St Luke’s Hospice is recognised for delivering compassionate, high-quality palliative and end of life care, supporting those with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Our multidisciplinary team is committed to providing comfort, dignity, and choice in both hospice and community settings.

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate In-Patient Unit Sister to join our clinical team. The post holder will lead and coordinate clinical care within the in-patient unit, ensuring delivery of safe, person-centred palliative and end of life care in line with St Luke’s Hospice values and policies. This role requires strong leadership, excellent communication, and sound clinical judgement to support patients, families and colleagues in a busy hospice environment.

Role Summary

The In-Patient Unit Sister will manage day-to-day clinical operations on the unit, providing supervisory and clinical leadership to registered and unregistered staff. The post holder will ensure high standards of care through effective assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of personalised care plans. They will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, participate in governance and quality improvement activities, and act as a key point of contact for patients, families and external professionals.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide visible clinical leadership on the in-patient unit, promoting a culture of compassionate, dignified care and professional accountability.

• Coordinate and oversee the delivery of individualised palliative care for patients, including assessment, symptom management, medication administration, and advanced care planning as appropriate.

• Supervise, mentor and support nursing staff and healthcare assistants, ensuring safe staffing levels and effective deployment of the team across shifts.

• Contribute to clinical decision-making, complex care planning and multidisciplinary meetings to ensure continuity and quality of care.

• Maintain accurate clinical records, handovers and incident reporting in line with organisational standards and professional guidelines.

• Lead on clinical governance activities within the unit, including audit, risk management, safeguarding, infection prevention and control, and mandatory training compliance.

• Promote a supportive environment for patients and families, providing information, education and emotional support and facilitating family involvement in care where appropriate.

• Ensure effective communication and liaison with community services, acute trusts and other partner agencies to support seamless patient transitions and discharge planning.

• Support workforce development by identifying training needs, participating in supervision and appraisal processes, and encouraging reflective practice.

Salary, Contract, and Working Pattern

Salary: £30,057.13-32,308.74 per annum
Contract: Permanent, part time; shift work including days, nights, weekends and bank holidays as required
Location: Based at either Basildon Hospice or Thurrock Hospice

Essential Requirements

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration and post-registration experience in palliative, end of life or related clinical specialities.

• Proven supervisory or leadership experience within a clinical setting, with the ability to manage and motivate a multidisciplinary team.

• Strong clinical assessment and decision-making skills, including knowledge of symptom control, pain management and medication safety.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrating sensitivity when working with patients and families from diverse backgrounds.

• Sound understanding of safeguarding, infection prevention and control, and health and safety requirements.

• Ability to work flexibly across shifts and adapt to changing clinical priorities.

Desirable Criteria

• Post-registration qualifications in palliative care, leadership or management (e.g., NVQ Level 5, PG Cert).

• Experience working in hospice in-patient units or similar specialist settings.

• Experience of clinical audit, governance and quality improvement methodologies.

• Training in advanced communication, symptom management or end of life care education.

Personal Attributes

• Compassionate, resilient and emotionally intelligent, able to support patients, families and colleagues in sensitive situations.

• Reliable, organised and able to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to upholding the values of St Luke’s Hospice.

• Reflective practitioner with a commitment to continuous professional development and high standards of clinical practice.

How to Apply

Please submit an online application detailing how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the In-Patient Unit Sister role. Include examples of leadership, clinical expertise and commitment to palliative care. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and will consider reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Right to Work in the UK

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. St Luke’s Hospice is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this post.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at St Luke’s Hospice

St Luke’s Hospice celebrates diversity and is committed to building an inclusive environment for everyone. Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community, including under-represented groups. Please indicate any reasonable adjustments required during the recruitment process. All applications are assessed fairly and consistently.