Hospice Admiral Nurse – St Kentigern Hospice
Band 6 – Pro rata salary
15 hours per week
St Kentigern are looking to recruit a registered nurse (RN) with a passion for, and experience of, providing holistice dementia and pallative care with a sense of advocacy and equalities for this client group to join St Kentigern Hospice Admiral Nurse Service.
Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who work with and support people with dementia and their families who have complex needs. Under the supervision of the Band 7 Admiral Nurse, you will provide specialist one-to-one support, guidance, and practical solutions for families, alongside supporting best practice and providing role modelling across St Kentigern Hospice.
You will be employed by St Kentigern Hospice and based within the hospice. You will work under the direct management of the Admiral Nurse Clinical Lead and Matron. You will receive ongoing Dementia training to maintain and strengthen your clinical expertise as a specialist nurse within dementia care. You will become part of the wider network of Admiral Nurses and have the opportunity develop professionally, underpinned by the Admiral Nurse Practice Standards Framework.
The successful applicant will be a NMC registered nurse, with relevant post-registration clinical experience of working with people with dementia and with specialist palliative care needs. You will be supporting their carers/supporters. Experience of delivering specialist palliative care in a hospice or community setting is essential.
To find out more about the role of an Admiral Nurse, candidates are encouraged to complete Dementia UK’s free online Pre Admiral Nurse eLearning course. This could be in advance of the interview or upon an offer of employment being made.
If you consider that you have the skills and abilities to join our exceptional team and would like to discuss the role, please contact: Victoria Grimster (Matron)
St Kentigern Hospice Matron - [email protected]
Closing date: 04/08/2026 at 4pm
JOB DETAILS:
Job Title
Admiral Nurse
Pay Band
6 Hospice Equivalent
Hours of Work and Nature of Contract
15 hours
Base
St Kentigern Hospice – Clinical Services
ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS:
Managerially Accountable to:
Matron
Reports to: Name Line Manager
Clinical Lead Admiral Nurse Band 7
Job Summary/Job Purpose:
The purpose of the Admiral Nurse role is to provide specialist, evidence-based dementia expertise within palliative and end of life care services within St Kentigern Hospice and its catchment area, improving the quality of care, support and experience of people with dementia and their families/carers.
The post holder will:
· Work within the multi-disciplinary team at St Kentigern Hospice to provide practical and emotional advice and support for people with dementia and their family/ carers from diagnosis through to end of life.
· Offer expertise and guidance to professional colleagues, volunteers, the general public and others in supporting family and relationship-centred approaches and best practice in dementia care.
· Assist with the development, evaluation and audit of the Admiral Nurse Service
· Provide up-to-date clinical advice, support, liaison, education and training
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Clinical
· Manage a clinical caseload comprising of people with dementia and their carers/ families through one to one support, group interventions and Admiral Nurse Drop in sessions.
· Deliver evidence-based approaches to care, which meet the needs of people with dementia, carers/families and colleagues.
· Deliver and contribute to Wellbeing HWB sessions and groups.
· Support the wider clinical team to ensure service delivery.
· Advise on the care of people with dementia and their carers/families with complex care needs from peri diagnosis to post bereavement support.
· Provide specialist nursing assessment, using the Admiral Nurse Assessment Framework, for carers/families of people with dementia during palliative or end stages of life care.
· Provide a range of holistic interventions to promote health and wellbeing for people with dementia with palliative and end of life care needs and their carers/families.
· Improve identification and management of co morbidities and frailty for people with dementia with palliative and end of life care needs and their carers/families.
· Support people with dementia, carers/families and staff to prepare them for end of life issues and needs, impending loss and grief.
· Ensure the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and that all legal requirements relating to Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007), and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (2009)[1] are considered and adhered to in relation to patient care
· Act as an advocate for people with dementia and their carers /families to promote their rights, best interests, and decision-making around advanced care planning at palliative and end of life care stages of dementia.
· Participate in case conferences, best interest meetings or similar where required.
· Work collaboratively with health, social and voluntary sector services to achieve coordinated care for the person with dementia and their family/ carer.
· To maintain clinical records and provide verbal and written feedback appropriately and as required, to carers, persons with dementia (as appropriate), referring agencies and professional colleagues.
· Ensure that care is delivered in accordance with relevant local and national guidelines and all St Kentigern Hospice policies and procedures.
· Recognise the limits of own competency and professional boundaries and make appropriate and timely referrals to other services where required
Education and Support
· To participate in, deliver and lead, informal and formal training, in house and as part of the Dementia Carer Programme disseminating Admiral Nursing work, and promoting best practice in dementia care.
· Provide mentorship, offer clinical expertise and act a role model on the delivery of evidence-based practice in palliative and end of life dementia within St Kentigern Hospice.
· To develop own competence through use of the Admiral Nurse Competency Framework and portfolio development using resources provided by Dementia UK.
· To comply with St Kentigern Hospice arrangements for continuing professional development, including being aware of own development needs and how they can be met.
· Work proactively with key local and national stakeholders to develop more integrated care pathways and holistic models of care, through dissemination of specialist skills and knowledge.
· Support delivery of policy and procedures for St Kentigern Hospice to improve the quality and experience of palliative and end of life care for families affected by dementia.
· Actively participate in the PADR process
· Contribute and deliver sessions within the hospice education programme
Evaluation and Audit
· Support the audit and evaluation of quality improvements and initiatives aimed at improving the delivery of palliative and end of life care within St Kentigern Hospice.
· Collect quantitative and qualitative data to support the evaluation and audit of the Admiral Nurse Service.
· Deliver and support evaluation of workforce development in person centred dementia care to improve staff confidence, knowledge and skills across the organisation.
· Ensure information and data recorded is relevant, accurate, complete and captured in a in a timely manner
· Share developing knowledge and expertise to support the inpatient team and wider MDT team to provide optimal care to patients and their families.
Research
· Contribute to the clinical governance process, including adverse incident reporting/investigation and the management of complaints, as appropriate.
· Take an active role in clinical governance, quality assurance, audit and evaluation including to ensure that key performance indicators are met.
· Actively promote and implement evidence based practice/quality standards and participate in audit and developing outcome measures
· Collaborate with other team members in relevant research and audit activities related to the area of practice.
Management and Leadership role
· To ensure the recording and investigation of all accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and losses in accordance with St Kentigern Hospice policy in the absence of the Band 7 Admiral Nurse
· Participate in steering groups and develop and maintain positive working relationships.
· Participate in and contribute to clinical team meetings.
· Policy development and Delivery
· Standard Operation Procedure development and implementation.
· Identify gaps in service and work with the clinical team to initiate evidence-based change
· Support the management of the Admiral Nurse Service in the absence of Clinical Lead Admiral Nurse Band 7
· Participate in and contribute to clinical team meetings
· Support nursing and clinical developments within clinical services
· Attend relevant external meetings including Specialist Palliative Care Team (SPCT) MDT and promote hospice services
· Recognise and act as an advocate for patients, carers actively encouraging their feedback to ensure that hospice services continue to be responsive to their needs.
· Act as a role model for all staff demonstrating high standards of practice, professional conduct and promoting the positive image of the hospice.
· Promote the role of Admiral Nurse within palliative care
· Support the Hospice Senior Management Team to ensure St Kentigern Hospice are developing services in line with their strategic plan, SLA and national drivers.
· Support the Matron in delivering the strategic plan for clinical services
· Support the inpatient unit and clinical services
Professional/ Governance
· Maintain responsibility for professional registration and practice through continuing personal development. Ensure revalidation in line with NMC regulations.
· Ensure all nursing practice is carried out in accordance with the agreed policies and procedures of St Kentigern Hospice and the NMC Code and other relevant professional and legislative guidance.
· Maintain personal standards of conduct and behaviour consistent with Hospice values and regulations set within the relevant professional bodies.
· Attend and actively participate in practice development, clinical supervision, and continuing professional development supported by Dementia UK and underpinned by the Admiral Nurse Practice Standards Framework
· Develop own competence through use of the Admiral Nurse Practice Standards Framework and portfolio development using resources provided by Dementia UK
· Maintain up-to-date knowledge of evidence-based palliative and end of life care recommendations on supporting people with dementia at the end of their lives and their carers/families
· Contribute to the development of policies, procedures and protocols relevant to dementia and Admiral Nursing within St Kentigern Hospice.
· Maintain personal standards of conduct and behaviour consistent with Hospice values and regulations set within the relevant professional bodies.
· Be aware of the policies, procedures and philosophies of St Kentigern Hospice, understanding health and safety requirements and ensure that all duties and responsibilities are carried out within these guidelines.
· Raise quality issues and report related risks within St Kentigern Hospice to address incidents.
· Support equality and value diversity.
· To be aware of responsibilities regarding duty of candour and reporting poor practice.
· Follow St Kentigern Hospice Lone Working Policy
General Requirements:
This post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of employment of the Hospice as specified in the staff handbook
Competence You are responsible for limiting your actions to those that you feel competent to undertake. If you have any doubts about your competence during the course of your duties you should immediately speak to your line manager / supervisor.
Risk Management
It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Hospice that they fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards. It is a requirement that you adhere to St Kentigern Hospice Policies, Procedures, Protocols and guidelines at all times.
Health and Safety Requirements of the Hospice
All employees of the Hospice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable the Hospice to meet its own legal duties including attendance at mandatory training updates and also to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.
Data Protection and Confidentiality
The post holder must treat all information, whether corporate, staff or patient information, in a discreet, secure and confidential manner in accordance with the provisions of the current data protection legislation and organisational policy. Any breach of such confidentiality is considered a serious disciplinary offence, which is liable to dismissal and / or prosecution under statutory legislation and the hospice’s disciplinary policy. This duty of confidence continues after the post holder leaves the organisation.
Records Management
As an employee of the hospice, the post holder is legally responsible for all records that they gather, create or use as part of their work within the organisation (including patient health, staff health or injury, financial, personal and administrative), whether paper based or on computer. The post holder should consult the Lead if they have any doubt as to the correct management of records with which they work.
Flexibility Statement
The content of this Job Description represents an outline of the post only and is therefore not a final list of duties and responsibilities.
The post is subject to an enhanced disclosure check with the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS).
BENEFITS OF WORKING AT ST KENTIGERN HOSPICE
The ability to transfer an existing NHS pension over to the hospice
A contributory pension scheme
Clinical staff are aligned with NHS pay rates.
Free occupational health support
Eligible for Blue Light Card and card holder benefits.
Real living wage employer
Discounted staff menu available from Caffi Cariad.
Access to outdoor spaces for both work and relaxation.
Free parking on site
Enhanced benefits include; Maternity/paternity and adoption leave, occupational sick pay, free flu jabs, Bereavement leave and support, 5 weeks annual leave plus bank holidays
Qualifications
Essential criteria
Registered Nurse with current NMC registration RN Evidence of relevant post-registration education and continuing professional development Advanced Communication Skills Training Mental Capacity Act, MCA and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards DoLS training
Desirable criteria
Awareness of wider issues relevant to dementia and palliative care Experience of delivering education or training Falls prevention training Experience of lone working
Experience
Essential criteria
Post-registration clinical experience supporting people living with dementia and their families and Carers Experience of completing comprehensive holistic nursing assessments Experience of providing biopsychosocial interventions Experience of working autonomously and managing an independent caseload Experience of collaborative multidisciplinary and multi-agency working Experience of participating in audit and or research activities Minimum of two years' post-registration experience in specialist palliative care Experience of advance care planning
Desirable criteria
Experience of implementing evidence-based practice Experience of managing care transitions across services Experience of coordinating complex discharge planning Experience of clinical supervision, mentoring or supporting colleagues Experience of developing and delivering education or training programmes
knowledge and skills
Essential criteria
Ability to demonstrate Person-centred assessment and care planning Therapeutic communication and relationship-building skills Delivery of holistic nursing care Commitment to sharing knowledge and supporting learning. Delivery of evidence-based, high-quality care Critical reflection and continuous professional development. Clinical skills including- Excellent verbal and written communication skills Presentation and facilitation skills Sound clinical judgement and decision-making Ability to advocate effectively for patients and families. Competence in the use of IT systems, including Microsoft Office, to support service delivery Experience as a Dementia Nurse Champion and or Palliative Care Champion-Link Nurse
Desirable criteria
Understanding of clinical audit and evaluation Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and practice development Understanding of service evaluation Knowledge of national policies, guidance and strategies relating to dementia care Knowledge of the Admiral Nurse model and its application Understanding of the impact of dementia on individuals, families and carers Knowledge of evidence-based dementia care Ability to act as an effective clinical role model
personal qualities
Essential criteria
Demonstrates compassion, empathy and professionalism Ability to build constructive therapeutic relationships with patients, families and colleagues Treats people with dignity, respect and kindness Committed to collaborative working with people living with dementia, carers and multidisciplinary teams Able to work independently and as part of a wider multidisciplinary team Enthusiastic, motivated and passionate about dementia care and specialist palliative care Flexible, resilient and adaptable to changing service needs
Desirable criteria
Welsh language skills
other requirements
Essential criteria
Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel as required by the role
Pay: From £15,704.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Discounted or free food
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
