Job Description

36 hours per week

Would you like to work in a setting where over 96% of service users rate their care as outstanding with minimum registered nurse to patient ratios of 1: 5 throughout the 24-hour period and 1:4 for all staff?

Are you looking for an opportunity where you have the time to deliver excellent individualised nursing care that meets each patient's unique needs, promote patient's wishes and provide compassionate support to their families and friends, implement your knowledge and skills while gaining specialist expertise in symptom control, develop your communication skills and progress your career in palliative care?


We are seeking an experienced, dynamic, motivated registered nurse with a passion for delivering the best possible care to our patients to fill this post. You will be a compassionate and positive professional with excellent nursing, interpersonal and organisational skills. To ensure the physical, spiritual, psychological, social and cultural needs of patients and their loved ones are identified and met. You will become an integral part of a supportive multi-disciplinary team on our 10 bedded in patient unit, providing pain and symptom control, respite care, complex psychological support and end of life care for patients and their families. Most importantly, you must be wholeheartedly committed to and motivated by the strategic priorities and values of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.

The post holder will:

Be responsible for the initial and ongoing assessment of nursing needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of effective care plans.


Act as nurse in charge once competent to do so, directly assisting in the provision of a high quality clinical and organisational service. This will involve dealing with complex situations and having to take appropriate action in emergency and unforeseen circumstances.


Encourage and enable patients to be involved in their care activities and contribute to decisions about them wherever possible.

and will be able to:

Demonstrate their passion to promote comfort, dignity, independence and patient choice. Demonstrate their ability to ensure the physical, spiritual, psychological, social and cultural needs of patients, and those important to them, are identified and attended to, maintaining the highest level of nursing care. Use their own initiative and work well under pressure.


Demonstrate an interest in all aspects of palliative care and long-term conditions.

Working for the organisation

You will be joining a friendly and welcoming team with a collective aim of positively enhancing the lives of the individuals in their care. There will be support and guidance for the right individual through a specific induction programme to develop their knowledge and understanding of supporting patients with an advanced life limiting illness. You'll receive a host of benefits and support, including:

Continuation of NHS annual leave and sickness benefits

if currently employed in the NHS. For those not currently employed in the NHS, annual leave and sickness benefits will be in line with Agenda for Change practice.

Continuation of the NHS Pension Scheme for existing members

or join the hospice pension scheme. Excellent learning and development opportunities, including preceptorship, induction and development. Broad range of in-house education and support to attend external training. A staff support programme including clinical supervision, confidential counselling and occupational health services. Please check

Please note we do not currently have a sponsorship licence, and the successful candidate will need to be able to provide evidence of right to work in the UK.

Want some more information before making your decision?

We would welcome the opportunity for informal discussion or for potential applicants to come and have a look around the hospice prior to sending your application, please contact Debbie Evans Ward Manager or Louise Hodgkinson, Melissa Evans Deputy Ward Managers on 01244 851091.


The Hospice is a great place to work and volunteer. Based in Backford, Chester (with retail shops in Chester and Ellesmere Port), the Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care in a welcoming and compassionate environment.


Our specialist team of medical and nursing staff deliver end of life care to our patients and support their families, carers and friends but our services are varied across a number of disciplines and reflect the diverse nature of our care and support. In addition to Doctors, Nurses and Health care roles, we employ staff in a wide range of roles including Fundraising and Retail in our charity shops, Housekeeping and Catering, Social Work and Family Support such as Counselling and Spiritual Care, Living Well / Day Services as well as Business Support functions such as Administration, People & Development and Finance.


We also have a large number of Volunteer roles in all these service areas. We have been supported by our volunteers ever since the hospice was established and we now have over 400 people contributing their time in so many different ways. Every hour volunteered allows us to continue providing specialist care and we are always welcoming applications for new volunteers so please get in touch.