Job overview

Are you passionate about the delivery of high-quality palliative care to people living and dying with dementia?

We are seeking to appoint a committed, highly motivated and passionate nurse in palliative/dementia care (RMN/RGN/RNLD), to fulfil a Triage nurse role within the Dementia Palliative Care Service.  The role will be based at the office on the Walton Hospital Site, Chesterfield.

In this exciting role you will be an integral part of a team supporting people with dementia and palliative care needs (and their carers) across Derbyshire. The Triage Nurse will provide the clinical triage of referrals and visit requests where needed to identify the clinical need and urgency in order to provide a recommended timeframe for support and input from the service, allocating them to the most appropriate caseload to meet those needs and providing advice and signposting as required.

The primary goal of the team is to enable improved palliative care for people living with advanced dementia, with mental and physical health needs in care homes/supported living or their own home.

The team is be focussed on ensuring the person remains at home (wherever home is) and avoiding unnecessary acute care admission.

The team will support discharges from acute hospital beds and pathway 3.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as an integral part of a team supporting people with dementia and palliative care needs (and their carers) across Derbyshire.

The post holder will work towards the primary goal of the team is to enable improved palliative care for people living with advanced dementia, with mental and physical health needs in care homes/supported living or their own home.

The post holder will provide person-centred telephone triage of referrals and visit requests received via telephone/email and tasks. This includes referrals from patients and families, professionals with primary/acute care, voluntary and other sectors due to the open referral process.

The post holder will have oversight of the waiting lists for the service and ensure correct allocation of patients within areas across Derbyshire dependent on need.

The postholder will be responsible for prioritising referrals and ensuring these are acted upon promptly by the clinical team within the service.

The post holder will undertake some face-to-face clinical duties when required for urgent referrals.

The post holder will provide specialist support to both patients and their carers who experience or are at risk of experiencing difficulties in the last 6 – 12 months of life due to dementia.

Working for our organisation

The Purpose and Activities of DCHS?

Our purpose is to provide community health services to a patient population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, as part of Joined Up Care Derbyshire.

We employ around 4,200 substantive staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people’s own homes and via virtual consultations.

During the pandemic response we have led the implementation of public vaccination centres in collaboration with partners across health and social care.

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS) is one of the largest providers of specialist community healthcare in England and we currently employ around 4,500 staff.  We deliver a variety of services across Derbyshire, caring for nearly 1.8 million patients each year.

We deliver patient care through 11 community hospitals, 4 minor injury units, 29 health centres and a learning disability centre.  Another key part of our service is out in the community where we care for people in their own homes via therapists, health visitors and district nurses, and promoting public health in the wider community.  As a Trust we care for patients of all ages with a special focus on the needs of elderly people and the very young.

DCHS has been recognised as a top 10 NHS organisation to work for in the UK by the Health Service Journal and NHS Employers in their Best Places to Work 2015 campaign.  The Trust is also the runner-up in the category for the best NHS community trust employer.

TWITTER/FACEBOOK - DCHS has its own Social Media accounts for recruitment. Follow us/like us via @dchsjobs

Our vision “to be the best provider of local healthcare and to be a great place to work”

Our values:

1) To get the basics right
2) To act with compassion and respect
3) To make a difference
4) To value and develop teamwork
5) To value everyone’s contribution because everyone matters

The majority of our locations offer free parking facilities for staff.

We will communicate with you regarding your application via email so please check your email account on a regular basis.  If using hotmail, MSN or yahoo email accounts please check your 'junk/spam' mail regularly.

If you require any support in completing the application form please do not hesitate to contact the Recruitment Team,   01332 564856, option 1, option 1  or   [email protected]  and we will be happy to provide assistance.

Please note - if we receive a high number of applications for this position we reserve the right to withdraw the post before the closing date, therefore it is advisable that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. 

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for our service and for you.  Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern.