Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Band 6 Clinical Nurse Specialist within the Supportive and Palliative Care Team at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

As part of a dynamic team, you will provide expert supportive and palliative care to patients with complex needs across a range of clinical settings, supporting patients and those important to them throughout their healthcare journey. You will work autonomously whilst collaborating closely with the multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, person-centred care.

The Supportive and Palliative Care Team plays a key role in helping patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Through proactive assessment, early specialist input and participation in clinical decision-making, our team supports timely discharge planning, helps avoid unnecessary delays in care, and promotes the best possible outcomes and experiences for patients and families. This directly contributes to UHS transformation priorities including getting people home sooner, ensuring patients are seen in the right place as early as possible, and supporting an engaged and motivated workforce.

The post holder will report to the Lead Nurse for the Supportive and Palliative Care Team and work closely with consultants, CNS colleagues, ward teams, community services and external healthcare partners to deliver seamless care across organisational boundaries.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

 We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

 Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

 We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

In this role, your key responsibilities will include:

Providing specialist assessment, advice and personalised care planning for patients with palliative and supportive care needs across the Trust.
Coordinating care and ensuring effective communication between patients, families and the multidisciplinary team.
Supporting decision-making and advance care planning to help patients receive care that aligns with their goals and preferences.
Working collaboratively with hospital, community and primary care services to facilitate smooth transitions of care, minimise delays and support timely discharge whenever appropriate.
Providing education and support to healthcare professionals to enhance knowledge and promote high-quality palliative and end-of-life care across the organisation.
Contributing to service development and quality improvement initiatives to continually improve patient care and service delivery.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide sensitive and complex information, build therapeutic relationships and support patients and families during challenging situations
Strong clinical assessment and prioritisation skills, with the ability to work autonomously and manage a varied caseload of patients.
A commitment to professional development, evidence-based practice.

You will be supported to develop your skills as a CNS through a programme of competencies with support from colleagues and clinical supervision.

The service operates seven days a week, 365 days a year.