POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title:
Palliative Care Nurse Specialist (Aged Residential Care)
Reporting To:
Clinical Manager
Position Size:
0.4 FTE
Functional Relationships: Senior PCNS in ARC
All Hospice Southland staff
All Aged Residential Care Facility staff
GP and Practice Nurses
Southland Hospital and Community Pharmacists
Southland Hospital Palliative Care Team
Southland Hospital discharge planning team.
Primary Objectives:
 To implement a programme to support and empower aged residential care
facilities to ensure all residents have access to quality palliative care.
 Improve understanding and integration of palliative care into aged residential
care facilities
 To provide support, advice, education and training to primary providers
 Be instrumental in ensuring appropriate referrals for residents with palliative
needs through the use of best practice guidelines.
 Provide specialist palliative care services to patients whose needs exceed
those provided by primary providers and meet the criteria for specialist
palliative care
Key Tasks
Service Delivery
Expected Outcomes
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Implement a support programme
to aged residential care facilities
to ensure all residents have
access to quality palliative care
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Maintain a significant presence in aged residential care
facilities to act as a resource, providing support and
advice to staff providing palliative care.
To act as a role model and mentor in palliative care
nursing practice across aged care facilities
To raise awareness of including family members in the
palliative care approach where appropriate
Participate in facility multi-disciplinary meetings where
appropriate and encourage the consideration of the
palliative approach.
Support the development of care plans for patients with
palliative needs.
Support the use of appropriate end of life pathways
and/or documentation including pre-emptive prescribing.
Develop an effective communication network between
ARC, GP’s and Hospice Southland to ensure a
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Specialist Palliative Care in Aged
Residential Facilities
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Liaison and communication with
ARC and GP’s
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Education and training
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coordinated approach palliative care provision.
Continue to develop and maintain the relationships
between all providers.
Be instrumental in the development of best practice
guidelines for palliative care.
Ensure relevant resources remain current and up-todate.
Assist ARC staff to recognise indication/ reason for
referral to specialist palliative care services.
Information and statistics are accurately collected to
report on service delivery.
Demonstrates a clear understanding of the risk factors
as they pertain to palliative nursing care.
Respect and abide by the guidelines and regulations of
the respective facility.
Specialist palliative assessment and planning will be
carried out in accordance with Hospice Southland policy
and procedure
Residents referred to specialist palliative care service
will have their identified needs assessed in a timely
manner
Accurate data collection will ensure the identification of
patients with specialist palliative needs as opposed to
residents with generalist palliative needs
Attend appropriate facility meetings and Hospice
Southland multi-disciplinary meetings
Supportive and responsive relationships are built with
aged care facility staff
Act as a liaison between facilities, GP’s, Southern
District Health Board and Hospice Southland as
required
Be mindful of multi-agency involvement and work
towards a coordinated approach to patient care
Working alongside aged care staff and use each
interaction as an opportunity for on-going teaching and
learning
Liaise and support facility education plans
Identify and coordinate education and training
programmes in consultation with aged residential care
managers and Hospice Southland Education Team
Liaise with and support GP education programme in
consultation with Hospice Southland Education Team
Teaching resources are developed collaboratively with
Hospice Southland education team.
Organisational requirements
Expected outcomes
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Service Development and Quality
Improvement
Maintains clinical competency
and professional development
Communication
Maintains an awareness of own
health needs
Health and Safety
Take an active part in the review of policy and
procedure in relation to the role
 Participates in annual and strategic planning activities
 Understands relevant legislation and standards that
impact on quality improvement such as H&D Sector
standards, Hospice New Zealand palliative care
standards
 Participate in service development initiatives at a local
and national level
 Complete required education and competencies to meet
the requirements of all Nursing Council domains
 Maintain a current portfolio at expert level
 Have or working towards a palliative post graduate
diploma or masters.
 Actively participate in review of job description and
personal appraisal annually, setting personal and
professional goals – the first of which will be within 6
months of commencement.
Internal
 Maintains harmonious and positive working
relationships with all members of the Hospice team.
 Attends all relevant staff meetings, or apology
registered, minutes read and understood.
 Provide education tutorials to Hospice Southland staff
External
 Ensures all messages and relevant information are
relayed promptly and accurately
 Maintain productive working relationships with outside
agencies whilst being mindful of client confidentiality.
 Liaise with other hospices and palliative care teams /
nurse specialists
 A confident public speaker, and ability to deliver
educational tutorials
 Be aware of own workload pressures, personal
responses to stress and maintain a strategy for personal
management of the same.
 Undertake regular clinical supervision in line with the
Hospice Southland Policy on clinical supervision.
 Observe and practice safe work methods, complying
with organisational policy and procedure
 Proactively reports and remedies any unsafe work
condition, incident or injury.
 Displays commitment through actively supporting health
and safety initiatives
Hospice Southland Values
We respect life and peoples’ quality of life.
We value the opportunity to make a positive
difference.
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Promote the values of the organisation in personal and
working relationships you have with all staff, patients,
families and other health professionals and the wider
community.
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Understanding Te Whare Tapa Wha model of care, with
the concepts of tinana (physical) hinengaro (emotional)
whanau (social) wairua (spiritual) and how these can
be incorporated into service delivery in meeting our
commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi, Maori
community, patients and their whanau
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Embraces each day and takes an enthusiastic approach
to the days challenges with a sense of humour
Communicates and celebrates our successes.
As a team, we value our individuality and
affirm the principles of trust, respect and
integrity in our relationships with each
other, the people we care for and the work
we do.
Patients and families are the focus of the
individualised care and services we
provide.
We value the pride and confidence the
community has in Hospice Southland and
we will strive to ensure this is on-going
Treaty of Waitangi
Hospice Southland acknowledges the
Treaty of Waitangi as a foundation
document of New Zealand. In recognising
the three principles of the Treaty –
Partnership, Protection and Participation,
we will deliver our services at all levels of
the organisation within the spirit of the
Treaty.
Fun and humour
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Registered Nurse
Knowledge and Experience
Qualifications:
 The appointee must be a New Zealand Registered Nurse RCpN, RGON or
RGN (New Zealand recognised equivalent) and hold a current practicing
certificate
 Relevant post graduate qualification
 Current drivers licence
Experience:
 Minimum of two years experience in either palliative or aged care is essential
 Experience in clinical palliative care is essential
 Experience in aged care is essential
 Experience public speaking desirable
 Experience in preparation and delivery of clinical education essential.
Essential Competencies:
Is able to demonstrate the core competencies of palliative care nursing as defined in
the national professional development framework for palliative care nursing in
Aotearoa New Zealand
Patient and Family Focus
Has the desire and willingness to meet and exceed patients/family members’
expectations.
Self-Management
Can effectively plan and organise their work to achieve desired outcomes. Is
proactive, remains focused and can take action to overcome obstacles and follow
through to completion.
Integrity
Is open, honest and consistent in behaviour and can be relied upon. Able to
generate confidence in others through their professional and ethical behaviour.
Innovation
Question the way things are done, learn from past mistakes and generate new and
creative ideas to improve service delivery.
Teamwork
Ability to show a genuine intention to work co-operatively with others in a team
setting in order to achieve results and team goals.
Communication
Effectively communicate with a wide range of people in all situations, both orally and
in writing.
Analysis & Judgement
Able to identify and analyse issues and problems, consider alternatives, make sound
decisions and commit to a course of action.
Strategic Thinking
Demonstrate an understanding of the big picture and is concerned with forward
thinking, seeking and accepting challenges and opportunities.