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Job summary

Main area
Childrens Services
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered)
Job ref
180-E-257228
Employer
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Addenbrookes Hospital-Division E
Town
Cambridge
Salary
£47,810 - £54,710 p.a. pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/11/2025 23:59
Interview date
12/11/2025

Employer heading

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist - Palliative Care

Band 7

Job overview

This exciting opportunity requires a confident and pioneering children's nurse to assist in service development as part of the Regional Advice and Facilitation Team (RAaFT) providing paediatric palliative and end of life care support to babies, children and young people here in CUH and across the region.

To excel in this role you will understand the positive impact and potential of effective palliative care, have previous experience of supporting children needing complex symptom management and end of life care, have prescribing and advanced assessment skills and a desire to support the growth of patient pathways including into bereavement.

Our Hub and Spoke model means that the established team is based at CUH and in key ‘Hubs’ across the region. Team composition reflects national specialist service specification and enables an integrated approach. Spearheading care that meets a child’s medical, emotional and social needs, RAaFT leads exemplary symptom management and end of life care in collaboration with dedicated Teams at EACH, Keech and Little Havens as well as local hospitals and community teams.

Ability to travel to support children and their families at home is essential.

Opportunities for personal learning and development are encouraged as well as contribution to sector research and teaching.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be an integral member of the Regional Advice and Facilitation Team (RAaFT) and support the ‘Hub and Spoke’ Model of service.

They will provide expert, evidence informed, paediatric palliative care for babies, children and young people at any stage of a serious illness, addressing their medical, emotional and social needs

They will assess, plan and carry out specialist nursing care, and perform specialist nursing procedures using a clear, coordinated and multiprofessional approach in a families’ chosen location of care. This may be in CUH, a partner hospital, hospice or at home

They will be an expert communicator, able to adapt their communication style and demonstrate emotional intelligence to reflect the changing needs of the individual recipient 

They will offer specialist palliative care advice and support to others in person and virtually, and act as a key contact for professionals from across the regional network

They will lead and support expert learning and development initiatives for CUH staff, students and other professionals from across the region and nationally

They will carry out service evaluation, research and lead clinical audits to improve care in this specialist area.

Working for our organisation

Come Nurse with us…

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It’s a great place to nurse, work and live. 

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
-    applied for a Graduate visa
-    or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
-    or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start

For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 2 November 2025

Interviews are due to be held on 12 November 2025

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. 

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • RSCN/ RN Child
  • First Degree (or equivalent level) in nursing or health-related subject
  • Mentorship qualification
  • Evidence of on-going CPD
  • Advanced safeguarding training
  • Advanced clinical assessment qualification or willingness to complete
  • Independent prescribing qualification or willingness to complete
Desirable criteria
  • Advanced nursing study at Masters Level
  • Advanced level communication skills
  • CPD in paediatric palliative care

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant experience of working with children and families in a healthcare setting.
  • Experience of working with families during end of life and symptom management care
  • Experience of development and implementation of programmes of care
  • Evidence of having worked collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team
  • Demonstrate a commitment to teaching colleagues / students and involvement in mentorship
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working in a symptom management and palliative care service
  • Experience of managing staff and resources
  • Experience of providing community based care
  • Experience of working with children and young people with complex needs.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Detailed knowledge and understanding of children’s palliative care and recent initiatives in health and social care

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Skills of diplomacy and negotiation
  • Well-developed organisational and planning ability, able to prioritise and delegate
  • Maintain a flexible attitude to change and an enthusiastic approach to work
  • Demonstrate an ability to work as part of a team and build good relationships
  • Computer literate
  • Ability to manage performance of staff, change management and conflict
  • Proven track record of reliability
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of child/ young person / family member teaching and information giving
  • Evidence of facilitation / negotiation skills
  • Evidence of involvement in research and practice development
  • Evidence of leading innovation and managing change / service development
  • Evidence of supporting others to develop knowledge and skills.
  • Previous EPIC and SystmOne user

Additonal Requirements

Essential criteria
  • The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of people at all levels within the organisation and external agencies
  • Committed to providing a high standard of clinical care
  • Able to motivate others
  • To work flexibly as the role demands
  • Able to travel as required for the role
  • Ability to provide on call and out of hours cover
  • Current NMC registration

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDVeteran AwareNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Age-Friendly Employer PledgeCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgeTime to changeStep into healthApprenticeships Top 100 Employers 2024

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Linda Maynard
Job title
Consultant Nurse Children’s Palliative care
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07563397527
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