Clinical Nurse Specialist - Palliative Care

Job overview

We are looking for a compassionate, skilled professional to join our Community Specialist Palliative Care team at Pembridge Hospice. This role plays a crucial part in delivering person-centred, high-quality palliative and end-of-life care to individuals with advanced, progressive, and life-limiting conditions, primarily in their homes.

As part of the team, you will act as a keyworker for a defined caseload, providing expert clinical care, symptom management, and specialist advice while supporting other healthcare professionals. This position also involves educating and empowering patients, families, and carers. You will collaborate closely with the multidisciplinary team, GPs, hospital teams, district nurses, and social care providers to ensure coordinated care.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in palliative care while contributing to service development and quality improvement.

We have two opportunities available: one full-time post and one part-time post (0.6 FTE).

This post may be offered as a Band 6 developmental opportunity for a suitable candidate. Appointment at Band 6 will be subject to the successful completion of identified competencies within an agreed timeframe.

Main duties of the job

• Act as the named community palliative care keyworker for an allocated caseload, delivering specialist palliative and end-of-life care
• Conduct holistic assessments and provide expert symptom control, along with emotional, psychological, and spiritual support.
• Develop and review personalized care plans in partnership with patients, families, and carers.
• Respond to palliative care emergencies and provide appropriate interventions.
• Support families and carers, offering bereavement services referrals when needed.
• Maintain accurate clinical records in accordance with Trust and professional standards.
• Participate in weekly MDT meetings, contributing to clinical decision-making.
• Contribute to the CNS weekend working rota as required.
• Use advanced communication skills for complex discussions, including advance care planning.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, GPs, hospitals, district nurses, and care providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Contribute to the Gold Standards Framework with GP practices and care homes.
• Provide professional leadership, acting as a role model for palliative and end-of-life care across the Trust.
• Offer education, advice, and mentoring to colleagues and learners.
• Support clinical governance through audits, risk management, and evidence-based practice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Successful applicants will be required to demonstrate alignment with the Trust’s values - Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment, alongside fulfilling the duties detailed in the attached Job Description and Person Specification.