Job summary

As a Registered Nurse you will work as part of a friendly and passionate multi-disciplinary team of specialists, led by a Ward Manager within our hospice in Cambridge.

We have full and part time hours available and would be happy to discuss working options at interview.

We offer a range of benefits to our staff, including the option to retain membership to the NHS Pension scheme (subject to conditions.) Other benefits include :

• NHS matched annual leave
• Enhancements paid on top of basic salary for unsociable hours
• Regular management supervision
• Access to Restorative Resilience Supervision, mental health first aiders, wellbeing champions, and pastoral care
• Access to our Lease Car service
• Access to further training and development (to specialist nursing level)
• Free hot / cold drinks from our staff room and subsidised hot / cold meals from our Bistro at the Hospice in Cambridge
• Family friendly leave
• Employee Assistance programmes
• Long Service Awards
• NHS Blue Light Discount scheme
• Yearly performance review
• Christmas Club Saving scheme
• Social activities such as quiz nights

Main duties of the job

Our Nurses provide professional, patient centred palliative care to patients, theirfamilies and carers. You will lead, support and encourage the sharing ofknowledge and skills within the team.

Our expert team provides care to those with complex needs, whilst alsosupporting patients in nurse-led beds. Our MDT approach means that wecan provide expert care to patients with complex and end of life careneeds, which is holistic in its approach and tailored toeach persons specific needs.

Staff within our in-patient unit work an internal shift pattern whichincludes earlies, lates, long days, nights and weekends.

Successful candidates will be NMC Registered Nurse (Adult) with postregistration experience in palliative care or in community, be able to work aspart of a team and have excellent communication and leadership skills.

An Enhanced level DBS check will be required for this post.

Please note that the salary quoted is based on full time hours and needs to be pro-ratad for part time posts. We regret that we are unable to negotiate salary above the maximum stated within the advert.

About us

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity has an outstanding reputation for excellence in palliative and end of life care. We support people in Cambridgeshire, who are living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end-of-life care. Our Outstanding services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. Our aim is to provide the highest quality care, helping them to make every moment count.

We are committed to inclusivity, respect, fairness, engagement and equality of opportunity for our patients and their families, our staff and trustees, our volunteers and our supporters.

We value the strength that comes with difference and the positive contribution that diversity brings to our community, therefore, candidates with a disability that meet the minimum criteria will be guaranteed an interview. We are also working to increase diversity throughout the organisation and we particularly welcome applications from BAME people who are currently under-represented.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults who draw on care and support and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

ARHC encourage and support vaccine uptake, as this remains the best line of defence against COVID 19

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose :

To provide professional patient centered palliative care to patients, ensuring the highest possible standards of care received by patients, their families and carers. To lead, support and encourage the sharing of knowledge and skills within the team.

The post holder will be accountable for their professional practice according to the Nursing Midwifery Council Code of Conduct and be responsible for delegation of tasks to Health Care Assistants.

Main Responsibilities :

Clinical

To be professional and legally responsible for all aspects of own work including the daily management of patients in your care

To work as part of a team, using a patient centred approach and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care and co-ordinate care from admission to discharge.

Promote professional standards of behaviour and ensure that junior nursing staff are aware of their personal accountability and their responsibilities as articulated in the Code of Professional Conduct of the Nursing & Midwifery Council

Administer medication and treatment as prescribed in accordance with the NMCs Standards of Medicine Management and Arthur Rank Hospice policies and guidelines

Conduct holistic nursing assessment on patients admitted to the In-Patient Unit and document an appropriate care plan based on the patients need

Use appropriate communication skills with patients, carers and relatives, including those with language and cultural differences, facilitating informed consideration that enables choices to be made concerning treatment and future care

Always practice appropriate and timely communication in the delivery of written verbal and non-verbal communication when communicating with patients, visitors and the wider team.

Be aware of the nature of the palliative care environment, recognising the needs of palliative care patients with particular emphasis on death and dying

Provide emotional, psychological and spiritual support for patients and carers, ensuring appropriate referral or sign posting to other specialists services when required

Act as a patient advocate and always in the best interest of patients and carers

Liaise with the multi- disciplinary team regularly to ensure timely delivery of care and foster good working relationships

Initiate discharge planning, including the continuing healthcare process, to ensure smooth and timely transition between care settings

Liaise and communicate with external services and agencies to arrange discharge and / or support within the community.

Ensure that patients and carers receive accurate current information relevant to their need

Support Consultant / Doctor ward rounds within the In-Patient Unit ensuring the effective and timely dissemination and communication of patient information to relevant parties and the maintenance of contemporaneous nursing records following the ward round.

Support the Matron and Ward Manager with changes and challenges that may arise

Ensure personal and team safety by adhering to hospice policy and highlighting any issues to the Ward Manager / Ward Sister

Participate in the hospice MDT, patient planning meetings, Discharge planning and bereavement meetings as necessary

Act as an advocate in the face of difficult negotiations and hostile reactions from other healthcare workers

Act as a clinical role model for staff and students, ensuring best evidence-based practice

Manage own time effectively in order to maintain high standards of nursing care and professional efficiency

In the absence of the Ward Manager or Ward Sisters; allocate work with due regard to continuity, multi-professional actions plans, up to date assessment of patients need and staff expertise

To work within the guidance of Arthur Rank Hospices policies and standard operating procedures, best practice, established precedent and understand what results are to be achieved

Help maintain a pleasant and safe environment for patients visitors and staff

Demonstrate a current knowledge of infection prevention and control practices through the delivery of clinical care and maintenance of a safe environment in accordance with infection prevention and control practices, policies

To verify when a death has occurred when deem competent to do so. Notifying families and carers as appropriate, following the Hospice policy.

Be responsible for managing the process of receiving and responding to referrals to the In-Patient Unit.

To administer drugs and assist with their ordering in accordance with the Nursing Midwifery Council standards for the administration of Medicines

Anticipate and respond to patient / family need whilst maintaining their independence, privacy and dignity

Demonstrate and apply a knowledge of the options for achieving control of symptoms

Acting as a reflective practitioner, applying evidence-based practice and critical thinking to review all practices and processes of care

Admitting patients into the In-Patient Unit, including familiarisation into the unit and completion of admission assessment and documentation

Be responsible for triaging call made to the unit, referring on to on call colleagues and / or external agencies as required

Demonstrate competency for managing specific nursing tasks cannulation, venepuncture and IV antibiotics

Give information, support and advice to carers following the death of a patient.

Be responsible for the management of an allocated group of patients and staff on a shift basis

To contribute to the development of nursing activities and audit procedures whilst working within the clinical governance framework

Actively promote and support the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, young people and children, observing and adhering to Arthur Rank Hospice Policy on Safeguarding

Contribute to a climate where team members openly discuss and challenge the standards of individual practice, and where decision-making can be ratified as a team

Assist in fostering an atmosphere of reflective practice, where critical incidents are a learning opportunity for all

Promote an atmosphere where reviewing and critical discussions of clinical problems can be aired by the multidisciplinary team

To identify and resolve specific managerial problems that may arise within a shift when in charge. Always report difficulties to the Ward Manager / Ward Sister / Matron

General duties and responsibilities :

Contribute to the development of the unit and other Hospice services by attending meetings and supporting the implementation of change

Participate in the induction and orientation of new staff and visiting professionals

Be familiar and comply with all hospice policies, procedures protocol and guidelines of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and that of the Nursing Midwifery Council

Promote at all levels, the organisations vision, values and strategic objectives

Be aware of and work towards the Hospices strategic goals

Ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest standard, and in accordance with current quality initiatives, standards and code of professional conduct within the work area

Carry out other duties, within an appropriate level of responsibilities, as required

Be aware of the confidential nature of the Hospice environment and / or your role. Any matters of a confidential nature relating to patients, carers, relatives, staff or volunteers must not be divulged to any unauthorised person

Contributing positively to anti discriminatory practice, actively promoting equality and diversity

Ensure that practice is in line with NMC requirements for professional development and revalidation

Health and Safety

Act as a responsible individual in relation to Health and Safety and be aware of the responsibilities of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors, staff volunteers and contractors

Infection Control

Infection Prevention and Control is the responsibility of all Hospice employees

Responsibility to protect patients, service users, visitors and employees against the risk of acquiring health care associated infections by consistently observing Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures, best practice guidance, in order to maintain high standards of infection Prevention and Control.

Data Protection

You should make yourself aware of the requirements of the Data protection Act 1998 and follow local codes of practice to ensure appropriate action is taken to safeguard confidential information

Person Specification

Other requirements

Essential

Experience

Essential

Qualifications

Essential