Palliative Care Specialist Nurse - Maternity Cover FTC

About the role

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

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday with rotation onto weekends and bank holidays

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

Are you an experienced and compassionate nurse with a passion for palliative care?

We’re offering an exciting opportunity to join our Community Specialist Palliative Care Team at Ashgate Hospice on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave. This is a rewarding role for someone who wants to make a real difference to patients and families living with life limiting illness in North Derbyshire.

The ideal candidate will have the skills and confidence to work at Band 7 level – delivering complex clinical care, leading on holistic assessment and symptom management, and contributing to education, service improvement, and multidisciplinary working.

However, we also welcome applications from Band 6-level nurses with relevant experience and a strong commitment to developing in post. You’ll be supported with a clear development plan, clinical supervision, and access to training, with the opportunity to progress to the Specialist Nurse role if competencies are met.

Key responsibilities:

Deliver high-quality, person-centred palliative and end-of-life care in community settings.

• Provide expert clinical assessment, symptom management and psychological support.
• Work closely with GPs, District Nurses, hospital teams and other professionals to ensure coordinated care.
• Lead or contribute to service development, education, audit and reflective practice.
• Work flexibly, including some weekend and bank holiday cover, with the use of remote technologies as needed.

For the full details, you can read the attached job description or give Sophie Dudley the recruiting team lead a call on 07496 764217 or 01246 565026 for an informal chat (it may be possible to arrange a visit to the hospice).

What you’ll bring:

 Here’s what we’re looking for:

• NMC registration (Adult Nursing).
• Experience in palliative care or a relevant clinical setting (e.g. oncology, long-term conditions, community).
• Excellent communication skills and emotional resilience.
• A full UK driving licence and access to independent transport for community visits.

Desirable (but not essential):

• Non-Medical Prescribing qualification.
• Advanced Physical Assessment skills.
• Experience of teaching or supporting learners in practice.

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.
• The Westfield Health Cash Plan, giving you money back on treatments like physiotherapy, dental care, and eye tests.
• Free access to Westfield Rewards, 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 at 01246 565026/or 07496 764217 email sophie.dudley@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 HR or the recruiting manager will not be accepted.

Proposed interview date: Monday 2nd June 2025

If you know the interview date and can stick to it, please include it here. Providing a clear date helps candidates plan and shows we’re organised and respectful of their time.

Additional information:

• If you're successful, you'll need to complete a DBS check as part of our pre-employment process. You can find more details in the candidate assistant notes.
• As a healthcare provider, we prioritise the safety of our patients, staff, and visitors. That's why we encourage and recommend all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive the flu jab—unless there's a compelling reason not too
• If you need any help with the recruitment process, our HR team is here to assist. You can reach them at hr@ashgatehospice.org.uk or call 01246 568 801.

Additional support for candidates

• We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive, fair, and accessible to everyone.
• Reasonable adjustments: We are pleased to offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process for individuals with disabilities, neurodiverse conditions, or long-term health needs.
• Shortlisting commitment: In line with our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, we guarantee to shortlist any disabled candidate who meets the essential criteria for the role.
• Interview preparation: All shortlisted candidates will receive their interview questions in advance to help you feel fully prepared.

Accessibility resources:

• If you need assistance completing your online application, you can contact the Disability Employment Service/Youth Employment Service by emailing ASCH.Disability.EmploymentProject@derbyshire.gov.uk.
• We encourage you to complete and share your Health Adjustment Passport. This helps us understand any adjustments or support you might need. Even if you choose not to share it, the passport can be a valuable tool for your own benefit.
• You can also access support through the Access to Work scheme. a government initiative designed to help you start or remain in work if you have a health condition or disability. This includes support for the recruitment process. Learn more on the Access to Work webpage

For further guidance or information, these 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

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