Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB DETAILS: Staff Nurse

SALARY: £36,211.50 per annum

REPORTS TO: Ward Sister

RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Clinical Services

JOB PURPOSE: To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team in providing a high standard of specialist palliative care to patients and their families.

Under the supervision of the Senior Staff Nurse and Unit Sister, the Post Holder is responsible for the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of patient care.

To maintain agreed standards of care and to take an active part in the planning and implementation of clinical audits in order to improve nursing practice.

DIMENSIONS: To work primarily within the In-patient specialist palliative care unit.

To give qualified nursing support to other aspects of the specialist palliative care service when necessary.

The Post Holder has no direct budget responsibilities, but must be aware of cost implications and make effective use of resources.

ORGANISATIONAL CHART

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL SERVICES

WARD SISTER

SENIOR STAFF NURSE

POST HOLDER

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL: Registered General Nurse on Part One or Two of the Register

DESIRABLE: Palliative Care Modules in Specialist Palliative Care

To be working towards a Diploma in Nursing

KEY RESULT AREAS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CLINICAL:

1 To be a safe practitioner and work within the M & NC Code of Professional Conduct

whilst ensuring that those within the Post Holders sphere of responsibility do the

same.

2 To liaise with appropriate members of the multi-disciplinary team in order to ensure co-ordination and continuity of care. To adhere to the guidelines and protocols.

3 To work with the team to meet agreed standards and objectives in order to deliver physical, emotional, social and spiritual support to the patients and carers.

4 To ensure care is delivered in a style appropriate to the patients individual needs.

EDUCATIONAL:

1 To participate in further training and to maintain a commitment to professional development.

2 To contribute to the team development.

3 To assist with in-service training as required for both staff and volunteers.

MANAGEMENT/LEADERSHIP:

1 To act as a role model for junior staff and provide encouragement for motivation in order to achieve clinical goals for service.

2 To complement the leadership role of the Senior Staff Nurse and Unit Sister and to maintain high standards and ethos of care in her absence.

3 To take responsibility for various aspects of ward management as designated by the Senior Staff Nurse in order to maintain an efficient service and develop own management skills.

4 To support the volunteers working within the Hospice.

5 To actively participate in ward meetings and ensure that accurate information is fed back to the appropriate members of the multi-disciplinary team.

6 To keep concise records in terms of patient documentation, staff records and his/her own portfolio.

PROFESSIONAL:

1 To be aware of his/her accountability and limitations and when necessary to extend appropriately his/her sphere of responsibility as he/she sees fit in order to ensure safe practice.

2 To participate in an annual staff appraisal or as appropriate.

3 To be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of more junior staff members in order to provide appropriate support.

4 To demonstrate his/her clinical ability by constantly reflecting on his/her practice and using research as an integral part of such practice.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE:

1 To actively participate in clinical audit as a means of monitoring and improving standards of care.

2 To act as a change initiator/agent when a need to change practice in order to improve quality has been identified.

3 To support the clinical team in setting, monitoring and developing standards of care, policies and procedures.

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

The Post Holder will have the most frequent contact with:

1 Patients, their relatives/carers.

2 All staff and volunteers.

3 The Community Team, other professionals and external agencies.

4 Students on Clinical Placements.

THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR ROLE:

To be actively aware and support Clinical Governance by:

1 Supporting senior staff in promoting high quality patient care and standards of professional practice already in place including clinical audit.

2 Ensuring good liaison within the multidisciplinary team.

3 Providing motivation and support for team members.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• - Post qualification experience - Experience of working within a nursing team

Desirable

• - Palliative care experience

Qualifications

Essential

• - Registered General Nurse qualification at Diploma level

Desirable

• - Working towards Nursing Degree - Completion of Palliative Care Course/or training - Teaching course/qualifications

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. For further information please see NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

Cornwall Hospice Care

Address

Mount Edgcumbe Hospice

Porthpean Road

St. Austell

Cornwall

PL26 6AB