JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: / Senior Staff Nurse
Department: / Hospice in your Home , Community Services
Base: / Wigan and Leigh Hospice
Salary
Hours
Annual Leave / £28,995 - £33,195 (Inclusive of enhancements)
37hrs p.w.
35 days annual leave inclusive of public holidays
Reports to:
Accountable to:
Accountable for: / Hospice in your Home Team Manager
The Chief Executive through the Director of Clinical Services
Deputising in the absence of the Team Leader, contributing to the development of the service and team and undertaking nursing assessment.
Job Summary: /
  • Deputise in the absence of the Team Leader.
  • Ensure the service meets the needs of our service users.
  • Work closely with partner organisations to facilitate seamless, integrated care.
  • Management support and development of less experienced staff, including Staff Nurse, HCA’s, bank staff and volunteers.
  • Undertake nursing assessments in order to assist in prioritisation of patients needs.
  • Role model the hospice values and standards required in the delivery of excellent holistic nursing care.
  • Be flexible to working defined shift patterns to deliver a 7 day a week, 365 days a year service.

Terms and Conditions of Service:

The post holder will be subject to Terms and Conditions of Service as set out in the Hospice Employee Handbook. Existing NHS pensions are transferable.

Confidentiality:

The post holder will be subject to the Hospice Confidentiality Policy and to the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998), thus maintaining the confidentiality of all information obtained during the course of employment. Unauthorised disclosure of such information may result in action under the Hospice Disciplinary Procedure.

The following defines the key functions of the post holder, together with significant examples of the activities he/she will need to perform to achieve the job purpose.

  1. KEY MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1.1Deputise in the absence of the Team Leader.

1.2Manage bank nurse staff.

1.3To work closely with the Hospice in your Home Manager, Staff Nurses, Healthcare Assistants and Volunteers in ensuring that the service is efficiently and effectively operationalised.

1.4To plan, co-ordinate and manage time effectively in order to achieve the Hospice’s objectives for the delivery of specialist palliative care to patients and their family members and carers.

1.5To participate in clinical audits and to utilise their findings in practice development.

1.6To evaluate quality of the Hospice in your Home service through the Clinical Governance Framework, including clinical audit, analysis and user views surveys.

1.7Contribute to the development of operational policies and procedures, ensuring they are updated regularly in order that the Hospice meets its statutory obligations and patient care is of a high standard.

1.8Maintain accurate IT databases regarding clinical activity.

1.9Participate in the development and mentoring of new members of staff.

1.10Support Hospice in your Home volunteers in their role and duties.

1.11Protect the public by working with professional responsibility in adhering to the NMC Professional Code of Conduct and Hospice Policies and Procedure and reporting any concerns of fitness to practice on the part of other clinical colleagues to their line manager.

1.12Receive and share information through attendance at team and hospice meetings and through liaison with other professionals involved in patient/family care.

1.13Maintain records of equipment borrowed and return.

1.14Participate in agreed methods of ‘off duty’ planning, providing a potential 24 hour service for patients and their families.

1.15Manage performance and professional development allocated team members and bank nurses.

1.16Be responsible for performance review and completion of personal development plans for bank nurses.

1.17Participate in clinical supervision where appropriate.

1.18Participate in the induction and training of new members of staff including volunteers.

1.19Participate in providing education and training sessions for internal staff and external bodies and organisations.

  1. CLINICAL ROLE

2.1 Be competent in conducting home care assessments on patients referred to the Hospice in your Home and plan, implement and evaluate nursing interventions and treatment of physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of care.

2.2 Plan patients discharges safely and effectively.

2.3Promote evidence based practice in order to maximise patients’ quality of life.

2.4Use Advanced/Enhanced communications skills with patients, carers and relatives, including those with language and cultural differences, facilitating informed consideration that enables choices to be made concerning treatments and future care.

2.5Help guide Primary health Care Teams to anticipate potential problems, encourage and support advanced care planning, to recognise and respond to palliative care emergencies.

2.6Having analysed and considered appropriate care, decide which other healthcare agencies may best meet the need and refer appropriately with the patient’s consent.

2.7Act as a patient advocate in the face of difficult negotiations and hostile reactions from other heathcare workers, family and carers.

2.8Negotiate appropriate referral to other Hospice services.

2.9Maintain contemporaneous records for all patient contacts including contact with relatives and other carers.

2.10Ensure personal safety by adhering to the lone worker policy.

2.11Demonstrate a consistently high standard of nursing practice.

2.12Maintain high standards of individualised care and bereavement support.

2.13Regularly attend and contribute to locality multi-disciplinary team/hospice meetings, and recognise the importance of ‘peer support’.

2.14Follow all agreed procedures and statutory regulations related to the custody and administration of drugs.

  1. HEALTH & SAFETY

3.1Take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers, patients and visitors in accordance with the Hospice Health & Safety policy.

3.2Ensure that the Lone Worker policy and procedure is fully understood and implemented by all staff, including bank staff.

3.3Ensure all staff & bank staff undertake the full annual mandatory training programme and appropriate modules of e-ELCA and have their clinical competencies assessed.

3.4Employees must be aware that preventing healthcare acquired infections and infection control is the responsibility of all staff. Infection control policies and guidance must be followed by all staff.

3.5Report any accidents or incidents in the patients’ home or hospice, recording adverse incidents as appropriate.

4PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETENCE

4.1Attend monthly team reflective sessions. Through reflection develop confidence and competence in practice both professionally and personally.

4.2Take responsibility for own professional development, identifying training and development needs to line manager

4.3Work within the boundaries of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct.

4.4Maintain an open approach to professional development and life long learning by embracing all learning opportunities and reflecting on own practice.

4.5Participate in Hospice education sessions including the delivery of presentations on the work of the Hospice at Home team.

4.6Keep up to date with innovations in practice through professional journals etc.

4.7Maintain an up to date knowledge on developments and examples of innovative practice around Hospice at Home through membership of the H@H Association and through informal peer to peer reviews with colleagues from other hospices.

5 EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT

5.1Act as mentor to colleagues pursuing educational and development courses at all academic levels.

5.2Act as a role model to other Health and Social Care Professionals, clarifying and evaluating objectives for the learning experience.

5.3Participate in hospice related research projects.

5.4Demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development.

5.5Regularly read and update personal knowledge of Palliative Care Nursing.

5.6Maintain and improve professional competence by attending training courses, study days and conferences as appropriate.

The above list is not intended to be exhaustive and the postholder will be expected to be flexible in carrying out the duties performed. The post-holder will be expected to carry out similar duties (not specifically listed) as and when required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential / Desirable / How assessed
Education, Training & Qualifications
  • First Level Registered Nurse
  • Formal qualification in palliative care at level 2 or above
  • First Degree in Nursing
/ Y
Y / Y /
  • Application form

Experience
  • Minimum 3 years post registration experience
  • Minimum 2 years palliative care and end of life care experience
  • Experience of mentoring staff
  • Experience of delivering formal education
/ Y
Y
Y / Y /
  • Application form/Supporting Information

Knowledge & Skills
  • Computer literacy skills and experience of using Microsoft programs
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Good organisational and interpersonal skills
  • Excellent judgement and good decision making skills
  • Good influencing skills
  • Knowledge of symptom control and understanding the sensitive needs of the terminally-ill
  • Ability to work effectively and prioritise in an emotionally demanding environment
  • Ability to perform assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care
  • The ability to lead, develop and manage staff
  • Ability to work independently and within a team
/ Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y /
  • Interview

Personal Qualities / Other
  • Drive and enthusiasm for development and innovative practice
  • Caring and empathetic approach
  • Uses initiative
  • Commitment to the Hospice mission/aims and its reliance upon charitable donations which are influenced by clinical care delivery and the professionalism of hospice personnel
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality
  • Car owner and driver
  • Flexible working to manage a year round 24/7 community service
  • Commitment to quality and professional standards
/ Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y /
  • Interview

Q:\Senior Nurse Hospice in your Home\ROLE PROFILE AND PERSON SPEC.doc