Clinical Nurse Specialist Supportive and Palliative Care

The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) will be a core member of a multidisciplinary team, providing direct/indirect specialist palliative care support and advice to clinicians, patients, and carers across the trust.

The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) will manage and support complex specialist palliative care within the hospital setting led by the lead nurse and consultant nurse for the service, and alongside the palliative medicine consultant / clinical lead for end of life care trust wide.

The post holder will act as a specialist resource to the core multidisciplinary team, extended teams including clinical and non-clinical staff across the trust 7 days per week.

The post holder will assess, plan, prescribe and evaluate the psychological, physical, social, emotional and cultural needs of palliative care patients and their families using research-based evidence to support their practice always.

The CNS will have continuing responsibility for the co-ordination and organisation of individual treatment programmes for patients from time of referral to discharge from the service or discharge home., The CNS will work as an independent autonomous practitioner to provide both practical and emotional support for patients and their carers throughout the care pathway. Patient advocacy and influencing decision making within the context of managing complex specialist palliative care is key.

The CNS will be involved in breaking bad news to patients and their families and offering continued emotional support to in- patients and families.

The CNS will keep up to date with certain clinical techniques such as setting up continuous sub-cutaneous infusions and be able to advise/assist in these procedures when required.

The CNS will be aware of the ethical issues in relation to palliative and end of life care and be willing to act as the advocate for the patient when appropriate.

The CNS will promote liaison between the hospital, primary care and the local hospices to achieve preferred place of care and safe discharges of patients especially those at the end of life.

Maintain accurate electronic and or manual clinical, patient and other records as required, ensuring that all documentation adheres to the trust's standards.

To ensure all clinical practice is evidence based, drawing on published literature and policy guidelines.

Be able to empathetically communicate complex or sensitive information to patients and their families in highly emotive situations

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 695,000 people.

Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'.

We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.