Senior Staff Nurse – March 2023

Senior Staff Nurse – Inpatient Unit, Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Chester

30 – 37.5 hours per week – £33,706 to £35,572 FTE first and mid-point Agenda for Change Band 6 (per annum, pro-rata)

Closing Date: 28^th March 2023

Job overview

Would you like to work in a setting where over 96% of service users rate their care as outstanding with  minimum registered nurse to patient ratios of  1: 5 throughout the 24-hour period and 1:4 for all staff?

If so, are you looking for an opportunity where you have the time to give patients the care they need and support families and friends, provide excellent individualized nursing care, implement your knowledge and skills, acquire specialist knowledge of symptom control, develop your communication skills and progress your career in specialist palliative care?

The Senior Staff Nurse will lead a small nursing team who provide pain and symptom control, complex psychological support and end of life care for patients and their families. Implementing your current knowledge and skills, the role will allow you to develop your specialist knowledge of symptom control, enhance your communication skills and progress your career in specialist palliative care. Most importantly, in addition to your knowledge and skills your values must align to those of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.

Hours for the role will be 30 – 37.5 hours per week including all shift patterns across 7 days.

An application for a permanent night post would also be considered as will those from candidates requesting predominantly weekend working.

In addition to this there are great opportunities for professional development and career progression.  You will receive continued annual leave and sickness benefits if you join us from the NHS or another hospice.

The post holder will:

• Be responsible for overseeing the planning and delivery of outstanding care for an identified group of patients.
• Be responsible for providing initial and ongoing assessment of nursing needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of effective care plans and direct delivery of patient care on a daily basis.
• Act as nurse in charge, leading a well-coordinated effective shift. This will involve dealing with complex situations and having to take appropriate action in emergency and unforeseen circumstances.
• Proactively contribute to integrated MDT meetings, including assessing the needs of referred patients into Specialist Palliative Care Services across West Cheshire and Deeside.
• Have line management responsibility for a group of health care assistants.
• Respond to Out of Hours queries via the Hospice Advice Line once identified as competent.

and will be able to:

• Demonstrate clear organisational, time management, personal and professional resilience and leadership skills.
• Demonstrate their passion to promote comfort, dignity, independence and patient choice.
• Use own initiative and work well under pressure.
• Demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities which are integral to the delivery of holistic specialist palliative care.

Working for the organisation

You will be joining a friendly and welcoming team with a collective aim of positively enhancing the lives of the individuals in their care. There will be support and guidance for the right individual through a specific induction programme in order to develop their knowledge and understanding of supporting patients with an advanced life limiting illness. You’ll receive a raft of benefits and support, including:

Continuation of NHS annual leave and sickness benefits if currently employed in the NHS. For those not currently employed in the NHS annual leave and sickness benefits will be in line with Agenda For Change practice.

Continuation of the NHS Pension Scheme for existing members or join the hospice pension scheme.

Excellent learning and development opportunities, including preceptorship, induction and development.

Broad range of in-house education and support to attend external training.

A staff support programme including clinical supervision, confidential counselling and occupational health services.

Want some more information before making your decision?  We would welcome the opportunity for informal discussion with you prior to your application, please contact Debbie Evans, Ward Manager or Liz Taylor, Director of Clinical Services on 01244 851091

We will also be running some open events where further information about the nursing roles in IPU will be available, along with the opportunity to look around the hospice. If you are unable to attend on these  dates  To help with planning please email sarah.willis@hospicegs.com  to book a place if you plan to attend.

Open Events at the Hospice of The Good Shepherd, Gordon Lane, Backford, Chester, CH2 4DG 

Wednesday 15^th March @ 5.30pm

Tuesday 21^st March @5.30pm