BHSCT - BAND 7 NURSE SPECIALIST PALLIATIVE CARE

Job details

• Branch: Belfast HSCT
• Location: CANCER CENTRE
• Salary: Band 7 (£47,810 - £54,710)
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 12/06/26
• Closes: Fri, 26 June 2026 @ 4:30 PM
• Interview Dates: TBC

Notes

We accept online applications only. “A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST: Nurse Specialist (Specialist Palliative Care) 18.75 hours per week (0.5 WTE)

LOCATION: Hospital Supportive & Specialist Palliative Care Team (HSSPCT)

BAND: 7

REPORTS TO: HSSPCT Lead Nurse

RESPONSIBLE TO: Cancer & Specialist Medicine

Job Summary / Main Purpose

In order to meet the overall mission of the organisation the post holder will

• Be a specialist resource providing clinical expertise, advice and support within the specialist area of Specialist Palliative Care.

• Work within the multi-professional team in order to ensure a seamless, coordinated approach to person-centred care, across the clinical pathway, and timely onward referral to other professionals and agencies as appropriate.

• Expected to contribute to advancing the body of knowledge through education, research, service improvement and audit as well as developing practice in others.

• Deliver safe and effective patient centred services, which meet national, regional and local requirements for patients with complex palliative and end of life care needs.

• Support the modernisation agenda of the specialist palliative and end of life care service for cancer patients and the development of the nursing service to achieve person centred care.

• The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner, clinically, professionally and practically with an expert knowledge in specialist palliative care

Main Duties / Responsibilities

For each of the following, the postholder will

• Use a person-centred holistic approach to assess both the physical, psychological and social needs of the patient/client, families and carers and act as a resource to all disciplines involved in the delivery of care to the client group.

• Plan, agree and communicate specialised programmes of care, in partnership with patients/clients, families and their carers, to support timely access to the relevant care pathway.

• Act as a key member of the multidisciplinary team and Health and Social Care partnerships to provide collaborative care and to achieve an optimum level of service for patients/clients, families and carers.

• Deliver and promote evidence-based practice and agreed care pathways.

• Plan, deliver and evaluate nurse- led clinics as deemed appropriate to the service needs.

• Promote a culture that supports and enables self-management.

Leadership & Management

• Manage and prioritize patient/client care as appropriate to service need, advocating timely access and review which meets clinical guidelines and statutory responsibilities.

• Appropriately delegate, supervise and support others within the scope of each individual’s role and in line with the NMC Code of Conduct (2015), retaining responsibility and accountability for results.

• Lead in facilitating the development and provision of a high quality, evidence-based patient centred service, meeting the requirements of the Organisation’s and Regional Strategies for the provision of the service.

• Lead in the analysis of areas of need, working collaboratively to identify gaps in service provision, providing leadership in the development and management of services that meet the needs of patients/clients, their families and carers.

• Contribute or participate as appropriate in the development of agreed protocols and procedures for the service ensuring that they are embedded within the service and communicated to relevant personnel.

• Contribute to the development of policies, standards and practice guidelines, reflecting national guidelines for the provision of the service, supporting and developing clinical practice and in keeping with Clinical Governance Frameworks.

• Contribute or assist in the implementation of new initiatives to improve the quality of service.

• Comply with NMC and HPSS Codes of Conduct (NMC 2015 and DoH 2016) and act as a role model and change agent.

• Form and maintain multidisciplinary relationships, through establishing effective links with the key professional groups concerned with the provision of the service within HSC and Regional, National and International Forums.

• Lead in the provision of statistical data with respect to the uptake, quality, and effectiveness of the service provided.

• Support patient/client involvement in the design and redesign of services.

Education & Development

• Undertake continuous professional development, maintain clinical competency and knowledge of emerging evidence and advances in clinical practice, ensuring that they are disseminated and shared with healthcare professionals and incorporated into the service delivered.

• Lead or participate as appropriate in analysing health and care technologies providing feedback to inform selection and use in own area of practice.

• Participate in NMC revalidation processes including supervision, reflective practice and self-evaluation to improve care and practice.

• Support the embedding of supervision and provide preceptorship and mentorship as required, for pre and post registration students, registered nurses and health care team as appropriate.

• Support the development, delivery and evaluation of education and learning activities for health and social care staff, as required.

• Support the development, delivery and evaluation of patient education, working in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team and colleagues as appropriate.

• Act as a representative on local, regional and national groups as required.

Research

• Promote a culture of research and evidence-based practice within the service.

• Lead or participate as appropriate in research, clinical practice development projects and programmes.

• Disseminate relevant research findings in the promotion of evidenced based practice and service improvement.

• Lead or participate as appropriate in audit and peer review sessions and contribute to the implementation of findings.

• Lead or participate in developing, implementing and monitoring policies, procedures and protocols.

General Responsibilities

Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:

• At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.

• Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.

• Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.

• Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.

• Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment.

• Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.

• Maintain high standards of personal accountability.

• Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.

Information Governance

All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

For further information on how we use your personal data within HR, please refer to the Privacy Notice available on the HUB or Your HR

Environmental Cleaning Strategy

The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognizes the key principle that “Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners”. Whilst there are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients, residents, visitors, staff and members of the public.

Infection Prevention and Control

The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with ongoing reduction strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be always used to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

This includes: -

▪ Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’);

▪ Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique.

▪ Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment.

▪ Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found on intranet).

▪ Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

▪ Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps) and laundry.

▪ Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately i.e. cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilized.

▪ Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.

Personal Public Involvement

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community who were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf

Clause: This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE / BAND: Nurse Specialist (Specialist Palliative Care) Band 7

DEPT / DIRECTORATE: Hospital Supportive & Specialist Palliative Care Team, Cancer / Surgery & Specialist Services

Notes to applicants

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

2. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined below at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

3. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor: Experience Qualifications Registration

Criteria (Shortlisting by Application Form)

• Minimum of 5 years post registration experience relevant to the role.

• Have experience in caring for patients with specialist palliative care needs within an acute hospital setting or community

• Registered Nurse Part 1 Level 1 on the live NMC register

• Degree in Nursing or health related subject

• NMC recorded Specialist Practice Qualification in related area of practice*

Criteria (Interview)

• NMC recorded Non-Medical Prescribing qualification**

• Excellent Communication Skills

• Experience within multi-professional teams

* If the individual does not have the NMC recorded Specialist Practice Qualification s/he cannot use the title Specialist.

**if the individual doesn’t have this qualification s/he must be willing to undertake and successfully complete the Qualification, within a timescale as agreed by the Manager.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Desirable criteria will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor: Qualifications

Criteria (Shortlisting by Application Form)

• Possess advanced communication skills training or prepared to work towards

• Provide evidence of an ability to deliver change within the clinical environment and work across boundaries

Criteria (Interview)

• Possess excellent clinical and organisational communication skills

• Possess report writing skills

• Must be computer literate

NOTE: Where educational/professional qualifications form part of the criteria you will be required, if shortlisted for interview, to produce original certificates and one photocopy of same issued by the appropriate authority. Only those certificates relevant to the shortlisting criteria should be produced. If educational certificates are not available an original letter and photocopy of same detailing examination results from your school or college will be accepted as an alternative.

If successful you will be required to produce documentary evidence that you are legally entitled to live and work in the United Kingdom. This documentation can be a P45, Payslip, National Insurance Card or a Birth Certificate confirming birth in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Failure to produce evidence will result in a non-appointment.

Where a post involves working in regulated activity with vulnerable groups, post holders will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

HSC Values

Working together: We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.

Working together - What does this look like in practice?

• I work with others and value everyone's contribution

• I treat people with respect and dignity

• I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams

• I actively engage people on issues that affect them

• I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible.

Excellence: We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high quality, compassionate care and support.

Excellence - What does this look like in practice?

• I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference

• I take responsibility for my decisions and actions

• I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing

• I try to improve by asking 'could we do this better?'

Openness & Honesty: We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

Openness & Honesty - What does this look like in practice?

• I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships

• I ask someone to help when needed

• I speak up if I have concerns

• I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice.

Compassion: We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.

Compassion - What does this look like in practice?

• I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness

• I learn from others by listening carefully to them

• I look after my own health and wellbeing so that I can care and support others.