Lead Nurse for Specialist Palliative Care - South

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties

To be responsible for the operational and strategic planning of an integrated service for specialist palliative care at a county-wide level together with other providers, the General Manager and the Clinical Director for End of Life Care.

 Lead workforce planning for the specialist palliative care team and ensure this aligns to Out of Hospital and corporate workforce planning processes.

Develop and integrate new roles within a care pathway context with appropriate underpinning systems

Lead in the development and provision of specialist palliative care education and training both within the Specialist Palliative Care Teams as well as participating in education planning across providers within the locality.

Develop and implement outcome framework for specialist palliative care team using validated outcome measures such as Outcome Assessment Complexity Collaborative (OACC). 

Develop and support reflective practice and learning in all its forms with staff.

Represent palliative care in appropriate task or working groups and strategic forums. 

Ensure service developments incorporate user views and involvement (in Partnerships). Take a proactive approach at listening to service user views and those of bereaved relatives and use this information to drive continual quality improvements. 

 Proactively benchmark the service with others regionally and nationally to ensure our service provides the best possible care and learns from others. 

Co-ordinate and influence research and development agenda for specialist palliative care within the Trust. 

 In conjunction with the General Manager, support the development of Business plans for services and implement changes to meet the strategic objectives of the Trust business plans, national and local policies and public health needs of the local population, taking the designated lead where required.

In consultation with relevant others (staff, HR Team and Finance Department) lead and develop clear plans for the recruitment, deployment and management of people.

Liaise and inform both the General Manager and ACNO regarding implications of resource decisions for the service.

 Participate within the disciplinary process where appropriate and in accordance with Trust policies.

 Undertake investigations to deal with complaints and Serious Untoward Incidents as per Trust policies as they arise throughout the Out of Hospital Collaborative division.

Measurable Result Areas:

 Ensure a consistent approach to the use and provision of financial, quality and statistical data to drive quality improvement.

 Proactively manage the most efficient use of resources to ensure efficient budget management. Maintain robust links with the Finance and Performance departments to deliver key financial and business related targets.

 Hold delegated budget responsibility for specialist palliative care budgets, liaising closely with the General Manager to develop appropriate strategies to achieve financial balance.

In conjunction with the General Manager, develop, implement and monitor quality, safety and performance outcomes.

 In conjunction with the General Manager, play a key role in the continued development of the services in line with national policy, taking the designated lead where required.

 Ensure Commissioning Quality and Innovation standards outcomes are met and reported on in a timely fashion.

 Responsible for the implementation of good systems for corporate and clinical governance to ensure the service can demonstrate it meets all the CQC domains.

 Use change management and development tools (such as process mapping and re-design methodologies) to support modernisation of the service.

 Report progress against key performance targets on a weekly and monthly basis, proactively identifying problems and developing solutions in conjunction with the General Manager.

 Participate in service performance ensuring that all KPIs are achieved.

 Gather, analyse, interpret and present extensive and complex data and information to continually question and drive quality improvements.

 Undertake clinical audits, patient questionnaires and collate and compile the results. This also requires interpretation and dissemination of the findings.

 Identify appropriate and valid sources which can provide data and information of sufficient quality and quantity to ensure the service can demonstrate how it provides safe, effective, caring and responsive and well led care to the population of Warwickshire.

Communications and Working Relationships:

 Translate the Out Of Hospital Vision and strategic direction of South Warwickshire Foundation Trust into the service objectives and plans.

·       Responsible for providing clear information on identified operational and quality performance targets (national & local), identifying problems and recognising solutions in conjunction with the General Manager. 

·       Support the development of clear communication channels to support sound clinical practice and strong working relationships.

·       Ensure all staff are aware, understand and are performing against the key performance indicators targets and Trust objectives.

·       Keep abreast of system wide Health and Care innovations and developments and other internal and external influences. Use this to proactively inform service delivery and service development.

·       Lead on service evaluations, reviews and reconfiguration, this may impact on service delivery or employment

·       Present to the public and statutory bodies on issues such as reconfiguration of service delivery.

·       Ensure staff utilise the links to local neighbourhood schemes and initiatives, including the Voluntary and Independent Sector, and to other community services delivered on an area basis.

·       Provide leadership to support and inspire colleagues to develop innovative practice and continually improve the quality of care provision. 

·       Develop positive and collaborative working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders and colleagues.

·       Assist all stakeholders in establishing clear lines of communication with all multi-disciplinary groups. Establish a forum to facilitate the cascade and exchange of evidence based practice.

·       Proactively engage with relevant stakeholders such as GP leads and practices, Warwickshire County Council, Age UK, Community teams and acute hospitals

·       Act as a professional and clinical role model.

·       Undertake clinical rounds as appropriate.

·       Ensure staff attends relevant development events to maintain and develop required skills to meet competencies.

·       Ensure staff are appropriately supervised and appraised in line with relevant policies and that the appropriate developmental opportunities are provided to staff.

·       Ensure robust performance management systems are implemented and underpin the performance of all teams, undertaking performance monitoring and reviews of staff where appropriate.

·       Ensure sickness absence targets are met and that sickness absence is monitored and managed according to SWFT policy.

·       Ensure individuals within teams are aware of and work within SWFT policies and procedures.

·       Take a lead role in developing and implementing local induction processes for all local staff, ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are in place for health & safety, fire training, manual handling and other statutory and/or clinical governance training.

·       Undertaking any projects that may be delegated by the General manager

·       Such other duties as are within the spirit of the job purpose, the title of the post and it’s grading.