North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Job summary
The Community Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Specialist Palliative Care provides expert advice, assessment and support for patients with advanced, progressive and life-limiting illnesses in the community. The postholder works autonomously within a specialist multidisciplinary team and closely with the Consultant in Palliative Medicine to support complex clinical situations. The role is primarily advisory and includes specialist assessment, complex symptom management, advance and end-of-life care planning, education and care coordination.
As part of the specialist palliative care multidisciplinary team, the CNS provides expert clinical assessment, advice, education and care coordination. The postholder works closely with GPs, community nurses, hospices, hospitals, social care and other professionals to support personalised and responsive care.
The post will be based with the Community CNS Specialist Palliative Care Team in the west of the county. While the primary base is in the west, the postholder will be expected to work across the whole service as required to meet service needs, supporting colleagues and patients across other areas and ensuring continuity and equitable access to specialist palliative care.
Main duties of the job
Provide specialist nursing assessment, advice and support for patients with complex palliative and end-of-life needs, working with families and the multidisciplinary team.
- Undertake holistic assessments and develop individualised care plans.
- Provide specialist advice on symptom management, including pain, breathlessness, nausea, anxiety and agitation.
- Support advance care planning, treatment escalation and care preference discussions.
- Provide specialist advice during the last days and hours of life.
- Support community teams to enable patients to remain at home where appropriate.
- Recognise deterioration and ensure appropriate escalation.
- Act as an expert resource for community teams, GPs, care homes, patients and carers.
- Work with hospices, hospitals, primary care, social services and voluntary organisations to promote continuity of care.
- Advocate for patients and families, respecting their wishes, dignity, privacy and individual needs.
- Maintain accurate and confidential clinical records.
- Contribute to governance, risk management, audit, quality improvement and service development.
- Provide education, supervision and clinical support to healthcare professionals.
- Work with the Consultant in Palliative Medicine and MDT on complex cases and escalation.
- Contribute to operational management, workforce planning and supervision of nursing staff.
- Maintain professional competence and continuing professional development
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Adult Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration
- Postgraduate qualification in Specialist Palliative Care (Postgraduate Certificate or equivalent) or willingness to undertake within an agreed timeframe.
- Degree in Nursing or a health-related subject, or equivalent level of knowledge and experience.
- Advanced communication skills training.
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to specialist palliative and end of life care.
- Practice Assessor/Supervisor qualification (or willingness to achieve in line with NMC requirements).
Desirable
- Independent and Supplementary Non-Medical Prescribing Qualification (V300).
- Advanced Clinical Assessment qualification.
- Leadership or Management qualification.
- Teaching or Education qualification.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of pain and complex symptom assessment and management.
- Knowledge of national policy, guidance and standards relating to palliative and end of life care, including NICE guidance, the Ambitions Framework for Palliative and End of Life Care and CQC standards.
- Extensive knowledge of specialist palliative and end of life care.
- Knowledge of advance care planning, treatment escalation planning and end of life decision-making.
- Understanding of safeguarding adults and mental capacity legislation.
- Knowledge of clinical governance, quality improvement and risk management.
- Understanding of audit and service evaluation methodologies.
- Knowledge of multidisciplinary and multi-agency working across health and social care.
- Significant post-registration experience.
- Substantial experience working within specialist palliative and end of life care.
- Experience of managing patients with complex palliative care needs.
- Experience of working autonomously and making complex clinical decisions.
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working across organisational boundaries.
- Experience of teaching and supporting the learning and development of healthcare professionals.
- Experience of clinical supervision, mentorship or supporting staff development.
- Experience of participating in audit, service evaluation or quality improvement projects.
Desirable
- Experience of line management or day-to-day supervision of staff
- Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies.
- Knowledge of change management principles.
- Understanding of NHS operational and performance frameworks.
- Experience of service development or implementing change.
- Experience of Non-Medical Prescribing.
- Experience of working across acute, community and hospice settings.
Skills and Aptitudes
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to undertake sensitive and complex conversations.
- Highly developed assessment, clinical reasoning and decision-making skills
- Ability to manage a complex and unpredictable clinical workload.
- Ability to prioritise competing demands and work effectively under pressure.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Demonstrates compassionate, inclusive and collaborative leadership.
- Ability to influence and support practice across professional groups.
- Effective organisational and time management skills.
- Competent in the use of electronic patient records and Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to analyse and interpret complex clinical information to support decision-making.
- Commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous quality improvement.
Desirable
- Demonstrates the Trust’s values and behaviours.
- Compassionate, caring and patient-centred.
- Professional, approachable and resilient
- Flexible and adaptable to meet service needs.
- Motivated with a commitment to lifelong learning.
- Able to work effectively in emotionally demanding situations.
- Acts with integrity, accountability and professionalism.
- Committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel across Trust sites and community settings as required.
- Flexible approach to working hours to meet the needs of the service.
- Satisfactory Occupational Health clearance.
- Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.
Desirable
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle where required for community working.
Closing Date: 21 September 2026
To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.