About the job Main purpose of the job: As a Bluebell Wood nursing associate, you will: provide and ensure a high standard of holistic care to babies, children and young people (children) with life limiting/life threatening conditions. create and provide opportunities for children and young people to experience play, social interaction and learning. deliver child-focused, family centred palliative and end of life care, alongside other members of the interdisciplinary team. To work flexibly between the hospice and community to independently care for children in the most appropriate setting to their needs.
Clinical: Act as an advocate for babies, children and young people, and their families, maintaining professional boundaries. Implement, in conjunction with parents and carers, a plan of care to meet the identified needs of children in your care. Provide emotional and psychological support to children and their family, adjusting to illness, disability, end of life issues and bereavement. Assist in maintaining and developing high standard of care, by awareness of individual needs, following defined nursing care plans and working within related policies and procedures.
Meet the nursing needs of children, whilst promoting comfort and well-being, ensuring their personal and social needs are met. Safely undertake procedures to meet the child’s nursing needs for which you have attained competence, for example recording and interpreting vital signs, continence care, bladder and bowel care, pressure area care, wound care, nutrition, hydration, skin integrity. Deliver complex technical interventions to support children with complex health needs, such as tracheostomy and ventilators, gastrostomy, jejunostomy and suctioning, under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse or allied healthcare professional. Prioritise and manage own workload, recognising where elements of care can safely be delegated to other colleagues.
Support the delivery of palliative and end of life care both in the hospice and at home. Support opportunities for children and young people building memories and experiences. Keep clear, accurate care records, reporting any deterioration, concerns or incidents to the nurse in charge. Provide nursing care and support to children both at home and in the hospice.
To safely administer medicines to children in line with the Bluebell Wood medicines management policy. Maintain confidentiality in all matters relating to children and their families. Work as an assistant in therapeutic activities, group work and life skills with the support and guidance of registered professionals. Education: Maintain and improve your own professional competence by keeping up to date with clinical developments, and by attending in-house and external training sessions.
Assist in the education and practical training of colleagues, students and trainees. Supervise and orientate learners and new staff. Participate in surveys, audit, research and facilitating clinical trials as required. Professional requirements: Comply with the requirements for NMC Revalidation, identifying own learning needs and ensuring own professional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice developments.
Participate in clinical supervision and appraisals. Successfully complete required competences as defined by Bluebell Wood. Governance: To welcome and respect diversity and contribute positively to anti-discriminatory practice, actively promoting equality and diversity. Ensure a consistent approach to all aspects of care delivery by following protocols and prescribed care, recommending changes to advance practice.
Report all incidents/accidents and near misses in line with reporting procedures to facilitate opportunities to advance practice. Actively contribute to employee consultation around policy and procedure development and highlight any areas of concern or suggestions for improvement. This job description is intended as an outline of the areas of activity and can be amended in the light of the changing needs of the service and will be reviewed as necessary in conjunction with the post-holder. All staff: Safeguarding: All hospice staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk, which includes: an understanding of relevant hospice policies ensuring that any safeguarding and child protection or vulnerable adults concerns are both recognised and acted on appropriately attendance at mandatory safeguarding children and adults training and updates at the competency level appropriate to their role and in accordance with the Bluebell Wood safeguarding training guidance.
Confidentiality On appointment you may be given access to confidential information which must only be disclosed to parties entitled to receive it. Information obtained during the course of employment should not be used for any purpose other than that intended. Unauthorised disclosure of information is a disciplinary offence. Equality, diversity and inclusion: At Bluebell Wood, we value and respect difference, where families, visitors, our staff and volunteers can feel welcomed and confident to be themselves.
We ensure this by delivering our values: We value diversity and recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge and insights that will benefit all. We respect the rights of individuals, including the right to hold different views and beliefs. We will not allow these differences to be displayed in a way that is hostile or degrading to others. General requirements: All Bluebell Wood employees are required to: Abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act Work within hospice policies and procedures Demonstrate understanding and application of the provisions of GDPR and information security Comply with the hospice no smoking policy Participate in and contribute to team meetings Cooperate and liaise with colleagues Behave in a professional manner at all times Act as an ambassador for Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice, reflecting the objectives and values, and to always work in the best interests of the charity.
Make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospic

Please refer the Job description for details