Clinical Nurse Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION Title:Clinical Nurse Specialist Grade/Salary: Agenda for Change Band 6 Responsible to: Senior Manager for CNS Team Accountable to:Director of Nursing Location:Newport (however flexibilty required to work in any of the four boroughs) Hours of Working:37.5 hpw Key working relationships: Day Hospice Team Key Members of the Primary Health Team Family Support Team St Davids Hospice Care ABUHB Palliative Care Team Job Summary: The post holder will facilitate the provision of high quality palliative care to patients with cancer and other progressive illnesses. The nurse will provide direct support and advice to patients and their families and act as a resource to other professionals in the community. This post operates as part of an inter-professional team and the post holder will contribute to the development of an integrated approach to patient care. Aims of the post: To facilitate the provision of high quality specialist nursing care to patients with cancer and other life threatening illness. To provide direct support and advice to patients with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. To advise and support the multi-disciplinary team involved in the patients care particularly on symptom control issues and psychological, spiritual and bereavement care. To take part in planning and delivering education programmes within the Community in conjunction with the Education Department. Research based practice and participation in research are important aspects of the role. To work closely with Team members to ensure consistency of approach and intervention. Key Areas of Responsibility: CLINICAL In collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, assess the needs of patients, families and other carers and provide specific advice or support as appropriate. Advise and support the multi-disciplinary team to provide high quality care. This might include advice on pain and symptom control; care planning, social and psychological care, communication and resources. Collaborate with other health care professionals and relevant agencies to promote planned co-ordinated care. Maintain adequate records of all patients and ensure all relevant information is documented in the patients medical/nursing notes. Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions and treatment protocols. Facilitate the provision of bereavement support to families and other carers. To participate in the provision of information to patients and their carers regarding their illness, treatment and services available. To work with the primary health care team in developing the use of the Care Decision tool To take part in an out-of-hours advice on call rota MANAGEMENT Effectively utilise the resources required to meet service objectives. Participate in personal and organisational objective setting. Submit statistics and activity data as required. Assist in the development of policies, procedures and clinical protocols related to palliative care. Develop standards of practice against which quality of care may be measured. Contribute to clinical audit as required. To assume specific responsibilities in the absence of the Line Manager. EDUCATION Identify the specific education needs of individual patients and carers and facilitate meeting those needs. Assist in the training and education of the multi-disciplinary team under the direction of the Education Department. Prepare and provide learning materials for those within the clinical areas, in collaboration with the Education Department. Act as a role model and mentor to staff. Provide informal education and support to staff in their provision of palliative care. AUDIT AND RESEARCH In consultation with the Director of Nursing, and collaboration with other Specialist Nurses, identify and encourage research based practice in relation to palliative care in the community. In conjunction with the Director of Nursing, participate in multi-disciplinary audit. Participate in nursing and collaborative research in palliative care. Participate in the clinical governance strategy of SDHC PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Keep up-to-date with relevant nursing issues. Read relevant journals, articles and papers available. Ensure personal development in accordance with the NMC's Revalidation requirements. Participate in clinical supervision as per St Davids Hospice policy. Additional Duties All job descriptions are subject to review. Job holders are expected to be flexible and be prepared to carry out any similar or related duties which do not fall within the work outlined. Any review will be undertaken by the line manager, in consultation with the post holder. OTHER INFORMATION Place of Work - The post holder may be required to work in other boroughs due to service demands. Unsociable Hours - There may be an occasional need for unsociable hours, e.g. attendance at fund-raising events meetings and conferences. Time in lieu will be given in respect of this. Health and Safety - To ensure that the agreed procedures are carried out, be aware of the responsibilities placed on employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act, to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors. Data Protection - If you are required to do so, any processing or use of information pertaining to staff, patients and/or clients must be held in a fair and lawful way. Data should only be held for specific registered purposes and for the minimum period of time. It must not be disclosed in any way incompatible with such purposes. Equal Opportunities - It is the aim of St. David's Hospice Care to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, race, colour, nationality or ethnic origins, or is placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. To this end, St David's Hospice Care has an Equal Opportunities Policy and it is for each employee to contribute to its success. No Smoking Policy - St David's Hospice Care Hospice Care operates a No Smoking policy. Conditions of Service - In accordance with St. Davids Hospice Care Employment Manual Pension Scheme - An auto-enrolment Pension Scheme is in place, subject to you meeting the eligibility criteria. Staff may also prefer to make their own arrangements. Confidentiality - All information concerning patients/clients and staff must be treated as strictly confidential at all times.

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