JOB DESCRIPTION
ONCALL COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CARE NURSE
Reporting to:
Palliative Care Community Team Leader
Employment Status:
On call
Date Prepared:
11 April 2014
POSITION PURPOSE
To work under the delegation and direction of the Palliative Care Coordinators to cover
leave. The on call community palliative care nurse will work closely with the Mary
Potter community team and external health partners to ensure that the continuum of
care for the person and family can be delivered across multiple sites using collaborative
planning and implementation with a range of health care providers. Central to the
delivery of specialist palliative care provided to patients and their families in the
community is to ensure that care is coordinated in an appropriate and timely manner.
Nursing care is delivered according to the Hospice’s philosophy, Code of Practice, Code
of Rights and Responsibilities and the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’
Rights.
RESPONSIBILITIES
To provide support to Palliative Care Co-ordinators and care for people with a life
limiting disease. This will incorporate multidisciplinary assessment and palliative
care provision.
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Contribute to the assessment of the needs of the patient and family and an up-todate plan of care according to the Assessment and Planning of Care Policy with the
multidisciplinary team.
Facilitate the implementation and evaluation of the plan of care in collaboration
with the Palliative Care Co-ordinator.
Ensure referrals are made to the appropriate agencies and services.
Ensure that all palliative care services delivered to the patient and family are
planned and delivered in consultation with the patient and family and that goals are
set to maximise and maintain patients/families optimal potential.
Ensure informed consent and appropriate knowledge re: Enduring Power of Attorney,
Advanced Directives and Wills is provided to the patient and family according to Mary
Potter Hospice policy.
Ensure understanding of and compliance with Health & Disability Code.
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Ensure that care is delivered with an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and
that the principles of partnership, participation and cultural affirmation are
embedded in care co-ordination practice.
Ensure care is appropriate to the person’s needs and their culture.
To ensure palliative care service provision by providing advice and support to other
health professionals and to the patient and family, with the objective of maximising
their quality of life.
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To liaise and keep informed the other health care providers e.g. General
Practitioner, secondary specialists, oncology district nurses and district nurses
according to the patient’s needs and appropriate for each person.
Ensure shared care partnership principles are recognised when coordinating care for
patients and families
To provide palliative care advice and caring support for patients and carers during
their experience of illness, pre-bereavement and into the bereavement phase.
Ensures that the patient and family have access to information about their condition
and treatment and care options, skills to be self-determining or assist in the care of
the dying person.
Contribute to family meeting(s) to develop an agreed care management or discharge
plan, when complex or competing care issues/needs arise or anticipated.
Identify barriers to accessing necessary services and initiate positive action.
To be an integral and effective team member of the multidisciplinary team in
Porirua, Kapiti and Wellington.
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Attend multidisciplinary team meetings and referral meetings, as required.
To actively participate in discharge planning, as required
To keep the multidisciplinary team informed of changes for patients and families
being managed in the community.
To work with the multidisciplinary team and to make appropriate recommendations
for other palliative care service provision as part of the ongoing assessment of the
patient’s needs.
To undertake areas of responsibility delegated by Palliative Care Team Leader.
To participate in review and in one’s own professional development.
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To undertake relevant for own professional development
Develop own nursing practice, ensuring competency is maintained and advanced.
To contribute to quality improvement issues and ensure the continual development
of a quality palliative care service for Mary Potter Hospice Community services.
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To maintain relevant records and monthly statistics as determined by Mary Potter
Hospice executive management.
Implement required audits and actively participates in the review of policy and
procedures.
Abide by all relevant MPH policies
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Health and Safety
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Practise within Mary Potter Hospice health and safety policies and procedures
outlined in the Health and Safety Policy Manual.
Report all identified hazards, incidents (including near-misses) and accidents to the
Team Leader
Contribute to ensuring that a safe working environment is maintained at all times
Participate in mandatory health and safety training as required
This job description does not intend to cover every detail that may be required within
the role, and the expectation is that any other reasonable requests made by the Team
Manager will be undertaken.
FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Internal
Palliative Care Coordinators
Patients and their families and whanau/significant people
Multidisciplinary team from Mary Potter Hospice localities
Volunteers
External
Community Health Services
Primary Healthcare Services
Secondary / Tertiary Healthcare Services
Other Mary Potter Hospice stakeholders as necessary
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
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Be a Registered General and Obstetric Nurse or Registered Comprehensive Nurse
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The following requirements are sought for this position:
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Have demonstrated experience in Palliative Care
Have community health experience
A minimum of three years full time equivalent post registration clinical experience in
palliative care nursing, generalist palliative care nursing, primary care, or care of the
elderly.
Have a commitment to own educational development
Demonstrate an ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in
writing
Have an ability to work independently and show initiative with accountability for
actions, to think laterally and problem solve
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Demonstrate a commitment to the understanding of the hospice philosophy and have
an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and openness to wider cultural diversity
Have a strong commitment to interdisciplinary team work, influencing
patient/family/whanau focused practice and goal attainment
Have a current driver’s licence
In order to meet the changing needs of Mary Potter Hospice, this job
description may require change from time to time.
Signed: ............................................................ Date: ...............................
(Job Holder)
Signed: ............................................................ Date: ...............................
(Director)
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Job Description Appendix
About Mary Potter Hospice
For over 30 years, Mary Potter Hospice has provided the highest quality specialist
palliative care to people living with terminal illnesses and supported their families.
Care is focused on the Hospice’s philosophy of helping people to make the most of life.
At Mary Potter Hospice our vision is to ensure that people in our community who need
palliative care have access to it when and where they need it. Our care is free. We
support the right of people to die as they live. We will work with them to minimise their
suffering.
The values which form and inform our practice are respect, compassion, dignity,
hospitality and stewardship. They link us to the founding values of the venerable Mary
Potter, for whom the Hospice is named.
In 2012/13, it cost over $9.5 million a year to run the Hospice. Sixty per cent is currently
funded by Government. The Hospice has to fundraise to find the additional 4 million
dollars to be able to deliver the services.
Mary Potter Hospice is proud to be regarded as one of Wellington's most loved and
trusted charities.
As At 2014
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