Senior Staff Nurse - Specialist Palliative Care Inpatient Ward
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 20/08/2026
- Closes
- 31/08/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role involves acting as a resource for the team, delivering expert, evidence-based clinical care to patients with complex specialist palliative care needs. The Senior Staff Nurse will provide leadership and support to the ward nursing team, coordinating patient care and managing the team. They will also be a leading member of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring continuity and quality of patient care. The post holder will assist the ward manager with nursing activities, budgets, personnel, and education, and contribute to the development of nursing practice.
Key responsibilities
- Act as a resource to other team members in the delivery of expert, evidence based clinical care for patients with life-threatening illness who have complex specialist palliative care needs.
- Provide leadership and support to the ward nursing team helping co-ordinate and manage the team and patient care delivery.
- Be a leading member of the multidisciplinary team ensuring continuity and quality in the provision of patient care.
- Assist the ward manager in the organisation of nursing activities, ward budgets, personnel and education of the nursing team.
- Contribute to the development and evaluation of nursing practice on the unit.
- Represent the service and profession when required, deputising for the ward manager as required.
Essential criteria
- Registered Nurse - NMC level 1
- Diploma in Nursing and or Study to Degree Level or equivalent
- Mentorship or equivalent teaching qualification
- Previous post registration experience
- Experience of team leadership
- Has an understanding of specialist palliative care / oncology
- Ability to manager situations / environment
- Computer Literate
- Communication Skills
- Knowledge of use of tools for advanced care planning
- Awareness of current legislation / policy to end of life care
- Ability to reflect on own practice
- Conscientious
- Caring and empathetic
- Honest and Trustworthy
- Innovative, adaptable to change
- Motivated, enthusiastic and approachable
- Assertive, self-aware and resilient
- Listening
- Positive
- Team player
- Shows respect to others
- Able to make own travelling arrangements to meet the needs of the role
Desirable criteria
- Relevant post registration qualification in palliative care/ oncology
- Knowledge of healthcare reform relevant to specialist palliative care e.g. The end of life care strategy, NICE Guidance, NHS Cancer Plan
- Able to demonstrate evidence-based knowledge of symptom control
- Previously worked in a palliative care setting inside or outside the NHS
- Advanced communication skills
- Has vision and drive
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 10d ago · Closes in 2d
Applications close soon — apply now if this is a fit.
Full advert · preview
Job summary
To act as a resource to other team members in the delivery of expert, evidence based clinical care for patients with life-threatening illness who have complex specialist palliative care needs. It is acknowledged that this role requires a significant level of specialist knowledge and skills as well as mental and emotional effort.
To provide leadership and support to the ward nursing team helping co-ordinate and manage the team and patient care delivery.
To be a leading member of the multidisciplinary team ensuring continuity and quality in the provision of patient care
To assist the ward manager in the organisation of nursing activities, ward budgets, personnel and education of the nursing team
To contribute to the development and evaluation of nursing practice on the unit
To represent the service and profession when required, deputising for the ward manager as required
Main duties of the job
The post holder will have a good knowledge and understanding of specialist palliative care
To provide holistic specialist palliative care nursing assessment of patients and carers with highly complex needs, identifying priorities of care, implementing strategies in order to give this care and evaluation to ensure the maintenance of clinical excellence.
To act as a resource to other team members in the delivery of expert, evidence based clinical care for patients wi
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