Palliative Care Nurse (Days)

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose / Summary

To deliver a community based nursing service, for individuals at end of life, enabling them to remain at home if this is their preferred place of care.

To provide high quality, person centred palliative care in partnership with Primary Health Care Teams, supporting patients in the terminal phase of illness or with chronic, incurable conditions.

To support the effective coordination of Hospice at Home services, contributing to responsive service delivery, prioritisation of referrals, and continuity of care.

To provide cross-cover support for wellbeing services where required, ensuring patients and families have access to holistic support that addresses emotional, psychological, and social needs.

Key Responsibilities

As a Palliative Care Nurse, you will play a vital role in the delivery of skilled clinical care to patients within their homes. You will:

• Provide compassionate, holistic nursing care tailored to the individual needs of patients and their families.

• Work collaboratively with District Nurses, GPs, and other healthcare professionals to ensure seamless, coordinated support.

• Support carers and families by offering respite, emotional guidance, and expert palliative care advice.

• Engage in continuous professional development and reflective practice to maintain clinical excellence and personal wellbeing.

This is a community based clinical role requiring strong clinical judgement, emotional resilience, and autonomous working.

Clinical Care and Coordination

1. Work autonomously in the community to Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualised plans of care in partnership with District Nurses, patients, and families utilising a holistic and person centred approach.

1. Provide complex clinical care including:
• Symptom management
• Psychological and emotional support
• Drug administration
• Syringe driver administration and management
• Catheterisation
• Verification of death

1. Recognise and respond to clinical deterioration or uncontrolled symptoms, using evidence based practice and escalating appropriately to the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT).

1. Maintain high standards of documentation, recording all care accurately and in line with NMC guidelines and Information Governance Standards (using SystmOne).

1. Support patients and carers with sensitive, skilled communication regarding their condition, available services, and preferences for care.

1. Provide or facilitate support for the spiritual and emotional needs of patients and their families, including early bereavement support and referral to bereavement services.

7. Participate in the out of hours on-call rota.

Patient Safety and Advocacy

8. Ensure awareness and appropriate use of DNACPR/Digital ReSPECT forms, taking necessary action when they are missing or need review.

1. Follow protocols for emergencies and patient deaths, including the verification of death, in accordance with Treetops Hospice policies.

1. Protect patient privacy, dignity, and confidentiality at all times.

1. Safely use moving and handling techniques and equipment as trained.

1. Immediately report concerns or complaints to the Integrated Clinical Services Leadership team.

1. Maintain professional accountability as outlined in the NMC Code of Conduct.

Teamwork, Communication & Organisational Responsibilities

14.Actively engage in team handovers, reflective practice, and peer support, contributing to a positive, learning focused culture.

1. Communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, families, and the wider health and social care teams.

1. Contribute to internal reporting and service updates, sharing significant clinical changes or risks via SystmOne and direct communication with the coordination team.

1. Adhere to all hospice policies and procedures, acting as an ambassador for Treetops Hospice in the community.

1. Participate in the self-rostering system, ensuring adequate service coverage across the Integrated Clinical Services.

1. Manage annual leave and sickness absence appropriately, following correct reporting procedures.

20.Provide flexible support across services, including participation in coordination activities and covering wellbeing service provision where required to maintain continuity of care.

Governance, Quality, and Professional Development

21.Comply with all CQC regulations, supporting the service in demonstrating and maintaining standards.

1. Participate in service monitoring, audits, and evaluation to support continuous improvement.

1. Maintain up to date knowledge of best practice in palliative and end of life care.

1. Take responsibility for attending:
• Mandatory and specialist training
• Movement and handling training (annually)
• Clinical supervision and staff debriefings
• eLearning via Blue Stream
• Palliative care updates and group supervision sessions

1. Undertake dynamic risk assessments in the community to ensure safe care delivery.

1. Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of your role.

SERVICE COORDINATION AND WELLBEING SUPPORT

27. Support the coordination of daily service delivery within the Hospice at Home team, including prioritisation of visits, responding to referrals, and allocation of resources in collaboration with the Shift Lead.

28. Assist in maintaining effective communication between the Hospice at Home team, coordination hub, and wider multidisciplinary team to ensure seamless and timely care.

29. Contribute to decision making processes to ensure patients receive the most appropriate and responsive care based on clinical need and service capacity.

30. Provide cover and support for wellbeing services when required, including contributing to emotional, psychological, and social support interventions for patients and carers.

31. Work collaboratively with wellbeing staff and volunteers to ensure a holistic approach to care, recognising the importance of non-clinical support alongside physical care needs.

32. Identify patients and carers who may benefit from wellbeing services and facilitate appropriate referrals.

33. Support integration of wellbeing services into patient plan of care, ensuring a coordinated and person-centred approach across all services.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• ...