Community Clinical Nurse Specialist - Palliative Care

This is a permanent community post in South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust's Specialist Palliative Care Team in North Warwickshire, working alongside a consultant and the wider county palliative care service. The post holder carries a caseload of at least 70% of the role, works autonomously at advanced practice level, and leads nurse-led clinics, education and service development. It is a 30-hour week over seven days, from 9.00 to 17.00, with weekend cross-county rota work.

NMC registration and a post-basic palliative care qualification are essential.

• Manage a clinical caseload of patients referred for specialist palliative care, at least 70% of the role
• Work as an autonomous advanced practitioner, assessing, planning and evaluating personalised care pathways
• Advise on complex disease and symptom management in inpatient and outpatient settings
• Develop and deliver nurse-led or parallel clinics
• Receive and act on referrals, and refer to other team members, specialists and outside agencies
• Act as patient advocate, supporting shared decision-making and communicating complex, sensitive news to patients and carers
• Provide clinical leadership, supervise caseloads and line manage junior specialist nurses
• Contribute to the team's weekend on-call service
• Contribute to service planning, improvement, clinical governance, and the annual service review and report
• Lead or contribute to Trust-wide specialist education, teaching and mentoring
• Carry out clinical audit and research, and contribute to policy and clinical guidelines
• Represent the Trust at local, regional and national meetings and maintain external networks

• First-level degree in a related subject
• Masters-level learning, or willingness to work towards it
• Post-basic qualification in palliative care
• Mentor and assessor qualification
• Recognised teaching qualification (ENB 998, C&G 730 or equivalent), or experience
• Advanced clinical courses, e.g. advanced assessment skills and independent prescribing

• NMC registered general nurse

• Post-registration experience at band 6 or above within palliative care
• Student supervision and teaching
• Proven leadership and delivery of change management
• Working autonomously within palliative care
• Delivering patient advocacy
• Research, audit and evidence-based care

• Advanced clinical, managerial and leadership skills in palliative care
• Listening and counselling skills to manage complex situations and deliver sensitive, difficult outcomes
• Ability to clinically lead and influence others

• Advanced communication skills training
• Leadership or management course
• Managing projects
• Managing a budget
• Flexible and positive approach to work