Palliative Care Nurse

Join our team as a Palliative Care Nurse and make a difference!

Would you like to develop your career in specialist palliative care while making a real difference to patients and families across North Derbyshire.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Ashgate Hospice’s Community Specialist Palliative Care Team. We are expanding our community nursing service from five to six days a week, improving continuity of specialist support for patients and the people important to them, particularly at weekends.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced nurse who is looking to develop their specialist palliative care skills within a supportive team. You’ll provide high-quality, person-centred care to patients with palliative and end of life needs, working closely with colleagues across health and social care.

Our ambition is to continue developing our community care model, with the longer-term aim of moving towards a seven-day specialist community nursing service.

Ashgate Hospice is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means we are committed to inclusive hiring and encourage applicants from all backgrounds.

About the role

Hours: Full-time or Part-time hours considered.

The core service operates Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, with weekend working on a shift rotation basis. The role also involves community visits, lone working and supporting patients and carers remotely when required.

Key responsibilities:

You will:

• Undertake holistic assessments and develop personalised care plans for patients and those important to them.
• Support patients with symptom management and Advance Care Planning, including their preferences for future care.
• Contribute to complex case management, clinical triage and prioritisation.
• Provide compassionate support and advocacy for patients and families.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across health and social care to promote coordinated care.
• Support and share knowledge with colleagues and contribute to education and learning.
• Contribute to clinical audit, service improvement and the ongoing development of our community service.

For the full details, please see attached job description. You can also contact the recruiting manager a call on 01246 568801 for an informal discussion. It may be possible to arrange a visit to the hospice.

What you’ll bring:

You’ll be a registered Adult Nurse with experience at Band 5 or above and a genuine interest in developing your career in specialist palliative care.

You’ll need:

• Current NMC registration.
• At least two years’ post-registration experience at Band 5 or above.
• Experience in a relevant clinical setting, such as palliative care, oncology, long-term conditions or community healthcare.
• Experience of managing a caseload and supporting patients with complex needs.
• Good clinical knowledge of palliative care and symptom management.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work with patients, families and professionals in sensitive and emotionally challenging situations.
• A commitment to learning, professional development and improving patient care.
• Access to independent transport for community visits.

We’re particularly interested in nurses who are keen to develop their specialist palliative care skills. As part of your development, you’ll have the opportunity to build your expertise through specialist training, including Advanced Pain and Symptom Management, Advanced Communication Skills, Advanced Physical Assessment and Non-Medical Prescribing.

About Ashgate:

Ashgate Hospice, based in North Derbyshire, offers free palliative and end of life care for adults with life-limiting or incurable illnesses, including cancer, neurological diseases, and advanced heart, kidney, and lung conditions. Last year, we cared for over 2,400 people. Our aim is to support our patients by keeping them informed, managing their symptoms, and improving their quality of life from diagnosis onwards.

We also provide vital support to the people who are important to them, offering practical assistance and emotional support, including bereavement services.

We’re more than a care provider. We’re a campaigner for sustainable end of life care funding in the UK, and we continually invest in our services and workforce.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do:

• We are compassionate.
• We are a team.
• We are respectful, open, and inclusive.

We value diversity and inclusion and encourage applicants from all backgrounds.

We strive to create a workplace that’s happy, safe, and supportive – and our team seems to agree! In fact, 86% of staff would recommend Ashgate Hospice as an employer.

We know how important wellbeing and work-life balance are, which is why we’re open to flexible work arrangements, including job-sharing.

As part of our team, you’ll have access to training opportunities to help you grow, both personally and professionally. Whether you want to develop in your current role or explore new career paths, we’ll support you every step of the way.

Want to know more about what it’s like to work with us? Visit our website, check out our social media channels, or listen to our podcast, The Life and Death Podcast. It’s a great way to get a sense of the Ashgate team and the difference we make.

Benefits of joining us

At Ashgate, we take care of the people who take care of others. Here are some of the benefits we offer:

• Generous holiday entitlement, with the option to increase it through our Annual Buy and Sell Leave Scheme.
• A flexible working approach to help meet your needs and ours, including options like job-sharing.
• A Cycle to Work scheme and a Tech Benefit scheme to help spread the cost of your next bike or gadget.
• Health Cash Plan, giving you money back on treatments like physiotherapy, dental care, and eye tests.
• Access to a range of discounts, with discounts at hundreds of high-street retailers.
• A confidential Employee Assistance Programme, offering free, round-the-clock support when you need it.
• A pension scheme with up to 7% employer contribution, helping you save for the future.
• A life assurance scheme, giving peace of mind for you and those important to you, up to age 65.
• A commitment to your personal and professional development, with training opportunities to help you grow.
• Free, on-site parking whenever you're working at the hospice.
• Discounted, onsite café at our Old Brampton site, available to all staff
• A wide range of initiatives to support your wellbeing, and the time out to practice self-care

Ready to make a difference?

To learn more about the role, please contact Sophie Dudley or Lydia Williams at 01246 565026 or email Sophie.dudley@ashgatehospice.org.uk or Lydia.williams@ashgatehospice.org.uk . You can arrange to visit the hospice to see what it would be like to work with us.

Please note: Applications must be submitted via the ‘Apply Now’ button on our website. Applications sent directly to People Services or the recruiting manager will not be accepted.

Proposed interview date: 22nd September

Additional Support for Candidates

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive, fair, and accessible.

We welcome requests for reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process for individuals with disabilities, neurodiverse conditions, or long-term health conditions.

As part of our Disability Confident commitment, we guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role.

All shortlisted candidates will receive interview questions in advance to support preparation.

Accessibility Resources:

If you need support completing your online application, you can contact the Disability Employment Service / Youth Employment Service via ASCH.Disability.EmploymentProject@derbyshire.gov.uk .

We also encourage candidates to complete and share a Health Adjustment Passport. This can help us understand any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process or in the workplace. Sharing your passport is entirely optional, but many people find it a helpful tool for identifying and discussing support needs.

You may also be able to access support through the Access to Work scheme - a government initiative designed to help people start or remain in work if they have a health condition or disability. This support can also apply during the recruitment process.

The following resources may also be helpful:

• Looking for work if you are disabled
• Reed in Partnership, Chesterfield Office: Call 0124 695 6275
• Disability Employment Service, Derbyshire County Council

Right to Work in the UK

All applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application and throughout their employment.

Ashgate Hospice does not currently hold a Skilled Worker sponsor licence and is therefore unable to sponsor visa applications or offer sponsorship for roles.

Applicants must ensure they have the legal right to work in the UK before applying.

We encourage applicants to check their eligibility using the UK Government's Right to Work and visa guidance before submitting an application. Applications from candidates who require sponsorship will not be progressed.

If you have any questions about adjustments or the recruitment process, please contact our People Services team at peopleservices@ashgatehospice.org.uk or call 01246 568 801.

We kindly ask that applicants who have previously been unsuccessful do not reapply for this role unless they can demonstrate significant additional skills, experience or development since their last application.