Registered Nurse – Inpatient Unit

Full job description

Main responsibilities:

Clinical Practice

1. Working as part of the inpatient unit under the direction of the Clinical Sister / Head of IPU, Sister and Senior Registered Nurse, facilitate the highest possible standards of individualised physical, psychological, social and spiritual nursing care for patients, their relatives and carers prioritising need in line with available resources.
2. To work as a member of the team providing best possible outcomes for patients, families and carers, ensuring that the patient’s dignity is promoted and respected and that equality and diversity are priorities of care.
3. Undertake comprehensive specialist palliative care nursing assessments, agreeing a plan of care for patients and families based on clear goals intended to bring about effective, measurable outcomes.
4. Work in partnership with other members of the multidisciplinary team to help patients achieve their preferred place of care.
5. Provide advice and guidance related to symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual needs referring appropriately to relevant professionals or services.
6. Carry out regular audits ensuring that protocols, policies and integrated care pathways are developed, implemented and evaluated and are consistent with national and international standards and current research; support changes in practice which improve clinical outcomes and meet the needs of patients, families and carers.
7. Take responsibility for recognition and assessment of the educational and developmental needs of colleagues, participating in the creation, delivery and evaluation of learning opportunities that fulfill these requirements.
8. Provide clear explanations and education as appropriate to ensure that patients,   families and staff have the information they require in a timely fashion.
9. To act as a resource across the health economy within this specialist area.
10. To participate in the development, review and audit of quality standards and contribute to the process of continuous quality improvement monitoring, reporting to the Clinical Care & Quality Assurance Committee.
11. Ensure patients and professionals have appropriate links to colleagues in the organisation ensuring continuity of advice and intervention through effective team working.
12. Regularly attend multidisciplinary team meetings, proactively discussing patients, ensuring the most appropriate plans of action are in place for individuals.
13. In the best interests of patients and families, proactively collaborate with a wide range of internal and external professionals developing effective working relationships and ensuring effective communication channels are established between the partner agencies, patients and families.
14. Maintain full, accurate and confidential clinical records, both in computer and written form, in accordance with mandatory legal requirements and the Hospice standards for nursing documentation.
15. Challenge professional and organisational boundaries, identifying areas of skills, knowledge and development to provide continuity and high-quality patient centred healthcare.

Administrative and Managerial

1. Supervise the work of junior team members and volunteers, providing a point of expertise and knowledge for complex patient problems.
2.       Provide nursing support and mentorship to colleagues, ensuring clinical staff are prepared and supported in their roles.
3.       Support the team in the active development of Healthcare Assistant and volunteer roles.
4.       Participate in strategic service reviews and service development initiatives as appropriate.
5.       Attend meetings pertinent to organisational and professional responsibilities.
6.       Maintain accurate and up-to-date statistics and utilise Hospice computerised systems to establish and monitor appropriate patient/client information. In conjunction with the Senior Registered Nurses produce reports, analyses and documentation.
7.       Represent the Hospice on relevant external groups and be responsive to and work with policy agendas as appropriate.
8.       To participate in a rota that ensures provision of patient care 24 hours / 7 days a week as set by the Clinical Sister/ Head of IPU

Education, Training and Professional Development

1. Maintain own expert clinical knowledge and skills, including advanced communication skills, and achieve the educational standards set out in line with the skills, knowledge and competency level required of enhanced practitioners and by the role.
2. To participate in the performance review and appraisal process and undertake performance review and appraisal for team members as designated by the Head of Dementia Service. Identify personal development and training needs through clinical supervision and the performance appraisal process, and undertake relevant training, including all statutory and mandatory training and development.
3. To participate in the induction and ongoing training and development of all clinical colleagues, students on placement and volunteers.
4. To participate in the Hospice’s multidisciplinary formal and informal teaching programmes for internal and external colleagues. This will include students undergoing courses or gaining experience in the Hospice.
5. To promote a collegiate, innovative, creative and supportive learning environment that welcomes ongoing learning, change and development.

Quality, audit and research

1.       Keep abreast of research and audit activity to ensure that his/her practice is appropriately updated in line with latest guidance, research findings and  organisational policies and procedures.
2.       Assess, report and manage risks in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Code and the organisation’s policies, and undertake to review practices and learn  from experience.
3.       To comply with the Hospice’s policy and procedure in handling any complaints.
4.       Contribute to and support the Clinical Governance framework of the organisation, and keep up to date with governance activity and latest policies and procedures.
5.       Initiate and/or participate in research and audit, and promote an awareness of and participate in the dissemination of research findings through clinical application to ensure enhanced patient/family care.
6.       Actively work to ratified clinical policies and procedures.
7.       Abide by all organisational policies and guidance in relation to confidentiality and information governance.  Any disclosure of confidential information including personal information kept on computer or other media made unlawfully outside the proper course of duty will be treated as a serious disciplinary offence.
8. Keep up to date with current legislation, professional practice issues and relevant developments in palliative and bereavement care.

Communication

1. To promote close working relationships and good communication links with colleagues at all levels throughout the Hospice and maintain good communications with external contacts as appropriate.
2. Maintain effective links with external dementia organisations as appropriate.

Health and Safety

1. To take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and others that may be affected by what you do while at work, and to co-operate in the implementation of the Hospice’s health and safety policies and procedures.

Public relations and marketing

1. To initiate and/or participate in the production of promotional material for distribution to potential stakeholders.
2. To support fundraising/volunteer events as appropriate.

General

1. Organise and prioritise any competing demands of the role, completing duties as required within working hours.
2. To conduct yourself at all times in a manner befitting the post and the professional dignity of the Hospice, and ensure that the Hospice is positively represented to the public and other stakeholders.
3.  To work as a member of the Hospice team to foster the team’s caring mission and to have a commitment to the cause of helping patients and their families with palliative care needs.
4.   To commit to our culture framework which outlines how we expect everyone at Heart of Kent Hospice individually and as a team to ensure the best possible experience for our patients, their families, our supporters and our local community.
5. Champion best practice in Equality Diversity and Inclusion in everything we do.
6. Have fun and challenge yourself at work, championing our values and behaviours and abiding by our policies and procedures.
7. Adapt and develop in line with the changing needs of the role.
8. Act as an ambassador for The Heart of Kent Hospice in order to raise the profile of the organisation at a local, regional and national level as required.
9. Work flexibly across departments from time to time as may be requested.
10. Undertake other duties commensurate with the seniority of the post as may reasonably be requested.

The post holder will work within the NMC Code of Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice at all times. All organisational policies and procedures will be followed.

This job description is a broad reflection of the current duties. It may be amended and developed in the light of experience and the needs of the service and will be the focus for objective setting in an annual appraisal.

About the role

We are looking for full time or part time registered nurses with a passion for palliative care. If you want the time to give compassionate patient centred care as part of a small multidisciplinary team this could be the role for you. We work long-shifts as part of a rolling rota but can be flexible in terms of the number of shifts undertaken. We believe in supporting your health and wellbeing in order that you can give the best care to our patients.

We’re keen to recruit nurses with excellent communication and team working skills. With a broad range of clinical skills, and a desire to develop their practice and make a positive impact on those they care for and support. We are committed to developing the skills and interests of our colleagues. Talk to us about how joining a CQC rated Outstanding Hospice could be your next career move.

About the Hospice

We have been providing exceptional care to people living with a terminal illness in Maidstone, Aylesford, Tonbridge, Malling and surrounding areas since 1991. We support patients with both cancer and non-cancer diagnoses, and those closest to them, and all our services are provided free of charge.

Our vision is that everyone living with a terminal illness in our community will have the best quality of life, for as long as they live. Our highly trained colleagues and volunteers do everything to help our patients live in comfort, with independence and dignity in their own homes, local care homes or in our Hospice. All our care is underpinned by our core values of compassion, integrity, respect and teamwork.

As a local charity independent of the NHS we are reliant on our supporters and donors, our services cost £5 million to run, with over £4 million raised through the generosity of our local community. Our supporters fundraise in so many ways for us – from taking part in Hospice events and physical challenges, to local business support, to giving in memory of a loved one (and so many more other ways), their generosity is incredible.

We pride ourselves on being a values driven behaviour-based organisation. If you share our vision and passion for quality care, we’d like to hear from you.

Colleague benefits

Our way of working

Heart of Kent Hospice supports hybrid working wherever practical and appropriate for a role and service.  The Hospice works with colleagues to accommodate, wherever possible, requests for flexible working e.g. different start/finish times / part time hours. The Hospice also allows bank holidays to be taken at different times of the year, wherever possible, to enable colleagues to book time off at a time more important to the individual e.g. to celebrate within their own religion, personal beliefs or lifestyle.

Annual leave

Heart of Kent Hospice offers a generous holiday entitlement which increases with service.  On appointment each colleague receives 27 days annual leave per annum plus bank holidays and after 5 years this rises to 29 days.  After 10 years this increases to 33 day.  Part time colleagues accrued annual leave on a pro-rata basis.

Life assurance

Cover for an amount equal to 2 times salary is provided for all employees subject to scheme rules.

Sickness absence pay

Company sickness pay supplements statutory sick pay and is paid probation.  Company sick pay increases in accordance with length of service rising to 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay.

Pensions

The Heart of Kent Hospice provides access and contributions towards the nestpensions.org.uk and where colleagues are eligible to contribute to an NHS pension, payments can continue to be made via this scheme, subject to conditions.

Maternity and paternity leave

Maternity leave pay is enhanced in line with policy details and conditions. Paternity leave pay is enhance and paid at full for 2 weeks.

Employee assistance scheme

All colleagues are provided with free scheme memberships which provides 24 access to a GP, 24 helpline, 6 counselling sessions and a discount purchase scheme.

Occupational health

The Hospice refers to Occupational Health where appropriate including referral to specialists counsellors.

Access to Hospice facilities

When based at the Hospice or visiting the Hospice, colleagues can access our subsidised café, on-site rest rooms which provide a space to relax, access to a multi faith room and free parking.

Career and personal development

In addition to statutory & mandatory training the Hospice provides development including skills such as excel, role specific training and developmental programmes such as leadership development, coaching and attendance at conferences and events in support of Continuous Professional Development.  Our In-house Hospice Education and Training team provide clinical CPD and support to those within our Patient Services team.

Health & Wellbeing

The Hospice provides many opportunities for colleagues to get involved in focus / action groups including wellbeing initiatives through each year.

Belonging

The Hospice Belonging Group work with the Executive team to continually improve equity, equality, inclusion and diversity and the Hospice leadership looks for feedback on Inclusion and Wellbeing via happiness at work check-ins, colleague surveys, colleague representation groups and through our 2 way feedback sessions referred to as “snapshops”.

Other leave and support

In line with legislation and our personal values and commitment to demonstrate care to our colleagues as well as caring for our patients we provide a colleague care programme of leave and support.  Further details are provided on appointment.

Cultural Framework

Our purpose

To enable people with a terminal illness in our community to live in the comfort, with independence and dignity to the end of their lives, and to support rise closest to them.

Mindset

We are curious about improving care.

I care

We understand that caring each other, those we support and our purpose is essential to our success. We foster strong, trusting relationships in all our interactions.

We care about how we communicate and prioritise our work, and we treat everyone with respect.

• I seek to understand the needs of others
• I communicate clearly and openly
• I share my team and resources
• I listen to others’ ideas

I learn

So that we can continuously improve our care, we actively look for opportunities to develop, our skills and knowledge. We take time to learn from others and understand different ways of thinking. We recognise that learning will shape the long-term delivery of our care.

• I create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills
• I find ways to learn from others
• I seek out positive and developmental feedback from others
• I champion evidence-based learning

I own

We deliver on our promises at an individual, team and organisational level. We take pride in what we achieve and we lead by example, empowering one another to take ownerships. We proactively share knowledge and embrace self-reflection.

• I confirm my commitments
• I deliver on my commitments, on time, to the quality promised
• I help the team to deliver
• I identify learnings from successes and failures

I improve

We believe that we can continuously improve the contribution we make. We welcome new ideas and approaches and recognise that change is not always easy or comfortable. We encourage feedback so that we can improve. We actively look for solutions to problems.

• I embrace changes
• I analyse information to identify and solve problems
• I give positive and developmental feedback to others
• I share learning sand ideas with others