Specialist Palliative Care Nurse: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

The Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative care is a key member of the Specialist Palliative Care Team, working closely with the Palliative Care Consultants and the wider multidisciplinary team to provide expert assessment, advice and specialist palliative care for patients with life-limiting illness in the acute hospital setting.

The post holder supports the management of complex symptoms, advance care planning, ethical decision-making and end-of-life care, while providing expert guidance and education to hospital teams to promote high-quality, person-centred care. Working in partnership with specialty teams, ward staff, allied health professionals and discharge services, the Specialist Palliative Care Nurse helps ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time.

The role also involves close collaboration with community palliative care teams, primary care, hospices and other external partners to facilitate seamless transitions of care, support timely and safe discharge, avoid unnecessary hospital admissions where appropriate, and ensure continuity of care across organisational boundaries.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver high-quality specialist palliative care to patients and their families across West Cumbria.

• Act as a senior member of the Clinical Nurse Specialist team, providing expert advice, leadership, and support to colleagues.

• Contribute to service development and redesign to meet patient needs and improve care pathways.

• Undertake and facilitate education, training, and mentorship for staff across the service.

• Coordinate and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe, effective, and patient-centred care.

• Maintain accurate patient records, reports, and documentation in line with governance and clinical standards.

• Occasionally cover wider areas of the service depending on operational requirements

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Adult Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration.
• Degree in Nursing or a health-related subject, or equivalent level of knowledge and experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to specialist palliative and end of life care.
• Postgraduate qualification in Specialist Palliative Care (Postgraduate Certificate or equivalent) or willingness to undertake within an agreed timeframe.
• Advanced communication skills training.
• 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

• Extensive knowledge of specialist palliative and end of life care
• 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
• 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

• Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies
• Knowledge of change management principles.
• Understanding of NHS operational and performance frameworks.
• Experience of line management or day-to-day supervision of staff.
• 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: 13 October 2026