Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

An exciting opportunity has arisen at University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust for a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist. We are looking for a dynamic and motivated nurse to join our Palliative Care Team based at Bristol site. The successful candidate will be working alongside highly experienced nurses and consultants to support palliative and end of life care.

You will provide support for patients and their families with progressive, life limiting illness who require symptom control, end of life and psychological care, whilst they are an inpatient. You will be required to work across the full range of wards within the Bristol site and will be instrumental in ensuring the best end of life care available.

The successful candidate must have some knowledge and skills in palliative care and be able to demonstrate an aptitude to learn, energy and true enthusiasm for the specialty as well as strong clinical skills. The successful candidate must have experience of working within palliative care speciality (or can demonstrate experience of working with patients with palliative care needs in the acute setting)

Main duties of the job

• To provide patients and staff with specialist advice to manage complex symptoms with patients who have life limiting illnesses.
• To develop, improve, and promote the service ensuring the delivery of high quality, cost effective care utilising the support and guidance of senior colleagues.
• To develop and share expertise within the multidisciplinary team whilst acting as a resource in the care of patients' needs.
• To work closely with community and relevant networks, other hospital and community staff to ensure an effective seamless service.
• To provide effective communication systems of support for patients building a skillset to embed patient and public involvement.
• To ensure that all patients and families are aware of all treatment options, including clinical trials and to act as advocate to help negotiate the patient journey and ensure optimum care is provided to each patient.
• To develop links with other organisations providing support and information. 
• Act as a role model through provision of high standards of professional practice and promote a clinical environment that motivates others and supports positive collaborative working.
• To adhere to infection control guidelines and procedures.
• Be required to work on their own initiative, making decisions to achieve the best outcome for the patient.
• You will work as part of a team which includes Consultants.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria

• Registered General Nurse 1st level registration
• Current NMC Registration
• First level degree in nursing or health related subject/willing undertaking a Degree
• Relevant accredited post registration qualification at level 3
• Advanced communication skills training or prepared to work towards
• Willingness to work towards Masters level academic study

Desirable criteria

• Qualification in Teaching and Assessing

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Appropriate post registration experience in nursing specialty
• Appropriate proven leadership and management experience
• Proven commitment, experience and evidence of teaching
• Experience as a preceptor/mentor
• Can demonstrate an understanding of the role of the Palliative Care CNS
• Up to date knowledge of nursing theory and best practice particularly within the speciality

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of undertaking research or audit projects
• Experience of commitment to research-based practice or evidence of project work

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Organisation and management skills- prioritising complex situations
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to problem solve
• Flexibility and adaptability to meet needs of changing service
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Uses initiative to manage complex situations
• Ability to cope with emotional issues present in the course of work, and to support others
• Act as a role model
• Innovative and participates with practice and policy change
• Awareness of professional responsibilities to self and other
• Commitment to the development and provision of high quality nursing care

Desirable criteria

• Can work autonomously

Aptitudes

Essential criteria

• Empathic
• Passionate about working in the speciality of palliative care