Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist

About the role

We are seeking a compassionate, motivated and highly skilled Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACNS) to join our Community Palliative Care Team. This is an exciting opportunity to develop specialist expertise in palliative and end-of-life care while supporting patients and families living with progressive life-limiting illnesses. Working as part of our multidisciplinary team, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based palliative care across the community, supporting patients to achieve their preferred outcomes and maintain the highest possible quality of life.

As an Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist, you will work collaboratively with colleagues across primary, secondary and specialist healthcare services to provide expert palliative care and support for patients with complex needs.

• Work as part of the Community Team, collaborating closely with wider healthcare professionals and multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide specialist palliative care support to patients with progressive life-limiting illnesses and complex symptom management needs.
• Develop and maintain advanced knowledge and skills in the delivery of high-quality, research-based supportive and palliative care.
• Provide clinical advice and expertise to primary care teams, helping them anticipate potential problems, promote advance care planning, and recognise and respond appropriately to palliative care emergencies.
• Advise healthcare professionals, within your level of competence, on symptom management, care planning, psychosocial support and evidence-based practice to maximise patient outcomes.
• Advocate for patients and their families, ensuring they receive timely information and support to make informed choices regarding treatment options and future care.
• Contribute to the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient-centred care.
• Support the delivery of education and guidance to healthcare colleagues and partner organisations.
• Participate in service development, quality improvement initiatives and clinical governance activities.

We are looking for an enthusiastic registered nurse who is passionate about delivering exceptional palliative and end-of-life care.

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Significant post-registration clinical experience.
• Experience caring for patients with palliative, end-of-life or complex long-term conditions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong assessment, care planning and clinical decision‑making skills.
• Commitment to person‑centred care and continuous professional development.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for community visits.

• Experience with in specialist palliative care, hospice, community nursing or oncology services.
• Relevant post‑registration qualifications in palliative care or symptom management.
• Experience of teaching, mentoring or supporting healthcare colleagues.
• Knowledge of advance care planning and end‑of‑life care frameworks.

Southern Hospice Group is the largest group of hospices in Sussex and one of the largest in the UK. We are committed to providing exceptional and compassionate care to adults, children and their families across Sussex. Bringing our teams and resources together as one organisation means we can focus on new and exciting visions and plans for our people and patients and provide even greater opportunities for our workforce.

St Barnabas House provides specialist palliative care to adults in the Worthing, Adur, Arun and Henfield areas through a range of services, including in‑patient care and community living well services. Chestnut Tree House is the children's hospice for East and West Sussex and South East Hampshire, providing specialist palliative care for children and young people with life‑limiting conditions. Martlets provides essential care to people affected by terminal illness in Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas.

Our expert teams provide the very best care and support, helping patients and their loved ones to live life to the…