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Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity for a dedicated experienced nurse to lead the SWAN end of life and Bereavement service. This role is emotionally demanding but highly respected, it combines clinical practice, leadership, family support, education and service development based on dignity, compassion, personalisation, family inclusion and creating meaningful experiences after death at a senior strategic leadership level.
It is a broad role which means working alongside Merseyside police, HM Coroners Court, mortuary and pathology teams, safeguarding teams and NHS Blood and Transplant services to name but a few.
Main duties of the job
The responsibilities include leading the Trust wide SWAN service strategy, managing and developing specialist nursing teams. Influencing policy and organisational standards. Contributing to governance groups. Leading audits, service evaluations and quality improvement programmes. Representing the Trust in regional or city wide meetings. Developing partnerships with external agencies using a high degree of autonomy and visibility across hospital sites and external organisations. Responsibilities also include developing bereavement support pathways across services, improving culturally sensitive and inclusive care. Working with charities, faith groups and community organisations and also strengthening public engagement around bereavement support. The role focuses heavily on ensuring compassionate experiences for families during highly traumatic circumstances.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The responsibilities include leading the Trust wide SWAN service strategy, managing and developing specialist nursing teams.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate in a variety of settings, to achieve co-operation and influence others
- Demonstrate leadership and motivational skills
- Influencing skills beyond immediate sphere of work
- Able to analyse data and provide written reports/board papers
- Ability to prioritise and work pro-actively
- Able to work autonomously, coordinate the work of multiple clinical areas, plan and prioritise
- Effective delegation skills
- Ability to develop and promote effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across health and social care setting
- Ability to communicate unpleasant and sensitive information, and to resolve conflict
Desirable
- Dissemination of knowledge through publication
Knowledge
Essential
- Broad knowledge of professional and NHS issues
- Knowledge of health service and modernisation programme
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience at Ward Manager/Department Manager/Specialist Nurse or above
- Broad range of clinical experience in the NHS
- Participated in service development and implementation of change
- Experience of leading and managing change in service developments
- Development of Strategies, Policies and Procedures
- Broad experience of managing others
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Experience of maintaining links with various organisations
- Experience of business planning
Qualifications
Essential
- RGN
- 1 st Degree in nursing related subject
- Masters degree or equivalent
- Post-registration qualification in Nursing related subject Leadership/Management qualification or equivalent
- ENB 998, C&G 730 or equivalent teaching
- qualification Intermediate IT skills
- qualification in word processing and spreadsheets or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Patient Safety Qualification/Module
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Lead Nurse for SWAN, End of life and Bereavement with Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Nurse (adult and children) role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 per annum, pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 28 Jul 2026.
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