Bereavement Clinical Nurse Specialist

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

If you would you like to be part of a team that really makes a difference, then we have the perfect opportunity for you.

We have an exciting vacancy for a Registered Nurse to join our small MSE bereavement nursing team. You will be one of 3 specialist nurses, working across site, providing leadership and expert knowledge to assist in the development of the newly configured MSE Bereavement services.

Within this role, is the opportunity to participate in a 7 day service and the new nurse led Corneal Donation service staring in March 2025. Working in collaboration with NHSBT, the Bereavement Nurse Specialists will be trained to undertake the enucleation process and fulfill end of life wishes for patients who are eligible to donate.

The role will require comprehensive bereavement experience and a deep understanding of end of life services within the organization and with our colleagues external to the organization.

If you are passionate about developing an exceptional bereavement service for our families, then this could be the opportunity that you are looking for.

Main duties of the job

You will assist in the development of a nurse led Bereavement support service, supporting patients, relatives and staff within the adult setting across the MSE.

The service will ensure that people affected by death are communicated with in a sensitive manner and are offered immediate and on-going bereavement, emotional and spiritual support appropriate to their individual needs and preferences.

The role also requires someone who is confident with teaching and able to deliver a range of teaching sessions, to all grades of staff within the organization.

The nurse will lead and facilitate debrief sessions for wards and departments and will require the emotional resilience and skill set to deal with highly emotive situations.

Job responsibilities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description.

The service will adopt the framework and model of bereavement support as identified by NICE:

1. Grief is normal after bereavement and most people manage without professional intervention.
2. Some people may require a more formal opportunity to review and reflect on their loss experience, but this does not necessarily have to involve professionals.
3. A minority of people will require specialist intervention.

The overall aim of the post holder is to implement an evidence based, structured approach to bereavement support for inpatient deaths across the MSE.

In addition to the above, is an exciting opportunity to assist in the delivery and implementation of the new nurse led Eye Retrieval Service, commencing March 2025; working in collaboration with NHSBT and to ensure end of life wishes for our patients are acknowledged, prioritised, and facilitated.

We look forward to your application!

Person Specification

NMC Registration Part 1

• Evidence of advanced study at degree level or master's level or equivalent experience. If not, agreement to undertake degree pathway within the set time frame.
• Significant post registration experience with demonstrable experience in a specialist/end of life setting at band 6 or above.
• Evidence of change management and leadership.
• Bereavement Counselling Course.
• Sound knowledge of all IT systems (Medway, ACP, EPR, Lorenzo).

Advanced Communications Skills Training

• Advanced Communications Skills training or counselling course.
• Willingness to attend Advanced Communication Skills training.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£46,148 a year Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time)