Specialist Community Palliative Care, CNS

Job overview

Due to promotion and retirement this is an exciting opportunity to come and join our community integrated palliative care team  Coventry Specialist Palliative Care Team supports patients, families and carers with  specialist palliative care needs. The post holder is a key member of the Community based Specialist Palliative Care Team who will work with other health care professionals to provide specialist advice, support and education throughout the Trust to ensure high quality patient care to those affected by malignant and non-malignant disease at the end of life. We currently provide a five day service, but are working towards provision of a seven day service.

A full UK driving license is required for this post. Please note that an international driving license is not accetped.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

The group is currently trialling a new Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) model following a collaborative event with internal and external stakeholders. This pilot aims to explore team structures and assess the impact on patient experience. While no formal redesign has taken place yet, the outcomes of this trial may inform future service delivery and team configuration across the group. If you are successful in your application, please be aware that your team structure and line management may be subject to change in the future as part of this evolving model. However, any formal changes will be preceded by appropriate consultation in line with organisational policy.

• To be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of community specialist palliative care
• To provide direct assessment and advice for patients with cancer or an advanced terminal illness and their families, who require specialist palliative care
• To develop strong links with the local GP’s, District Nurses, local Hospices and other allied health professionals
• To act as a specialist resource for community and primary care colleagues in the management of patients with specialist palliative care needs
• Attendance of relevant local and strategic meetings within areas of designated responsibility
• Contribute to the development and review of policies, procedures and protocols within the Trust related to palliative care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

• Develops and maintains highly effective working relationships with relevant clinical nurse specialists, social care providers, local hospices, GPs and other community health professionals in order to promote and sustain a multidisciplinary/multi agency approach to planned, co-ordinated care.
• Be able to use a variety of strategies and a range of advanced communication skills to relate effectively with patients (when breaking bad news, dealing with anxious/bereaved relatives) and those involved in their care
• To identify the need for and initiate the use of translator services as required.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills / Freedom to Act

• Work as an autonomous practitioner within a multi-professional team, supporting patients at end of life with complex and specialist palliative care needs.
• Work in partnership with GPs and consultants to ensure the provision of seamless specialist palliative care

Planning and Organisational Skills

• Prioritise own workload on a day to day basis.
• To organise and provide nurse led assessment of new and follow up patients where appropriate to do so, managing own patient caseload.
• Makes sure that people affected by cancer are aware that they are interacting with a Macmillan Professional and know about the full range of resources and services available through Macmillan.
• Actively engages with Macmillan Cancer Support to contribute expertise and experience and supports the Macmillan Strategy.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.