PILGRIMS HOSPICES IN EAST KENT
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Associate Practitioner
Department:
Nursing
Grade:
Band 3
Responsible to: Family Services Manager
Accountable to: Hospice Manager
Terms:
33 days holiday per year including statutory bank holidays
General
Employing over 400 staff and supported by more than 1,500 volunteers, Pilgrims Hospices is one of
the largest hospices in the UK.
Pilgrims provides palliative care for adults with a range of illnesses that cannot be cured including
cancer, heart failure, respiratory conditions and neurological diseases. Care is provided from the three
sites in Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet, in patients' homes and via community programmes. Care is
also extended to families and carers. Pilgrims well-resourced multidisciplinary team includes
consultants, nurses, counsellors, social workers, complementary therapists and chaplains, with
support from other dedicated therapy staff.
To keep delivering care to those who need it most, Pilgrims has to raise in excess of £9 million each
year. The majority of this comes from our local community. Pilgrims Hospices has its own lottery and a
chain of shops in east Kent.
In addition, Pilgrims has a central services team comprising Human Resources, Education, Accounts,
IT, Supporter Services, Fundraising and Marketing.
1.
Job Purpose
To support and care for patients and their families in Pilgrims Day Hospice, who have advanced
progressive disease and life threatening illnesses. Assisting registered nurses and therapists in the
assessment of patients to develop a plan of care which meets the holistic needs of each individual
patient, respecting them as individuals and maintaining privacy and dignity at all times. Working as
part of the multidisciplinary team implements plans of care, setting goals, delivering programmes and
monitoring and modifying care plans in order to help our patients and families to maintain optimum
quality of life.
2.
Job Dimensions
The Associate Practitioner Nursing and supportive Therapies is an integral part of the palliative care
team. The post holder will provide elements of planned care and packages of education to our patients
and their carers. This role plays an essential part in our services providing a supportive and ongoing
monitoring role for our community and ward patients.
3.
Nature and scope of the role
He/she will develop a supportive role supervised by the Family Services Manager as part of the
services provided on behalf of Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent and play a part raising the profile of the
Charity locally and nationally.
It is expected that the post holder will be recognised as an essential part of the clinical team providing
care and support in the hospice.
4.
Principal accountabilities and responsibilities
Clinical and professional
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Work with patients and their families predominantly in the day hospice, and outpatient setting to
deliver aspects of a plan of palliative care.
Deliver activity programmes for day hospice in partnership with volunteer staff and others.
Continuously assess patients to modify care plans, tailoring to the changing needs of the patient
and family to ensure care needs are met and making recommendations for future patient
management to the Clinical Nurse Specialist and related health practitioners.
To conduct small group activities, including simple physical therapies, relaxation techniques,
diversional and rehabilitative therapies.
To provide assistance with aspects of physical nursing care where needed including assisting
with the changing of simple dressings and medication administration.
To identify and provide within the level of competency, psychological support to patients and
carers; referring onto multi disciplinary colleagues where required.
To recognise and report any changes in the psychological and spiritual needs of patients.
To develop a knowledge of local health and social care resources of benefit to patients and
carers.
To maintain clear and accurate contemporaneous notes within patient held notes in the home
and via the electronic patient management system in place within the Hospice.
To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team supporting the team and individual patient goals,
demonstrating a flexible and adaptable approach.
Support the appropriate use of public health and health promotion activities within the service.
Alert healthcare professional in response to a crisis or problem arising with a patient or family.
Review and discuss care plans with registered staff to ensure continual quality improvement for
patients and carers.
Demonstrate understanding and clinical skills when undertaking the assessment of patients and
applying process’s in delivering care.
To support the service by undertaking administrative duties including audit and participate in
research which will ensure progressive service development for patients and carers.
Applies a range of interpersonal skills in response to the different needs of patients, using
listening skills and adapting communication to build a rapport with patients and families.
Takes decisive and remedial action when faced with a complex and demanding situation to
ensure safety of patients and families and communicates these actions with appropriate health
professionals to ensure continued management of patients.
Supports the team through data collection and participation in audit to develop ideas and
practice.
Maintains professional development, participating in education, mandatory training and works
effectively to meet personal development plan objectives and knowledge and skills as set out
within the competency framework.
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Contribute to providing an effective learning environment for students of all disciplines who are on
placement at Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent.
Understands and acts in accordance with Hospice, local and national policies, standards and
guidelines including NICE guidance.
Plans own work to make most effective use of time.
5.
Measures of Success
1.
Listens and maintains communication with colleagues, patients/clients and others.
2.
Completes written documents to support patient care or work activities.
3.
Provides response appropriately to complaints
6.
Communications & Relationships
External
Community Nursing Teams
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Internal
Practice Educator Clinical lecturer
Fundraising Manager and fundraising team
AHP Colleagues
Ward Sister
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To communicate appropriately with all members of the multidisciplinary team, other colleagues,
patients, relatives and visitors to the ward. Displaying a friendly and approachable manner at all
times
Uses verbal and listening skills to effectively and appropriately communicate with patients from
diverse backgrounds including different cultures. As well as patients who exhibit challenging
behaviour, sensory loss and other difficulties with communication
To understand the physical and mental health needs of older people who have complex and
multiple health issues
To involve patients in all care and provide choices whenever possible to help patients maintain
optimum independence and a sense of self control
To ensure any queries raised by patients, families and visitors are responded to in a friendly and
sensitive way and directed to the appropriate professional if you are unable to address the
question or resolve the issue yourself, whilst maintaining patients confidentiality and privacy at all
times
Communicates effectively ensuring the relay to the appropriate professional any concerns or
wishes expressed by the patient
Use ways and tools that allows you to create the necessary time needed to understand the
patients’ needs especially where barriers to communication exist. Such barriers may be sensory
loss, cognitive loss, language barriers, challenging behaviour or combinations of all the above
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7.
General Statements
Corporate Governance
The postholder must, at all times, act honestly and openly and comply with relevant corporate
governance requirements, employment legislation and standards of business conduct.
Health and Safety
Under the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974), it is the responsibility of the postholder at every level
to take care of his/her own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by his/her acts
at work.
Code of Conduct
The postholder is required to observe the following principles:
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Make the care and safety of patients his/her first concern and act to protect them from risk
Respect the public, patients, relative, carers, staff and partners
Be honest and act with integrity
Accept responsibility for his/her own work and the performance of the people the postholder
manages
Show commitment to working as a team member by working effectively with team members
and the wider community
Take responsibility for own learning and development
In all actions undertaken have regard for the hospice reputation
Flexibility
The postholder is expected to work flexibly to be able to meet the challenges and opportunities of
working within Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent.
Other
Post holders are expected to be familiar with and comply with the policies and procedures published
by Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent. This job description is a reflection of the current position and the
postholder is expected to view it as a guide rather than an exact description of all duties and
responsibilities. It may be subject to variation from time to time.
The Job Description is not exhaustive. The Post holder will be required to undertake any other
duties that may be required by the Line Manager, commensurate with the level of the post.
JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT –
I have read this job description and understand their contents in relationship to my day-to-day duties.
Jobholder’s name (Please print)………………………………………………………………
Jobholder’s signature:……………………………………………. Date……………………..
Revised December 2012.
Person Specification
Associate Practitioner Nursing and Supportive Therapies
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Recent experience working in a
relevant health or social care
environment
Experience of working in
Specialist Palliative Care
Experience of leading a
small group in activities
Experience of working in a
multidisciplinary team.
Qualifications
NVQ level 2 in diagnostic and
therapeutic support or health and
social care
Willing to work towards
NVQ level 3 health &
social care and related
courses in health and
therapies.
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Communication skills and fluency in
English
Multi agency
communications and
Multi disciplinary
communications
Understanding of the principles and
role of a community service.
Understanding of the principles of
palliative care
Effective IT skills
Motivational skills both for self and
others
Capable of working unsupervised,
able to plan and prioritise work
activities
Personal attributes
Empathy with Palliative Care setting
Commitment to equal opportunities
Ability to think laterally and support
flexible working and problem solving
Ability to liaise and work effectively
with others
Enthusiastic team player
Personal Circumstances
Ability to manage time, self and own
workload
Assessed By