice community. You will be working as part of a multidisciplinary team providing symptom control and wellbeing support for patients with an associated life limiting condition and their families within our inpatient unit.

Main duties of the job:

• To work as a member of the Hospice multi-professional team responsible for maintaining standards of care within the inpatient unit and helping to ensure that the care provided, physical, psychological and spiritual, is of the highest possible quality within the resources available.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care, taking into consideration the holistic needs of the patient and Hospice guidelines, policies and standards.
• Ensure the continuity of care through comprehensive, accurate record keeping and verbal, written and electronic hand-over to other members of the Hospice multi-professional team.
• To work a rotational shift pattern to cover a varied rota of long day and night shifts, providing 24/7 provision for the inpatient unit.
• Participate in identifying and developing guidelines and standards within the Inpatient Unit, and assist in the auditing of these standards.
• Supervise and support Health Care Assistants working on the inpatient unit.
• Maintain the safe custody and administration of drugs in accordance with statutory regulations, NMC Guidelines and Hospice policy.
• Establish caring relationships with the patients' family and friends, giving support and advice and referring to other members of the multi-professional team where appropriate.
• Answer queries whilst on the IPU as part of the out of hours (OOHs) palliative care advice line for South West and North West Hertfordshire.

About us:

This is a wonderful opportunity to truly make a difference to the lives of local Hospice patients and their families. The Hospice of St Francis is passionate about helping patients and their families to live their precious lives well until the very end, giving patients choice over their care and the opportunity to receive our outstanding care whether that is in the Hospice In-Patient Unit or in their own homes. The Hospice has a trusted reputation over 40 years of stewardship and trust right across the communities it supports in order to raise over £6 million each year.

Job responsibilities:

• You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing care for patients and their families.
• You will be organised, proactive and able to prioritise work.
• You are able to collaborate with colleagues across different departments, engaging in projects or working groups within the Hospice.
• You will be keen to understand and explore current issues in health care/nursing.
• You will approach your role as a teacher both formally and opportunistically.
• Assist in monitoring the safe and economic use of all supplies.
• Maintain an evidence based approach to nursing and participate in research projects undertaken within the inpatient unit when appropriate and in line with Hospice policy.
• Recognise the specific dietary needs of patients and liaise with the catering staff to ensure the provision of appropriate and attractive meals.
• At times, provide leadership for the inpatient unit team in the absence of the Inpatient Unit Sister and Senior Staff Nurse.

Person Specification:

• You will be empathetic with excellent communication skills able to listen and respond in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
• You will be sensitive in your approach and care for patients with a terminal illness, and their families.
• Experience: Evidence of Palliative care generalist experience.
• Ability to escalate issues where necessary.
• You can work closely, in a collaborative environment, with all IPU team members and the wider Hospice to achieve our objectives.
• You show resilience when dealing with difficult and emotional people and complex situations.
• You see the potential in others and understand the impact of their actions on colleagues.
• You will be a team player, able to work well with people at all levels of the Hospice including Clinical colleagues and staff of other specialities.
• Act as buddy/mentor for new members of nursing staff.
• Be involved in the education and teaching of both patients and carers in all aspects of health care, as appropriate.
• Participate in the teaching and training of permanent and visiting staff and students to the Hospice.
• A pro-active approach to work and problem solving, to spot and deal with issues as they occur.
• Able to work under own initiative, under pressure within structured timescales.
• Freedom to act within delegated responsibility and charity policy and procedure.
• Able to consolidate learning with speed and efficiency.
• Competent to understand the limits of own knowledge and source appropriate advice.
• Keep abreast of best practice communicate and apply that learning for the benefit of the Charity.

Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse with a keen interest and willingness to learn about and practice palliative care nursing.
• Have a willingness to take on extended roles within a competency framework, including IV drug administration, Verification of Expected Death, single nurse drug administration.
• Participate in the induction of new staff and volunteers to the Inpatient Unit.
• To have the desire to work within a team to deliver outstanding care.
• Drive to learn and keep up to date with research in palliative care.
• Able to work under pressure, prioritising and organising work within your delegated authority.
• Desire to learn through continuous professional development.
• Emotionally resilient, diplomatic and people focused.
• IT skills, ability to email / word documents / computerised patient records / Report writing.

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.