Nurse Consultant - Palliative Care

The Role

This role provides a key opportunity to continue to shape the future of nursing practice within Specialist Palliative care, working at the forefront of professional leadership, clinical innovation and service transformation.

The Nurse Consultant is a senior clinical leadership role responsible for providing expert professional practice, advancing clinical excellence, and shaping service development across Specialist Palliative Care. The postholder will work at the highest level of autonomous practice, providing strategic leadership and influencing improvement in patient outcomes, workforce capability, and service quality.

As a key member of the senior nursing leadership team, the Nurse Consultant will:

• Deliver highly specialised, advanced nursing practice within Specialist Palliative Care.
• Provide expert clinical advice and decision‑making for complex cases.
• Act as a visible clinical leader, supporting optimal patient pathways and evidence‑based care.
• Lead on the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical policies, pathways and standards.
• Offer professional leadership across multidisciplinary teams, HSCPs and partner agencies.
• Influence strategic planning and contribute to national and local priorities aligned with NHS Scotland governance frameworks.
• Provide expert education, mentorship and clinical supervision to nursing and wider MDT colleagues.
• Lead initiatives to develop advanced practice capability and support succession planning.
• Champion a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
• Lead and contribute to research, audit and evaluation activities to strengthen the evidence base for practice.
• Drive quality improvement initiatives that enhance safety, effectiveness and patient experience.
• Disseminate learning locally and nationally, contributing to the wider professional body of knowledge.

• Registered Nurse with valid NMC Registration.
• Experienced nurse with significant experience in a senior clinical/management role.
• Educated to Masters Level with a recognised and appropriate postgraduate qualification.
• Masters level or above, e.g., post graduate Advanced Clinical Practice.
• Able to demonstrate knowledge of NHS Scotland’s Leadership Qualities framework or equivalent.
• Management knowledge gained through experience and continuous professional development.
• Professional, leadership and managerial experience within speciality/area of practice.
• Demonstrates required breadth of knowledge to lead safety, effectively and efficiently.
• Excellent communication skills and highly developed interpersonal skills, including negotiation, facilitation, influencing and presentation skills.
• Ability to engage with staff and stakeholders at all levels.
• Robust understanding of Transforming Roles agenda and General Medical Services contract related to nursing role within the Multi‑Disciplinary Team.
• Experience of assessing training needs.
• Experience of resource management (financial, human, capital).
• Experience in service planning, project management and performance monitoring/reporting.
• Knowledge and experience of needs assessment and analysis/interpretation of related data.
• Track record in sound and effective leadership; ability to think strategically, corporately and act as a team player.
• Track record in developing innovative solutions to meet organisational requirements and motivating staff to effect change.
• Track record in developing teams/services and integrated solutions to complex and challenging problems.
• Working knowledge of basic information technology.

Please note for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.

It would be great if you also have:

• Formal leadership development.
• Evidence of advanced clinical assessment & V300 prescribing.
• Experience working in a community environment.
• Robust understanding of the current Specialist Palliative Care agenda across the Multi‑Disciplinary Team.
• Extensive knowledge of clinical guidelines and standards in the Health Care Agenda.
• Knowledge and experience of needs assessment and analysis/interpretation of related data.
• Proven track record in sound and effective leadership.
• Prove…