Job Introduction
Caring, compassionate, and ready to make a difference at the highest level of clinical practice?
Join our team as an Advanced Clinical Palliative Nurse Specialist and provide expert, person-centred care to patients and families when they need it most. Your advanced knowledge, autonomy, and leadership will help shape outstanding end-of-life care across our community services.
Location: Northampton
Working Pattern: Full-Time, Part-Time, or Bank
Flexible Working: A range of shift patterns to support your work life balance
Shifts:
- 8am – 6pm
- 6pm – 12am
- 12am – 8am
Shifts may include days, evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Competitive Salary: DHU Band 7.0 £46,148 per annum (pro rata) with a 30% evening and a 45% weekend enhancements
What your typical day looks like:
- Acting autonomously as an advanced practitioner, assessing, planning and delivering specialist palliative care.
- Managing a caseload of patients with complex symptoms, including pain, breathlessness, delirium, fatigue and nausea.
- Completing comprehensive clinical histories, targeted physical examinations, differential diagnoses, and personalised management plans.
- Using your expertise as a Non-Medical Prescriber to optimise symptom control and care outcomes.
- Completing and contributing to ReSPECT documentation and patient-centred decision-making.
- Communicating highly complex, sensitive information with patients and families with empathy and clarity.
- Supporting individuals and their loved ones in understanding and preparing for changes in their condition.
- Referring directly to members of the wider multidisciplinary team and interpreting clinical results.
- Leading on patient triage, admission and discharge decisions.
- Providing mentorship, teaching, and clinical leadership to colleagues, junior clinicians and students.
- Contributing to service development, quality improvement, and clinical governance activity.
- Maintaining accurate clinical records in line with DHU Healthcare policies and the NMC Code.
- Participating in audits, professional meetings and multidisciplinary case reviews.
To be a successful Advanced Clinical Palliative Nurse Specialist you’ll need:
Essential:
- Registered Nurse (Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability) with NMC registration
- Qualified Independent Non-Medical Prescriber
- Level 6 or 7 modules in palliative care
- Significant autonomous clinical practice experience within palliative or complex care settings
- Proven ability to take full clinical histories, perform physical assessments and formulate management plans
- Strong understanding of advanced symptom management and end-of-life care principles
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work flexibly, independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- IT skills, including use of clinical systems
- Full UK Driving Licence
Desirable:
- MSc in Palliative Care (or willingness to complete remaining modules)
- Experience using Adastra and SystmOne
- Mentorship or teaching qualification
- Evidence of leadership in service development or audit
What we offer:
Flexible Working Options
Choose from full-time, part-time or bank contracts to suit your needs.
Generous Annual Leave
25 days + 8 bank holidays, increasing with long service (pro rata).
Health Cash Plan
Free Level 1 Health Cash Plan after 6 months plus 24/7 GP access for you and your family.
DHU Hub Access
Discounts, wellbeing resources, health portal and enhanced Employee Assistance Programme.
NHS Pension Scheme
Bring your existing NHS pension and continuous service with you.
Car Lease Scheme
Hybrid and electric vehicle options through NHS Fleet Solutions.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Spread the cost of a new bike interest-free.
Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave
Supporting you at important moments of family life.
Referral Programme
Earn rewards by recommending others to DHU.
Birthday Leave Guarantee
A day for you optional, but always available.
We understand that digital applications may not suit everyone. If you need an alternative method, contact us and we will happily support your needs.
Our Commitment to You
At DHU Healthcare, we take pride in our diversity and foster an environment where every person feels valued, respected and empowered. We warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities.
We are proud to be a Forces-Friendly organisation, actively supporting Veterans, Reservists, Service Leavers, and military families.
#IND2
