B7 Cns Specialist Palliative Care

Job summary

The Community Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Specialist Palliative Care provides expert advice, assessment and support for patients with advanced, progressive and life-limiting illnesses in the community. The postholder works autonomously within a specialist multidisciplinary team and closely with the Consultant in Palliative Medicine to support complex clinical situations. The role is primarily advisory and includes specialist assessment, complex symptom management, advance and end-of-life care planning, education and care coordination.

As part of the specialist palliative care multidisciplinary team, the CNS provides expert clinical assessment, advice, education and care coordination. The postholder works closely with GPs, community nurses, hospices, hospitals, social care and other professionals to support personalised and responsive care.

The post will be based with the Community CNS Specialist Palliative Care Team in the west of the county. While the primary base is in the west, the postholder will be expected to work across the whole service as required to meet service needs, supporting colleagues and patients across other areas and ensuring continuity and equitable access to specialist palliative care.

Main duties of the job

Provide specialist nursing assessment, advice and support for patients with complex palliative and end-of-life needs, working with families and the multidisciplinary team.

• Undertake holistic assessments and develop individualised care plans.
• Provide specialist advice on symptom management, including pain, breathlessness, nausea, anxiety and agitation.
• Support advance care planning, treatment escalation and care preference discussions.
• Provide specialist advice during the last days and hours of life.
• Support community teams to enable patients to remain at home where appropriate.
• Recognise deterioration and ensure appropriate escalation.
• Act as an expert resource for community teams, GPs, care homes, patients and carers.
• Work with hospices, hospitals, primary care, social services and voluntary organisations to promote continuity of care.
• Advocate for patients and families, respecting their wishes, dignity, privacy and individual needs.
• Maintain accurate and confidential clinical records.
• Contribute to governance, risk management, audit, quality improvement and service development.
• Provide education, supervision and clinical support to healthcare professionals.
• Work with the Consultant in Palliative Medicine and MDT on complex cases and escalation.
• Contribute to operational management, workforce planning and supervision of nursing staff.
• Maintain professional competence and continuing professional development

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Details

Date posted: 04 September 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year Per Annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 262-A-

Job locations: Workington Hospital, Park Lane, Workington, CA14 2RW, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION: Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information. This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.

Disclosure and Barring Service

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

• 27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• Flexible working Scheme
• NHS Discounts*
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*
• Excellent opportunities for development*
• Competitive NHS Pension scheme
• Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems
• *Subject to eligibility

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Adult Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration
• Postgraduate qualification in Specialist Palliative Care (Postgraduate Certificate or equivalent) or willingness to undertake within an agreed timeframe.
• Degree in Nursing or a health-related subject, or equivalent level of knowledge and experience.
• Advanced communication skills training.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to specialist palliative and end of life care.
• Practice Assessor/Supervisor qualification (or willingness to achieve in line with NMC requirements).

Desirable

• Independent and Supplementary Non-Medical Prescribing Qualification (V300).
• Advanced Clinical Assessment qualification.
• Leadership or Management qualification.
• Teaching or Education qualification.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Advanced knowledge of pain and complex symptom assessment and management.
• Knowledge of national policy, guidance and standards relating to palliative and end of life care, including NICE guidance, the Ambitions Framework for Palliative and End of Life Care and CQC standards.
• Extensive knowledge of specialist palliative and end of life care.
• Knowledge of advance care planning, treatment escalation planning and end of life decision-making.
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and mental capacity legislation.
• Knowledge of clinical governance, quality improvement and risk management.
• Understanding of audit and service evaluation methodologies.
• Knowledge of multidisciplinary and multi-agency working across health and social care.
• Significant post-registration experience.
• Substantial experience working within specialist palliative and end of life care.
• Experience of managing patients with complex palliative care needs.
• Experience of working autonomously and making complex clinical decisions.
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working across organisational boundaries.
• Experience of teaching and supporting the learning and development of healthcare professionals.
• Experience of clinical supervision, mentorship or supporting staff development.
• Experience of participating in audit, service evaluation or quality improvement projects.

Desirable

• Experience of line management or day-to-day supervision of staff
• Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of change management principles.
• Understanding of NHS operational and performance frameworks.
• Experience of service development or implementing change.
• Experience of Non-Medical Prescribing.
• Experience of working across acute, community and hospice settings.

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to undertake sensitive and complex conversations.
• Highly developed assessment, clinical reasoning and decision-making skills
• Ability to manage a complex and unpredictable clinical workload.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands and work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates compassionate, inclusive and collaborative leadership.
• Ability to influence and support practice across professional groups.
• Effective organisational and time management skills.
• Competent in the use of electronic patient records and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex clinical information to support decision-making.
• Commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous quality improvement.

Desirable

• Demonstrates the Trust's values and behaviours.
• Compassionate, caring and patient-centred.
• Professional, approachable and resilient
• Flexible and adaptable to meet service needs.
• Motivated with a commitment to lifelong learning.
• Able to work effectively in emotionally demanding situations.
• Acts with integrity, accountability and professionalism.
• Committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

Other Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel across Trust sites and community settings as required.
• Flexible approach to working hours to meet the needs of the service.
• Satisfactory Occupational Health clearance.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.

Desirable

• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle where required for community working.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Workington Hospital, Park Lane, Workington, CA14 2RW, United Kingdom

Employer's website

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact

Service Manager
Alison Kitson

Supporting documents

Privacy notice

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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