JERSEY HOSPICE CARE
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Lead Specialist Nurse
REPORTS TO:
Chief Executive
HOURS:
Full time – 37.5 hours per week
Purpose of the job
Within an independent charity, the lead specialist nurse will provide leadership, vision, inspiration,
and operational management to all clinical areas of Jersey Hospice Care. The post holder will provide
specialist evidence-based advice and guidance to the multi-disciplinary team and contribute to the
delivery of a client-based service while demonstrating a high degree of personal and professional
autonomy. This post will also support staff and volunteers across all clinical areas within Jersey
Hospice Care.
The success of Jersey Hospice Care depends on many things; central to the organisations values is
the recognition that it relies on the support of the public for its funding and that the support of
volunteers is crucial. Accordingly the Lead Nurse will nurture and develop these core values.
Key Accountabilities:
Professional Leadership

Demonstrate a clear vision and operational leadership to all clinical teams. Ensure that
through effective supportive management and robust organisational structures, teams are
focussed on being both effective and efficient and delivering excellent patient care, in line
with Hospice philosophy, policies, culture and goals.

In conjunction with the Trustees and Chief Executive, contribute to the process for
determining the strategic direction of the Hospice and through development and cascade of
strategy and business plans, ensure delivery of key objectives, considering both internal and
external influences.

As a key member of the multi-disciplinary team, exercise leadership to support and inspire
colleagues and provide expert advice and guidance to the multi-disciplinary team, employing
change management skills as appropriate. Promote flexible working practices and multidisciplinary team working and maximise team ability, leading by example.

Give advice and guidance to clinical staff at all levels, making and influencing clinical
decisions.

The strategic nature of the post will require ongoing discussion, consultation and feedback
between different groups and the post holder. Information will often be complex and
multifaceted (in both volume and content) as it is focussed on the strategic and delivery
level of palliative care provision. Patients will also be included in this process therefore it is
essential to ensure that they are supported to make their contribution.

Reports to the CEO and will work closely with the Associate Specialist – Palliative Care,
guided by organisational, statutory and occupational policies/regulations.

In partnership with other service providers, contribute to the development of Island-wide
end of life care provision/strategies and all aspects of palliative care practice.

May be expected to carry 24 hour responsibility for the service areas, and may be contacted
out-of-hours to take high risk clinical or managerial decisions.

Act as the Registered Manager for Jersey Hospice Care comply with regulations in
accordance with the Hospice policy and the requirements of the Registration / Inspection
Department of Jersey’s Public Health Department.

Will advise the Chief Executive and Trustees of changes to legislation and recommend
appropriate actions including policy or operational changes required. Implementing these
effectively to maintain compliance and meet Hospice objectives.

Value the contribution of volunteers and contribute to the recruitment of appropriate
volunteers which will include support frameworks and appropriate training in order to
achieve service delivery.

Recognising that public support is critical to promoting and enhancing the positive profile of
Jersey Hospice Care throughout the local community, act as an ambassador within the island
and supporting the income generation activities of the charity.

Ensure the Hospice philosophy and culture is integral both internally and externally in order
to establish good public relations and maintain the charity’s standing within the community.
Clinical Responsibilities & Nursing Practice

Ensure Jersey Hospice Care continues to provide the highest standard of holistic patientcentred care, and that the needs of patients and families remain integral to the work of the
Hospice.

Deliver a client-based service demonstrating a high degree of personal and professional
autonomy and provide support and advice for individual patients and carers through all
aspects of a care plan, providing a ready means of access and advice.

As lead specialist nurse, duties will include significant contribution to the assessment,
planning, implementation and delivery of high quality palliative care. The post holder will be
directly available to all patients and family as required. Participating as needed and
supervising all levels of care.

Promote a culture of evidence-based practice by contributing to developing and maintaining
measurable metrics, protocols, documentation, systems, key performance indicators,
standards, policies and guidelines consistent with the requirements of Clinical Governance
against key organisational and national standards.

Develop and participate in the Hospice’s Clinical Governance Strategy.

Show a keen appreciation of national and international standards and ensure all policies and
supporting documents are developed, recorded and evaluated in line with local practice and
benchmarked against accepted best practice.

Work at the forefront of practice innovation to enhance nursing practice and will challenge
professional and organisational boundaries in the interest of patients.

Ensure all principles of cross-infection prevention and control are embedded within each
departmental area. Demonstrate effective infection prevention and challenge practice.

Ensure that all clinical complaints are dealt with sensitively and appropriately by staff, in
accordance with Jersey Hospice Care policy.

The post holder will keep fully up-to-date in developments within specialist palliative care
and maintain an awareness of developments in clinical and nursing practice generally and
share clinical knowledge and experience in order to improve nursing care, acting as a role
model for professional practice and updating and developing policies and procedures.

The post holder operates in an environment where there is no resident medical officer or
doctor. Explicit in the model of care is engagement with the Associate Specialist in Palliative
Care, General Practitioners, hospital Consultants and other key members of the multiprofessional team.

Create and maintain effective networks that are capable of facilitating complex crossboundary and inter-agency working in order to promote best practice in palliative and end of
life care services.

Maintain a professional portfolio which demonstrates the continuing acquisition of skills,
knowledge, attitudes, etc.

Ensure compliance with legislation and regulatory bodies, including the Nursing and
Midwifery Council (NMC), the Registration and Inspection Department of Jersey’s Public
Health Department and relevant key national bodies.

Ensure clinical activity data and quality information is readily available and is used effectively
to inform decisions.

Provide effective monitoring and audit processes, to ensure that service provision is
evaluated and developed to reflect changing demands. Ensure an effective audit calendar is
maintained with all areas of service demonstrating their standards of care through this work.
Review research proposals and new initiatives as presented and agree appropriate
participation.
Resource Management

Line management of seven functions (Community Bereavement Service, Community Team,
Complementary Therapy, Day Hospice, Education Coordinator, In-Patient Unit and
Therapies) including relevant Team Leaders and a total of approximately 45 staff. As a senior
manager, take overall responsibility for staff issues in these areas and manage them in a fair
and consistent manner, whilst ensuring that clinical Team Leaders are supported and
managed on a day-to-day basis.

Ensure that through support and appropriate delegation staff are continually empowered to
deliver optimal practice, education and quality outcomes. Ensure that all team members
understand the service objectives and their roles and responsibilities in achieving these.

The post holder will influence how resources are used to meet identified need. Area of
influence extends to all nurses, caring for patients in whatever setting, nurse leaders and
managers, allied health professionals.

Workload will be mainly self-generated; therefore the post holder will be expected to
exercise their own discretion on how to conduct the vast majority of the job, and to seek line
management support as required.

Contribute to the development of overall HR policies and practices within Jersey Hospice
Care.

The post holder will be responsible for the recruitment and retention of suitably qualified
clinical staff, ensuring an appropriate skills mix that supports organisational objectives.

Champion the on-going development of individuals and teams to ensure their potential is
realised.

Nurture in staff the skills and competencies necessary to deliver the nursing services of
Jersey Hospice Care, providing appropriate target setting, performance appraisal, career
development and supported training opportunities for individuals. Assist with the
development and implementation of a training and development plan for the organisation
and individuals.

Motivate staff and improve performance by addressing performance issues. Ensure that all
staff have an up-to-date personal development plan.

The post holder will facilitate and deliver specialist education and training initiatives to staff,
both internally and externally, to ensure that practice is contemporary and encompasses the
Hospice ethos.

The post holder will oversee, monitor and mange the devolved budgets of all clinical areas
within the organisation ensuring cost effective and efficient use of resources by applying
sound resource management principles. This will involve budget setting, budget monitoring
and budget re-alignment. The post holder will create a "value for money" culture which
encourages self-sufficiency and flexibility of working practices to provide the most cost
effective deployment of staff matching skill mix to service needs.

The post holder will balance clinical/educational responsibilities to maintain professional
competence and sustain the authority of professional expertise, adopting a management
style and structure that proves to be effective in performing both aspects of the role.
The above does not purport to be an exhaustive list of duties but is intended to indicate the range
and type of duties required. The duties of the post may alter to reflect changing practices within the
service.
Employee Specification
1
Professional Leadership

As the Registered Manager of JHC, the post holder will have experience of taking
organisational responsibility for the standard of all patient services.

As a key member of the MDT and the Clinical Forum the ability to think strategically and
provide vision in the development of palliative care services at Jersey Hospice Care and
Island-wide is essential. Ability to contribute to the development of strategic plans for all
areas, typically planning three years ahead. Develop and lead on major nursing and social
care developments.

Highly developed and proven organisational and leadership skills and evidence of leadership
development.
2
Nursing Practice

A Registered Nurse who can demonstrate an applied understanding of the NMC Code
(2008).

Experience in a Senior Nurse Management role with responsibility for supporting and
developing senior nursing practitioners and line managers.

Expert practitioner in palliative care with a specialist qualification in palliative care and be
educated (or working towards) a minimum of Masters level.

Proven management capabilities and hold a recognised management qualification.

Expert clinical practice with a minimum of six years proven track record within specialist
palliative care in a variety of settings.

The post holder will maintain a professional portfolio that demonstrates the continuing
acquisition of skills, knowledge, attitudes, understanding and achievement.

Evidence of actively participating in clinical supervision.

Evidence of leading educational developments plus a relevant teaching qualification.

Knowledge and understanding of local and wider approaches to the provision of palliative
care with experience in cancer or specialist palliative care.
3
Communication and Relationship Skills

Must be an excellent communicator, able to effectively represent and promote Jersey
Hospice Care in the wider community.

Strong interpersonal skills to engage and influence others, motivate staff, resolve conflict
and communicate with a wide range of people.

Ability to work across agency and organisational boundaries and to work in partnership.

The post holder is expected to anticipate problems and needs and resolve these in a
proactive, independent manner.

Proven experience of providing high levels of support to individuals and teams involved in
complex and highly distressing work. Able to manage staff in a stressful and changing
environment.

Ability to take, communicate and implement challenging decisions.

Able to deal with challenging negotiations or discussions in a firm but empathetic and
principled manner.

Negotiating and influencing skills are also required to manage change effectively and to put
forward the nursing viewpoint to the multi-professional team.

Teaching and presentation skills are necessary to assist with staff development and be
confident in speaking to large groups of people.
4
Personal Competencies & Skills

Energetic and charismatic, whilst displaying honesty, integrity and a strong sense of ethics.

Personal commitment to Jersey Hospice Care values and organisational excellence.

Resilient, able to remain calm, supportive and positive in times of stress and change. Ability
to prioritise and multi-task and juggle a number of responsibilities simultaneously.

The post holder will be able to lead change and posses demonstrable critical analysis skills.
The role holder will be able to translate research into practice, whilst creating and
maintaining a culture that uses clinical governance, audit and research to improve patient
outcomes and promote best practice.

Good understanding of Human Resource practices and procedures and their practical
application in a health care setting.

Understanding of the requirement to work hours flexibly to meet business needs and to
encourage this ethos within the clinical team.

IT literate with good written communication skills and experience of developing patient care
policies, clinical standards and protocols.

Sound judgement and decision making skills involving a range of complex or conflicting
issues.

Developing and managing significant budgets for all areas of responsibility in conjunction
with Team Leaders.

Car driver with a full, clean driving licence.
JERSEY HOSPICE CARE - BACKGROUND
Jersey Hospice Care is a charitable organisation that provides specialist palliative nursing and holistic
care, free of charge, for cancer and motor neurone disease patients. The charity is governed by a
Council of Trustees. We are committed to providing a professional service of the highest standard to
all those entrusted to our care. We aim to enable patients to live the remainder of their lives to the
full, to remain at home if they wish and to die with dignity where they choose. The charity covers a
range of services and activities as follows:
Hospice Community Team – Patients are referred to Jersey Hospice Care with the agreement of
their GP. Our Community Sisters are the first point of contact patients and families have with Jersey
Hospice Care. We, work in the community with patients and their families, providing a 24-hour oncall service.
Day Hospice - patients attending Day Hospice have their nursing / medical needs assessed by the
multidisciplinary team of nurses, physios and complementary therapists. It also provides the
opportunity for social interaction and a welcome respite for families.
In-Patient Unit (IPU) - the IPU comprises twelve single en-suite bedrooms. The IPU is staffed by
qualified nurses and auxiliary nurses experienced in pain and symptom management and end of life
care.
Therapeutic Care - Jersey Hospice Care offers a comprehensive range of therapies and
complementary therapies provided by skilled practitioners, which are available in patients’ homes,
the IPU, Day Hospice and Bereavement Service.
Community Bereavement Service - the Community Bereavement Service is available to anyone in
the community who has suffered a loss, regardless of the nature of the bereavement. This service
aims to offer help and support to those who have lost a relative or friend, and are having difficulty
coming to terms with the bereavement. The service is managed by staff with the help of trained
volunteers.
Retail - there are two Jersey Hospice Care shops; a town shop in St Helier and a country shop in St
Ouen, both now incorporated into a subsidiary trading company. The shops are important sources of
fundraising, as well as providing a vital contact with the Island community.
Fundraising - the fundraising team is responsible for the many and varied fundraising activities that
are crucially important to the financial stability of the charity. This function has now been
incorporated into a trading subsidiary of JHC.
Volunteers - Jersey Hospice Care depends on the generous support of a large body of volunteers
who assist in a wide range of roles across all areas of the charity. These include helping in the Day
Hospice, In Patient Unit, Community Bereavement Service, fundraising, gardening, etc.
Administration and Support Services - a small team of staff are responsible for the administration,
accounts management, housekeeping and catering services that are vital to the smooth running of
the charity. The administration team are typically the first point of call for those ringing or calling at
Clarkson House.
Review
This job description was last reviewed in December 2012.