Staff Nurse Band 5
Job summary
You'll work as part of a close-knit multi-professional team, providing holistic, individualised nursing care, and specialist advice and emotional support to patients and carers facing terminal illness.
The Staff Nurse is responsible for delivering the highest standards of specialist palliative care, support and advice to patients, in line with the NMC Code of conduct, performance and ethics.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and suitable candidates may be shortlisted before the closing date.
Main duties of the job
About us
Willowbrook Hospice is looking for a compassionate, skilled Staff Nurse to join our In-Patient Unit (IPU) team, delivering specialist palliative care to patients and support to their families at one of the most important times in their lives.
You'll work as part of a close-knit multi-professional team, providing holistic, individualised nursing care, and specialist advice and emotional support to patients and carers facing terminal illness. In return, you'll be part of a hospice that genuinely lives its values Accountable, Integrity, Compassionate, Trustworthy and Skilled and invests in your ongoing professional development.
Job responsibilities
1. Deliver the highest standards of specialist palliative nursing care, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating individualised care for allocated patients, in line with the NMC Code.
2. Provide specialist advice, emotional support and bereavement guidance to patients and their families/carers, referring to specialist or external services where appropriate.
3. Communicate effectively with the Clinical Director, the wider multi-professional team and external agencies to coordinate holistic patient care.
4. Deal promptly and sensitively with complaints, resolving where possible and escalating to the Senior Nurse in charge as needed.
5. Contribute to nursing research, clinical audit and continuous quality improvement, applying findings to practice.
6. Participate actively in staff meetings, ward meetings and multi-professional liaison, presenting patients as appropriate.
7. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Fire, Health & Safety and infection control policies, and ensure they are practised correctly.
8. Recognise and respond appropriately to stress and anxiety in yourself, colleagues and volunteers.
9. Take ownership of your own professional development, keeping skills and knowledge current in line with NMC requirements and your annual performance review.
10. Use Hospice supplies and resources effectively and economically at all times.
11. Complete all mandatory training annually, plus any additional training identified as necessary.
12. Act as a positive, professional representative of Willowbrook Hospice at all times, maintaining patient and organisational confidentiality.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Genuine interest in palliative care with clinically up-to-date general nursing skills; demonstrable development of clinical expertise in symptom control; experience working in a multi-professional team; understanding of palliative nursing and clinical governance requirements; able to deputise effectively for senior staff
Desirable
- 12 months' post-registration experience as a Staff Nurse; palliative care experience; experience working with volunteers
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse with current NMC registration (First Level registration); degree-level nursing qualification (BSc Hons or equivalent); evidence of recent professional development
Desirable
- Foundation course in specialist palliative/end of life care; Spiritual care training; Bereavement training