Band 7 Palliative Care CNS

at  Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The post holder will work as part of the wider specialist palliative care team and be responsible for providing specialist/complex advice and support to all members of the multi-professional team in the care of patients with a life limiting illness who are experiencing symptoms that require specialist palliative care. Provide an effective and supportive service by giving specialist advice to our patients and those important to them about the disease process, treatment interventions and symptom management. Manage and prioritise a caseload independently.
It is essential that the post holder be a competent and confident practitioner in order to participate in the on-going seven-day face-to-face palliative care service.
The post holder will be encouraged to take part in wider Northwest London, Pan London and National palliative care strategic planning to provide a seamless integrated pathway for our patient group and those important to them.
An essential part of the role will be to recognise, contribute and participate in the Trusts wider End of life care ambitions and take an active role in the on-going education programme and strategic objectives.
The post holder will demonstrate leadership and role modelling skills, and feel confident to challenge any practice that is not evidence based and that may compromise patient care in a constructive and educational way.
The Palliative Care team at West Middlesex University Hospital currently has a mixture of Band 7 and Band 6 nurse specialists, a part time occupational therapist and a team administrator who all work very closely with two excellent Consultants in Palliative Medicine. You will find all of the team to be flexible, approachable and welcoming. All members of the team are committed to delivering the highest quality care and are compassionate and driven.
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England’s top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us ‘Good’ in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and ’Outstanding’ in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.
The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Key responsibilities
Using advanced clinical judgement and skills to provide advice and support for patients with a life limiting illness, recommending a concise and evidence based management plan.
Actively participate as a member of the Specialist Palliative Care MDT and represent specialist palliative care services at cancer-site specific MDTs, and Ward based MDT’s
Manage an agreed caseload.
Triage and manage referrals effectively from members of the multi-professional team in a clear and equitable way, to ensure that specialist palliative care is accessible and prioritised according to need.
Participate in the on-going seven-day face-to-face specialist palliative care service.
Work autonomously and organise caseload ensuring it reflects the core components of the CNS role.
Provide leadership and role modelling that highlights and improves awareness of specialist palliative care and end of life care throughout the hospital.
Participate, engage and contribute to the Trust’s EOL Care strategy.
Uphold the core values of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Trust at all times by demonstrating professionalism, leadership, and effective clinical judgement and decision-making skills.
Support a working environment that is conducive to learning and promotes team opportunities that facilitates personal and professional growth for all.
Recognise the wider Trust objectives, and demands of staff working in other areas of care whilst carrying out your role.
Recognise that a Band 7 is seen as a senior nurse within the organisation and with this comes responsibility to support, lead and role model for more junior colleagues in all areas of the Trust
See attached Job description for further breakdown of all key responsibilities and essential criteria for post

Please refer the Job description for details